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Jeff Finds that the Qodosen DX-286 Struggles with Talk Radio
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahan for his mini update of the Qodosen DX-286. While it excelled at music, Jeff found its DSP filtering took a serious toll on voice clarity — enough to lose its coveted spot as his “Bedroom Radio.”
12 thoughts on “Jeff Finds that the Qodosen DX-286 Struggles with Talk Radio”
Wayne King
I have three DX-286 receivers that I purchased separately over a span of about a year. Jeff is correct. There is an audible vibration inherent in every QODOSEN DX-286. I noticed it immediately right out of the box. Interestingly, not everyone hears it. I read somewhere online that the vibration was isolated to the receiver’s display. That sounds quite plausible as the vibration emanates from the right side of the receiver when it’s facing the user. Putting the receiver into “VOICE” mode lessens the distortion because the audio equalization is changed such that there is not as much bass produced. That of course lessens the amount of overall vibration occurring throughout the receiver. Additionally, in AM mode, the vibration becomes less obvious when the bandwidth is widened. NOTE: when the receiver is powered off and then back on, the bandwidth defaults to 4 kHz unless you have stored frequencies and customize band with settings into memory.
A bit off topic, but I want to mention one other thing that is often not talked about with regard to the DX – 286. Firstly, what I’m about to say, is clearly spelled out in the user manual. It has to do with MW reception using the telescopic whip. The DX-286 is the most sensitive radio of its size on planet Earth. But, that sensitivity and performance comes with two caveats. First of all, telescopic whips are omnidirectional, and thus highly susceptible to RFI and QRM. As such, this mode of reception will typically yield very poor results in an average home where there is an abundance of electronic devices, producing massive amounts of EMI. So, using the DX – 286 on its whip is best outdoors away from these sources of interference. Secondly, the DX-286 produces its own internal RFI. It is induced by its display and manifest as a whine/static sound. Fortunately, this interference can be entirely mitigated by disabling the display. QODOSEN’s designers built in a toggle to switch on and off the display. There are two ways to do this. The on-the-fly method is achieved when the radio is on. Quick-press the 1 and 3 keys, and the display will vanish along with the internal RFI. Any subsequent adjustment to the receiver’s controls including raising and lowering the volume level, will reactivate the display. Then, there is the automatic mode. This is achieved by powering off the receiver and then pressing and holding the 1 and 3 keys until “DIS OFF” displays. When the radio is powered back on, the display will be activated for about two seconds, and then will vanish along with any internal RFI. Any subsequent adjustment to the receiver’s controls including raising or lowering the volume level, will reactivate the display for a second or two to provide the user with feedback before vanishing along with any internal RFI. The QODOSEN DX-286 is a tremendous receiver with extraordinary performance. But, it requires the user to fully understand it. Only then will the user get the most out of it and obtain maximum joy from it
Whenever I use the radio for talk, there is an inner vibration that drive me crazy. I have both the SR & DX models and both are the same. I rarely use it because of this.
is the sensitivity of the rod antenna receiving LW/MW/SW lower than usual?
2018-05-23
Reason: Check if the AMP antenna amplifier has been turned off.
Solution: Turn on the antenna amplifier.
Huizhou Keduosheng Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2022 with the aim of leading innovation and development in the wireless industry. Although we are a young company, we have a 30-year design background in the field of radio, with a deep understanding and extensive design experience in radios. Over the years, our designed radio products have received widespread praise from enthusiasts worldwide.
As our new brand, QODOSEN is committed to providing users with high-quality and high-performance wireless products. Despite the market changes brought about by the popularity of digital media and smartphones, we firmly believe that radios, with their unique advantages, will still occupy an important position in the fields of information acquisition and entertainment.
SR-286 (DX-286) is our first ultra-high sensitivity full band radio designed with the vehicle grade chip TEF6686, featuring excellent reception performance and good anti-interference ability.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahan for his mini update of the Qodosen DX-286. While it excelled at music, Jeff found its DSP filtering took a serious toll on voice clarity — enough to lose its coveted spot as his “Bedroom Radio.”
