I think that a lot of people are bothered by the idea that the performance of the big expensive and cool looking radios are getting bested by SDR technology. Surely the little pocket sized box can’t hold up against the JRC and R-75. Maybe people have different tastes for audio quality, but for me, on the Belka (if I could speak the language) I’d actually be able to discern what was being said. Not so with the other two. Period. Towards the end of the video when he goes from the 525 to the Belka, it’s pretty undeniable to me which sounded better. And even if they’re close.... Hello,.. The Belka is $150 and the size of a box of lemon heads.. SDR is where things are headed. Deal with it guys..
Check out the Wolf sdr, some of the Russian receivers are just amazing. I have the original malahit DSP 2 and while I really like it the screen is just too small. I want to see large radios again, tecsun PL-680 size or larger with good audio and big screens if SDR. SDR can be good but they can also have a very harsh sounding audio like the IC-7300 it just sounds terrible and my PL-680 sounds so sweet compared to the 7300, however I now have the FTDX-10 an amazing receiver with fantastic auido, it's a hybrid though not full blown SDR but the audio is just so much more enjoyable to listen to than the 7300. I would love if the malahit had buttons and more knobs, screens to do everything are not nice to use in my opinion.
The Belka by a nose over the R75 followed last by the JRC. Most expensive isn't always the best. The JRC just didn't measure up in my opinion. 73's...Phil
The Belka had some help from the Bose re audio. Less noise picked up by both NRD 525 and IC R75 . Good show by the Belka but my vote goes to the NRD 525 closely followed by IC R75
think there all good some may sound a tadge better during frequency fluctuations than others, might have been better Clint if they were all put through the Bose speaker just to give a level playing field mmm
The Bose speaker cost more than the Belka radio! And it is amplified. You could have just plugged it into the other 2 radios. I am not too familiar with the JRC but the display coming on and off like that would make me go crazy (crazier?). Is there a way to make it stop doing that?
Nah I could not let this one go Sir , and for me its the fiddly fussy wee Icom in first place followed very closely by the beautiful old JRC then the diminutive little Belka. Its great to see you with a set up that really gives you a chance to give them all a fair comparison. The price of the Icom in its heyday within its given price point beats all at that price level. The JRC given its age and very cutting edge technology which gained legendary status shows even today which is really incredible of how high end this companys radios are. Finally your amazingly diminutive little Belka is a real head scratcher , and who knows with firmware updates how far this wee gem can go , and I still think that they missed a trick omitting the inclusion of Long Wave 👍 Tam.
I don't think it's a fair test as the speaker on the R75 is not great for broadcasting. It's intended for 300Hz-3kHz. If you used the Belka built in speaker it would be similar. The JRC has good audio but seemed to have problems with adjacent channel rejection or some other effect. So not a lot in it.
Three excellent radio's, the NRD525 is the winner I think, the Belka always has very good audio with a external speaker. The Icom IC-R75 is also a very nice and excellent receiver.
I liked the Belka DX > JRC NRD525 > Icom IC-R75. Clint if I may, what is the connector from the Bose to the Belka DX? is it a 3.5 stereo mini plug on both ends? thanks
Great comparison. Which mode was the Belka in forr the test? Listening on headphones directly from the Belka output I I rate the audio very highly in AM1 mode and better still in the AM2 pseudo sync mode. NRD and Icom not to be sniffed at but 2020 tech has prvided something great in the Belka.. Several radios to compare here including NRD 525 535, Lowe, Icom Yaesu. Belka is a serious contender. Thanks for the vids . E
Yes for me Belka produced the most readable sound.
I think that a lot of people are bothered by the idea that the performance of the big expensive and cool looking radios are getting bested by SDR technology. Surely the little pocket sized box can’t hold up against the JRC and R-75. Maybe people have different tastes for audio quality, but for me, on the Belka (if I could speak the language) I’d actually be able to discern what was being said. Not so with the other two. Period. Towards the end of the video when he goes from the 525 to the Belka, it’s pretty undeniable to me which sounded better.
