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[KC8NXB]

Do band conditions effect voice clarity? I can tune in one station that is very clear and then the next one can have distorted voice.

[W9IQ]

You may have too much gain. Turn off the preamp or turn on an attenuator to see if it makes a difference.

- Glenn W9IQ

[W7CXC]

Another possibility is that is what is being transmitted. Some times Aurora can do that as well, generally a "flutter" though.  David

[W6QW]

Propagation can affect voice quality, in particular, paths across the polar regions where you can readily hear flutter and echo's in the voice transmission from multipath propagation.

Most of the distorted voice stations that are commonly heard, however, are a result of poorly set-up transmitter parameters.

[W6MK]

Most of the distorted voice stations that are commonly heard, however, are a result of poorly set-up transmitter parameters.

That's what I hear. And why I generally stick to CW.

[KC8NXB]

Thank you all for the info. I did what W9IQ said and it did not help.

[K1VSK]

Do band conditions effect voice clarity? I can tune in one station that is very clear and then the next one can have distorted voice.

Too many variables to define -
Path, local vs. DX, transmit audio quality, your use of NR, AGC, etc... conditions, .....

All of these are mitigated to varying degrees once you learn Morse code and operate CW.

[W9IQ]

Thank you all for the info. I did what W9IQ said and it did not help.

Another thing to check is that your bandwidth filter is not set too narrow. When you hear the distorted signal, try widening your receive bandwidth.

I do agree that there are some stations that overdrive their radio but these tend to be the far minority. Any estimate as to the percent of stations that the distorted population represents?

- Glenn W9IQ

[W6QW]

One other consideration for you - some radios will adversely distort strong signals if the noise blanker is on.  Try disabling the noise blanker to see if that might mitigate your symptoms.

[K0UA]

One other consideration for you - some radios will adversely distort strong signals if the noise blanker is on.  Try disabling the noise blanker to see if that might mitigate your symptoms.

^this.  My Yaesu 891 in the mobile is notorious for doing that. A good strong signal can sound bad where a weak signal will sound fine with the Noise Blanker on. The Solution is to flip off the noise blanker on strong signals.

[KC8NXB]

I know code, I prefer voice. had my full of CW while in the USAF. I'm not mobile and don't use the NB. About 1/2 of stations sound distorted but I think many of those are the guys with the scratchy voices. Everyone has been helpful.

[WB8VLC]

Those are probably the guys who have nagging complaining wife's, the poor hams with the scratchy mumbling voices.

[K0UA]

Bottom line. We have no idea what you are hearing and calling "distorted voices" It could be anything. The only way for us to be of any real help is to actually hear and see the settings on your radio and watch you go thru and tune many stations and you provide feedback to us over the same video with sound as to the stations you are calling distorted. Even then we may not be able to pinpoint the problem. 

Just rest assured that my station is not suffering from the same problem. "every other station" is NOT distorted. So if that is what you are hearing, then the problem is on your end. AND rest assured propagation is not causing these stations to sound distorted either, (artic flutter aside). 

So the question becomes if you want further assistance, then you must make a youtube video of good quality with good narration from you so we can have some attempt at seeing and listening to the problem.

I will assure you this critique comes out of a real desire to help you and and also from a decades long range of experiences in helping people over a telephone to troubleshoot complex problems with electronic equipment. I would like to think I have seen and heard it all. I have found thru the years that the majority of the problems are nothing at all like the original observer has described them, and can often be found and rectified fairly easily. Even easier when I loaded my self into an automobile and actually went to the site.

I would put the ratio of problems solved per hour of troubleshooting to be about 10 to 1 comparing local live investigation vs. telephone investigation. And troubleshooting over this "glorified chat room" of this medium to be at least 10 times worse than a telephone call session.  Although it is amazing sometimes the amount of correct solutions the contributors here accomplish.  I wish you good luck and if you need further, you can post a youtube video or if you wish you can contact me directly.   73  James K0UA