Kenwood TS-890S vs. Icom IC-7610 Comparison of Internal Speaker Audio, SSB Filter, RX Quality Review

Quick demo video of a QSO on 20m & 40m comparing the audio quality, SSB filters and sound of the internal speakers of the Kenwood TS-890S and Icom IC-7610. After using both radios for a couple weeks, both are great but I do prefer the built-in speaker and audio filters of the TS-890. Having been an audio engineer for many years the Kenwood to me has a warmer, more "analog" sound. The SSB filters on the 7610, 7300 and 7100 have somewhat more of a harsher "digital" sound at the default 2.3KHz bandwidth, thus I usually reduce the filter bandwidth to 2.0-2.2KHz on these Icom models. On the TS-890 anywhere from 2.5-3KHz sounds great, sometimes even 4-5KHz in better band conditions.
Both of these radios have a huge feature set, of which this video shows very little. Some of the advantages of the 7610 are its dual receivers and flexible scope options, allowing simultaneous reception and viewing the spectrums on 2 bands. (Coincidentally one of the hams in this QSO talks about how nice that feature is on the Flex, to see how propagation is on one band while talking on another eg. when 20m is fading out in the evening and 40m is becoming stronger.) This is not possible to do on the 890S since it can only receive one band at a time, you'd either have to switch bands to check conditions or hook up a 2nd receiver or SDR. This feature on the 7610 can also be used to show a close-in spectrum on one spectrum scope in addition to the wide range spectrum/waterfall scope, similar to how the 890 shows the audio band spectrum at top right.

[@ozer3749]

The TS-890 is a fabulous device but the TS-7610 shouldn't be underestimated either. This reception test shows that the 7610 is receiving very well.

[@ftlaud911]

Own both myself. Got 7610 first and added 890 about a year later. Both have pros cons. Both outstanding radios. Icom is a better deal with second receiver/menu/customization, but Kenwood sounds better/build quality/more buttons. No wrong choice!!

[@Rod_2E0RLR]

The 890 is my next radio ! ! !

[@dmb3428]

Im glad to finally see a 7610 on top of a 890 to get a size comparison

[@gradus8373]

Вам важны размеры и количество ручек?

[@All4Springfield]

Impressive the difference of the S-Meter.

[@boydmasonlake1995]

Receive quality especially for extended sessions is paramount for me. Kenwood ts 890 is my next radio

[@Ei2iP]

I'd take Icom IC-7610...

[@nq0amark138]

The 890 for me is easier to listen to. Both great radio's, but if I replace my ic 7600 I'm going to go with the TS 890 next time around. I have had many radio's including my ic 7600 but I have always been a fan of Kenwood radio's. Thanks for the comparison.

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[@Meshtastic2024]

TS-890S for me out of the two here, plus the TS-890S scores higher in the Sherwood test data by Third-Order Dynamic Range. Not much in it I just prefer Kenwood gear.

[@DannerPlace]

Both great rigs, but the Kenwood user interface makes it the winner for me.

[@BD7PA]

Thank you for share. VY73 de BD7PA

[@user-wr2fd3jy8u]

The weak signal is easier to hear on the IC-7610. Because the treble is emphasized.

[@chc_media]

That may be an oversimplification, both radios have Rx audio EQ that could easily compensate for overall audio tone, and other receiver performance differences (eg. ~8dB higher adjacent channel rejection @ 2KHz for the 890) may make more of a difference.

[@johnarcher9480]

That 2k dynamic range is for CW contesting not SSB. Both have good wide dynamic range.

[@philp180]

IC 7610 has much crisper audio. Ts-890s is very hollow. I'm going with the 7610

[@yaesuicomkenwood]

Thanks for this comparison. The TS-890S sound way better to me. Can you make a NB (noise blanker) test, with a SSB signal. How a NB affect the sound. Well I don't know, if you have man-made-noise issues? Best Regards Martin

[@chc_media]

The Noise Blanker on the 890 works pretty well, there is some broadband pulse noise occasionally at my QTH, the 890 NB#2 is able to remove about 90-95% of the noise after some adjustment. The Icom NB is better though and removes the noise completely. The NB does not otherwise degrade the SSB audio, unless adjusted on the 890 to the max settings in which case some bits of audio drop out.

[@yaesuicomkenwood]

@@chc_media well, cool, and how the NB affect the audio sound in RX?

[@chc_media]

@@yaesuicomkenwood 890's NB has no noticeable effect on RX audio unless set at the maximum possible settings. Actually in this video NB2 was on and you can see it has no noticeable effect on the audio.

[@smiffykuk]

Interesting... on another subject.... build quality is far better on 890S... in my opinion then, worth the extra money.

[@alancombow6474]

In the 40-plus years of servicing radio equipment, especially Kenwood there's no question when it comes to "great over good" "AF"domain, regardless of the transducer to reproduce audio. Inboard ,outboard or headphones.... Kenwood has always seemed to hit it out of the park no question....!!! To Icom and Yesau chagrin... Hail to the "KING". Kenwood footnote; new release of the Kenwood "TS 830 KING" would be nice. Just gold medallion no silver please....! What can I say ,I digress....!73.DE:W4EAC.🍻

[@thirtycrows]

The 890 makes other radios look like toys and feel like crap. And you can listen to it for hours. It's such a joy.

