Kenwood TS-950SD vs. SDX

[WB0NZF]

I am replacing my 25+ year old TS-820.  I am looking at used rigs such as the TS-2000, TS-870 and TS-950.  Does anyone know the difference between the TS-950SD and the TS-950SDX?  I've found that even sellers can't explain the difference.  I'd appreciate any info concerning any of these rigs.  Bob.

[WB2WIK]

Hmmm.  

I can tell you, easily: Having owned both, the 950SDX is a vastly superior radio.

It's newer.
It has a different, better, and simplified front panel layout and greatly improved operating software.
It has an FET final power amplifier (the 950SD was bipolar, and not reliable).
It has a fully adjustable display dimmer.
It has all the great features of the TS-850S which were lacking from the TS-950SD, including the CW REVERSE function, the CW FINE function, the better frequency synthesizer which tunes in 1 Hz steps (the 950SD was 10 Hz), and the 850's Quick Memo function, which I use all the time and is extremely handy.
It also has automatic AGC available.
It has a menu-configurable IF filter selection feature, so you can bypass filters you'd never use on certain modes.
It's got better DSP (the DSP in the 950SD was marginal).
And, it's got far better "second receiver" functionality.

Other than that, and the fact that there is *no way* to upgrade a 950SD to an SDX, there's no difference!

WB2WIK/6

[WB0NZF]

Thanks so much for the info.  Very informative and usefull for me.