FlexRadio: Simply the Best...

Gerald-K5SDR

The best audio — period.

Don’t believe us? Try it.
flexradio.com/tryit

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Gerald,
hmmm...was this supposed to be a link to an article or demo about the audio?

It seems to be a  redirect to the shopping cart  http://cart.flexradio.com/

Maybe it should be "buyit" instead of "tryit"  (hi hi).

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 - HW V 1.4.16.63
SSDR V 1.4.16.142
Win10

DK1EY

Try what? 
I would, if I could

VY73
Thomas
DK1EY

Bob G W1GLV

Gerald, tried this but the only thing I saw was you trying to sell me a radio. I've already have a 6500. HaHa

Sergey R5AU

May be special sales action will be later: if you have flex 6xxx the model below you can purchase at half price ex.: Flex6700->Flex6500

Ken - NM9P

Oops! Ha!

Ali 9K2WA

Guys read at the right corner, where it says "TRY IT!!!!"

Rob G6EIH

Gerald you know you can do better.

rfoust

Ohhh a 30 day guarantee, nice!!

Burt Fisher

My 5000 got great audio reports, on my 6300 the report is it sounds like I am speaking with my nose pinched. (that was with the stock mike a D-104 was better, not great, better)

Lewis Cheek

Gee, I went to link thinking it might be a Easter Egg for V 1.5

Lew
N4CO

Al_NN4ZZ

Thanks Ali, I see it now!

(was expecting an article or demo on "The Best Audio -- Period")


Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 - HW V 1.4.16.63
SSDR V 1.4.16.142
Win10

Jay -- N0FB

Burt,  I've been able to make the stock mike sound very good.  It is not my go too mike, but it is certainly an acceptable replacement for my heil Proset 5 or my Blue Yeti.  

As far as the D-104, I'm not sure that its impedance is a match for the Flex 6000 and it will not sound very good no matter how you EQ it (unless you rework the impedance within the microphone.)

Gerald said this in another thread ( https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/6300_mic_input_circuit_actual_impedance?topic-reply... )

Gerald - K5SDR, Official Rep 
Official Response
The microphone inputs are high impedance.  The actual impedance varies by the gain setting of the DVGA in the CODEC.  The minimum impedance at maximum gain is about 5k on the front panel mic and about 3k on the balanced input.  The maximum impedance is over 80k at minimum gain settings.  

An online resource might be of help to you as the D-104 has an impedance of greater than 1 M-Ohms.

 ( http://www.internetwork.com/radio/kb1nfs/D104Matcher.htm)

We've all heard fantastic audio reports from those using very inexpensive PC microphone/headsets, so I don't think the issue is with the 6300.  I certainly don't with my 6300.

Jim KJ7S

Try this: Works with my stock handmic and the Pro/HC5 equipped RCA replica from Heil.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vn009h1utzmv9zj/Myeq1.jpg?dl=0

Keep in mind that this goes fairly well in MY case to eliminate Nasal reports, and my voice tends to be fairly bassy anyway... Pay particularly close attention to the 1k line.  YMWV hihi.

Keith Ferguson

Seems to me to be a pretty impressive offer by a company that's prepared to stand by their product. I haven't noticed any of the other manufacturers offering a 30-day return deal like that.

Jon_KF2E

Gee, I wonder if this means we will be able to buy refurbished radios at a discount soon? Surely there will be a few people who return them for whatever reason.

Jon...kf2e

Jon_KF2E

I also agree with Sergey, I wish there were an upgrade path from a 6500 to a 6700 other than sell/buy.

Jon...kf2e

Ken - NM9P

How could I have missed that?  Perhaps the previous version of the page was in my cache and the new one didn't load the first time I clicked the link.....yeah...that has to be it!  

Jay -- N0FB

Maybe you have struck on a side-business.  Buying and selling used Flex 6000.  It would be a win for you and a win for Flex Radio and a win for those wanting to upgrade..

You could take the US market, Sergey could take the Russian market.  :-)

Jon_KF2E

Not me, not looking for a business. Just a way to get a 6700 I can afford and still stay married.

Jon...kf2e

Jay -- N0FB

My post was tongue in cheek.  I can't speak for Flex, but I think that they are in the business of selling new, great, Amateur Radios.   

