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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-590SG

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-590SG
Reviews: 110MSRP: 1759.00
Description:
HF/50MHz TRANSCEIIVER
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Support/Amateur_Radio/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
34.31104.8
KB6HRT Rating: 2015-04-15
Another Winner! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
KK4OA review nailed it in his review of the TS590SG have had the TS590s since
2011 neat radio, only because I liked it so much, did I buy the TS590SG, as good as the TS590S receiver is the TS590SG is better and the transmit is fuller sounding also, I sent back a new
Yaesu FT1200DX because it would not hear real weak signals. but my TS590S and the TS590SG both do with little to no background noise. Another Winner from Kenwood..............kb6hrt
W7TOP Rating: 2015-04-08
Very Happy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been using a Kenwood TS-870S, a great radio with a great receiver but I wanted to upgrade and yet did not want to break the bank. When I read about the TS-590SG I was surprised to see it rating better than the troubled TS-590S, so I took the risk and bought one. I am happy to say it ranks at least as good as the TS-870S on receive, even better when it comes to noise reduction and control. The DSP and filters do a great job at removing some of the noise I constantly have at my QTH. It is easy to use, has great interface, and I am still finding more about this fine xcvr. Hopefully more to come as I get used to the new toy.
ZS6RJ Rating: 2015-04-06
Excellent DXpedition Transceiver Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
We used two Kenwood TS-590SG units on our recent 7QAA DXpedition. Not sponsored in any way, but owned outright by members of the DXpedition team.

Having used TS-590S models previously, and having a couple of TS-590S models at the 7QAA DXpedition in addition to the new SG versions, we were in a good position to come to some conclusions.

Over a total of around seventy thousand QSO's, the TS-590SG's performed flawlessly in extremely hot and humid conditions in Malawi. The AGC circuitry is a big improvement over the S model, especially for low band 80 and 160 meter weak CW signal work.

We also appreciated the bullet-proof connectivity via USB to N1MM Logger Plus, and the ability to seamlessly switch between RTTY/PSK and CW/SSB without the need for any interfaces. Simply the one USB cable from the rig to the laptop for all logging and digital mode operating.

Phase noise was not an issue running the radios together either. We're purchasing a couple more for our DXped group - an excellent radio, right up there with the famous brands for a fraction of the price.

With the new SG split antenna function, you can also connect two SG's or an SG and an older S version and run a dual receive setup with VFO A on one radio and VFO B on the other (see the manual for details). And the pricing still works out quite a bit cheaper than certain other radios with twin RX built-in.