[@manuelea4azt600]

como tienes ajustado el tono de RX en el 7610 como suene depende mucho de eso pon el ancho 3.6 kz veras como suena mucho mejor.

[@chc_media]

The Icom radios sound even more harsh at higher filter cutoffs.

[@W-733_KWX]

890 more pleasant to listen to.

[@robertrockwell7581]

I do like the ICOM with the screen being more too the center. but the Kenwood has the better sound.

[@BLACKHEAT1028]

My question, is the 890 worth the extra 800.00 bucks? or what do you get for the extra $$$

[@chc_media]

The 7610 is a great radio. But it does sound better with an external speaker and maybe some EQ. Icom is like Lexus, Kenwood is like Mercedes. Both good and drive very nice but very different design.

[@robertdickson6317]

A more comprehensive customisation, averaging just a few things off the top of my head on the kenwood 890 if your a plug and go op icom 7610

[@klaasvanderlingen583]

i had the ts 990s ,but it's a very complex transceiver to setup well , i trade this radio for the icom 7610 this over rules the kenwood with hands down, so no more kenwood for me.

[@frankENZC]

IMO the 890 sounds noisier. 73 de WA3RSL

[@iantoleo]

I really love Kenwood TS890, it's a super wonderful radio, but with only one receiver and screen not-touch its price is really too high!

[@chc_media]

The TS-890 has a touch-screen. It is used only for jumping to frequencies when touching the bandscope area. Aside from that there are plenty of menu keys that make the menus easy-to-use while keeping fingerprints off the screen.

[@iantoleo]

@@chc_media nice! Kenwood should be clearer in its brochures. However, despite this, the price is always very high considering that it has single receiver and that it also needs the power supply. I love this radio, my criticism is only about excessive price.

[@revadan]

switch the radio position, 7610 below and audio will also be great.

[@chc_media]

Maybe not the most practical suggestion but technically it is true, covering the 7610 top speaker with a large radio or other solid object that still allows some sound to go sideways would muffle the sound and thereby make it warmer sounding.

[@mr.fantomas7726]

Which is better than others? Icom sounds better?

[@IZ0MTW]

Sorry dude, no offense but you’ve been an audio engineer and make an audio comparison putting them one on top of the other knowing where the internal speakers are? Why you didn’t use an audio cable to acquire the signals or at least a common speaker? Cheers

[@chc_media]

I'm well aware of the locations of the internal speakers, which is why the 7610 is on the top right side, where it does _not_ block the 890's speaker. And as the description states, this demo is a comparison of the _internal_ speakers. Your suggestion to use a common cable and speaker would entirely fail to achieve that stated purpose. There are already other videos that compare the audio direct from the USB of both radios.

[@IZ0MTW]

@@chc_media in that case nothing to say. I do agree with you that Icom sounds more harsh

[@normkirk65]

I agree. Half the 890's speaker is being blocked by the 7610 sitting on top of it. I know. I own both and the build quality of my 890 is superior. IMHO

[@dieselten01]

@@chc_media actually the 890 speaker has 3 rows of slots in the top case and you are covering one full row

[@chc_media]

@@dieselten01 Actually the 7610 has feet that put the bottom of the chassis about 3/8" above the 890. Thus to say a "full" row is covered is misleading as that would imply it was fully covered eg. with an airtight piece of tape. The 7610 is near to one row, but that has no *significant* effect on overall frequency response. This video was not meant to be a perfect laboratory characterization of the speakers, it simply shows what they actually sound like in real world operation. I used to design and build speakers, and ran a sound company for 25 years, and in fact a slight reduction in the air space loading actually *improves* the bass response and loading efficiency of the speaker thereby enhancing its overall response, yielding in this case probably a ~0.5dB improvement in the low and mid frequency response, which will only help the 7610's tinny, thin-sounding speaker.

[@jdsbose]

Not a true comparison. Icom receive set at 2.3, Kenwood started off at 2.7 then changed to 2.6.

[@chc_media]

As stated in the description that is because the Icom filters don't sound good at 2.3KHz or higher. This demo has both radios set where they each sounded the best overall for the band conditions at the time. The 7610 at a 2.6+KHz cutoff sounds harsh and tinny. Comparisons don't have to have all the exact same parameters to be "true".

[@paulmitchell4421]

kenwood always sounds better

[@sergiodelta]

The kenwood has better receiver but cleaner, and much better audio. you notice the quality of Kenwood

[@manuelea4azt600]

Claramente el icom suena mas claro con menos ruido y el receptor tienes mas ganancia que el 890 y eso que no tienes en NR activado.

[@chc_media]

Personally I think the 880 sounds clearer, but audio is a subjective thing and people do hear things differently. BTW the NR had been left on on the 890 but was not actually doing anything, there was not any QRM/N at the time, so that should have no effect on the comparison.

[@Ei2iP]

No body uses a speaker to listen, most use headphones, so not sure how you can say a radio sounds better!! So we are really testing speakers rather than radios...

[@smiffykuk]

Sweeping statement if ever I heard one. 😏

[@salvatoreavvento2703]

Come paragonare una Ferrari a una Skoda... bene

[@14KiloWhisky]

Wich one is the Skoda ? 😂😅

[@charlescassidy1496]

Great video! de W2CSI