THE AWESOME JRC NRD-545
Lee Rothman
have what conventional wisdom would say is indeed the finest broadcast
radio receiver alive today. Now you need to order the Vhf-Uhf board for
it so you can really hear it all. I have no idea what it costs but I
understand then you will have reception from 100khz to 2000mhz. Enjoy, I
am sure we are all jealous.
RFCOMMSYS
I got a new JRC NRD-545 from Universal Radio a few days ago. I am very pleased
with this fantastic radio. It is REALLY COOL! The continuously variable
bandwidth digital IF filters are absolutely outstanding. The passband tuning
is very good, and when used along with the variable bandwidth filters, you can
flush out almost any
weak station. The audio fidelity is quite acceptable, much better than previous
JRC models, although not as good as an AOR AR7030. When using the AMS
(AM Stereo) button to listen to local MW stations, the fidelity is very good
indeed.
I listened to a local AM stereo station through a pair of Sennheiser HD 545
headphones, and was impressed. (I've never heard AM stereo before).
The 545 is not as "bassy" as the Drake R8B, and the R8B may sound better to
those who like more bass in their music. I think that the R8B may have a slight
edge when listening to music, but I like the 545 better for voice. I guess it
boils
down to personal taste. Some have complained that the 545's AGC decay rate on
AM signals is too fast. I don't think it is. I think it is just right,
especially when
used with ECSS. Again, perhaps it's just a matter of personal taste.
So far I have not found any problems with the digital filters's supposedly
sub-standard ultimate rejection claimed in Passport's review ...... so far.
The 545 gives the impression of having extremely quiet circuitry, which I
assume is due to the DSP.
FINALLY ... JRC has a synchronous detector ("ECSS") that actually works as-is
out of the box! The 545's ECSS works very well, and you can select either
sideband. I have not had it lose lock yet. I have been using the 545 on MW a
lot, and am very pleased with it's MW performance. The 545's digital display
does not radiate any noise like the 535's did, and I can use my MW and LW loops
without picking up any noise from the 545.
Although the 545's factory defaults prohibit it from tuning below 100 khz, the
owner's manual shows you how to override the defaults so that you can tune it
down to 10 khz. I can hear WWVB on 60 khz pretty well on the 545. In fact, the
545 performs much better below 100 khz than my Drake R8B does. My Drake
R8B is quite deaf on 60 khz. I have only done limited side-by-side comparisons
of the R8B vs the 545. So far ... in general .... I like the 545 better,
although the
R8B certainly is no slouch!
Listening to SSB signals is a pleasure on the 545. The variable AGC decay
control
is a very nice touch for SSB. The 545's manual notch filter is AWESOME! I can
completely zap out any interfering heterodyne with very little, if any,
degradation
of the desired signal. It is MUCH better than the poor excuse for a notch
filter that the 535 had. The 545 also has an automatic, digital,
multi-hetrodyne removal button called BC, which does a satisfactory job at
killing multiple hetrodynes that are plaguing a signal, although not quite as
good as the manual notch does.
The 545 has a two-width, variable-level noise blanker ("NB"), which does a
reasonably good job. However, the NB on my Drake R8B works better. Indeed,
the R8B's noise blanker is the BEST I've ever seen on ANY radio.
The 545 has a digital noise reduction button ("NR") which enhances voice while
supressing somewhat the background noise. This function is highly adjustable
via a special sequence of keystrokes and use of the "fine" knob. It takes a
while
to get it adjusted to your taste, and I don't think I've found the perfect
"sweet spot" for this feature yet. So far, I have found this to be of limited
use.
The 545's ergonomics make it a joy to use. The styling, the most excellent and
beautiful digital display, and the "feel" make the 545 a real head-turner. The
S meter is a digital bar graph. You can configure it so that the S meter will
temporarily "hold" the strongest signal reading on the display ... a useful
feature for trying to tune your antenna by peaking the S meter ... especially
if
the signal fades a lot.
I haven't fooled around with the memory channels, scanning, or searching yet.
I have the wide-band converter on order, and will no doubt be using the
scanning
features once I install the converter.
In short .... am I glad I bought the 545? ABSOLUTELY !!!! This one's a
KEEPER!
Bill Crocker
and the NRD-545 myself. Are you going to get the VHF/UHF add-on?
Bill Crocker
RFCOMMSYS wrote in message <19981130225737...@ng60.aol.com>...
