Revised audio testing of the Kenwood TS-590S (now with less overdrive!)

Thanks to everyone that offered their insights into helping me get this audio test going with something close to optimal results!  In this post I will cover multiple settings side-by-side:

• EQ Off , Speech Processor Off
• EQ Off , Speech Processor On - Soft Effect
• EQ Off , Speech Processor On - Hard Effect
• EQ On , Speech Processor Off
• EQ On , Speech Processor On - Soft Effect
• EQ On , Speech Processor On - Hard Effect

In all of the tests the following settings were used:

• Mic gain on the radio is set to 30
• In the tests with the Proc enabled
• Proc Input is 35
• Proc Output is 30
• On the PC side, the recording device input level is 27

I will also include four files that just showcase the effects of the hard and soft settings of the speech processor.  Two with the proc enabled, and two without (to show that it has no effect without the proc being turned on).

So, again, without further adieu, here are the samples:

EQ Off , Speech Processor Off EQ Off, Speech Processor On - Soft Effect EQ Off, Speech Processor On - Hard Effect EQ On , Speech Processor Off EQ On , Speech Processor On - Soft Effect EQ On , Speech Processor On - Hard Effect

And here are the files that are just about the Hard and Soft effect settings of the Speech Processor:


EQ Off , Speech Processor On - Soft Effect EQ Off , Speech Processor On - Hard Effect EQ Off , Speech Processor Off - Soft Effect EQ Off , Speech Processor Off - Hard Effect


Whew!  That was a fair amount of effort for a lazy fat man!  Feel free to let me know what you think, and hopefully this will help you determine what your own settings should be.  I'm starting to like conventional with the proc off for ragchews and with it on for weaker band conditions, with proc on and high boost 2 for bad conditions or DX (or maybe for the 590 net...hihi).

Hope you enjoy it and 73,

Richard, KK4JDO

Kenwood TS-590S Audio Testing

EDIT:  The audio on this post is extremely overdriven due to incorrect recording levels on the PC.  I have updated this with the correct setting in a new post at:

http://hamprojects.blogspot.com/2013/05/revised-audio-testing-of-kenwood-ts.html



There has been a lot of discussion lately on one of the mailing lists that I subscribe to pertaining to the audio tweaking that is possible on the Kenwood TS-590S.  I am far from an audiophile, so I thought that I'd do some playing around this evening and record some test files to hear what the different default options sound like.

Thus far, I have to say that I like the sound of the rig without the EQ on for ragchews, but I think that the High Boost options are great for DX.  Take a listen and let me know which ones you think sound the best!  I tried to record each file with the same configuration as far as what I say, where the mic is, ambient noise in the room, etc.  I am currently using the stock mic, but am hoping to upgrade to the Shure SM-7b in the near future at the suggestion of a friend in the A/V world.

So, without further adieu, here are the files:

http://hamprojects.blogspot.com/2013/05/revised-audio-testing-of-kenwood-ts.html



So, if you listened to all of those files, you are quite the patient person!  Hopefully the sound of my voice wasn't too unpleasant, at least I hope it was better than sticking a rat-tail file in your ear.

On a different note, look for an upcoming post regarding the EZNEC antenna modeling program and some PERL scripts that I wrote to make it easier to do certain things in it.

With that I'll say 73 for this evening and wish you the best for you and your family and GUD DX!

73,

Richard, KK4JDO