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| Reviews Summary for ICOM IC-7600 |
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Reviews: 32
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Average rating: 4.4/5
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MSRP: $3,950
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Description: The ICOM IC-7600 has been unveiled at the Tokyo hamfair August 2008. DSP based HF/50 MHz 100W transceiver keeps the best of IC-756PROIII with the look and convenience of IC-7XXX seiries rigs.
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G7CNF
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 24, 2009 22:38
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Expensive but worth it
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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OK. I can understand the frustration reported by some other OM's - they've had a bad experience. For my part, I've had quite an array of rigs from FT-2000, Pro, 1,2,3, TS-2000 and many besides. This radio blows them all away.
This is not a 'honeymoon' review, I've had it over 6 months.
I was pleasantly surprised by the LCD signal meter which was one of my greatest fears prior to buying. The DSP is sharp, little ringing on narrow CW, scope is acceptable - better than any predecessors. The NB is superb - the best I have experienced of any radio including SDR - it even kills the HomePlug QRM, dead. Twin PBT and manual notch in the AGC chain kills large adjacent signals very nicely without pumping.
My biggest gripe is that there is no PTT via USB - no big deal, there are other ways but with audio and CAT over USB, PTT (not CAT PTT) would have been nice.
Audio over USB removes the need for a soundcard interface - nice touch.
All in all, a sound purchase, solid rig and everything works as per spec.
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W4VR
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2009 12:38
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Beats a PROIII hand over fist
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've had the 7600 for about a week and I am very impressed with it's performance. I've had a PROIII for several years and the 7600 is so much better. To say the least, it does a lot more than the PROIII, and I find the receiver to be much more quiet than the III. I was trying to QSO last night during the Sweepstakes contest when someone moved in within 2 kHz with a very strong signal...I was able to tune him out! I'm so pleased I think I'll buy another one for my vacation home.
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KC4CP
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Rating: 3/5
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Nov 21, 2009 14:45
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The Jury Is Still Out
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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First, I love the rig! It is truly awesome in every respect.
Second, right out of the box it had an intermitten problem. At times, my SSB Tx signal has a loud swooshing wind sound!? This takes place even when I merely key up the mic. My shack is totally insulated ... and with everything else turned off, I still have this problem. Wierd! Numerous stations have noted the problem. Again, it is an intermitten problem. But when it appears, other stations notice it immediately ("Did you just turn on an amp with a loud fan?" - "Are you running mobile with the windows rolled down?" - etc.)
I sent the rig back to R&L. They won't automatically swap it out and say that they have to request a RA number (Return Authorization) from Icom. They say it is Icom's decision on whether or not the radio will be replaced. After 20 years of buying from R&L, I expected better. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt (perhaps Icom must indeed approve the swap out).
There is no excuse for a $4,000 radio having such a problem ... but I realize that odd things can happen. Now, the key is whether or not it will be replaced with a new one!
The fact that I would give a 3 to a rig that has a problem right out of the box ... speaks volumns about the radio. But I am troubled by the Tx problem. Will the 3 become a 5? It depends on what R&L ends up doing. I will let you know.
If anyone has heard of a similar problem, please let me know. (AC4CP@aol.com).
Tnx,
David WR4N
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OE1TRB
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 20, 2009 12:15
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Great machine
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have the IC7600 since several month and compared it all the time with my IC756Pro3. RX is improved a lot in DSP. PSK is fun to work with one machine without Software and PC. Only the 70 characters per TX memory to use in PSK is a bit to small. Generally a great high end machine for me specially with the built in roofing filters. I like it and be happy to switch it on every day for heavy duty use. Well done Icom - now waiting for the IC-9100.
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W4OP
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Rating: 3/5
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Nov 18, 2009 06:04
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I prefer the PRO III
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought one new to replace my PRO III. MDS measurements on the scope showed it to be less sensitive than the PRO III. The lack of a standard VGA output on the back was a real oversight. But I felt the worst change was the virtual S meter. If a real analog S meter had the resolution (the graphics) of their digital meter scale, you would return it everytime. Very poor.
My 7600 had an issue with the sleep mode of the LED backlighting- so I returned it and bought an IC-7700 and love it. Full VGA graphics, excellent screen resolution, and a scope more sensitive than the PRO III.
