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               PR-40 Vs RE-20     

These Comparisons were accomplished by sending the Microphone Audio straight into the Kenwood TS-850s' Front Mic Jack.
The TX IF Filter Settings were set up at 2.7Kc and 3.5Kc. Both of these Filter Settings will be compared using the "High Boost" function of the Transmitter, and without using it.
Absolutely NO External Processing Equipment will be used.

By going in thru the Front Mic Jack on the Transmitter, this forces the Audio to go thru the TS-850s Microphone Amplifier Circuitry. Part of this circuitry was designed to Shape the Audio, and has a fairly sharp Low Frequency roll-off at around 150cps. This of course kills the Low End.
Most Transceivers are designed this way. The Kenwood TS-870 is one rig that Will pass the Low Frequencies. It does not roll-off the Low End.

The Transmitter and Receiver used for these comparisons were the same ESSB Modified, Kenwood TS-850s/DSP-100 Combo's used in the previous Comparison Tests.
The Receiver IF Filter Setting was a 6Kc.

This is a comparison between the TX Filter Settings of 2.7Kc and 3.5Kc using the Kenwood Dynamic Hand Mic. Just fer Giggles!

My Opinion:

Here are the PR-40 and RE-20 Microphones at the TX Filter Setting of 2.7Kc. You can click on the SpectraLab Graph and see a larger picture.

My Opinion:

This is a close call due to how close the Mics are to each other in Frequency Response, at the Frequencies being passed by the TX Filter. But to be Critical....

The RE-20 is "Flat" Sounding. The Low Frequencies are "Thick" and "Pillowy", with the Upper Mid and High Frequencies a little subdued. The Audio is a little unbalanced and sounds slightly "Muffled".

The PR-40 has a little lower amplitude in the Low Frequency area and a little higher amplitude in the Upper Mid and High Frequency areas then the RE-20. This tends to balance the Audio out. The Pr-40 has more "Articulation" and ""Clarity" due to this.


Overall:
The PR-40 wins this Battle.
At this Bandwidth, the PR-40 just has more "Clarity" and "Articulation" without the "Muffled" sound of the RE-20.

This is the 2.7Kc TX Filter Setting Comparison with the High Boost switch engaged on the TS-850s.

My Opinion:

The RE-20 now has a little more Upper Mid and High Frequencies to match its Low Frequencies. This balanced the Audio out a little and gave it some "Clarity".

The PR-40 has WAY too many Upper Mid and High Frequencies. The Audio is Unbalanced and Very "Shrill" and "Tinny".


Overall:
The RE-20 wins this Battle.
Its Audio was more Balanced and had a nice Clear Sound.
The Pr-40 was just too High Pitched and was uncomfortable to listen too....but this could do well for the "DX MODE". Ha Ha !!

Hear is a PR-40 and RE-20 Microphone Comparison with the Transmitter Filter Setting at 3.5Kc.

My Opinion:

This is where the Audio starts to come alive. There are 800 cycles more of High Frequency Audio at this Bandwidth.

The RE-20 still has a problem with the Low Frequencies being "Thick" and "Pillowy", giving the Audio that "Muffled" sound. The Upper Mid and High Frequencies are also still a little subdued, but the extra 800cps of sound does give the RE-20 a little "Clarity".

The PR-40 just comes Alive at this bandwidth. It sounds Terrific.
Being picky, It could do with slightly more Amplitude on the Low Frequencies around 90-120cps, but this is the Mic Amp Circuitries fault of the TS-850s. The Upper Mid and High Frequencies have so much "Articulation" and "Clarity", it is unbelievable.


Overall:
The PR-40 Deffinitly wins this Battle.
At this Bandwidth, the Pr-40 really struts its stuff. I like the sound of it.
The RE-20 is just too "Flat", so it doesn't have "Clarity" and has that "Muffled" Low End.

This is the 3.5Kc TX Filter Setting Comparison with the High Boost switch engaged on the TS-850s.

My Opinion:

The High Boost cuts way too many of the RE-20's Low frequencies compared to boosting the Upper Mid and High Frequencies. This results in a "Nasally" Sounding Audio.

The same thing happened to the PR-40 with the High Boost engaged, but along with sounding "Nasally", it has the added quality of "Shrillness".


Overall:
If I have to Pick one....It would be the RE-20.
I don't like either one with the High Boost engaged at this bandwidth, but the RE-20 is not as "Shrill" as the PR-40.

As you can see and hear, the PR-40 deffinitly beats the RE-20 in these Phase 1 Comparisons.
For a Dynamic Microphone being plugged straight into the Transmitter with NO External Processing, The PR-40 is the best sounding Mic that I have heard.