[Drake] Please Respond For Historical research

[Ed Brooks]

Comment: While what follows asks you to post to this list, it might be
best if
you replied direct to me. Thank you.	
	
I would greatly appreciate each one of you taking the time to answer the
following questions. You may answer any or all of them. Please post your
reply
to the list so that all subscribers may have the opportunity to benefit
from
your collective experience.  	
	
When completed, I will put the edited replies into a document that will
be
posted on the HCI web site for anyone interested to read now or any time
in the
future. Credit will be given to each who respond. Thank you in advance
for your
cooperation and participation.   	
	
All answers are based on 'your personal opinion', they do not
necessarily have
to agree with manufacturer specifications. Which means, you may like a
receiver
with modest specifications better than one with superior specifications.
The
bottom line here is, listener preferences based on actual use.   	
	
1. What do you consider to be the best vacuum tube general coverage
receiver?
Why? 	

Best one I ever used was a Racal, but I don't recall the model number. 
This was in 1967 and was 
used in a special government project.  I liked its ease of tuning,
filters, stability. 
	
2. What do you consider to be the vacuum tube receiver with the best
audio
reproduction? Why?   	

Probably the Hallicrafters SX62.  We used them in AFRS and AFN for FM
station monitors. 
	
3. What do you consider to be the best vacuum tube receiver for both AM
and FM
listening? Why? 	

The SX62.  Very good fidelity on FM and good sensitivity on the AM SW
bands, and fair on the 
AM BC band.
	
4. Which vacuum tube receiver have you enjoyed listening to the most
since first
becoming interested in radio? Why? 	

The Collins 51-S1.  The capability to set it quickly to whatever
frequency I needed, and its very
good stability and selectivity for SSB reception.  A close second would
be the SP600
	
5. What is the best vacuum tube receiver built for Ham band only
coverage? Why? 

The Collins 75A4.  It was a derivative of the military line of 51J
receivers, proved for
mechanical and electrical stability, yet had the bandwidth of a ham-band
only receiver, and
excellent filters. 
	
6. What is the best sounding Ham band only vacuum tube receiver?
Why?           

I actually liked the National NC300 in this respect.  Good audio, good
filter capabilities and plenty
of audio power.   But I also liked the Drake 2B, due to its passband
tuning and easy-to-read dial.
	
	
7. What company bilt the greatest number of good performing vacuum tube
general
coverage receivers? 	

Probably Hallicrafters, but certainly Collins would be in this running
with the 51J series, the R390, R392, 651S1, 51S1, etc. 

	
8. Defining the term 'vintage' to be a receiver that is at least
twenty-five
years old, or built prior to 1978, which one is the best overall
performing
general coverage receiver? Why?   	
	
The TMC GPR90RX.  Great features, good stability.  


9. Using the same criteria as in the previous question, which receiver
had the
best audio quality? Why?   	

Hallicrafters SX62.  
	
10. If you could have any receiver ever manufactured, which one would
you choose
and why?   	
	
Possibly a Watkins-Johnson or a Harris, but my top wish would be a TMC
GPR90RX.  I just like the
way they handle and look. 



Ed, W5HTW




Duane Fischer, W8DBF	


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