>
>I got a new JRC NRD-545 from Universal Radio a few days ago. I am very
pleased
>with this fantastic radio. It is REALLY COOL!
[clipped]
David Ellis
--Dave
In article <19981130225737...@ng60.aol.com>, rfco...@aol.com
says...
>
>
>I got a new JRC NRD-545 from Universal Radio a few days ago. I am very pleased
man...@my-dejanews.com
"Bill Crocker" <bcro...@home.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the info! Very timely, as I've been looking at the Drake R8B,
> and the NRD-545 myself. Are you going to get the VHF/UHF add-on?
>
> Bill Crocker
>
> RFCOMMSYS wrote in message <19981130225737...@ng60.aol.com>...
> >
> pleased
> >with this fantastic radio. It is REALLY COOL!
>
After owning one for a couple weeks, I would say that the display and
ergonomics are outstanding, but the audio quality is not markedly better than
that of my Sony CRF-V21. I expected more from the magic of DSP.
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
M.J.Powell
>Thanks for the info! Very timely, as I've been looking at the Drake R8B,
>and the NRD-545 myself. Are you going to get the VHF/UHF add-on?
>
>Bill Crocker
>
with it.
In 40 years of SW I've never met a radio which runs out of AF gain
before, but this one does. The 'TONE' control has a very peculiar
action, at one end sound sounds like a telephone, at the other treble
boost.
Receiving NAVTEX on 518 causes the AGC and BW LEDS to flicker in
sympathy to signal.
VLF gain falls off rapidly below about 70 kHz.
At no settings can I get decent AM reception with good signal.
Awesome it aint.
I could go on, but better by e-mail if anyone interested.
Mike G3IJE
--
M.J.Powell.
RFCOMMSYS
>>
>Well..... I've had one for about 4 months and I am rather disappointed
>with it.
>In 40 years of SW I've never met a radio which runs out of AF gain
>before, but this one does. The 'TONE' control has a very peculiar
>action, at one end sound sounds like a telephone, at the other treble
>boost.
>Receiving NAVTEX on 518 causes the AGC and BW LEDS to flicker in
>sympathy to signal.
>VLF gain falls off rapidly below about 70 kHz.
>At no settings can I get decent AM reception with good signal.
>Awesome it aint.
>I could go on, but better by e-mail if anyone interested.
>
>
Well, all I can say is that mine does not have
any problem with receiving AM signals
or the NAVTEX thing. You're right, VLF
gain DOES fall off below about 70 khz, but
JRC only guaranteed it's specs to 100 khz.
As far as tone control, I have no problem with
the audio shaping. The audio would seem to be a question of taste, and I find
nothing
wrong with it. Mind you, I don't expect a
communications receiver to sound better
than a good stereo. I like the general
crispness of the 545's sound, I think it helps
to dig out weak DX.
Are you sure you have the latest version of the 545 with the updated firmware?
73s,
Rich
Brian Denley
Brian Denley
David Ellis wrote in message <740r59$k...@sjx-ixn4.ix.netcom.com>...
>If I owned a JRC sales outlet, I'd post this article.
>--Dave
>
>In article <19981130225737...@ng60.aol.com>, rfco...@aol.com
>says...
>>
>>
>>I got a new JRC NRD-545 from Universal Radio a few days ago. I am very
pleased
Brian Denley
or anything like that? hehe
Brian Denley
Brian Denley wrote in message <74231q$lo9$1...@winter.news.rcn.net>...
Lee Rothman
David Ellis
dci...@earthlink.net says...
>
>Now that's a line I would stand in. (beta tester). LOL
>
So would I, but there isn't room on my table next to the R8B. :=)
--Dave
Richard Mclachlan
<dellis...@ix.netcom.com> writes
>If I owned a JRC sales outlet, I'd post this article.
>--Dave
Now you see why we have been extolling its virtues for 10 months or so
now.
Richard Mclachlan
Lowe Electronics Ltd
Chesterfield Road
Matlock
Derbyshire
UK DE4 5LE
Tel +44 1629 580800 http://www.lowe.co.uk
Fax +44 1629 580020 ric...@lowe.co.uk
Sean Mc.
>>
>
>So would I, but there isn't room on my table next to the R8B. :=)
I'd be willing to "radio-sit" your R8B and feed it a healthy diet of
filtered 117VAC and keep it nice and warm if you need to free up some room.
:)