This is the only radio in my collection that does not get swamped out by strong FM RF as I live near multi-kilowatt FM transmitters...I have Tecsuns, Xhdata D-808, classic Sonys and Panasonics but this like beauty doesn't lose a single dB on weaker stations where RF is overwhelming all the others...well done Qodosen for producing a radio with brilliant dynamic range on FM.
It does feel a bit more like a car radio on FM. No surprise, obviously. I do sometimes get muted stations with high values of dBm and S/N. I don't know what's going on then. Then the stations drop away after moving off the station and back around. They could have made the clock keep time though XD.
Fun. If you can try these radios with these new chips, you might find a new exemplar for best FM reception. With a wire up a tree, this radio wipes the floor with my Tecsum PL-880 for FM reception. See my ua-cam.com/video/zB0jFiFzFcQ/v-deo.html
I have a PL-880, and an SR-286. By my ears, the audio through my Koss headphones and Airfun speakers is MUCH better than the PL-880. Lower noise floor, and more dynamic range. The FM reception is as good as my Yamaha receiver. I question whether the audio amp section has been improved in revisions between your unit and mine. But thank you for your analysis, it seems that you did a good job in evaluation, and I have no other explanation.
Thanks for commenting. There is a wide range between preferences, but there is also a fair range in playback gear, especially headphones. My cans of choice: Ollo Audio S5X, Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire, Sennheiser HD 6XX. For how good the Senns are they simply can't reproduce the bass like the first two. The treble and air ranges are also different. But these three have some of the most neutral timbre imo -- for midrange cans
I don't have any really high quality cans anymore. Listen via iPhone with Sony WH-1000XM3, which are decent, but I recently bought some Koss KPH30i specifically to hear FM broadcast on my portables. They are amazing for $30. I also found Earfun UBoom L speakers that make the SR-286 sound huge, and again - better than the PL-880 to me. I'll take a look at those you mention.@@RSears
I have a pair of those Koss headphones. They are great for the money. The real world drawback of mid- to high-end gear is that it can suck you down the rabbit hole.
Oh dear. Yeah, that audio's not the greatest. However, something tells me I wouldn't be that worried in real world usage, as I'd be using this radio more for its DXing than its quality audio. I've just purchased one and waiting for it to get here. I agree, the pl-880 had a very good, and clean audio circuit. I'd hope the 990 is the same.
There is so much hype around the SR-286 I thought a little reality check wouldn't hurt. But you are right, for most ultralight radio this level of performance won't be a big factor. Yes, I'd suspect (but don't know) that the 990 would be good. I like the 990s (and the 330s) ability to bypass the internal ferrite and whip antennas on all bands. That is the bestest feature of the SR-286. It can really change the range of a radio having a good antenna.
“What whine”? “You mean you can’t hear that whine”? “Nope. Not on my nice headphones listening to your radio on UA-cam”. Sounds excellent to me. You know it’s only a $80 radio, right, and not a $400 100 amp high tech Yamaha stereo amp, right?
It ain't perfect, for sure, but it is not too much to pay for the AM and FM capabilities it has. It is one of the best, FM especially. Here is me finding 48 stations, where, in my area, with the PL-880, 14 is normal: ua-cam.com/video/zB0jFiFzFcQ/v-deo.html And, of course, absolutely no one should look for the air band or SSB from a radio that doesn't have it.
This is the only radio in my collection that does not get swamped out by strong FM RF as I live near multi-kilowatt FM transmitters...I have Tecsuns, Xhdata D-808, classic Sonys and Panasonics but this like beauty doesn't lose a single dB on weaker stations where RF is overwhelming all the others...well done Qodosen for producing a radio with brilliant dynamic range on FM.
It does feel a bit more like a car radio on FM. No surprise, obviously. I do sometimes get muted stations with high values of dBm and S/N. I don't know what's going on then. Then the stations drop away after moving off the station and back around. They could have made the clock keep time though XD.
In my experience, the best FM reception I have had with the TECSUN PL-310et
Fun. If you can try these radios with these new chips, you might find a new exemplar for best FM reception. With a wire up a tree, this radio wipes the floor with my Tecsum PL-880 for FM reception. See my ua-cam.com/video/zB0jFiFzFcQ/v-deo.html
I have a PL-880, and an SR-286. By my ears, the audio through my Koss headphones and Airfun speakers is MUCH better than the PL-880. Lower noise floor, and more dynamic range. The FM reception is as good as my Yamaha receiver. I question whether the audio amp section has been improved in revisions between your unit and mine. But thank you for your analysis, it seems that you did a good job in evaluation, and I have no other explanation.
Thanks for commenting. There is a wide range between preferences, but there is also a fair range in playback gear, especially headphones. My cans of choice: Ollo Audio S5X, Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire, Sennheiser HD 6XX. For how good the Senns are they simply can't reproduce the bass like the first two. The treble and air ranges are also different. But these three have some of the most neutral timbre imo -- for midrange cans
I don't have any really high quality cans anymore. Listen via iPhone with Sony WH-1000XM3, which are decent, but I recently bought some Koss KPH30i specifically to hear FM broadcast on my portables. They are amazing for $30. I also found Earfun UBoom L speakers that make the SR-286 sound huge, and again - better than the PL-880 to me. I'll take a look at those you mention.@@RSears
I have a pair of those Koss headphones. They are great for the money. The real world drawback of mid- to high-end gear is that it can suck you down the rabbit hole.
Oh dear. Yeah, that audio's not the greatest. However, something tells me I wouldn't be that worried in real world usage, as I'd be using this radio more for its DXing than its quality audio. I've just purchased one and waiting for it to get here. I agree, the pl-880 had a very good, and clean audio circuit. I'd hope the 990 is the same.
There is so much hype around the SR-286 I thought a little reality check wouldn't hurt. But you are right, for most ultralight radio this level of performance won't be a big factor. Yes, I'd suspect (but don't know) that the 990 would be good. I like the 990s (and the 330s) ability to bypass the internal ferrite and whip antennas on all bands. That is the bestest feature of the SR-286. It can really change the range of a radio having a good antenna.
Yeah man 0:59 favourite station in Red Deer KRAZE 1013 if it’s still that station today
The stations is now called Play 101, as of January 15, 2024: nwbroadcasters.com/2024/01/15/kraze-101-3-red-deer-is-now-play/
“What whine”? “You mean you can’t hear that whine”? “Nope. Not on my nice headphones listening to your radio on UA-cam”. Sounds excellent to me. You know it’s only a $80 radio, right, and not a $400 100 amp high tech Yamaha stereo amp, right?
Very practical. If you can't hear it, it doesn't exist. I'm good with such personal inferences.
Does disabling the digital display reduce whine and other noise on FM?
This radio is pricey and no SSB or aircraft coverage.
It ain't perfect, for sure, but it is not too much to pay for the AM and FM capabilities it has. It is one of the best, FM especially. Here is me finding 48 stations, where, in my area, with the PL-880, 14 is normal: ua-cam.com/video/zB0jFiFzFcQ/v-deo.html
And, of course, absolutely no one should look for the air band or SSB from a radio that doesn't have it.