[Heathkit] Broadcast quality audio???

[Grant Youngman]

> I keep hearing about removimg clippers and audio filters in 
> AM gear so you can have broadcast quality audio.  The actual 
> practice in the 1950's was you needed communications punch to 
> get thru on AM.
> 
> Today we have the luxury of using "broadcast" quality AM as 
> there is little AM QRM on the AM frequencies.  Buts lets 
> remember the :real" norm for 1950's AM audio.

You make a sound point, that doesn't just relate to the 50's.  I hear many
otherwise great sounding ham rigs or converted broadcast (mostly the latter)
radios on, with extremely flat frequency response, lots of low end, etc.  If
they're not particularly strong, they have no "punch", or articulation, or
presence (pick your term) in the audio, and the guy behind his fancy ribbon
microphone can be a real strain to understand as a result -- lots of nice
round vowels and not a consonant to be heard.  They may sound fabulous
close-up or across a really good path, but tend to turn into mush if they're
not pinning the meter and/or conditions aren't very good.  Happens all the
time.

Doesn't do much good to be able to brag about how great your audio mods are
if the guy on the other end can't understand what you're saying :-)

Grant/NQ5T