[ICOM] Best Icom HF rig

[Jan C. Robbins]

Having compared all three of them in A/B tests, my vote is strongly for 
the 775, which has one of the best receivers ever tested by a number of 
independent testing agencies.  But the 765, if given the full 
"treatment," including InRad filters and reduction of IF gain for best 
noise floor, runs such a good race that I'd be hard-pressed to choose. 
The 775 does have an excellent, easily adjustable DSP in addition to 
good front-end filtering, which the 765 does not, and other bells and 
whistles, so I suppose it wins by a little bit.

I haven't tried the 7800 or ProIII, but have had 756Pro and ProII in 
similar A/B tests with the other rigs, and all three you 
mention--775,781, 765--have noticeably better receivers.

There are many reasons for 'preferring" one rig to another, and I would 
be the last one to argue that there is such a thing as an objectively 
"best" rig for all operators.  On the other hand, without head-to-head 
A/B tests and/or data from qualified third-party specialists such as Rob 
Sherwood, who have themselves done head-to-head testing, any judgment is 
at best a guess.  I would have "guessed" the 781 had a better receiver 
than the 765, even when the latter is properly modified, but I would 
have been wrong.

It's a fun investigation!  GL es vy 73 to all.  Jan N0JR



Dick Flanagan wrote:
> At 09:32 AM 9/12/2005, John  Geiger (NE0P) wrote:
>  >In your opinion, what is the best Icom HF rig ever made-the 775?  781? 
> 765?
> 
> Ever made at the time or ever made based on today's standards?
> 
> Dick
> -- 
> Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
> E-mail: k7vc at arrl.org
> 
> 
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