DX Central: Under Review | Which SDR is the BEST for AM DX? (Part I)

[@mikeyrepublic]

Best radio comparison video I have ever seen. Thank you

[@DXCentral]

Thank you! I have a lot of tweaks I want to make for this comparison, but this was the best I could do at the time. I still have more that I want to do here. 73!

[@gordonseifert7442]

I have both the RSPdx and the HX+. I use the HX+ most of the time. This comparison has pretty much confirmed my choice. It just works better. In the test on 1640 on the Gulf Coast, it was the only one where I could easily make out the speech. On 760 the RSPdx was totally trounced by the Perseus and the Airspy was even better than the Perseus. SDRsharp's noise reduction is amazing as well, so I really like the Airspy and am extremely happy I didn't waste $600 on a Perseus. Your comparisons might have been better with on screen identifications of the SRDs and no talkng between them. Still, great comparison!

[@DXCentral]

Thank you for the fantastic feedback! I want to do a follow-up video to this one with some more comparisons.....using a Mini-Whip antenna that is a little more omni-directional. It is on my list of videos to work up this summer, hopefully I can get it done!

[@dannyshortwave]

Best bang of the buck. SDRPlay RSPdx with SDRUNO using HDR mode on the C port hands down. POW!!!! 💥

[@DXCentral]

I love my RSPdx! I don't use it as much anymore for MW DX since I prefer the Jaguar software for my Perseus, but it is still a great radio!

[@tonymagnier9846]

The HDR function in the RSPdx/SDRUno is great, lots of filters/settings to play around with, but in this test they were all very close. This time of year I can pick out US AMs here in Ireland.

[@DXCentral]

I haven't had much luck with it making much of a difference for me, unfortunately. Wonder if it has to do with all of the RF I have in my area I live in.

[@tonymagnier9846]

@@DXCentral Could be that too. I have an outdoor loop (W6LVP), the SDR is only going to be as good as the antenna its attached to whether its a $200 or $600 SDR

[@k9swx]

Thanks for the comparison of the three SDRs. To my ears with headphones, I didn't hear a $600 difference to purchase the Perseus over the Airspy HF+ Discover or SDRPlay RSPdx. That said, I'd love to hear what the Perseus sounds like with its native software compared to using it with SDR Console. For me, the Perseus is way out of my budget. I've had the RSPdx for about 9 months and just got the Airspy HF+ Discovery about a week ago. I also have the RTL-SDR v3 which for the price is a great starter SDR.

[@DXCentral]

I definitely wouldn't disagree with what you are hearing. In another video in this series, I will break down the pros and cons of each SDR tested here, to share my experiences with them. Tests like this can show a small portion of the total view, but when you look at all of it together, things begin to really become much more clear. Thank you for watching, 73 and best of DX!

[@apilgrim8715]

How is the AM radio signal with the RTL-SDR v3?

[@zach0gr]

@@apilgrim8715 i tested it long ago and left that. Too many spurs

[@bharatshetty9560]

Excellent comparison! I liked the way you remained totally unbiased.

[@DXCentral]

I definitely tried to. There is no single "best" receiver since everyone's tastes, needs and situations are different. But there are definitely some good ones out there and honestly all three of these SDRs are fantastic!

[@bharatshetty9560]

@@DXCentral Indeed, My view here was how well you did an excellent unbiased comparison. Well, an experienced HAM or SWL with a bit of experience with SDRs will truly appreciate your unbiased review. As such all of these three SDRs are excellent perfomers, although I don't have HF DISCOVERY+, My thoughts are... we can get the best performance with a resonant antenna for a particular frequency specific to each of these receivers... My thoughts...

[@RickPMandel]

I wish I would have discovered this test earlier, not that it would have changed my mind about my choice. Living in Spartanburg, and being from the Detroit area, the tests felt kinda specialized for me. (thanks for that) I personally like the Airspy most of all, which made me happy, since that's the SDR I've got. I was very disappointed in the Perseus. I expected far more bang for the buck, and turned out to be my number 3 choice. Thanks again, and continued success, WD4RM

[@DXCentral]

Thank you, Rick! The Airspy is certainly hard to beat, given the price/performance ratio. For me, the price of the Perseus meets its value in the current market when combined with the Jaguar software that is specifically designed for AM DX. However, if I was looking for an all-in-one SDR that gave me AM, HF, FM and beyond.....it would be hard to go against an Airspy!

[@eurekafumi]

Thank you very much your big efforts. To be honest, I didn't find big differences among these three SDRs. And I think you should compare these SDR under the more strict equal condition where you record the signals at the same time period because the each signal quality is damaged by fading and noise that changes depending on the time. But I thank you again for your big efforts to make this video.

[@DXCentral]

Thank you for watching! I am not super pleased with my results, I want to take another stab at this one with a more balanced and scientific approach. It is definitely on the to-do list of projects for a later video! 73 and best of DX.

[@tom23rd]

I needed this. Great vid.

[@DXCentral]

Happy to help! Still going to do a follow-up at some point, adding in the Elad FDM-S3 and trying to level the playing field even futher.

[@glasno]

Really well put together test, good job

[@DXCentral]

Thank you! I am hoping to be able to do a better test sometime soon.....and can now throw the Elad FDM-S3 in there, as well

[@charleswilliams8368]

I think, maybe, the RSPdx didn't handle the splatter quite as well as the others on 760. But there wasn't enough of a difference to feel it's a bad choice. Any one of the three would work fine for DXing.

[@DXCentral]

All three have been amazing radios for sure. I still give the nod I think in most scenarios to the Airspy HF+ Discovery....it is a remarkable piece of gear for such a small footprint and price. The Perseus' when combined with the Jaguar Pro software, though, is a tough thing to beat!

