S 2200x H501x

[@pruebasytecnica]

Thanks Dan for your clarifying tests on this new ver. 2200x. It is clear that synchronous detection is still pretty awful. I honestly think it is quite unacceptable that Tecsun has not done their homework yet. The 880 and 990 have the same defect... I think it is time for Tecsun to get on with it, because it is not serious to buy a receiver of a certain quality (and price) and still have this defect. I still trust Tecsun to correct this. Thanks for your testing!.

[@thormusique]

Interesting, thanks! I must say, even when I had my Drake SW8, I almost never used synchronous detection anyway. And even on that radio, which did have a decent version of this feature, it wasn't all that reliable. Nevertheless, this Tecsun does look very interesting, and I really like its metal controls. I can only imagine that once it becomes available, it will likely be fairly pricey. Despite this, it's great to see a manufacturer putting out a new radio that's actually got some neat and usable features for a change. Cheers!

[@tonymagnier9846]

Thanks Dan. Its clear now this radio isnt an upgrade from the 990x and 501x but a desktop radio form factor with better internals to the S-2000 but the Sync hasnt been good since the PL-660 so for that reason I'm out.

The SYNC in the 660 ain't much, either.

[@nathanpetrovski7525]

The sync detector on all of the silicon labs DSP based radios is terrible. I don't think there's much Tecsun could do apart from creating entirely new circuitry for their radios.

[@dayleedwards3521]

Exactly. All radio designs that use identical chips will have very similar performance, the differences can only be very minor. The DSP chip here is in the final IF and demod section neatly bypassing the muting while tuning, but retains all the standard demod functions, good or bad. In the final analysis, its all down to the hardware.

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

Correct! I had an Eton Grundig Edition and its sync detector was disappointing. The only DSP receivers I have where this features works well are SDR ones such as the Malahit SDR V3, SDRplay RSP2 and RSPdx and Airspy HF+ Discovery. Otherwise, only analog radios have good sync detector such as the Sony ICF-2010, Grundig Satellit 800, Eton E1 XM, Drake R8a and AOR-7030plus.

@@juliocesarpereira4325 The Lowe HF150 SYNC beats them all.

[@ditto1958]

I’m curious- who should buy this radio? Or, put a different way, who is it aimed at?

[@misteredison2175]

@ditto1958 , if you don't have alot of dough for the expensive ones, although quite fun, I'd say that the 330 is for those who really want to immerse themselves into the hobby! It basically does just about everything and does it well for a little guy! My most expensive radio is about $1000 and I still find that my PL330, short of being Not SDR, is the best damn scanner out there! And that's mainly what I use it for.

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

I had an Eton Grundig Edition and its sync detector was disappointing. The only DSP receivers I have where this features works well are SDR ones such as the Malahit SDR V3, SDRplay RSP2 and RSPdx and Airspy HF+ Discovery. Otherwise, only analog radios have good sync detector such as the Sony ICF-2010, Grundig Satellit 800, Eton E1 XM, Drake R8a and AOR-7030plus.

My old Lowe HF-150 has the best SYNC of any radio I've ever had. I've had the Sony 2010, Grundig 800, and several Eton and Tecsuns. None has come close.

[@StratmanII]

I completely agree with the SDRs having decent Sync Detectors. I have a Malachite V3 clone and an AirSpy HF+ Discovery and their synchronous detectors are superior to my PL990 and PL330. I'm still testing the Sync function of my ATS-25 AMP shortwave DSP receiver. It has an Si4735 chip from Skyworks (formerly Silicon Labs) but the receiver also has an ESP32 microprocessor, which none of the Tecsun radios use.

[@radiowave75]

​​@@StratmanIIit seems the ESP 32 working in concert with the main chip like yours, or the tef 6686 chip for example, is the key. The radios that are using that set up really rise above the others.

[@StratmanII]

@@radiowave75 Yes, the ESP32 is serves as the radio's CPU or micro-controller. The Si 4732 on its own isn't capable of running the color display's user interface as it's just a DSP tuner. 🙂 I've yet to hear about a radio that combines the TEF 6686 DSP with the ESP32 or the STM32H743 micro-controller that is found in the Malahit SDRs.

[@misteredison2175]

I have a few Tecsuns. The H 501 X, the 880, and 330..a couple other small ones with ETM. Btw, ETM should just be Standard across the board with All Tecsuns! My 330 is still, ro this day my most Favorite Tecsun! It even Syncs better than any of the others! I was and am still kinda disappointed with the H 501 X! I like the 880 a little better than the 501.As far as Sony ICF's, I have the 2010 ,2002, and 7600gr. My 2002 is a better performer than the 7600gr but nothing beats the 2010! If I could score a great 2001 for a reasonable price I'd certainly buy it! I'm thinking lately though Icom 7300! I have an Icom 8500..the original lights just died and probably needs a little servicing..don't know who to go to. I love the 8500! Wish I had the 8600!!! Kinda spendy!

[@tschurarjipiruschka1998]

How good do you rate the PL 330 compared to the XHdata d 808?

[@misteredison2175]

@tschurarjipiruschka1998 I have both radios. They're both great in their own right! The 808 having good filtration. The 330, great at scanning and the best portable around! The 330 is more intuitive and easy to use. If I had to choose between the two, 330!

[@VittumainenArska]

The sync is nice to be but no one never use that mode, not even radio where that working well.

You don't know what you are talking about. People DO use SYNC - when they have a receiver with useable SYNC. Maybe you simply don't know what it's for or how to use it.

[@o00scorpion00o]

I'd never buy a DSP radio again, they are too expensive to have this fake SYNC and SSB AGC issue and the poor audio quality, the low frequency cut off is far too high and the audio completely lacks bass. It couldn't be that much more expensive to make a pure analogue radio can it ? I have the H501x but intend to sell it, I don't use it but to be fair just as SWL receivers these radios are good , the H501x and the S-2200x can use external antenna to greatly improve LW/MW reception which is all good for people who just want to listen to radio but they shouldn't charge so much for SSB and SYNC because it doesn't work properly with these flawed Silicon Labs SIxxxx Chips. For the more serious SW enthusiast SSB/ECSS is an essential tool against noise and to weed out weak signals against strong closer stations giving selectivity not possible without SSB using Just DSP filters alone and ECSS is a great tool against Fading, so the PL-660/680 are in my opinion far better radios. I will keep the PL-330 just for it's size.