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« on: October 20, 2013, 0117 UTC »
I own both a DE1103 and Tescun 660. If your main interest is listening to pirates, hams, and digital transmissions, I would go with the 660 because it has separate USB/LSB while the DE1103 has dual USB (meaning it picks up both LSB and USB at the same time). Thus the De1103 will introduce more noise and potential more interference then the 660 will.
However, if you also have a interest in AM dxing, the De1103 destroys the 660 in that category and you can use a build in mod to use a longwire for AM/Longwave reception. FM reception wise, the 660 is a beast, then throw in the included air band (which I don't use, I prefer a police scanner for that)
Another disadvantage of the 660 is the stand. Even if you are using the stand, the antenna of the 660 doesn't stick straight vertically in the air. This does matter if you are using the 660 near a wall.
Last note, the De1103 has some weird quirks, like adjusting the volume (no separate volume button). De1103 is cheaper.
One other alternative if you want to use a brick and mortar store is the Radio Shack World Receiver which is on sale for 69 bucks now and does SSB. It is a new run of Sangean's ATS-505 receiver.