Replacement for ICOM 746Pro?

[KB3OAH]

I am about to purchase a new HF rig and have narrowed the choices down to the ICOM 746Pro. The 746Pro is a little long in the tooth and I suspect that there may be an improved 746Pro in the wings. Any suggestions and insight would be appreciated.
73
Dan
AB3EN

[KB9YUR]

Dan,

you didn't say if you would consider a used radio.
I've owed the 746 (non-Pro) for 6 years now with no
problems at all. But, I would also consider other
radios from the past as well.

[KB3OAH]

I would consider other and older rigs. Currently I have a TenTec Delta That will most likely become a mobile. I like the DSP of the Icom 746Pro and I am currently working with some SDR projects such as the Softrock v6 TxRx module.

If I spend the bucks I figured to buy something that is the best bang for the money. Suggestions welcome.
73
Dan
AB3EN

[N5EAT]

A good used Icom IC-775 DSP would be an upgrade without having to buy a 7800.  I have a Yaesu FT-2000 that is the best rig i've owned.

The 746 is a very good rig.  Finding a truly better rig could be a challenge.  The PRO-III is better, but not much.  The Omni 7 and Orion II are better.  The FT-2000 is better..  But by a factor of what I don't know.  Sunspot peak is a while off.  It's tough to tell in the sparse signal environment we have now.  

[N6AJR]

I have a 746 pro, a ts2000, a pegasus, and an Orion, ( and a ft 847 and 6 or 7 more)and I use the Orion most and the Peg second, the 746 pro is my station for visiting hams. it has a at 500 and a 2-kl.  the orion is a better contester, but the 746 pro ain't bad. ( I also had a 756 and it was pretty good too.

go with the orion, or the orion II or keep the 756 pro and put $3000 or so into a tower and a nice 3 or 4 element steppir..

http://hometown.aol.com/catfishtwo/N6AJR.html

 pic of the shack