{"id":46366,"date":"2020-11-07T09:47:03","date_gmt":"2020-11-07T13:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=46366"},"modified":"2020-11-07T10:16:10","modified_gmt":"2020-11-07T14:16:10","slug":"matts-marathon-mediumwave-matchup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/matts-marathon-mediumwave-matchup\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt’s Marathon MediumWave Matchup"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze (WB2SRI)<\/a>, who shares the following guest post:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Matt’s Marathon MediumWave Matchup<\/h1>\n

by Matt Blaze<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s another simultaneous receiver comparison, this time of ten portable medium wave receivers plus the Icom IC-R9500 (as a “reference receiver”). Previously, I used the same antenna for all the comparisons, but since these are portable receivers, I wanted to compare their performance using their built-in antennas. I did two comparisons, both of moderate to weak signals, one in the evening of a DX signal and the other in the daytime of a regional station.<\/p>\n

The receivers were the Potomac Instruments FIM-41<\/strong> (a “field intensity meter”), the Panasonic RF-2200<\/strong>, the Nordmende GlobeTraveler Exec<\/strong> (a beautiful German SW portable from 1968), the Sony ICF-EX5MK2<\/strong>, the CCrane Radio 2E<\/strong>, the Sangean ATS-909X<\/strong>, the Sangean D4W<\/strong>, the new Tecsun PL-990X<\/strong>, the XHDATA D-808<\/strong>, and finally the CountyComm GP5-SSB<\/strong>, plus the Icom IC-R9500<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

All the receivers were recorded simultaneously. The radios (except the Icom R9500) were on the roof of my building and oriented for best reception (signal\/noise) and kept sufficiently away from each other and other metal objects to avoid interference, The R9500 was in the shack and used a Wellbrook loop on the roof, also oriented for best signal\/noise. I took the audio from the Line Out if one was available and from the headphone jack (via a “direct box” level converter) if not. I tried to match the audio levels reasonably closely, but different ACG characteristics made it difficult to be completely consistent across all the receivers throughout the sessions.<\/p>\n

As in previous comparisons, for each session I’ve got a narrated stereo mix with the R9500 on the left channel and each receiver, for a minute or so one after the other on the right channel. You definitely want to use headphones to listen to these so you easily tell the left from the right radio. I’ve also provided mono “solo” recordings of each receiver for the full 15 minute-ish sessions so you can hear a receiver you’re interested in in detail.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sound Devices 688 Multitrack Recorder<\/p><\/div>\n

The recordings were made with a Sound Devices 688<\/strong> recorder\/mixer (which can record 12 simultaneous channels of audio). The portable radios were hardwired to the recorder, and the 9500 (which was downstairs) was connected via a Lectrosonics digital radio link. (Everything except the R9500 was on battery power to avoid mutual interference and ground loops, etc). The narration used a Coles noise canceling ribbon mic. Everything was done in a single take per session – there was NO postproduction editing – so I apologize for a few glitches and awkward moments.<\/p>\n

You can see a “class photo” of the setup below, although the position and orientation of the radios was different during the actual recordings.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

KCJJ<\/h1>\n

The first recording was at night, where we tuned to 1630 KCJJ in Iowa City, IA. This is effectively a 1KW clear channel; other than a few TIS stations, there’s not much else there on the east coast, and the signal is reliably weak to moderate but readable here on the east coast.<\/p>\n

Narrated L\/R stereo comparison:<\/h1>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-ALL-1630-evening-20201104.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Individual solo tracks:<\/h2>\n

CCrane Radio 2E<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-CCRANE2E-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Sangean D4W<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-D4W-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

XHDATA D-808<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-D808-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Sony ICF-EX5MK2<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-EX5MK2-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Potomac Instruments FIM-41<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-FIM41-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

CountyComm GP5-SSB<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-GP5SSB-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Nordmende GlobeTraveler Exec<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-NORDMENDE-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Tecsun PL-990X<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-PL990X-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Icom IC-R9500<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-R9500-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Panasonic RF-2200<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-RF2200-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Sangean ATS-909X<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-S909X-1630-evening.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

\n

WSVA<\/h1>\n

The next recording was made during the day, of WSVA, a regional station in Harrisonburg, VA running 5KW in the daytime. Their signal is also reliably weak-moderate but readable here.<\/p>\n

Narrated L\/R stereo comparison:<\/h1>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-ALL-550-day-20201106.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Individual solo tracks (receiver should be obvious from the file name):<\/h2>\n

CCrane Radio 2E<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-CCRANE2E-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Sangean D4W<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-D4W-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

XHDATA D-808<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-D808-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Sony ICF-EX5MK2<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-EX5MK2-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Potomac Instruments FIM-41<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-FIM41-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

CountyComm GP5-SSB<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-GP5SSB-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Nordmende GlobeTraveler Exec<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-NORDMENDE-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Tecsun PL-990X<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-PL909X-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Icom IC-R9500<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-R9500-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Panasonic RF-2200<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-RF2200-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Sangean ATS-909X<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.mattblaze.org\/private\/MW\/\/MW\/MW-S909X-550-day.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Hope your readers find it useful!<\/p>\n