And even if they’re close.... Hello,.. The Belka is $150 and the size of a box of lemon heads.. SDR is where things are headed. Deal with it guys..
I think you're right - I think the audio on the Belka was the clearest - to my ears anyway!
Check out the Wolf sdr, some of the Russian receivers are just amazing. I have the original malahit DSP 2 and while I really like it the screen is just too small.
I want to see large radios again, tecsun PL-680 size or larger with good audio and big screens if SDR.
SDR can be good but they can also have a very harsh sounding audio like the IC-7300 it just sounds terrible and my PL-680 sounds so sweet compared to the 7300, however I now have the FTDX-10 an amazing receiver with fantastic auido, it's a hybrid though not full blown SDR but the audio is just so much more enjoyable to listen to than the 7300.
I would love if the malahit had buttons and more knobs, screens to do everything are not nice to use in my opinion.
The Belka by a nose over the R75 followed last by the JRC. Most expensive isn't always the best. The JRC just didn't measure up in my opinion. 73's...Phil
Very true Phil! Thanks and hope you're keeping safe, Sir. 73
A bit of adjustment on the Belka to a narrower BW and filtering would have helped....I say all three are pretty much even...
The Belka had some help from the Bose re audio. Less noise picked up by both NRD 525 and IC R75 . Good show by the Belka but my vote goes to the NRD 525 closely followed by IC R75
Thanks John!
think there all good some may sound a tadge better during frequency fluctuations than others, might have been better Clint if they were all put through the Bose speaker just to give a level playing field mmm
The Bose speaker cost more than the Belka radio! And it is amplified. You could have just plugged it into the other 2 radios. I am not too familiar with the JRC but the display coming on and off like that would make me go crazy (crazier?). Is there a way to make it stop doing that?
Nah I could not let this one go Sir , and for me its the fiddly fussy wee Icom in first place followed very closely by the beautiful old JRC then the diminutive little Belka. Its great to see you with a set up that really gives you a chance to give them all a fair comparison. The price of the Icom in its heyday within its given price point beats all at that price level. The JRC given its age and very cutting edge technology which gained legendary status shows even today which is really incredible of how high end this companys radios are. Finally your amazingly diminutive little Belka is a real head scratcher , and who knows with firmware updates how far this wee gem can go , and I still think that they missed a trick omitting the inclusion of Long Wave 👍 Tam.
Thanks for your comments Sir. Hope you're keeping well. 73
I don't think it's a fair test as the speaker on the R75 is not great for broadcasting. It's intended for 300Hz-3kHz. If you used the Belka built in speaker it would be similar. The JRC has good audio but seemed to have problems with adjacent channel rejection or some other effect. So not a lot in it.
The Belka on it's own speaker was actually worse than the Icom - partly because it's not very loud - reducing discernability. 73
So I guess thats 3 on my wish list now Clint lol....73's
Of course Robert! 73!
Three excellent radio's, the NRD525 is the winner I think, the Belka always has very good audio with a external speaker. The Icom IC-R75 is also a very nice and excellent receiver.
Thank you René ! Keep safe Sir. 73
I liked the Belka DX > JRC NRD525 > Icom IC-R75. Clint if I may, what is the connector from the Bose to the Belka DX? is it a 3.5 stereo mini plug on both ends? thanks
John, I use the same setup on my Xiegu G-90 and it is as you suspected. Great combination.
Is this the new dx max with dsp???
No this is the standard DX.
Great comparison. Which mode was the Belka in forr the test? Listening on headphones directly from the Belka output I I rate the audio very highly in AM1 mode and better still in the AM2 pseudo sync mode. NRD and Icom not to be sniffed at but 2020 tech has prvided something great in the Belka.. Several radios to compare here including NRD 525 535, Lowe, Icom Yaesu. Belka is a serious contender. Thanks for the vids . E
Thanks Edward - I think it was AM1.
Sorry but JRC is rolex icom omega delka seiko