Jerry schrieb:

I've always been interested in SW radio as a listener and have decided
to get more serious about it to see just how strong my interest really
is. As a start, I want to get a good used radio, and it seems like the
Kenwood R5000 or the ICOM R71A are very popular.

AFAIK the Icom has rather high distortion in AM, which means it's more a
ham/ute thing (when unmodified at least).
Age related problems: The infamous lithium battery - doesn't seem to be
flat too frequently (yet), but when it does it takes the firmware with
it and you have to get the thing reprogrammed at Icom.

The Kenwood apparently has good audio and is more a program listener
thing, though the keyboard isn't all too appealing with its non-standard
layout. Standard 6 kHz AM filter isn't too bad, but for DX the
replacement YK88A-1 should be chosen.
Age related problems: Tuning knob seizure.

Good replacement crystal filters exist for both. (The respective 2nd IF
is 8.83 MHz for the Kenwood, 9 MHz for the Icom. No, these 80s beasts
don't use 455 kHz as last IF for AM/SSB yet, just as 3rd IF for for FM,
which means good replacement filters virtually have to be crystal ones.
The current IC-R75 uses a 2nd IF of 9.0115 MHz and a 3rd IF of 455 kHz,
and allows using filters on both. The AR7030 also uses cascaded filters,
all on 455 kHz in this case. Drake's R8/A/B uses a 2nd IF on 50 kHz to
implement good coil filters - those in the R7 had a form factor of
around 2, which is very good for this type of filters.)

Stephan
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