-matt<\/p>\n

\n

An absolutely amazing job again, Matt! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this comparison together and sharing it here on the SWLing Post.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Click here to check out all of Matt\u2019s receiver audio comparisons.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze (WB2SRI), who shares the following guest post: Matt’s Marathon MediumWave Matchup by Matt Blaze Here’s another simultaneous receiver comparison, this time of ten portable medium wave receivers plus the Icom IC-R9500 (as a “reference receiver”). Previously, I used the same antenna for all the comparisons, but since […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,3607,5935,3194,433,3,26,746,129],"tags":[8949,3377,8884,8836,8948,2639,8915,602,8950,6093,8757,6619],"class_list":["post-46366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-antennas","category-dx","category-guest-posts","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-radios","category-recordings","category-reviews","tag-ccrane-radio-2e","tag-countycomm-gp5-ssb","tag-icom-ic-r9500","tag-matt-blaze","tag-nordmende-globetraveler-exec","tag-panasonic-rf-2200","tag-potomac-instruments-fim-41","tag-sangean-ats-909x","tag-sangean-d4w","tag-sony-icf-ex5mk2","tag-tecsun-pl-990x","tag-xhdata-d-808"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-c3Q","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46693,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/matts-monster-mediumwave-radio-selectivity-shootout\/","url_meta":{"origin":46366,"position":0},"title":"Matt’s Monster Mediumwave Radio Selectivity Shootout!","author":"Thomas","date":"November 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze (WB2SRI), for sharing another brilliant audio comparison featuring benchmark portable radios: Medium wave selectivity shootout by Matt Blaze I did another monster medium wave portable receiver comparison, this time with the aim of comparing receivers' ability to deal with weak signals in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Matt-Blaze-Mediumwave-Radio-Comparison-Recordings-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Matt-Blaze-Mediumwave-Radio-Comparison-Recordings-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Matt-Blaze-Mediumwave-Radio-Comparison-Recordings-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Matt-Blaze-Mediumwave-Radio-Comparison-Recordings-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Matt-Blaze-Mediumwave-Radio-Comparison-Recordings-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45974,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/matt-compares-the-tecsun-pl-990-to-the-icom-ic-r9500-on-an-external-antenna-and-the-results-are-surprising\/","url_meta":{"origin":46366,"position":1},"title":"Matt compares the Tecsun PL-990 to the Icom IC-R9500 on an external antenna and the results are surprising","author":"Thomas","date":"October 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze, who shares the following comparison of the new Tecsun PL-990x and the benchmark Icom IC-R9500 communications receiver. Matt's excellent comparison\u00a0 is in audio form. I highly recommend listening with headphones or, at least, an audio device with separate left\/right channels as his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45996,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/matt-compares-the-tecsun-pl-990-and-sangean-ats-909x-sharing-an-external-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":46366,"position":2},"title":"Matt compares the Tecsun PL-990 and Sangean ATS-909X sharing an external antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"October 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Matt Blaze, who shares the following comparison of the new\u00a0Tecsun PL-990x and the original Sangean ATS-909X\u00a0communications receivers. Like Matt\u2019s recent comparison of the Tecsun PL-990x to the Icom IC-R9500, this review is in audio form and brilliantly narrated by Matt. I highly recommend listening with headphones or,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/ATS-909X.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/ATS-909X.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/ATS-909X.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46202,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/matts-mediumwave-audio-comparison-of-the-c-crane-radio-2e-and-the-potomac-instruments-fim-41\/","url_meta":{"origin":46366,"position":3},"title":"Matt’s mediumwave audio comparison of the C.Crane Radio 2E and the Potomac Instruments FIM-41","author":"Thomas","date":"October 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze, who writes: I did another head-to-head receiver comparison, this time of two MW BCB AM portables: The C.Crane Radio 2\/e vs. the Potomac Instruments FIM-41 field intensity meter. The latter is not intended as a receiver, but rather a test instrument, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Matt-Blaze-AM-Radio-Shootout-5.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Matt-Blaze-AM-Radio-Shootout-5.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Matt-Blaze-AM-Radio-Shootout-5.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Matt-Blaze-AM-Radio-Shootout-5.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Matt-Blaze-AM-Radio-Shootout-5.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46456,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/tecsun-pl-990-in-stock-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":46366,"position":4},"title":"Tecsun PL-990 in stock again","author":"Thomas","date":"November 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Dully, who notes that the Tecsun PL-990X is back in stock at Anon-Co. Click here to check out their ordering page. In addition, Tecsun Radios Australia is offering free shipping today (Friday 13, 2020). If you've been considering purchasing the PL-990 or PL-990x,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tecsun-PL-990x-PL-990-9.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55298,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/video-nick-explores-the-benchmark-icom-ic-r9500\/","url_meta":{"origin":46366,"position":5},"title":"Video: Nick explores the benchmark Icom IC-R9500","author":"Thomas","date":"January 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nick Booras, who writes: Hello Thomas I recently got a new Icom 9500 and have made several in depth videos on it for my YouTube channel including multiple direct comparisons to other premium receivers. Here is the main overview video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/-u8_f7avUHg Click here to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Icom-IC-R9500.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Icom-IC-R9500.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Icom-IC-R9500.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Icom-IC-R9500.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Icom-IC-R9500.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46366\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}