73, Roger, ZS6RJ
K5TCP Rating: 2015-04-02
NICE! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Been looking at this one for some time and got one yesterday. What a great little radio. Got everything you need or could want in a radio and than some. Tuner is even better than the one in my Yaesu FTDX3000D. Did the firmware upgrade yesterday and had no problems with that. Size is great and the controls are easy to use. Menu system also great. Buy one, you will not be sorry! It's a keeper for me.
KB6MHK Rating: 2015-03-13
great choice! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have a KX3 and a TS2000. I love to have the Panadapter and the 100w amp for the kx3. But to do that I could have bought a 590sg with almost the same amount of $$$ and glad I did. Now I have an excellent rig and do not have to fool around with cabling. I also have a KX3 for travelling and emergency. The 590sg is alot cooler than the TS2000. The fan does not come on after hours of receiving!!
K3LI Rating: 2015-03-10
eXCELLET Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was running an Icom 7410 and a Yaesu FTdx1200. I liked both radios but the 1200 reception is not what it should be. I could dig out very weak signals with the 7410 and work them. The FTdx had no clue there was even a signal. Switched Antennas back and forth between my wire dipole and Hex beam. I did not matter the 7410 could still hear things the FT could not. Enough of this. Off to MTC in Paris. Threw the FT on the counter and said hook me up with a 590SG. (my son has a 590 so I knew what they would do. Drag the 590 home, plug it in and WOW! This is a radio. Does everything I need very well and no more switching back and forth between radios. (used to listen on the 7410 hit the ant switch and xmit on the Yaesu. The 590 has a watery noise floor but this can be cleaned up somewhat with internal adjustments. GET ONE, you will bang your head on the desk and wonder what took so long.
KK4OA Rating: 2015-01-30
Great Value Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This radio was everything I wanted.
It is compact without being too small. The single receiver is actually easier for me to use than the dual receiver radios I've owned. It is very intuitive and has excellent features
The auto mode function is a favorite. While it is a little difficult to set up it is definitely worth the trouble. I know this and other favorite functions are often common to the 590s but what I like about what I'm seeing is that instead of coming up with a brand new radio, Kenwood chose to take an excellent radio and make it much better!
Auto power off is nice because I live in fear of having the radio powered up with the dust cover on it. Things are sometimes hectic around here and I often operate right up to the time we are leaving the house. At times such as this the equipment is being shut down very quickly and it is nice to know that if the unthinkable happened(radio powered up with dust cover on it) that the radio would shut down within a hour of no activity. The power down time is selectable.
The transmitter is very hardy. When the rig was new I operated for hours on the digital modes and never heard the fans. After watching them for any activity a call to Kenwood was in order. They had a brand new SG sitting on the bench and powered it up transmitting a carrier at full output for 10 minutes before they got the fan to run. It ran for a short while and quickly cooled down. It appears that they have the output transistors heat sinked to the very heavy frame of the radio. It's my guess that this frame disperses the heat so well that the fans are rarely needed. Since then they do occasionally come on. The radio never gets especially hot.
The selectivity of this radio is amazing. I was able to completely knock out 20 over signals 3 khz away and eliminate about 80% of a like signals 2500 cycles away. That took little effort! All of this in a radio that requires no expensive add-on filters.
Of course initial transmissions gave excellent audio reports with little effort using a Heil GM-5 microphone.
For those who are wondering, yes there are significant differences in this over the 590s. To me it is worth every penny of it.
I have owned Icoms and Yaesus but this is definitely my favorite especially for the price.
Another pleasant surprise in the Kenwood is the manual. Everything is referenced and cross referenced. You are rarely far a way from a quick answer to your question.
What would make this radio better? There have been complaints about noise reduction. It is true that it is a definitely different sound but as a dxer it usually makes the signal buried in the noise heard and understood. The important thing for me is to get the information. It appears that the watery sound of the noise reduction is lessened if the receiver equalization is off.
The only thing that would make this radio better for me is more input and output possibilities on the back panel. In that regard it is still in line with other radios in it's price range so I hesitated to even mention it.
N5XRD Rating: 2015-01-05
It is extremely good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned it for about 1 1/2 months, for which I traded my 590S. It is great and has evereything that I use. I like it at least as well as the K3 I used to have, and costs about half as much. I feel t hat the RX is somewhat better than the 590S. However, I only use PSK and CW as phone makes too much noise in our small apartment. Try it you will like it.
SM6VYM Rating: 2014-12-20
Day two...great RIG Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
To early to say really but my first impression is that this is a great RIG...

Two minor anoying remarks...

A audio hiss...even at zero volyme there is a hiss noice...same as with the older S-version...it adds to the signal youre listening to...and if you dont like it you can add a resistor to the signal path of your speaker or headphones...330ohm did it for me...

A weak spike sound in "Full Break In" mode from relay is notisable in the audio...not a big deal but never the less a bit anoying...only present in my RIG...or in all...?

My SG has the SO-3 installed and full TX mod for use with my Kuhne TR-144H +40 (to 14Mhz) transverter...

Over all its Da-RIG...!!!
GI0ZGB Rating: 2014-12-13
Sorted Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I previously owned two TS-590S versions, neither would play ball with my Acom LA due to the powerspike issue.
No such problems with the SG version, happy days!
Overall, the SG is superior in many ways, to my ears the RX seems cleaner and quieter, although the DSP algorithm needs looking at, being too aggressive early on, which introduces fish tank audio at settings beyond number two. Early days yet, but I'm very pleased with my purchase, it was something of a leap of faith given my previous experiences, so far so good.