Mark, thanks for the upload and your excellent videos. I am looking to buy a new radio in 2022 and am in a quandary between IC7610 and the Kenwood 890. I've had great success with Icom gear, but the 890 sounds so much nicer. Like you, I'm a CW op. Subscribed. Kev, M0TNX
I love the TS 890, as long as ICOM does not present a solution for your IC 7610 screen, I have no desire to buy an IC 7610, and here in Brazil there is nowhere to fix this icom screen, so I say that I am VERY HAPPY with my kenwood TS 890, is the best radio. 73
Own both. Got 7610 first and it is a great rig. Then watched a few of your videos on 890. You owe my bank account $3k. Great videos by the way and sub'd after watching them. I run both radios daily. Each one has its pros and cons. Peformance rx/tx are basically identical at my QTH. I love the Kenwood audio. It is far superior. Spectrum scope on 7610 is superior. I still like the Kenwood though. It seems to have more DPI. Both fail in allowing me to raise the height of the signals. I found a workaround on 7610 for an increase, but would like more. Kenwood frame rate is just accpetable on full. I do like that I can scroll and not see the waterfall smear. You can pounce on PSK and RTTY. Both are amazing radios!! Would add the FTDX 101 models and K4 when it comes out in the mide tier. FTDX101 is #1 on Sherwood last I checked. My take is that lab reports of this radio is better than this rardio is not noticeable in real world from my experience. Only the NR and NB can make a difference which can make or break getting a confirmed QSO. I feel brand loyalty makes operators want one model over another or talk trash about another radio. I personally would like to check out the 101 and K4. Unfortunately my desk is only so big and same for my wallet. I do not plan to sell either the 7610 or 890. Got 1 spot left and being patient. The Anan 7000 looks interesting as well, but trying to add even more computer time to my eyes. I like a all in one radio without a need for a computer. I would love to see more videos. You went silent. Thanks again for this one and keep em coming. 73
@@biltztom2685 - 890 NR more customizable (off, NR1, NR2) with level set and time constant. 7610 NR (off, on) with level. 890 NB1 is on,off with level, NB2 is on, off with level, depth, width. Can use none, NB1, NB2, or both. Again more customizable on 890. 7610 is on off with level, depth, width for NB. Performance on NR is even. NB 7610 is slightly better. Have seen 7610 overload with a super strong signal. Very rare though in normal usuage. The 890 handled it better when I tested. Went months testing different signals. Eventually came to the conclusion their both amazing radios. The 101 variable feature seems outstanding and possibly superior to both radios. Never tried it though so still up for debate. Hope this helps. Can't go wrong with any of the mid class radios.
Indeed; but when its zig-zagging it still looks a complete mess and doesnt provide any useful info to the operator in my view. Maybe I'm just being picky?
@@MarkG0MGX You have paid enough money OM for these two radios, rightfully to be picky. Yet, now we see K4 shipping as well as FTDX101 - this radio game is impossible to stay ahead of...
Is the waterfall on the Kenwood TS890 really that laggy and choppy? Or is it just how it appears on video? I've always been curious about that, as well as if it's choppy on the TS990 because on the 7610 it's real time and smooth
Mark I use SDR Console V3 and find the manufacturers cannot keep ahead of Simon no matter how expensive their hardware. Yet, I still enjoy a sharp CW note so I require a good transceiver, I just don't count on the onboard display. I have written a very fast application to tune SDR Console using the transceiver main tuning knob as if it were onboard the radio. One day the manufacturers may catch Simon with their hardware but no time soon. ;-)
A well explained video . Tks . For me looks like icom has more bells and whistles, with shortcomings. Kenwood has less bells and whistles and less shortcomings. It would boil down to me icom would be best if you do most listening with having 2 rx. But if you don't need 2 rx , the kenwood might be more user friendly. Well that was my take on what I saw on your demo . But like you say you pay your money and take your choice . 73 mm0udi .
@@MarkG0MGX I saw a lot of review TS 890S vs IC 7610 and they ask the same question and the owner prefer the TS890 S my friend have the T890S and the audio and the quality of Kenwood is superior than Icom
G0MGX de JE2PQQ I prefer both of them. You have both. It's so luxurious. If you had IC PW1 , IC7610 would be more useful. I recently got the new radio IC705. Has it been delivered in England yet ? Keep safe. 73 Yoshi
On the spec sheet? Maybe but can you tell the difference on air? No. I’ll take the build quality of the Kenwood all day long and I’ve been an Icom guy for years.
What I especially like about this comparison, is that it is made with CW in mind. I am looking for a good modern CW TRX.
Mark, thanks for the upload and your excellent videos. I am looking to buy a new radio in 2022 and am in a quandary between IC7610 and the Kenwood 890. I've had great success with Icom gear, but the 890 sounds so much nicer. Like you, I'm a CW op. Subscribed. Kev, M0TNX
That was great comparison. This year I will purchase the Kenwood 890S!
