Dear "HFguy,"

You know, when I made that comment about perfect pitch I wondered, just
for a second, if anyone would bring up the difference between
"absolute" and "relative" perfect pitch but I figured that, in this
context, it didn't really matter. Obviously though you have made the
question. So to answer you: yes, like most who have "perfect pitch,"
mine is "relative."

I don't know if that is a "requirement" for hearing the
"note-flattening" (frequency or pitch-changing) effect that the Drake
synchronous circuit inserts into musical notes being transmitted (as it
attempts to maintain lock) over a variable-strength signal being
received (I believe that most people could hear it), but it is
sometimes an annoyance to me and, according to Drake, it is inherent in
their circuit. Obviously the technology does exist to eliminate that
problem.

But let me make this statement: there is no such thing as a "perfect"
radio or "perfect" circuits. Drake's synchronous circuit is extremely
well-designed and performs in a manner that would please just about
everyone, certainly including me. (I've owned my Grundig Satellit 800
for six years now and am VERY pleased with it.) I just think that, in
overall performance, AOR's synchronous detection circuit is somewhat
better.

Regarding the AOR AR7030 Plus: its so-called ergonomic "shortcomings"
have been blown WAY out of proportion. How often do we actually make
changes in operating parameters? Face it, we tune in a station, adjust
the passband (if necessary), adjust the filter (if necessary), engage
the notch filter (if necessary), and then we sit back and listen. (At
least that's what I do!) You can do all that on the AOR with just one
button push (and twirling one knob) for all of those functions (except
the notch filter which hunts out and "zaps" the offending heterodyne
automatically! - you don't need to use a knob). You can do much of that
from your easy chair across the room, if you like, with the remote
control, or, if you prefer (as I do), you can control practically the
whole shebang via your computer using one of several computer-control
programs (I use RxWings - its free and its fantastic!). Just about the
only people who could not use an AR7030 Plus are those whose VCRs
permanently blink "12:00."

Its a pity that reviews were quick to damn something new and
revolutionary like the AR7030 Plus and its operation. Many people
(including myself - for years!) were heavily influenced by these
reviews and therefore were reluctant to try this radio.

I am VERY glad that I overcame my fears and bought the set. You may
well stick to your views and you are welcome to them (and I respect
them) about "buttons," "controls," etc.(and, to tell the truth, I like
them too - they really look great and they impress the heck out of your
friends and relatives - "you REALLY know how to use that?!?"), but take
my word for it: you CANNOT get performance equal to that of the AOR
AR7030 Plus without spending twice (or more) its price (antennas and
all other things being equal). Check out the tables in PASSPORT 2006
and you'll see what I mean. And also note that this radio, now in its
eleventh year of production, is still one of PASSPORT's top receivers.
Not only that, but ANY AR7030 can be converted (for a price, of course)
to the latest specifications, hardware, and features by the factory.
(In other words, your 1996 set can be brought up to 2006 standards.)
This is excellent engineering. (For example, you cannot convert a JRC
NRD-535D to a JRC NRD545, or a Drake R8A to an R8B.)

And if an old "luddite" like myself can learn to operate this radio (it
took me all of thirty minutes), anyone can! Believe me, it really is
EASY to use and is the best shortwave radio I persoanlly have ever
heard or owned in almost fifty years of shortwave listening.

Best,

Joe

P.S. I don't know how to record a SW signal to computer. Try listening
to the interval signal of the Voice of Russia (if its signal-strength
is variable at your location as it is at mine). You will hear some of
the sustained notes go momentarily flat (change pitch) when listening
to it on a Drake radio or Grundig Satelit 800 (and possibly the new
Eton E1 if that radio also uses the same Drake sync circuit - it may
not) and then the note will "recover." Turn off the Drake sync circuit
and this effect does not happen. The notes stay on pitch..

P.P.S. As all of us Sony ICF7600GR owners know, Sony's sync circuit
injects a horrible"whistle" when it's trying to maintain lock on a weak
or rapidly-fading in and out signal. But, then, the ICFSW7600GR costs
only (at MOST) $150.00 and NO other currently-manufactured small
portable SW radio offers any sync circuit at all. Don't like that
effect? Turn the sync off! At least, with this radio, you can have the
circuit on when you want it (which is most of the time). And, as with
ALL radios that feature a well-designed sync circuit, audio quality is
improved (distortion is lowered) when the circuit is on.

"HFguy" wrote:

.... Are you sure you mean perfect (absolute) pitch? That's when you
know the
musical letter assigned to any note you hear without a reference note.
It's quite rare. I have relative pitch. I can hear a very slight change
in the pitch of a tone. I also know when I'm hearing a song in it's
original key. For example, I can whistle a popular song in it's
original
key but I couldn't tell you the actual letter of that key. That's why
it's called 'relative'.

.... I don't think I could live with the ergonomics of the '7030'. I
know I
couldn't live with the menu carousel on the original R8. I hate going
through menus to change a setting. I want buttons. The more the
merrier.
I can change the most commonly used functions on my R8B in the dark.