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Reviews For: ICOM IC-756PRO

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-756PRO
Reviews: 146MSRP: 3500
Description:
ICOM IC-756Pro Transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/hf/#IC-756PRO
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001464.8
G4GZG Rating: 2001-08-26
Great performer !! Time Owned: N.A.
I got my Pro in Jan 2001, after having Drake gear for some years. I listened to several rigs off the same antenna while in the Ham dealer as I wanted to be sure I wasn't going to be wasting my cash - after all there are cheaper rigs....

However, having listened on FT1000mK5,, TS870, TS570 and IC746, the Pro came as a total revelation, mainly due to the low noise,improved filters and intuitive feel.

When I got my Pro home I found it the most sensitive and selective Rx I have used in over 20 years of Ham radio. The DSP works like a dream,this combined with the notch filter sorts out the EU ' Tuneruppers' very well.

Everyone likes the transmitted Audio and the CW note is an improvement over previous Icom rigs ( and you can adjust the timing too!!)

I've run mine quite hard since I got it and its never missed a beat.

Congratulations Icom.

PY1BR Rating: 2001-08-19
Great rig for all types of use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've been using the PRO since Dayton Hamfest and I am delighted with its reception and features. I have also an IC-775DSP that I think is more "DXer rig", but the PRO seems to have almost the same performance in terms of weak signals detection. In 80/75 meter band it is a pleasure to see the static (QRM) displayed on the screen!
I am also curious about on what Icom will improve the new upgraded version IC-756PRO-II. The most important in a rig (in my opinion) is reception and reliability. I think the PRO complies both "most important rig issues".
KB6HRT Rating: 2001-08-11
Super HF Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked up a 756PRO last week and i am pleased with it, It is a Great DX radio on 10 meters i pulled in some stations that my 10 meter radio did not even hear and it had a higher gain antenna on it. The DSP works real good and i combind my Clear Speach spraker with the radio and that makes an awesome setup for SSB. output power is 100+watts and all HF bands. I have a hearing loss in one of my ears but by being able to adjust the DSP to the exact amount neaded i can pull in stations very clear with little or no background noise, this radio lives up to its name ( PRO ) Its the best that i ever have used and I have always liked Kenwood radio in the past! ICOM did there home work on the 756PRO.............
Tim R. Havens Rating: 2001-08-01
VERY good Rig! Excellent even... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This radio is friggin awesome. Only thing I don't like so far is no internal power supply. The filters are excellent, although I've heard of many complaints....I like them very much!

The TX audio tone adj. are excellent....the mike gain, and compression are also very good.

Triple band stacking rocks.

twin pbt tuning is excellent (first time i've really used that)

Dual Watch is Excellent. You can listen to two freq's same time. One can even be scanning! What I don't like here is that both freq's must be same mode (yuck), but otherwise excellent feature.

The scope on HF is PRRRRRFECT. On 6m with weak signals It's a little hard to use...scope needs a little more gain....for weak stuff....but works great when signals are present. Lots of fun.

the Keyers voice and cw are excellent. and they can loop! and send s/n's! I like them very much.

I'm very satisfied. But would like to have paid about 500 less. ;-) I paid $2399 @ HRO 7/31/01

the controls are nicely arranged, and big....nice for big hands.

I even tried the RTTY tnc built in last night....very kewl.

I still have much to play with , and learn.
AB5N Rating: 2001-07-26
Clearly the Best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I, like several of the other folks have owned dozens of HF rigs in the last 30 years. This radio is totally different in nature from ALL the others -even the original 756. It is an almost perfect expression of the mathematical formula for an ideal HF radio. The filters are- perfect.
When I first turned it on, I actually thought the speaker was disconnected -until I tuned in a signal! A/B'ing it between my old 756 or 706IIG..was shocking. It is immune to most sorts of local noise. It is easily 10DB quieter than the 756 and 15db quieter than the 706IIG. The scope is beautiful, and so is the radio itself. Save your money, sell the others, and get the Pro.
AD6A Rating: 2001-07-17
Best of the best!!! Time Owned: N.A.
I own a lot of different HF rigs including a good many high-end ones such as Yaesu FT-1000MP, FT-1000MP MkV, Kenwood TS-950SDX etc.

I also now own an Icom IC-756PRO. Why did I buy one if I have all these other rigs already? Well, after measuring a whole gaggle of rigs in preparation for our 18A Field Day extravaganza (W6PIY), I was astounded by the performance of one fellow's IC-756PRO and simply HAD to have one (you understand where I'm coming from, right?).

