Are you running the RF gain at maximum? Apart from (usually) being
necessary to obtain the 'correct' S-meter reading, when you are actually
listening, it's a good idea to back it off as far as is necessary to
keep the AGC just working (on SSB, at least). Of course, using the front
end attenuator does allow the AGC to function flat out but, again on
SSB, even with the best of receivers, you still get the inevitable rise
of background noise during gaps in the speech (especially if the gaps
are long). I find this very unpleasant - especially on strong signals.
Somehow, the AGC time constant never seems to be correct - for my ears,
at least.


I wouldn't consider buying a receiver for serious listening if it didn't
have the ability to turn off the AGC completely, and if it din't have an
RF gain control. You can get SSB to sound like FM. Back when GHFS was
happening you could leave it on 11176 USB 24/7 and never hear anything
between the calls except the occasional chirpsounder bloop. If you were
also listening to 8993 on another radio, you'd hear the same bloop a
half second earlier or later, give or take.