[@Pnut-qd4em]

How did You get the Stations indexed on the spectrum window? did You punch them all in , or is there a add on ? i've been using sdr console for a while and never saw that before. I would like to know how You Did that. thanks

[@DXCentral]

It is a feature within SDR Console, to add Markers on frequencies. If you click on "View" and then under the "Markers" button, you will see options to add to the current frequency, etc. I don't keep this up to date as much as I should.....but if you are in SDR Console for MW DX (or even FM DX, Shortwave, etc.!) it can help you to mark what you have already heard (or even what you expect to hear?)! 73 and Best of DX!

[@Pnut-qd4em]

@@DXCentral thank you, I thought it would have been a database import or add on or something

[@robertallen3133]

Can anyone tell me what is better for the dollar the RSPdx or RSPduo thank you. 4/28/23

[@DXCentral]

It largely depends on 1.) what type of DX are you planning on doing? 2.) Do you have two separate receive antennas you want to use at the same time?

[@AlexeyDXman]

Last test on 1640 Airspy clearly won. 1-2. Airspy, Perseus (both good) 3. RSPdx

[@DXCentral]

I will say it was very close with all three :) Hopefully my follow-up videos in the series can also be helpful for folks. 73 and best of DX!

[@zach0gr]

IN a personal discussion i had with he maker of Airspy it seems outperforming most higher class models in the "MDS term" when it is used with its internal attenuator

[@andyjones5789]

Auto-generated closed captioning agrees with you on 1640 (2nd pass through the radios). Only generated closed captioning for Airspy, not the other two.

[@zach0gr]

YOU an get the best comparisons testing with the lowest possible signals in the band and also on LW RSP DX and Airspy HF+D have been designed for that that in mind

[@DXCentral]

Yeah, I definitely want to revisit my test, I am not happy with the results of this one. I want to have a more scientific and even approach. It is on the project list! 73 and best of DX.

[@ManuelPinner]

The SDR Play RSP DX which is Design for Low Bands Reception! Also Works well for DATV Reception! On the 70-33-23 Center Meters Bands,

[@DXCentral]

It does do a great job, especially at that price point!

[@lambertpga]

Where can I find "Which SDR is the BEST for AM DX" Part 2?

[@DXCentral]

Not made yet, working on a more scientific methodology to use for testing

[@billhennessy5118]

Great video I did not hear a $600 difference on the Perseus, but I think you should have used it with the with the Jaguar Pro software to be fair. After all if you are going to spend a lot of money for something it should be used to it's fullest. How would you rate a SDR vs a CCRadio? One has to remember though a radio is only as good as its antenna. I have found that large loops work best for MW.

[@DXCentral]

Jaguar is what I use for all of my DX, and it is fantastic!

[@tomki6asp]

Would be interesting to repeat this with the Elad S3.

[@DXCentral]

Yeah, now that I have added that one I absolutely want to do that. Now I need a splitter with 4 ports instead of three! 73 and best of DX.

[@Wayne-Pr]

Im probably late to the party but in my "professional opinion" the Airspy was the clear leader. Wayne.

[@DXCentral]

There is a reason I have two of them and use them pretty regularly!

[@Wayne-Pr]

I have got to agree with that @@DXCentral

[@danedewaard8215]

It appears and sounds like you are overloaded on each of these devices!!!??? If I were performing the initial setup, I would lower the gain until all of the spurious signals drop out and set that gain for each device. I see those spurious picket fence signals that spread across the bands whenever I have the RF gain set too high. I just lower the gain until they drop out and leave the clean signal still visible. SDR's seem to be prone to this overloading due to the MW band energy. I see it occur on the 80m band also. Once the gains have been set, I would then run your comparisons.

[@DXCentral]

I do have to back off the gain on my SDRs a bit with some of the local RF we have here in Charleston, when I am using certain antennas. I still want to revisit this side-by-side in a more......scientific approach. It is definitely on the list!

[@bodstrup]

Gave up after 7 minutes, still not started comparing. Start going in circles talking about what he wants to talk about

[@DXCentral]

Thanks for the feedback! Will definitely keep that in mind for upcoming videos! 73

[@r0naldzuccala198]

Hello. My friend you must like hearing yourself talk.many to many words. Just get on with it. I don't have a lot of time. And then to say. I'm not going to tell you which one is best is frankly just blather on your part. I really appreciate your dxc show. But don't have all day. Really. Best regards. Ron. Z. The north American shortwave radio and toy robot museum. Springdale. Pa.

[@DXCentral]

Thanks for the feedback! I will definitely keep in mind for future videos.

[@richardwagner4460]

I do not think he said too much at all. I personally do not have a you tube page so I just listen to what presenter has to say. Some talk more than others.

[@Coowallsky]

@@DXCentral You did fine. Ronald is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO busy.

[@TVSNOWOWL]

Most SDR Decoders are it same . Most Impotant is the Software, One RX beter then Other. Software. Then Perseus extremly BS price 1000 euro and server conect 3000 eur. and software you mus pay extra lol then is the Difrent nothing more. SDRplay RSP1B 150 dollar DX version 300 Dollar Decoder VS Peseus whit hes stupid 1000 dollar lol. And SDRPlay Company come now out whit a Conect decoder over some days very Intresting.

[@RealMesaMike]

I use an original RSP1 and it's fantastic for AM band DXing, in my experience. Just imagine how giddy I'd be if I had something better.... de N6KUY

[@DXCentral]

Have heard good things about the RSP1. I really do like the RSPdx and the difference between these three SDRs really isn't night and day, which is a good thing!