Qodosen SR-286, XHDATA D-808 and Eton Elite Traveler on weak and strong signals

[@corpo33]

Cracking video bro I have a radio with this chip in it already but I'm buying this model and it's on its way really looking forward to trying it here in Ireland. Keep up the great work.

[@swlistening]

Thanks Ged! I am also considering buying another one.

[@StratmanII]

The SR-286 sounds the best to my ears. The designers probably got a lot of things right - IF bandwidth, audio equalization, choice of speaker, AF stage amplification etc. I already have two D-808s, so don't anyone suggest that I get another one! 😀 If there's a weakness with the D-808, it's the audio sound quality. I don't know why XHDATA still uses the same tinny speaker for their latest production model when they could have used the one in their D-109 and D-608WB (just got the latter yesterday, the speaker sounds awesome!) 📻👍

[@swlistening]

Thank you for your comment, I agree. I think the sound on the SR-286 is definitely the best, the D-808 is quite tinny in comparison.

[@MDyna32]

The XHData D-808 was better than the other two radios on both strong and weak voice transmission decipherability. I'd like to see all radios tested with a powerful outdoor antenna such as a 50-meter sky loop.

[@swlistening]

Unfortunately I don't have such an antenna, otherwise I would have done it for sure!

[@canyondan]

qodosen barely edged out the Eton and both of them left the xdata d-808 in the dust. Thanks

[@swlistening]

Thanks Dan, this is pretty much my thinking as well. The Eton surprised me.

[@gmorgan1118]

The Eton really surprises me here in terms of reception and readability -- only negative is the lack of a direct entry keypad, but even without that, it makes me want to go shopping for one (I already own a 286 and an 808).

[@swlistening]

I must say I am also surprised sometimes by the clear and good reception on the Eton. I don't use it as often as I should, it is a quality radio. One can sense that it is not a cheap radio, Eton put some effort and money into this one.

[@barmaley-division]

I literally can't decide here. SR-286 sounds more... confident, but it feels like it's due to the speaker; it has a bit more powerful sound, and that's it. No meaningful difference in reception quality, just sound(ing) is a bit different according to my 👂🏻. Good comparison (as always though) 👍🏻.

[@swlistening]

Thanks! This was quite close, I agree, but in my opinion the SR-286 has the edge, especially on the KNLS signal, and also the KBS one. Clearer to me, and less fading, less noise.

[@MDRHD]

If you look at the signal strength indicator i.e, db levels, in case of qodosen it seems like the digits are not very accurate. And the reason behind it is in case of weaker signal it still shows quite a good number.

[@swlistening]

Thank you for your comment! I have noticed that the signal strength on the Qodosen, for some reason, always shows lower values than other radios, in all my tests.

[@anulearntech]

The Qodosen SR-286 clearly has lower noise floor, hence the voice is more understandable. But it also has larger fading cycle compared to xhdata which has higher noise floor, but XHDATA's high noise could be the reason for its shorter fading cycles. Either way SR-286 separates the information from noise better than xhdata.

[@swlistening]

I agree, I think the lower noise floor on the SR-286 makes a really big difference, it is one reason why I really like the SR-286.

[@ArnieDXer]

OK, I just managed to watch this video again, in its entirety 🙂 I think it's a close call in all three examples, although there's always a difference of Qodosen's audio containing more bass. Looks like this can be both beneficial and harmful, depending on a signal (or its strength?): KBS World Radio's marginal signal actually seemed to have more noise in the lower audio frequencies, which have been cut on XHDATA and Eton. I've also noticed how XHDATA D-808 loses audio in rapid fading conditions compared to Qodosen, although I think you could've included a bit more of Eton in these conditions as I already forgot how it performed 😂 Nevertheless, I could copy russian speech fully on the SR-286, but struggled at times with the D-808... which is quite sad to say given how much I like this radio 💔 Still looking for a video where you switch Qodosen to telescopic antenna for MW & DX with it as well as with your 10m wire clipped to it 😜

[@swlistening]

