RadioBanter - Got to try the NRD-545

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Got to try the NRD-545

Hiya... I finally got to try an NRD-545. A friend that recently purchased
one lent it to me for the evening. It didn't take as long as I expected to
learn the basics of the radio. I've been using it with an external speaker
and both of my two outdoor antennas. My one single impression so far is that
it is over priced and over rated. It is NO more sensitive or selective then
my R-75. I also find the audio to be anemic and tinny. The DSP technology
is a help on some of the weak and messy signals I've tried, but it is by no
means a magic cure. I was thinking about getting one last year and I'm glad
I didn't. So far the best thing about this radio is how it looks. It makes
my R-75 look like an ugly duckling, but it doesn't make it sound like one.
I admit I've only had it for a few hours and I may be missing part of the
story, but I dont like it better then my R-75. It is not a better DX'ing
rig and it dosent sound better on boradcst. Not even if it was the same
price would I prefer it.

Michael

The more recent NRD series of receivers were not noted for good
sounding audio. They had very good ergonomics and were very "pretty",
however. The R75 is probably about the best deal around nowadays,
particularly if you do the AGC/sync mod to make the sync detector work
properly. I was sorry I sold mine.

Frank
K3YAZ

wrote in message
oups.com...
The more recent NRD series of receivers were not noted for good
sounding audio. They had very good ergonomics and were very "pretty",
however. The R75 is probably about the best deal around nowadays,
particularly if you do the AGC/sync mod to make the sync detector work
properly. I was sorry I sold mine.

I have the Kiwa mods for the agc/sync and the audio upgrade too. The R-75
is unquestionably the best value for dollar table top that there is. The
only thing that it is missing is ssb selectable sync. At times I prefer to
use my Sony 7600gr through the PC speakers over the R-75 for SW broadcast
when there is QRM coming from an adjacent signal. That ssb selectable am
sync can make all the difference at times. I keep wishing that ICOM would
make an R-75A with a ssb selectable sync that works. Other then that, it is
a great radio. It is supreme for all ssb uses. DX'ing using the R-75 with
ECSS tuning in ssb is the most effective way that I have come up with for
dealing with hard signals. The twin pbt is the cat's ass. Using this
NRD-545 with its DSP for DX'ing in AM is not as effective as using the R-75
in ssb for DX'ing. I have the optional DSP module in the R-75 and I've
found that using the nb on a setting from 1 to 3 is a big help at times.
Not true DSP, but it helps. Bottom line, I cant see paying all that money
for the NRD-545. It isnt a better performer then the R-75.

Michael

"Michael" wrote in message
...
Hiya... I finally got to try an NRD-545. A friend that recently
purchased
one lent it to me for the evening. It didn't take as long as I expected
to
learn the basics of the radio. I've been using it with an external
speaker
and both of my two outdoor antennas. My one single impression so far is
that
it is over priced and over rated. It is NO more sensitive or selective
then
my R-75. I also find the audio to be anemic and tinny. The DSP
technology
is a help on some of the weak and messy signals I've tried, but it is by
no
means a magic cure. I was thinking about getting one last year and I'm
glad
I didn't. So far the best thing about this radio is how it looks. It
makes
my R-75 look like an ugly duckling, but it doesn't make it sound like one.
I admit I've only had it for a few hours and I may be missing part of the
story, but I dont like it better then my R-75. It is not a better DX'ing
rig and it dosent sound better on boradcst. Not even if it was the same
price would I prefer it.

Michael

Michael,

Too bad you didn't like it. Took me about a month before I got the hang of
my NRD 545. And still learning. I'm very impressed with JRC stuff.

I have the 545 hooked up to a stereo system and the audio is excellent this
way. It's got some really brilliant features that take a while to get used
to, for me at least.

But I have no experience with Icom, so can't compare. The NRD545 is radio
people seem to love or hate.

My won't be going anywhere.

Mark.
Auckland
New Zealand.

