Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout

[d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Chuck, 
 
Given the likelihood that these new "Skywave" portables will be used with extremelyÂhigh-QÂFSL antennas during actual transoceanic DXing, the high-treble audio of the "Skywave" may help to compensate a little for the tendency of the FSL's toÂchop off the higher audio frequencies when they zero in on DX with their razor-sharp tuning system. Up until now the PL-380'sÂ1 kHz DSP filtering and the FSL's razor sharp tuning system have beenÂkind of a double whammy onÂDX stations' higher audio frequencies, resulting inÂsomewhat "muddy" sounding audio during typical MP3's. Previously, the only way to correct this issue was to switch to 2 kHz DSP filtering on the PL-380, but that usually results in unacceptable splatter from domestic stations. Time will tell if the "Skywave's" high-treble audio provides a little moreÂbalance inÂMP3's of DX stations. 
 
Gary 
ÂÂÂÂÂ 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Chuck Hutton" <charlesh3@xxxxxxx> 
To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:42:15 PM 
Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout 

I was somewhat bothered by a lot of hiss in the Skywave audio. It's easily visible in a spectrum plot. 
To a lesser degree, the 380 audio had too much low frequency rumble. 
Doing a good lowpass and highpass filtering on both, I was left with audios that sounded identical from the two receivers. 
Chuck 

> From: canswl@xxxxxxxxx 
> Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:04:16 +0000 
> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DXÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂShootout 
> 
> Impressive results, Gary. ÂI was very impressed with the 550 clip. ÂWow! 
> As for the others, the C Crane receiver was so much less fatiguing to 
> listen to. ÂGreat audio, for sure! ÂThanks for doing the side by side 
> comparisons! Â 73,...Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC 
> 
> On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 5:40 AM, <d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> 
> > Hello All, 
> > 
> > With clear weather and lots of open space in our back yard, it was time 
> > for a full Shootout between the Si4734-chip-powered Tecsun PL-380 and the 
> > new Si4736-chip-powered C.Crane Skywave portable. Both stock models were 
> > checked out for normal operation before the contest, with new batteries and 
> > an equal chance to receive six fringe MW stations just after local noon.. 
> > 
> > The new Skywave is significantly smaller than the Tecsun PL-380 (see photo 
> > at 
> > http://www.mediafire.com/view/8o5mdtt1bc1rfik/CCraneSkywaveDisassembly-04_(Large).jpg 
> > ), and at $89.95 (before shipping) costs about twice as much. The Tecsun 
> > PL-380 stock model was chosen for this Shootout because it has become the 
> > favorite of Ultralight radio Transoceanic DXers, with a generous range of 
> > functions combined with "toned down" soft mute. Its stock loopstick places 
> > it near the top of the ULR class in sensitivity, and with DSP filtering 
> > down to the 1 kHz level it provides fairly representative performance of 
> > all the Tecsun Si4734 DSP chip Ultralights. 
> > 
> > Rather than tell you immediately how the Shootout went, I will let you 
> > form your own opinion by posting six MP3's of the relative reception by the 
> > PL-380 Vs. the Skywave in receiving the daytime DX fringe stations. In each 
> > MP3 both the PL-380 and the Skywave were set on the 1 KHz DSP setting, and 
> > both were pointed in the same direction. In each MP3 the PL-380 receives 
> > the fringe station for the first 20 seconds, and the Skywave receives the 
> > same fringe station for the final 20 seconds. 
> > 
> > 550 ÂKARI Â Blaine, WA Â (5 kW at 127 miles) 
> > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/dd8dok6ujeh50cz/550-KARI-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
> > 
> > 690 ÂCBU Â Vancouver, BC Â (50 kW at 148 miles) 
> > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/hj3khn0zjep3pxc/690-CBU-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
> > 
> > 750 ÂKXTG Â Portland, OR Â (50 kW at 117 miles) 
> > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/06uc2a15yas4y57/750-KXTG-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
> > 
> > 1070 ÂCFAX Â Victoria, BC Â (10 kW at 100 miles) 
> > 
> > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/44vpx852aa7pwn4/1070-CFAX-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
> > 
> > 
> > 1420 ÂKITI/ KUJ Â Centralia and Walla Walla, WA (5 kW at 46 miles and 202 
> > miles) 
> > 
> > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/b2apvjdi5uwhksw/1420-KITI-KUJ-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
> > 
> > 1470 ÂKELA Â Centralia, WA Â(5 kW at 46 miles) 
> > 
> > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/glppgdt26jzcnlc/1470-KELA-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
> > 
> > Comments: ÂThe Si4734 DSP chip in all of the Tecsun Ultralights tends to 
> > clip off the higher audio frequencies in the 1 kHz DSP setting, leaving the 
> > audio with somewhat of a "muddy" sound. Obviously, the Si4736 chip in the 
> > Skywave not only solves this issue, but solves the heterodyne issue 
> > (audible in the 1420 kHz MP3) as well. As for why the Skywave seems to have 
> > a slight sensitivity edge over the PL-380 (except on 550, where it smokes 
> > the PL-380), it could either be the result of a superior loopstick, or 
> > superior sensitivity of the Si4736 chip. Further testing should reveal the 
> > cause. 
> > 
> > Verdict: ÂThe Si4736 DSP chip in the Skywave is a major improvement over 
> > the Si4734 chip in the Tecsun DSP Ultralights. Although there may be some 
> > jokes about the Skywave's cost being "sky high," the radio seems to be 
> > everything claimed by C.Crane, at least in its MW performance. This model 
> > should see a lot of action among Transoceanic MW DXers, where its superior 
> > audio and heterodyne-free reception should make a significant difference in 
> > split-frequency results. 
> > 
> > 73 and Good DX, 
> > Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA 
> > 
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