[Premium-Rx] WJ-8711A or WJ-8712P

[Pat1McA at aol.com]

Greetings to all,
 
This is an interesting topic.  Basic question:
 
Has anyone actually compared the WJ-8711A and WJ-8712P receivers, side by  
side on the same signal under exactly the same circumstances. Same antenna, 
same  audio level, same line amp level or 'phones etc etc ??????
 
Is there any meaningful, noticeable, improvement ???
 
Or are we on the usual downward slope of the "Law of diminishing returns"  
against upward cost?
 
I am not surprised that the WJ-8711A failed the 2 and 3Ip tests in  Sweden, 
up to now I have never managed to measure one  successfully. They just fold 
up and die in testing.
 
However in practice, rather like the KWM380, this is not  noticeable.The 
recovered audio is excellent.
 
You have to be careful comparing like for like because the nominal 0dBm  lin
e output of the WJ-8711A is seldom that and is usually a few dBs higher 
being  non adjustable. Thus it can sound "hotter" in direct comparison with 
another DSP  receiver which is actually set for 0dBm.
 
Under the same test conditions other DSP Receivers, EK896, RA3791 and the  
older analogue E1800/3, E1700, EK085, EK070 etc test perfectly.
 
I agree that a "score" should be assigned for "Intuitiveness and  
Operability". Some, like the 51S-1, RA1792 and the WJ-8711A are obvious in  operation 
but others, like the later R&S EK8XX series require a weeks  intensive 
course to get the best out of them.
 
Years ago I was stuck as R/O on Tankers with some of the oldest HF/MF  
receivers ever built. One was a Siemens G11 (This may have been a Siemens &  
Halske?) which de-tuned as the ship pitched.
Each day it was a battle to contact GKA but the general intuitiveness of  
the receiver made up for the basic defects and looking back, it was amazing 
what  could actually be achieved in practice.
 
Best wishes for the New Year,
 
Pat G3YFK