A long shot I know, but does anyone have this model of Sony radio?

I want to ask a question about FM reception with headphones and selecting mono.

I've looked at the support page for this particular model and it looks like the headphone output is stereo for FM with no option to turn off stereo output. I'm guessing this is what you were querying? It would be a problem when listening to weaker stations on FM which are being picked up in stereo.

https://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/ICF-SW7600GR

I've looked at the instruction manual and can't find a mono option for the headphone jack output.

Thank you. Yes the lack of an FM mono option is a real pain. Here in Derby only Capital, Gem and Smooth are really strong enough for stereo and the set seems to want to hold stereo at all costs even when it's really hissy.

It really spoils an otherwise great radio...

The extra noise produced as a result of stereo reception is in the difference component of the composite FM signal, therefore if you sum together L and R, it goes ! You can achieve this by summing the L and R outputs of the headphone jack, however to avoid any possibility of causing ill effects or even damage, it should be done via a resistor network.

How's your soldering and electronics skills ?

Poor to non existant but possibly I could find someone to do this for me.

You could try a 3.5 mm stereo to mono adapter plug which may do the trick.

This one is available for £1.76p but have a look at the alternatives which may be better quality for a little more money.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Indigo-Bana...EO+TO+3.5+MONO

Just search Amazon UK for "CONVERT 3.5 STEREO TO 3.5 MONO"

Best way is to make a lead, 3.5mm stereo jack at one end, left and right connected to 100 (ish) ohm resistors, and the other ends of those two resistors connected together. That joint then connects directly to the left and right terminals of a 3.5mm inline socket.
The screens (or earths) of everything all connect together.

You then use the lead in line between your headphones and the radio

That wont work, the male end will simply short the right channel to ground, you have to SUM the channels for the noise cancelling to work, and shorting anything to ground
is a bad thing !

Headphones with a stereo/mono switch?

Good option!

I doubt that would stop the hiss although I guess it's worth a try.

It will stop the extra hiss that is due to the stereo subcarrier element

If I can find a cheap pair of headphones with this feature I'll give it a try and report back.

I did try this, and I can report it *does* work. The cheapest pair of headphones in Argos- Alba- is just 4.99 so it's well worth a shot for anyone stuck with a radio without an FM mono switch.

Thank you very much