RadioBanter - View Single Post

December 31st 03, 02:26 AM

wrote:

The 545.

The Drake isn't bad, but it's very cheap feeling, and looking too, IMO.

JRC has the best ergonomics of about any company out there, you will be
using the radio you buy many hours, and that's where JRC has a huge
edge, and the Drake loses here big time. The controls are badly (again,
my opinion) laid out, the display is "plain" at best, actually I think
it's really ugly. The case and front panel are very cheap looking, the
JRC is built like a tank, with excellent fit and finish. And once you
get the hang of it, it's a pleasure to use, even with all the extra
features. Is it perfect? No, but it's about as right, looks and layout
wise as you could ask for in a non Govt bought radio.

I absolutely agree with you 100%. Compared to the JRC, the Drake looks and
feels like it was built in someone's garage one Saturday afternoon.

As far as performance goes, if you listen to AM programs, the Drake does
sound better. I dont listen to them much, I mostly listen to Ute's and
the 545 is the king. If only I could afford one. I have spent a lot of
hours playing with a friend's 545, and have spent a lot of time with
another friend's R8A and R8B. I was never tempted to buy either one. The
545 is something I want, and want badly.

For digital and SSB modes, the 545 is the way to go, especially the
later production ones.

Yes, the R8B's audio has more "oomph", whereas the 545's audio output is a bit
anemic (volume wise). One can get more beefy bass out ot the R8. However, the
R8's widest bandwidth is 6 khz, whereas the 545's widest bandwidth is 10 khz.
The 545's 10 khz bandwidth makes strong AM signals (or those without a lot of
adjacent frequency splatter), sound quite nice. Strong AM signals sound really
nice if you engage the 545's stereo AM mode, regardless of whether or not the
station is actually broadcasting in stereo. Of course, you wouldn't use the
stereo mode or wide bandwidth for hunting DX.

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