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PD5X
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 15, 2009 02:27
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Another masterpiece
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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hello all
This is my small review of the ic 7600
Just one word great, the roofing filters great. The keyboard connection for digi modes great. The +30dbm now on all bands great. The extra 32bit DSP only for the scope great. The menu easy to use same like the ic7700 just great.
And what i specially love is the renewd screen wwoooowww what a lively colors compared to my TFT screens and also my ICOM7700.And talking about the ic7700 i did some small A/B testing and i had thought that the diffrence would be more but verry big surprise for me its not. Ofcourse there is a diffrence between the 2 and yes it is still worth the pricevalue between the 2, but i really was surprised. So all by all ICOM did a really good job with this follow up of the pro3 and with the charastics of the ic7700/7800.
This was my small review if you wnat to read my review of the ic7700 you can look there and its on the 6th/7th place ...!!
For info or suggestions please @mail me at
roma-dx@ziggo.nl
73 Roberto PD5X
http://members.lycos.nl/pd5x/
http:www.qrz.com/pd5x
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VE3XKD
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 6, 2009 05:51
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A Step Up from the Pro III
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have previously owned an FT 990, a 1000D, a Pro III and last week I bought a 7600. I like the 7600. Initial impressions are the receiver is better on SSB at digging out weak signals, the menu settings are more friendly and the antenna tuner is really fast. It is so fast that I at first thought it was not working! The 7600 is a definate improvement over the Pro III.
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WW0AL
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 28, 2009 12:50
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Pro III and then some
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had a Pro III for 3 years, and needed a new radio for a second shack. Having tried all sorts of other radios (Kenwood, Ten Tec and Yaesu) I opted to stay with the Icom for my contest rig. The band scope makes a huge difference to me in finding stations, and in finding quiet places to run a frequency. I've never had the first hint of trouble with any of my past Icoms.
When I first plugged the 7600 in, I though I had a dead receiver however... it was almost silent on 20 meters in the middle of the afternoon. But as soon as I tuned to a station I realized that it wasn't broken... it is just very quiet.
One thing that surprises me a bit... I had completely forgotten that it has a virtual s-meter. It works just fine folks... looks fine and will probably outlast a traditional electro-mechanical meter.
I would have bought a 200 or 400 watt version had they been available and not stupidly expensive. But I am very happy with what I have.
For whatever reason the transmitted audio seems a bit nicer than that in my Pro III. With the Pro III I have to use the special Heil IC-element... with the 7600 I can use a standard HC-5. And as I said the receiver is probably a bit quieter. But by and large its just a nicely improved Pro III... and to me that's a good thing.
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ZENKI
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 23, 2009 21:26
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Good balance
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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The IC-7600 is a good overall mid range compromise radio. The receiver specifications are just about as good as its more expensive cousins the IC7800 and IC7700, its a good deal. 2 or 3db difference here and there on the receiver specs is only is going to kill your wallet not your ears!
The Japanese designers have hit a plateau with up conversion design specifications and you are only going to get better performance from radios like the K3 and Orion.
I dont think we ever going to see a 90db IMD dynamic range radio from Japan, so in this regard the IC7600 represents just about the best we going to get for a reasonable price.
Anything else in the future will probably just be bells and whistles. In the critical areas like IMD dynamic range and phase noise figures they are about the same for all models, this will result in the same real world performance between the IC7700,7800 and 7600. Everything you paying extra for results in no better performance so why spend the money?
My main radios that I use in contests are the IC765, TS-850S, FT1000D and lately the Elecraft K3. The K3 has the best receiver for CW and strong signal handling. However its general ergonmics, small size leaves a lot to be desired. I was looking for a good general purpose radio with all the "bells and whistles" and with respectful performance thats the minimum acceptable. The IC-7600 fits the bill in my mind. If Elecraft ever gets its act together and designs a decent radio with a proper front panel ergonomics, built in bandscope like the Icom radios i might get interested. My K3 is only used in contests or when I need the best receiver performance when the band is very crowded.
The IC7600 is a easy to use radio with a good general purpose user interface. The dual watch and bandscope are a nice touch. Band mapping and all the simple things like split, VFO memories and everyday operational things that every radio should do right works. The K3 in comparison is a mess in this regard. Its hard to believe that experienced HF users designed the K3, its just awkward.
The receiver performance is acceptable receiver performance for everyday use. Its receiver sounds very smooth, a lot better than the K3. The IC7600 makes a nice SSB radio and its great for tuning around the shortwave spectrum. You can tell that the IC7600 has less distortion and inband IMD on receive when compared to a radio like the K3. The simple bandswitching makes changes from the ham bands to the shortwave bands easy, unlike the K3. The K3's potential is squandered by its lousy front panel ergonomics and other design aspects that are very queer.