Hey Arnie, thanks for getting back to this video :-) I think this video does show that there are cases where other radios might perform better than the Qodosen, it really depends on the signal and the speaker, as you point out with the KBS signal. The loss of audio on the D-808 is very noticeable though when there is rapid fading, as you say. I will upload a comparison with the D-608WB and the Qodosen tonight still. The D-608WB showed the same effect during rapid fading, audio just disappears while the Qodosen still has sound. I do think the 608, overall, actually performed really well against the Qodosen. The video will be up soon. Like you, I am waiting for that MW test with the whip and a wire :-) I have tried it a few times here at home, and also outside in my tiny garden, but there is just too much noise around here when using the whip on MW. I will need to be outside and quite far away from houses to do that kind of test. I am thinking of going to a park at some point, but the problem is that the park that I am considering, near my house and high up a hill, actually closes at night, at 8pm. So I will need to do it before 8pm, when MW is not so good yet. Anyway, I am trying to find a way to do that test, I am as curious as you are. Right now, though, I am doing my MW DXing with the Tecsun AN-200, seems to work really well when plugged into the Qodosen.

[@ArnieDXer]

@@swlistening will check that video soon, Thanks :) As for MW and your local park, does it close at 8pm every day all year long or do they shut the doors earlier in winter? I'm in a bit similar situation as you in that my best times for MW DX are somewhat constrained: some of my local streetlights are noisy so when they're on, they do obscure the weakest DX. And above 1300-1400 kHz it can get even worse 😫 Right now, these streetlights ignite daily over an hour past sunset, when it's already quite dark, but shut off less than an hour before sunrise, when it is already quite bright 😆 so Asian DX is good, while Americas are problematic. I think some best results, if you're a diehard MW DXer, you can start obtaining about an hour to 1.5h before sunset. Although for some reason, post-sunrise times had been a lot more constrained than that this season 😳 Bottom line: time your trip well!

[@swlistening]

@@ArnieDXer Hey Arnie, thank you for this. Pity about those street lights! What you said about the best time for MW DXing, about 90 minutes before sunset, is interesting. I have actually never even considered DXing for MW at that time. That would be something that I could quite easily do in the park. This particular one that I have in mind closes at 8pm all year, it is also a dog park, so it is fenced and there are lots of dogs running free. Fun place to go. But I want to go there because it is high up a hill with clear surroundings. And it is big, if you are in the centre of the park at one of the picnic tables you are very far away from any houses. So I am sure MW DXing with the Qodosen on the whip and a wire should be quite good there. I will try to go this weekend.

[@Kw1161]

Andre , for me in terms of readability on signal 1 it is the “Q” followed by a tie on the Eton and XHDATA, Signal 2, The Eton nudged out the “Q” followed by the D808, Signal 3 I call a Tie between the “Q” and Eton, followed by the XHDATA. I wonder how the XHDATA 608WB would fare in this comparison zone? I believe if XHDATA would update the audio section like their less expensive models the comparison would have been a virtual tie. Well XHDATA is always improving so maybe next year…😂! 73! Have your self a great day!

[@swlistening]

Thank you for your comment! Funnily enough last night after uploading this video I actually thought about the D-608WB and how it would fare, compared to the Qodosen. I think the D-608WB is a very good radio. I am planning such a comparison!

[@patrickkerns2022]

what size input jack is used for the antenna on the qodosen ?looks bigger than the 1/4 input like a tescun mw loop would have they use 1/4 jack out put .the qodosen almost looks like it has a bigger jack like a large headphone jack??

[@swlistening]

Hi Patrick, it's a regular 3.5 mm jack. Same as my other radios.

[@Funk-DX]

hello and thumbs up for your video's !

[@swlistening]

Thanks again Klaus!

