[R-390] The best
Bob kb8tq
kb8tq at n1k.org
Sat Jan 6 22:09:07 EST 2018
Hi
Any time you have a “band” that goes from a bit below a 1 MHz division to a bit above a
1 MHz division (SWL band at 7 MHz comes to mind) the R-390 style radios become a
bit of a chore to use ….
Bob
> On Jan 6, 2018, at 9:30 PM, Cecil Acuff <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:
>
> Many R-390 series receiver owners also own and use an SP-600 variant. I’ve heard the SP-600 is great for cruising the bands and when something of interest is found, dialed up on the R-390 to listen.
>
> Les will tell you...we just can’t seem to get the job done with just one receiver and there is great joy in owning several examples of the available technology of the period.
>
> I also own a couple high end modern receivers as well...nice for comparison and great fun to use too. I only listen to AM on my boat anchors mostly...when I want to listen to SSB or CW I have better tools for that.
>
> Boomer...great post too...
>
> Cecil
> K5DL
>
> Sent using recycled electrons.
>
>> On Jan 6, 2018, at 7:32 PM, jbrannig <jbrannig at verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>> R-390A tuning is "too"Too fast for tuning in SSB or CWToo slow for cruising the SW bands.
>> 73,Jim
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A
>> -------- Original message --------From: Stan Gammons <s_gammons at charter.net> Date: 1/6/18 8:27 PM (GMT-05:00) To: "Todd, KA1KAQ" <ka1kaq at gmail.com> Cc: R-390 List <r-390 at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [R-390] The best
>> Hi Todd,
>>
>> Yeah, I guess I could/should have been more specific. I meant best as
>> most sensitive, best selectivity, dynamic range and so forth. I have no
>> experience with the SP600 or the RA17. All I know about them is from
>> what I've heard and read about them.
>>
>> Yes, changing bands and tuning kilohertz on the R-390A can be brutal.
>> While not great quality, I have listened to some decent sounding audio
>> on local AM broadcast stations with the bandwidth set to 8 kilohertz on
>> the R-390A.
>>
>> Thanks for the links.
>>
>> Happy new Year to you too!
>>
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Stan
>> KM4HQE
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 01/06/2018 06:27 PM, Todd, KA1KAQ wrote:
>>> On Thu, Jan 4, 2018 at 12:16 AM, Stan Gammons <s_gammons at charter.net
>>> <mailto:s_gammons at charter.net>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I know we all like our R-390A and it's arguably the best of the
>>> tube receivers.
>>>
>>>
>>> 'Arguably' being the key word here, Stan. "Best" is a pretty broad
>>> definition that means different things to different people.
>>>
>>> Best at what? Best how? As a member of this group since last century,
>>> I can assure you the discussion has been had here and elsewhere, many
>>> times.
>>>
>>> While the R-390 family of receivers definitely excels in several
>>> areas, it falls flat in others. While areas like appearance are more
>>> subjective, aspects like ease of use and fidelity are not.
>>>
>>> I think in areas like stability, sensitivity, and selectivity, the
>>> R-390 and later, cost-reduced A models are at the front of the pack.
>>>
>>> When it comes to ease of use, something like the SP-600 leaves it in
>>> the dust. If you're not already familiar with the term, do a google
>>> search for 'R-390 Wrist'.
>>>
>>> Same goes for fidelity - the pre-war push-pull audio output Super Pros
>>> with their continuously-variable bandwidth are tough to beat here, and
>>> good receivers in their own right. Or the SX-28 with its P-P audio and
>>> flywheel tuning, or NC-240-D, NC-183, etc etc.
>>>
>>> And that's where the slippery slope of 'best' takes over. I think for
>>> balance and aesthetics, the SX-28 is about the nicest looking receiver
>>> out there, for example.
>>>
>>> But I'd never be without my R-390 and later A model - they are
>>> keepers, definitely in the top...5 ? keeper sets for me. And yet
>>> another reason to have a few receivers kicking around.
>>>
>>> To your question about comparing the numbers - I'm not aware of any
>>> definitive source out there for comparison of all period sets.
>>> However, Jay Rusgrove/W1VD has done some comparisons on sets that he
>>> has gone through and brought up to spec. The R-390A and SP-600 are
>>> both in the list. It can be found at:
>>>
>>> http://www.w1vd.com/BAreceivertest.html
>>>
>>> I know Jay personally, he is very thorough and professional. And a
>>> decent guy as well. Happy to answer questions, give pointers,
>>> explanations, and so on. You can read a bit more about him here:
>>>
>>> http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page11.html
>>>
>>> From personal experience, along with the SP-600 I've also used the
>>> RA-17. Though not a clinical or technical review, I would certainly
>>> put it in the same class as the R-390 series. It's extremely quiet and
>>> sensitive, also quite stable if the Wadley Loop circuitry is
>>> performing correctly. Excellent build quality, but like the SP-600, it
>>> suffers from its own version of COC (Crappy Old Capacitors) syndrome.
>>> It is not easy to service, either. Takes a little getting use to with
>>> its tuning arrangement, but when it's working well, it's a truly
>>> wonderful set to use.
>>>
>>> Hope this info helps. Happy New Year to you and the list, as well.
>>>
>>> de Todd/'Boomer', KA1KAQ/4
>>>
>>>
>>
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