Which high-end HF radio?

[K3MRI]

Say you have the money to, right now, buy one of the highest-end HF transceivers on the market, which one would you buy, right now?

I've compiled a list of the top five radios. The prices, interestingly, range from about four thousand to thirteen thousand dollars; that's quite the spread.

So here is my listing and don't forget to vote on the poll.

Comments, of course, welcome. I would be especially curious as to why you like or do not like a specific radio.

 

ICOM’s high-end HF: IC-7851

• Price at HRO as of 2022-10-15: $12,565.95
• Price at DXE as of 2022-10-15: $13,299.95
• Manufacturer’s link: https://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/7851/default.aspx

Kenwood’s high-end HF: TS-990S

• Price at HRO as of 2022-10-15: 8,099.95
• Price at DXE as of 2022-10-15: $8,099.99
• Manufacturer’s link: https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/ts-990s/

Yaesu’s high-end HF: FTDX-101MP

• Price at HRO as of 2022-10-15: $4,349.95
• Price at DXE as of 2022-10-15: $4,349.95
• Manufacturer’s link: https://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=102&encProdID=BA2F414449407A4D3D23461143F88429&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

Elecraft's high-end HF: K4D

• Not available at HRO or DXE
• Listed at Elecraft for $3,899 to $5,499 - more options available
• Manufacturer’s link: https://elecraft.com/products/k4-transceiver

Flex's high-end HF: FLEX-6700

• Not available at HRO or DXE
• Listed at FlexRadio for $7,499 - more options available
• Manufacturer’s link: https://www.flexradio.com/products/flex-6700-signature-series-sdr-transceiver/

 

 

 

[WA2WMR]

Having had a Kenwood HT which blew out a fuse that wasn't listed in the schematic (KW tech said, "Oh, you've discovered the F1 fuse"), I wouldn't want the Kenwood. Having a Yaesu 817, I wouldn't want another Yaesu. Whereas the Flex brings to mind the scene in the movie Real Genius in which there are no students and no professor - just a bunch of tape recorders - I wouldn't want the Flex.

That leaves the Icom and the Elecraft. Having both an Icom and an Elecraft and comparing the sound of CW with the 500 hz filters in place, I would  go for the Icom, sell it and buy the Elecraft and spend the difference on an antenna system.

[K3MRI]

6 hours ago, WA2WMR said:

Having had a Kenwood HT which blew out a fuse that wasn't listed in the schematic (KW tech said, "Oh, you've discovered the F1 fuse"), I wouldn't want the Kenwood. Having a Yaesu 817, I wouldn't want another Yaesu. Whereas the Flex brings to mind the scene in the movie Real Genius in which there are no students and no professor - just a bunch of tape recorders - I wouldn't want the Flex.

That leaves the Icom and the Elecraft. Having both an Icom and an Elecraft and comparing the sound of CW with the 500 hz filters in place, I would  go for the Icom, sell it and buy the Elecraft and spend the difference on an antenna system.

I was debating which emoticon to use as a reaction and went with the thumbs up, but I was definitely tempted by the laughter one for the movie reference. That's funny. 😆

[K4JST]

Own a K3S which is as high an end transceiver as I ever need.  Would enjoy putting a K4 through its paces, but wouldn’t sell my K3S.  Also have a KX3 which I am impressed with for POTA!  
 

73 de Gil K4JST

[WA2WMR]

5 hours ago, K3MRI said:

I was debating which emoticon to use as a reaction and went with the thumbs up, but I was definitely tempted by the laughter one for the movie reference. That's funny. 😆

In the movie there was a sequence of, I believe, five lecture hall scenes. In the first, the prof is lecturing and the students are taking notes. In the second the students have tape recorders. In the third all of the students have tape recorders but some seats have only tape recorders. In the fourth, there is only the professor and a bunch of tape recorders and no students. And the final scene there's no one in the lecture hall - only tape recorders.