[@ArnieDXer]

My reckoning: on the Oromo station, Qodosen had lower noise floor (not to be confused with fading noise) than other two radios. As for the other two signals, I have no idea as I fell asleep in the middle of the video 😂

[@swlistening]

Glad to hear my videos are soothing 😂

[@ArnieDXer]

@@swlistening hahaha it's not your fault André 😂 I often fall asleep earlier than I wanted to in the evening. Guess waking up at 6am everyday boggled myself 😆

[@Homer19521]

Best way to to listen is with your eyes closed & only look when you hear a difference you find significant. Thanx for doing this. 👍 What Gen is the D808?

[@swlistening]

That does sound like the best way to listen, for an objective evaluation. My D-808 is second generation.

[@NJF60]

My observation is the XHData did better than the other two holding on to a weaker signal. The SR286 sounds terrible and the Eton is comparable to the XHData. Overall, I would pick the XHData D808. However, all three seem quite similar in performance regarding a portable DSP type of receiver.

[@swlistening]

Thanks John! I think your comment underlines the fact that people hear radio sound differently, quite a lot of people like the sound on the D-808 because it is so clear. To others it sounds tinny. Personally I prefer a deeeper sound, neither the D-808 nor the SR-286 have the best sound for me. I prefer the sound on the Eton Elite Traveler, and the XHDATA D-608WB.

[@NJF60]

@@swlistening hi Andre, I totally agree, we all hear audible sounds differently. Your review video was excellent!

[@swlistening]

@@NJF60 Thanks John!

[@samkam4984]

In my openion...Eton is the winner

[@swlistening]

I like the Eton also and it does perform quite well. It is a very good radio.

[@georgejaroslavsky5148]

Hi, I prefer the Eton by a slight margin. I don't like the SR-286 because the processor is not fast enough in reacting under marginal conditions with deep and fast fading. The audio sounds absolutely artificial. It reminds me one of the first transceivers with DSP noise reduction, the TS-570 from Kenwood. I am talking about the SW DX aspect. For general SWLing in almost perfect conditions, the Qodosen sounds great.

[@swlistening]

Hi George, thanks for your comment! I also think the Eton does well here. Over the past few weeks as I've tested the Qodosen more, it has certainly become my favourite DXing radio at this time. I find that it is less noisy than my other portables, and definitely more sensitive, on MW especially, but also on SW. I don't hear the DSP noise reduction that much on the Qodosen, I hear it more on my other radios.

[@jungzuma8410]

Hi， SWL, can you compare QODOSEN with TECSUN 880. 990? Thanks

[@swlistening]

I'd love to do that, but unfortunately I do not own any of those two radios.

[@ronan3672]

Tecsun pl-990 is PLL or DSP ?

[@swlistening]

Ronan, I think the PL-990 uses both an analogue circuit and DSP conversion.

[@joeweberofficial]

Eton is more pleasant sounding and the broadcast sounds more stable compared to Xhdata.

[@swlistening]

I agree, it definitely beats the D-808 here. But overall I think the SR-286 is just ahead of the Eton.

[@johnatkinson5693]

Xhdata by far way the best.

[@swlistening]

I think it performed well, but not my favourite here.

[@jayommk6950]

1-Qodosen 2-Eton 3-Xhfata

[@swlistening]

Thanks Jay, my thinking as well!

[@oz_dx]

D-808 is more noisy than others.

[@swlistening]

Indeed. The D-808 is a good radio, but compared to the Qodosen it is not so good.

[@orionstar640]

на мой взгляд и слух :) приём у них одинаковый, разница только в звуке.

[@swlistening]

Спасибо за ваш комментарий! Я думаю, что более низкий уровень шума Qodosen имеет большое значение, для меня он звучит лучше.

[@orionstar640]

@@swlistening Спасибо вам за сравнение. Меня тоже заинтересовал Qodosen SR-286. Я его заказал. Думаю моя оценка будет после того как я поработаю с ним. Точно что не будет хуже XHDATA и Tecsun. С уважением к вам.

[@swlistening]

@@orionstar640 Мне очень приятно, спасибо за просмотр. Надеюсь, вы останетесь довольны Qodosen SR-286, я считаю, что это отличная рация, лучше, чем D-808. Но нет ССБ.