Microsoft doesn't buy back and resell used software.  Dell doesn't buy back and resell computers.  Icon, Kenwood, and Yaesu do not buy back and resell ham radios.  Why would you float the idea that Flex Radio should?

Jon_KF2E

Simple, if Flex takes back a radio after 30 days they can't sell it as new. Neither can Dell sell a returned computer as new. That's why they have a refurbished store, to sell the returns. Would you be okay buying a Flex 6700 as new if it had been owned by another ham for 30 days before he decided he had to have knobs.

Software is different, most of the time if you install it, you own it, no returns.

Jon...kf2e

Jay -- N0FB

Dell doesn't take computers back after a year(s) of use and resell them.  I might be wrong, but that sounds like what you are asking Flex to do.  Selling an item as "Refurbished" after it has been used for more than 30 day by a customer is not (in my opinion) what a honest company does. 

I personally would much rather that they continue on making and selling great, new hardware and developing new software and not get bog down on a secondary market.  Flex would have to really study to see if doing something like this would ever make them money.  That has to be final calculus.

Jon_KF2E

Jay,

You aren't getting my point. Many companies(and now Flex) sell equipment with an X number of days money back guarantee. All of these companies get some number returned. When they do, they check them out, make sure all of the accessories are there and sell them as refurbished. What else would you have them do with returns? Refurbished can also be items that were returned during warranty for a replacement and subsequently fixed. Refurbished is not new, but checked out by the manufacturer and found good or fixed. Most of the time refurbished items carry the same warranty as new. 

Of course they make great radios, I love my 6500. I just want to be able to afford a 6700.

Jon...kf2e

k0eoo

The D-104's with the amplifier in the base will easily drive the 5k impedance....  Without the amplifier it requires 1 meg ohm or greater....

Michael - N5TGL

Stock mic just isn't that great.  Tone control on the back can help with the nasal sounds.  First thing I'd do is upgrade the mic.  To me it doesn't make sense to drive a multi-kilobuck radio with a cheap stock mic.  Get a RE20 or RE320 and you'll never look back.

Barry N1EU

Ten-Tec has been offering 30-day return forever.

Steve K9ZW

Had been.  No more, and not for some time.

Not certain that offer was discontinued under their new RKR ownership, or at what stage before.  It dropped off their website over a year ago. (Let Archive.org be your buddy to compare dated captures).

Also TenTec reissued a new warranty policy which has some surprising things like Fans (presume amps and radios) are only warrantied for 90 days no matter how long the main warranty.  Not certain why on a $7000 amplifier where the fans are "mission critical" in protecting the expensive tubes that a grade of fans warrantable for only 90-days would be an acceptable situation? 

Back to FRS, the Try It campaign is not historically unique but is a rare offering that shows confidence in their products.  Some other do offer 10-day 10% restocking fee assessment return policies or similar, but at the present the Try It campaign is a standout.

73

Steve

K9ZW

Jay -- N0FB

K0EOO...good info!

Ken - NM9P

Indeed, as Gerald says, The 6000 Series can have the best TX audio out there.  Period.  But it takes a good mike and proper adjustment.

While I use a Heil PR22UT and love it, there are several inexpensive mikes that will perform well, when the TX EQ is properly adjusted for them:
Here are two examples:

http://www.radioshack.com/unidirectional-dynamic-microphone/3303038.html

http://www.radioshack.com/super-cardioid-dynamic-microphone/3300128.html

The first one, only $19.95, is used by one of my rag-chew buddies, W8MH, on his Flex-3000 and he sounds great. 

The second one is $39.95, and should be even better.  It also has a true XLR connection. 

Good audio does not need to be expensive.
Yes, if you are an audiophile, and have the funds, you might consider some of the more expensive options out there. Yes, I believe that the difference would be somewhat noticeable, but there is a point of diminishing returns.  The exact point will vary operator to operator.

The key is learning how to properly adjust the audio chain, including TX bandwith, TX EQ, Mike Levels, and Processor.

Ken - NM9P

Richard McClelland, AA5S

Gerald, I would love to take you up on the offer for a thirty day trial but my company had their own announcement this week.  They are going to reduce headcount by 30,000.  It doesn't seem prudent to buy anything other than bread and cheese at the moment.  I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one in this situation and it must be affecting business at Flex as well.  I wish you guys the best.