John Plimmer wrote:

There was also a long thread on this newsgroup that claimed the AOR
7030 had
the best sync detector in the business, but I still punt the R8B as the
7030
sync was NOT sideband selectable, which is required for most good
listening.

Dear John,

Contrary to what you write, the AR7030's synchronous detection circuit
IS most definitely sideband-selectable and features double-sideband
detection as well (so does the Drake R8B). It does not feature a
"fixed" sideband selection as does the Drake R8B (or the Drake
SW8/Grundig Satellit 800), but rather a "variable" one using the
passband tuning. (You can tune the circuit this way as well on the
Drake.)

A good argument could be made that the Drake's sync circuit thus has
more options - but I have found that using the variable selectable
sideband on the AR7030 Plus offers much better control. I should think
the same would apply to the Drake R8B. You will find the sound to be
slightly better and the lock to be somewhat more robust when you tune
this way - you use the passband offset at the minimum distance
necessary away from true center rather than at some "fixed" offset
determined by the factory. (The Drake's circuit will make a low-pitched
noise as you tune this way [the AOR's does not] but when you reach the
desired passband offset, the noise goes away and the sync circuit
stablizes.)

Neither of the circuits, however, are "perfect." The Drake circuit
often "warbles" (my very poor term but you know what I'm talking about)
- especially noticeable on musical notes - as the signal varies in
strength. The AOR circuit "hunts" and momentarily "mutes" as a station
is changed (NOT, however, when using the free RxWINGS computer-control
program). But it then stays "rock-solid" regardless what the signal
subsequently does.

The AR7030's sync circuit does not "struggle" to maintain lock as does
Drake's circuit.

AOR's "shortcoming" has been verified to me as being inherent by
Richard Hillier of AOR-UK. Drake's "shortcoming" has been verified to
me as being inherent by two different service technicians at Drake.

PLEASE NOTE that these so-called "shortcomings" are minor in nature in
the overall scheme of things and should certainly not be blown out of
proportion. Either one of these sync detectors is far better than any
other currently being offered today (with the possible exception of
that Sherwood SE-3, with which I have no experience - though about
which I have read only very good things) and I use both of them - one
on my AR7030 Plus and the other on my Grundig Satellit 800 (which uses
the same circuit as the Drake R8B, the sole control exception being not
offering double-sideband detection).

Of the two, I much prefer AOR's. And note this well - I'd rather have
SOME sync circuit than NO sync circuit!.

Best,

Joe

P.S. to RHF (after all, it's your post!): Sherwood can install a 455
kHz output on your Drake R8B should you wish to incorporate an SE-3.