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Through this list I would like to share with you my
first DX-impressions of the new NRD 545.
Please bear in mind that I'm not a technician but a
"DX-er"!
I have compared the device with the AOR AR 7030+,
the Lowe HF150 and the NRD 525.
** AUDIO **
A
frequently asked question about the new NRD 545 is: what is the audio like esp.
in the amplitude modulation? Compared with the previous NRD's the audio is fine,
much better, a relief! Compared to the Lowe and especially the 7030, the audio
is less good, but not to say bad. We all know that the Lowe HF 150 and the AOR
7030 (+ the Drake R8a b) sound really great. The audio of the new NRD 545 is not
bad at all imho, moreover because you can improve it quite reasonably with the
PBS and the tone control.
**AmSync - ECSS **
This is really good on the NRD 545, it locks well,
doesn't distort things and stays firm as a rock on the chosen frequency. It is
much easier than the AOR 7030 because you can select the upper or lower
side of the am-signal. The am-synch of the Lowe HF 150 is also better in my
opinion than that of the AOR 7030. Maybe not everyone agrees with
that.
PBS and notch filter are working perfectly together
with the ECSS of the NRD 545.
** Selectivity **
Very simple: it's great! This is what
we have been waiting for! This is no match for the AOR 7030! Together with the
PBS and the notch another perfect team to beat almost any form of
interference.
** Notch filter - PBS **
Are working perfectly. The notch is
very deep, removing every beep. The PBS-shift is also very good, it has a range
of about 2,3 Khz. I think that with respect to operating it is also better than
the AOR 7030: with that one you keep tuning. The auto notch of the AOR is quite
good but works a bit slowly and sometimes skips a whistle.
** Tone control **
Something to laugh at in the case of the NRD 525/535 but on the 545 it
really works! However, the AOR 7030 wins in this case: the separation control of
bass and treble is marvellous.
** Sweep and scanning **
I can't give my opinion on that as I never use
it.
** Noise reduction/beat canceler **
I don't like the noise reduction, you can't really
pull a station out of the noise. The noise reduction on the timewave DSP 59+
works better! JRC really ought to improve this, maybe in the form of a software
upgrade. The beat canceler works quite all right but sometimes there is a
distortion of the sound.
I really have to criticise JRC at this
point!
** Overall impression **
The NRD 545 is truly a leap forward. It's a
"quiet", good sounding receiver, with lots of possibillities to reduce
all kinds of interference. Operation is really easy and ergonomically very good.
When conditions are o.k., DX-ing is a real joy!
Hans de Zeeuw Amsterdam the
Netherlands.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lowe HF & PR 150
NRD 545 - Yaesu FRT-7700 RF Systems SP2 Timewave DSP-59+ ant.: Longwire 30m. Sony AN-1 |