[Icom] Icom 746 Pro

[Rick Robinson]

I will try to address some of your questions. 
I own the 746 Pro and use an sm-8.
I just barely crack open the mic gain adjustment on the sm-8.
The tone control on the mic is mid position.
I use the mid range transmit bandwith with no compression.
The mic gain on the radio is set between 11 and 12 O clock.
The radio tone controls are set in ssb as Bass is zero and Treble is
plus three.
This works for me quite well. Absoutely keep the sm8s gain low as this
will result
in the hollow condition you describe. 

As for the speech board there is a small trim pot located beside the
modules location.
This control will adjust the speech level. Not very handy. This is
trimmer R1925

The radio has a general set mode.Push and hold the menu button for 1
second.
There are thirty nine settings.
The speech module has a speed,language, and s meter reading setting in
menus twenty three thru twenty five.
Menu nineteen and twenty address the tuner.

There are many important functions in these menus. I suggest you get
some sighted help to set the radio up. 
Please don't take that suggestion wrong as I have worked with a few
sight impaired hams over the years and one of my best friends was until
he became a SK a few years ago. He was amazing when operating his
station. I hope my info has helped and I will be glad to help you on the
phone if you like. Just reply off line and I will give you my phone
number. 73 and good luck. Rick Robinson. K8DXN