{"id":18502,"date":"2016-04-24T11:25:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-24T15:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=18502"},"modified":"2016-05-15T18:12:26","modified_gmt":"2016-05-15T22:12:26","slug":"the-icom-ic-7300-vs-elecraft-kx3-which-do-you-prefer-for-cwssb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/the-icom-ic-7300-vs-elecraft-kx3-which-do-you-prefer-for-cwssb\/","title":{"rendered":"The Icom IC-7300 vs. Elecraft KX3: Which do you prefer for CW\/SSB?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IMG_20160424_105444629\"<\/a><\/p>\n

[UPDATE:<\/strong> Read the full review of the IC-7300, along with listener survey results, by clicking here<\/a>.]<\/p>\n

Many thanks to all of you who participated in our last survey comparing the new Icom IC-7300 with the WinRadio Excalibur SDR<\/a>. We had over 100 responses (!!!)–the results will be posted in the forthcoming IC-7300 review.<\/p>\n

Before completing my review, I thought I might fit in one more quick comparison–this time, comparing the Icom IC-7300<\/strong> to my Elecraft KX3<\/strong><\/a> and focusing on SSB and CW reception.<\/p>\n

Recording notes and disclaimers<\/h1>\n

The Icom IC-7300 offers\u00a0native\u00a0digital audio recording, <\/strong>which means that it records both transmitted and received audio to an inserted SD card.<\/p>\n

\"IC-7300\"<\/a>The Elecraft KX3 does not<\/em> have a built-in recorder (indeed, most transceivers do not) thus I made in-line recordings using my Zoom H2N<\/a> digital recorder.<\/p>\n

I did no post-processing of the audio other than converting .wav files to .mp3.<\/p>\n

Both receivers shared my large outdoor omni-directional horizontal delta loop antenna<\/strong>\u00a0for each test.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Elad ASA15 Antenna Splitter Amplifier<\/p><\/div>\n

To keep the comparison on as\u00a0equal footing\u00a0as possible, the receivers shared the same antenna through my Elad ASA15 antenna splitter amplifier<\/a>.\u00a0Though the ASA15 has both 12dB amplification and \u201315dB attenuation, I employed neither.<\/p>\n

The ASA15 allowed me to make the following recordings simultaneously<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In each case, I tried to set up both radios using the same filter widths, AGC settings, and (as much as possible), audio level. I didn\u2019t engage\u00a0a\u00a0noise-reduction feature on either rig.<\/p>\n

I also didn’t employ any type of audio equalization on either rig–still, you’ll note that one radio produces a more “flat” response than the other.<\/p>\n

Please vote!<\/em><\/h1>\n

At the end of this post, I have an embedded a survey<\/a> in which\u00a0you can vote for the sample recordings you like best.<\/strong> Each recording is clearly labeled to denote that it\u2019s\u00a0either from \u201cRadio A\u201d or\u00a0\u201cRadio B\u201d (chosen at random).<\/p>\n

And now\u2026here are the recordings:<\/p>\n

\n

Audio Clip 1: CW (20 meter band)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Radio A<\/a><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/RadioBSSBCY0Pileup\/RadioA-CW-QSB-20MB.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Radio B<\/a><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/RadioBSSBCY0Pileup\/RadioB-CW-20MB.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

\n

Audio Clip 2: Weak Signal CW (20 meter band)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Radio A<\/a><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/RadioBSSBCY0Pileup\/RadioA-Very-Weak-CW-20MB.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Rado B<\/a><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/RadioBSSBCY0Pileup\/RadioB-Very-Weak-CW-20MB.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

\n

Audio Clip 3: Weak\/Strong SSB
\n(Sable Island\u00a0working Asia\/Pacific on\u00a020 meter band)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Radio A<\/a><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/RadioBSSBCY0Pileup\/RadioA-SSB-CY0-Pileup-20MB%20-%20Copy.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Radio B<\/a><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/archive.org\/download\/RadioBSSBCY0Pileup\/RadioB-SSB-CY0-Pileup.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

\n

We want to hear from you!<\/em><\/h1>\n

Use the form below to vote for the recordings you prefer in each section.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll close voting\u00a0at 12:00 UTC on Wednesday\u00a0April 27, 2016.<\/strong> Thank you in advance for your participation in this survey!
\n