The main issue that I have with this version (really a carry over issue
for every version since 2.x) is the slight (slight?) audio fuzziness I
hear, especially noticeable in headphones (I typically use a Heil
Proset). To my ears it is a distortion that produces hearing fatigue
rather quickly. It is most noticeable on weaker stations. Binaural
listening clearly moves this distortion to the left earpiece (higher
side). Binaural off centers the distortion in both earpieces, but it is
still there. AGC settings seem to effect the nature of this distortion
slightly but I haven't found an AGC setting that significantly reduces it.
I went back to version 1.3x firmware code to see if there was any
significant difference in this audio distortion.... and it is less but
still there.
My next step was to try different headsets. After six different models
it became clear that the one that was significantly less sensitive to
this distortion was my Kenwood HS-5 headsets that I had converted to
stereo (an easy thing to do). My other headsets were similar to the Heil
Proset in perceived audio distortion. Interestingly all of the other
headsets except the Kenwood HS-5 had fairly broad frequency response
ranges. Their input impedances varied but that only seemed to effect
volume and not sensitivity to distortion. The Kenwood HS-5 is rated at 8
ohm input with a frequency response of 150-4000 at -6dB, so they have a
noticeable roll off at the high end. Sadly, the Kenwood is the least
comfortable of the bunch and I can rarely wear them for more than an hour.
So after 18 months of Orion ownership I still find no firmware relief to
the woes that effect me the most.... how it sounds. Ten-Tec folks... are
you 'really' listening?
73,
Jerry, KG6TT
--
Ralph Jerald "Jerry" Volpe
Amateur Radio Operator KG6TT
788 Chestnut Drive
Fairfield, CA 94533
kg6tt@arrl.net
510 325-7724
707 399-8838 FAX
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