[Kenwood] Sort of off topic question about radios - w/KWD Connection

[George Sieverson]

>....I am thinking about buying a CCRadio plus from C. Crane Radio.
>.......Anybody had experience with one of these radios?
>I wish to hear both the positive and negative aspects.....

Greetings Gregg,

I have the older (non-stereo) version and I love mine!  It's a lot of money,
but I think you'll find it worth the price.  This thing is a BCB DXers dream
machine.   Here are my observations and opinions:

The positives:
1)Tight AGC loop.  Like a good communication receiver, the weakest stations
are received at the same volume as the strongest.
2) Good sensitivity.  If it's there, you'll hear it.  The BC band is loaded
with stations, even during daylight hours.  The sensitivity is good across
the whole band, too.  I hear everything on the CC Radio that can be heard
with an SP600.
3) Good IF selectivity.  I regularly listen to a Canadian BC station at 1010
even though a local station is operating at 1MHz.  ....not communication
grade selectivity, but very good!  Total absence of that annoying 10KHz beat
note, too.
4) Robust sounding speaker with a large, heavy magnet.  The sound is
reminiscent of the Zenith TransOceanics or Grundigs of yesteryear.  Very
easy on the ears.  This thing can get loud, too.  Good for working around
the yard or house.
5) Among the cleanest recovered audio I've ever heard.  Much of this is
probably due to the extensive tailoring of the receivers audio response.  A
side by side comparison between the CC Radio and my Sony 21010 reveals weak
signals sound clearer on the CC Radio with less background noise and hiss.
And now the Kenwood connection: For BCB use, the CCRadio sounds as good as
my TS-870 does through a good external speaker.  It's that good!
6) A set of batteries seem to last forever.

The Negatives:
1) If one holds down a preset button too long while changing stations, that
preset will be quickly overwritten by the frequency currently in use.  I
hate when that happens!
2) I can hear a faint digital sounding "artifact" on the lower sideband of a
50 KW station at 720KHz whose transmitter site is located about 20 miles SE
of me.  It goes away when the signal is tuned properly.
3) Somewhat sluggish response of the radios controls.  This is probably due
to an extremely slow clock speed for the digital electronics.  Because the
digital board is located next to the loop antenna, any fast digital signals
would most likely create intolerable QRM.

Just my $0.02 worth....
73 'n cheers 'n beers,
George - K9GDT
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