I have three DX-286 receivers that I purchased separately over a span of about a year. Jeff is correct. There is an audible vibration inherent in every QODOSEN DX-286. I noticed it immediately right out of the box. Interestingly, not everyone hears it. I read somewhere online that the vibration was isolated to the receiver’s display. That sounds quite plausible as the vibration emanates from the right side of the receiver when it’s facing the user. Putting the receiver into “VOICE” mode lessens the distortion because the audio equalization is changed such that there is not as much bass produced. That of course lessens the amount of overall vibration occurring throughout the receiver. Additionally, in AM mode, the vibration becomes less obvious when the bandwidth is widened. NOTE: when the receiver is powered off and then back on, the bandwidth defaults to 4 kHz unless you have stored frequencies and customize band with settings into memory.
A bit off topic, but I want to mention one other thing that is often not talked about with regard to the DX – 286. Firstly, what I’m about to say, is clearly spelled out in the user manual. It has to do with MW reception using the telescopic whip. The DX-286 is the most sensitive radio of its size on planet Earth. But, that sensitivity and performance comes with two caveats. First of all, telescopic whips are omnidirectional, and thus highly susceptible to RFI and QRM. As such, this mode of reception will typically yield very poor results in an average home where there is an abundance of electronic devices, producing massive amounts of EMI. So, using the DX – 286 on its whip is best outdoors away from these sources of interference. Secondly, the DX-286 produces its own internal RFI. It is induced by its display and manifest as a whine/static sound. Fortunately, this interference can be entirely mitigated by disabling the display. QODOSEN’s designers built in a toggle to switch on and off the display. There are two ways to do this. The on-the-fly method is achieved when the radio is on. Quick-press the 1 and 3 keys, and the display will vanish along with the internal RFI. Any subsequent adjustment to the receiver’s controls including raising and lowering the volume level, will reactivate the display. Then, there is the automatic mode. This is achieved by powering off the receiver and then pressing and holding the 1 and 3 keys until “DIS OFF” displays. When the radio is powered back on, the display will be activated for about two seconds, and then will vanish along with any internal RFI. Any subsequent adjustment to the receiver’s controls including raising or lowering the volume level, will reactivate the display for a second or two to provide the user with feedback before vanishing along with any internal RFI. The QODOSEN DX-286 is a tremendous receiver with extraordinary performance. But, it requires the user to fully understand it. Only then will the user get the most out of it and obtain maximum joy from it
Whenever I use the radio for talk, there is an inner vibration that drive me crazy. I have both the SR & DX models and both are the same. I rarely use it because of this.
is the sensitivity of the rod antenna receiving LW/MW/SW lower than usual?
2018-05-23
Reason: Check if the AMP antenna amplifier has been turned off.
Solution: Turn on the antenna amplifier.
Huizhou Keduosheng Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2022 with the aim of leading innovation and development in the wireless industry. Although we are a young company, we have a 30-year design background in the field of radio, with a deep understanding and extensive design experience in radios. Over the years, our designed radio products have received widespread praise from enthusiasts worldwide.
As our new brand, QODOSEN is committed to providing users with high-quality and high-performance wireless products. Despite the market changes brought about by the popularity of digital media and smartphones, we firmly believe that radios, with their unique advantages, will still occupy an important position in the fields of information acquisition and entertainment.
SR-286 (DX-286) is our first ultra-high sensitivity full band radio designed with the vehicle grade chip TEF6686, featuring excellent reception performance and good anti-interference ability.
LW, something akin to the Sangean ATS-909X…
..Quodosen should manufacture another radio with SSB, AM/SW (all inclusive bands!), FM, AIR BAND…and criticism will be forgiven……!
..plus LW
It does in fact have LW, so one magic requirement is already fulfilled!
No problem with mine.
No problem with mine either. I use it almost exclusively for talk, news, wtc
I changed the sound from Voice to Music mode and the problem is now gone.
In his latest update at the bottom he fixed the problem and it is once again his bedroom radio.
I’ve never had anything even remotely resembling this problem on my Qosoden DX-286.