[Boatanchors] 51J3 vs SP600?

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Grant pretty well summed it up. The Collins is the more
sensitive/stable/accurate and the Hammar is the more easy to use and
listen to. I would add that the J-3/'388 does sound better than the
J-4 with its mechanical filters, which I think is what Grant was
eluding to. The SP-600 does sound a bit better than the J-3. But the
SX-28 sounds a lot better than the SP-600 and is also a blast to use
with its flywheel tuning. It's also a generation older than the '600
and therefore, not as technically up to speed.

Once you have the SP-600, it's difficult to part with. Unless you
absolutely have to, keep it or you'll wish you had. Many of us have
one in the rack with the R-390(*) receivers simply because it's a
breeeze to tune for those across-band excursions. Not the 'best'
receiver in every aspect, but certainly in the top 5 or so for that
era. I bet many folks end up using them a lot more than the 'better'
radios, too.

~ Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ

On 6/21/05, Grant Youngman <nq5t at comcast.net> wrote:
> > Anyone have an opinion in comparing a Collins 51J3 / R388
> > with a hammarlund sp600 for general use?
> 
> You can't beat the SP-600 for general SWBC band scanning and ham use on the
> lower bands.  And it is an excellent receiver overall.
> 
> You can't beat the 51J-3/R-388 for dial accuracy and stability throughout
> it's tuning range.  Another excellent general purpose AM receiver.
> 
> I'd never part with my SP-600.  I did part with my R-388 a few years ago in
> favor of keeping a 51J-4, but that was a mistake. I finally sold the 51J-4
> and will probably replace the R-388 one of these days.  The SP-600 has
> better audio out of the box.  The R-388 audio is very "communications
> quality" tailored,  but with an external audio amp off the detector it, too,
> plays great.
> 
> You need BOTH :-)