Only NRDs need NRDs.

"Mark" wrote in message
news:1108535136.319649@ftpsrv1...

"Michael" wrote in message
...
Hiya... I finally got to try an NRD-545. A friend that recently
purchased
one lent it to me for the evening. It didn't take as long as I expected
to
learn the basics of the radio. I've been using it with an external
speaker
and both of my two outdoor antennas. My one single impression so far is
that
it is over priced and over rated. It is NO more sensitive or selective
then
my R-75. I also find the audio to be anemic and tinny. The DSP
technology
is a help on some of the weak and messy signals I've tried, but it is by
no
means a magic cure. I was thinking about getting one last year and I'm
glad
I didn't. So far the best thing about this radio is how it looks. It
makes
my R-75 look like an ugly duckling, but it doesn't make it sound like
one.
I admit I've only had it for a few hours and I may be missing part of the
story, but I dont like it better then my R-75. It is not a better DX'ing
rig and it dosent sound better on boradcst. Not even if it was the same
price would I prefer it.

Michael

Michael,

Too bad you didn't like it. Took me about a month before I got the hang of
my NRD 545. And still learning. I'm very impressed with JRC stuff.

I have the 545 hooked up to a stereo system and the audio is excellent
this
way. It's got some really brilliant features that take a while to get used
to, for me at least.

But I have no experience with Icom, so can't compare. The NRD545 is radio
people seem to love or hate.

My won't be going anywhere.

Hiya... I dont hate it at all. I'm sure it would grow on me if I had it for
a long time and I learned its finer points. I just dont think that it is a
good value for dollar. Especially considering that my R-75 was only $500.00
brand new and the R-75 seems to be just as capable. At this point, I
really think the only thing that could improve my DX'ing capabilities would
be a new location. I cant make bigger antennas, because they overload even
my R-75 with the local 50 kilowatt medium wave stations. New and more
expensive radios wont help either, because of the general noise levels in
the very densely populated area that I live in. I've come to the conclusion
that the bottleneck for me is just my location and not my gear. The NRD-545
really does look nice and it is built like a tank. There is no use for me
to get one though as I dont think a more expensive radio will help given the
reasons I listed above. I just had to try though. Luckily, I can give this
one back easy enough. No harm, no foul.

Michael

At this point, I
really think the only thing that could improve my DX'ing capabilities
would
be a new location. I cant make bigger antennas, because they overload
even
my R-75 with the local 50 kilowatt medium wave stations. New and more
expensive radios wont help either, because of the general noise levels in
the very densely populated area that I live in. I've come to the
conclusion
that the bottleneck for me is just my location and not my gear.

Mike, you have probably hit the nail squarely. I can tell you from my
experience
that dxing weak sigs in a big "noisy" city is a hopeless endeavor. After
moving to
a semi-rural area the difference was enormous. I finally learned to
understand
what a receiver's noise floor limitation meant.

Take your R75 to a quite country location as far out as you can for a
weekend
and you to will be surprised of even the most modest receiver capability.
Of
course you can spend more bucks on a Welbrook loop, etc...

"tianli" wrote in message
Mike, you have probably hit the nail squarely. I can tell you from my
experience
that dxing weak sigs in a big "noisy" city is a hopeless endeavor. After
moving to
a semi-rural area the difference was enormous. I finally learned to
understand
what a receiver's noise floor limitation meant.

Take your R75 to a quite country location as far out as you can for a
weekend
and you to will be surprised of even the most modest receiver capability.
Of
course you can spend more bucks on a Welbrook loop, etc...

Yes, very good point. In a quiet, rural location, sometimes you can outdo a
great desktop receiver in the city, with a humble portable.

Mark.
Auckland
New Zealand.

Do I get to try that NRD-545 out next?
www.deadmandancing.com Jackson Gigs.Hal and Mal's-Redheaded Stepchild.
I have to go check that one out.
cuhulin