There is no way a up conversion radio with such a high IF will ever have high IMD dynamic range numbers. There is also no likelihood that a narrow roofing filter will ever be devloped for such a high IF, so its futile pretending that a radio like the IC7600 is ever going to beat downconversion radios like the K3 in close spaced IMD dynamic range numbers. However not everyone works CW contests and IC7600's numbers are probably close to good enough for most SSB users and casual CW users.
The S-meter is terrible and does not come close to any real analogue S-meter like that on the IC765. Its not calibrated like the K3, so it useless in this regard. The graphics are rather ugly and boxy, it looks like a cheap micky mouse toy thingy S-meter. In my opinion it ruins the look of the radio.
The IC7600 does have poorer transmit IMD performance than the IC-765 and the FT1000D. The IC-765 has exceptional transmitter IMD at -40db below PEP. Not even the IC7700 or IC7800 with 50 volt fets can equal the IC765's IMD performance. The IC7600 has noticeable high order IMD on transmit. The IC-7600's transmit ALC generates a lot of distortion and needs careful adjustment. The IC7600's ALC overshoots on transmit causes splatter very easily. This is very apparent with my Alpha99 which is sensitive to grid current. Icom really needs to do more work on its transmit ALC designs.
Another disappointment is the CW keying waveform, which can increase keyclicks/keying sidebands by 10 to 15db. Its there if you watch the output on a spectrum analyzer. The drive level control has to be adjusted very carefully. Its amazing that even today we have companies who cant get something as simple as CW keying waveform correct! CW transmitter is old hat maybe the new DSP engineers are clueless to what a good CW waveform is. The K3 by comparison has a perfect CW signal which has no clicks or other oddities.
The transmit audio is very nice, however I am not impressed with DSP based speech processor. They dont seem to have the same punch as traditional RF clippers. Even though science says that they are the same, they dont appear to as effective as the good old RF clipper. I am planning trying the new TenTEc speech processor. If i could get the 7600 sounding like the TenTEc Orion I would be happy. The Orion seems to have a very effective RF speech processor.
The noise blanker works very well, amazing for a DSP blanker. The K3's noise blanker performance is very hit and miss. It changes its performance with the weather and every firmware change.
The notch width is very useful and works better than the K3's single width notch.
The CW performance and receiver sound is very good. The K3 seems to lose volume and lack body on CW receive, the note on receive sounds better on the IC7600. I much prefer the IC7600 for casual cw operation.While both the K3 and the IC7600 copy signals equally well, i believe that the IC7600 sounds better on CW. I dont know if its how the K3's AGC behaves, however the signals seem very washed out and blurred on the K3. I like the purity of most analogue radios and simple DC receivers, thats how CW should sound. The IC7600 has this sound the K3 does not. You can see a demo on youtube on the K3 versus the DC receiver to see what I mean.The IC7600 delivers a full bodied proper CW sounding signal.
I dont know why a radio like the IC7600 uses an external power supply, this is not the kind of radio you take mobile. Radios like the old IC751A, IC765 and many other Icoms had inbuilt power supplies.The 7600 would have made an ideal radio if it had a inbuilt power supply. I have never ever heard anyone running any 756 model Icom mobile. These days with so many light portable generators around like the Honda EU2000's, battery operation is hardly needed.
What would make this radio better?
50 volt fets for the PA
200 watts of output power
calibrated S-meter
mouse point and click tuning for the bandscope
Copy some of the features of the K3 like AFX binaural
APF filter
Overall the 7600 is a nice radio that has few faults. You wont feel like you have bought a low performing lemon like the FT2000 series of radios. The receiver performance numbers while not perfect are getting closer to the ideal set of numbers. Its a shame the ARRL's review methods makes the receiver numbers look better than they really are. There is no mid range range radio that has performance as good as the 7600, not from Yaesu or Kenwood so from the performance perspective alone its a good deal.
There are no warts that gives you anxiety, is it perfect no! No radio is perfect yet. The IC7600 fits a nice gap in the market between the top end radios that have a very high price that lacks performance and the very high performance radios that lack all the bells and whistles like the K3 and Orion.The IC7600 is a well integrated performance package that should keep most casual hams happy.
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