Final Verdict:

* Sensitivity: The ICF-7601 is definitely more sensitive in AM than the
7600G, even with a shorter whip. Interesting! (The 7600G was tested
with the same batteries once, made no real difference vs. the
rechargeables it normally uses.) Could get Radio Australia on 13620
quite listenably shortly after 2200z when the same signal was still
stuck in the mud on the 7600G (only audible in SSB).
* Selectivity: Can't keep up with the 7600G and its excellent 7 kHz
(real) filter (-60dB/-6dB: ~2), but still sufficient to separate two
stations 5 kHz apart halfway well. (Such as a station on 5960 kHz in
?Japanese? from a stronger one on 5955 around 0330z this morning.)
* Images: Found none that could be attributed to the 2nd IF (which
indicates good filtering and not particularly high RF leakage on the
rather low 1st IF), BUT the upper 41m and 31m bands are plagued with
images from the FM band. Even the BBC on 9410 is affected here. I
guess that's because of 10.7 MHz used as 1st IF coupled with
insufficient (or even nonexistant) switched lowpass filtering when
tuned to a SW band. Someone with a service manual please clear this
up.
* Stability: Can't really get the thing to drift much, even by warming
up manually (literally . If you tune to a station, it pretty much
stays there. Backlash on the tuning knob is a few kHz, not
particularly bothersome in most cases.
* Scales: Not off by more than 10-15 kHz in most cases.
* Coverage: All the SW broadcasting bands from 120m to 13m including
21m (22m), good.
* Construction: Noticeably cheaper on 7601 (price issue), but still
decent. Had to loosen 4 screws (3 outside + 1 in battery compartment)
to get the back off, one more (again, in the battery compartment) to
get the front off (along with some fiddling).
* Battery life: Came with 4 Panasonic batteries (nothing special)
marked with 2006 - does that mean 1996 or 2001 mfg date? Well, since
the 7600A already ran around 40 hours on normal batteries I'll assume
the 7601 will do similarly well.

Stephan
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