I love the TS 890, as long as ICOM does not present a solution for your IC 7610 screen, I have no desire to buy an IC 7610, and here in Brazil there is nowhere to fix this icom screen, so I say that I am VERY HAPPY with my kenwood TS 890, is the best radio. 73
Own both. Got 7610 first and it is a great rig. Then watched a few of your videos on 890. You owe my bank account $3k. Great videos by the way and sub'd after watching them. I run both radios daily. Each one has its pros and cons. Peformance rx/tx are basically identical at my QTH. I love the Kenwood audio. It is far superior. Spectrum scope on 7610 is superior. I still like the Kenwood though. It seems to have more DPI. Both fail in allowing me to raise the height of the signals. I found a workaround on 7610 for an increase, but would like more. Kenwood frame rate is just accpetable on full. I do like that I can scroll and not see the waterfall smear. You can pounce on PSK and RTTY. Both are amazing radios!! Would add the FTDX 101 models and K4 when it comes out in the mide tier. FTDX101 is #1 on Sherwood last I checked. My take is that lab reports of this radio is better than this rardio is not noticeable in real world from my experience. Only the NR and NB can make a difference which can make or break getting a confirmed QSO. I feel brand loyalty makes operators want one model over another or talk trash about another radio. I personally would like to check out the 101 and K4. Unfortunately my desk is only so big and same for my wallet. I do not plan to sell either the 7610 or 890. Got 1 spot left and being patient. The Anan 7000 looks interesting as well, but trying to add even more computer time to my eyes. I like a all in one radio without a need for a computer. I would love to see more videos. You went silent. Thanks again for this one and keep em coming. 73
I read some bad reviews about the 890 NR and NB. Is that true ?
@@biltztom2685 - 890 NR more customizable (off, NR1, NR2) with level set and time constant. 7610 NR (off, on) with level. 890 NB1 is on,off with level, NB2 is on, off with level, depth, width. Can use none, NB1, NB2, or both. Again more customizable on 890. 7610 is on off with level, depth, width for NB. Performance on NR is even. NB 7610 is slightly better. Have seen 7610 overload with a super strong signal. Very rare though in normal usuage. The 890 handled it better when I tested. Went months testing different signals. Eventually came to the conclusion their both amazing radios. The 101 variable feature seems outstanding and possibly superior to both radios. Never tried it though so still up for debate. Hope this helps. Can't go wrong with any of the mid class radios.
I have a ton of radio projects coming but this radio is in my to 2 right now. Unless they come out with something to replace the 990.
Hi Mark In centre mode the waterfall on the IC-7610 is still running,hence you get the zig zag, when you tune away on the 890 the waterfall stops
Indeed; but when its zig-zagging it still looks a complete mess and doesnt provide any useful info to the operator in my view. Maybe I'm just being picky?
@@MarkG0MGX You have paid enough money OM for these two radios, rightfully to be picky. Yet, now we see K4 shipping as well as FTDX101 - this radio game is impossible to stay ahead of...
Is the waterfall on the Kenwood TS890 really that laggy and choppy? Or is it just how it appears on video? I've always been curious about that, as well as if it's choppy on the TS990 because on the 7610 it's real time and smooth
Mark I use SDR Console V3 and find the manufacturers cannot keep ahead of Simon no matter how expensive their hardware. Yet, I still enjoy a sharp CW note so I require a good transceiver, I just don't count on the onboard display. I have written a very fast application to tune SDR Console using the transceiver main tuning knob as if it were onboard the radio. One day the manufacturers may catch Simon with their hardware but no time soon. ;-)
ICOM 7610 without doubts
Yes, it's a 7610. And the other radio is the TS890-S kicking its ass.
Useful content so thanks for posting
Excellent comparison...
A well explained video . Tks . For me looks like icom has more bells and whistles, with shortcomings. Kenwood has less bells and whistles and less shortcomings. It would boil down to me icom would be best if you do most listening with having 2 rx. But if you don't need 2 rx , the kenwood might be more user friendly. Well that was my take on what I saw on your demo . But like you say you pay your money and take your choice . 73 mm0udi .
So which do you prefer? You have no preference? Both are beautiful radios; thanks for the upload.
I prefer the 890; but its a personal thing. They are both superb radios!
@@MarkG0MGX I saw a lot of review TS 890S vs IC 7610 and they ask the same question and the owner prefer the TS890 S my friend have the T890S and the audio and the quality of Kenwood is superior than Icom
Hi, Kenwood TS 990S for me, i get mine in 2days. with the ACOM 2000a, 73s
You won't regret it; its a superb radio
How you like the 990?
@@radioman6489 LOVE IT thanks
Have the TS990.... have had 101, 7851, 5k....990 suits me better than any...superb
Winner! TS-890s
G0MGX de JE2PQQ
I prefer both of them.
You have both.
It's so luxurious.
If you had IC PW1 , IC7610 would be more useful.
I recently got the new radio IC705.
Has it been delivered in England yet ?
Keep safe. 73 Yoshi
705 isnt available in England yet, but I did get my hands on a demo model for a quick play - very impressive!
TS-890S. But keep both and respect your REAS ;)
Obviously this guy only likes CW, never did any comparison of both radios on SSB,shame.
Sorry - SSB is not my thing at all
The 101D beats them both
Have they added averaging to the spectrum scope on the 101? The model I played with had none and that was a deal breaker for me.
On the spec sheet? Maybe but can you tell the difference on air? No. I’ll take the build quality of the Kenwood all day long and I’ve been an Icom guy for years.
@TT Maven What's an "online reflector" ... a forum?
@@MarkG0MGX What about the Yaesu FTDX10 vs Kenwood 590SG ? I am also mainly a CW operator but I do not want to invest so much. Thank you.