It bested all the other high-end rigs by a significant margin in all the important areas.
I have cleared all the other HF rigs off my op position and just have the IC-756PRO there now.

I got my rig home the day before FD - it tested exactly as good as the other fellow's. I learned what I needed to know about operating it in a couple of hours with the manual and on the air and I was ready to go. The rig's performance on FD was FLAWLESS - I was the 40m CW station. A guest op thanked me profusely for letting him experience the rig!

The spectrum display is GREAT for contesting - you can find a quiet spot fast and easily or you can go straight to where all the activity is should you want to. The ergonomics of this rig are very well thought out indeed.

I have recommended, and will continue to recommend, this rig to ANYONE looking for a new HF rig for just about ANY purpose - DXpedition, contesting, general shack use, whatever.

The only problem I have now is, do I sell all my other radios or keep them in case I want to go back to them when I feel nostalgic at some time in the future?? It's a quandry that is keeping me awake at night.

The proposed IC-756PRO MK II doesn't seem to have enough improvements that I'd wait until it came out before buying - swoop NOW!

73, Dave, AD6A (dave@redhotradio.com)
AC6IJ Rating: 2001-07-05
Loaded with features Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I give this radio a 5 because of all it's available modes and performance. Three of us who have just recieved these Transceivers have many questions about the manual and understaning many of the features. We rewrote the part on adding repeater freq. for 6 meter etc. the manual really misses on this one. Properly done, it is terrific though. I work all the PSK-31 modes and MMSTV and RTTY works well with a computer. The 756 PRO only recieves RTTY without a computer though, no way to send. Why bother if you need a computer to send? Am I missing something here? All in all, this radio is terrific and it works great once it's properly understood. I am still learning much lots about it and we just love it. Bill AC6IJ normally@softcom.net
KF5XV Rating: 2001-07-01
What a Buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wanted to replace my aging TS-850 with an up scale radio. I wanted full features and Kennwood quality audio. While the 756's audio does come short of the Kenwood'd, I love the additional featured and the Spectrum Scope is great on 6 and 10 meters. My 756 coupled with the 9 element Sommer is great on HF. 2 thumbs up for this machine @ $2,300 hard to beat feature for feature.
KC4CLD Rating: 2001-06-19
King of the Hill!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm an Icom fan since 1980. I own the IC-726 and IC-736. Also I owned a 765 that I exchanged long time ago for the 706 ( hit by lightning and gone) and for many years I can't have a solid copy in 160 meters. There was no way to use 160 meters in summer time.

When I try the 756 Pro I was surprised how quiet was 160 compared with others, including Kenwood 2000.

I live in Miami, where the summer storms, lightning and static crashes are around 9 or 10 months ( No winter here!!!) and with the 756 Pro I has been able to work 160 meters, having a solid copy of many stations from Florida, Kentucky, SC, NC, Virginia and Massachussets. I can receive many stations now that I'm hooked in 160 meters no matter the summer time. I'm just expecting winter time to have the time of my live in 160 meters when static crashes are not usual.

This radio beats ALL others in quiet reception, including older Icoms and the Scope for me is a MUST for DX purposes and after using it, I can't leave without it.

Also the extra external receiving antenna capabilities, the SUPER EASY and FRIENDLY USER functions all available in the LCD display, makes this radio very hard to beat.

This radio is a MUST for a serious ham radio operator, no matter if you are a DX chaser ( DX is much better with this unit) or a guy who likes the chats in 40 meters.

I will recomend the 756 Pro to anybody willing to have the best without the high tag price, compared with others.
N5RNL Rating: 2001-05-28
Fantastic Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned the IC-756PRO for a few weeks now and have spent them learning all that this radio has to offer. This is a beautiful rig, built like a tank and superbly capable. If one will take the time to learn how to operate it and what it's true capabilities are, it will be the rig of a lifetime.

I live in north Texas where the thunderstorms roam and the noise reduction on this radio is amazing. There are times that my TS-405S/AT is unusable due to static and the 756PRO is quiet. What a pleasure to listen to!

I have gotten wonderful audio reports from friends who know my voice. If you own this rig, take the time to learn how to use and you will love it.

There is lots of information on the internet concerning this radio and it's nuances. A good place to start is the web page of KK5DR. He wrote a very useful review of the radio and has links to some other very useful pages.