Icom IC-7300 vs Yaesu FTdx-10 - HF Ham Radio Comparison

[ERME]

I own both... I still prefer the 7300 :)

[stevewarner]

I agree. I have my 7300 from 5 years ago but last year I bought a FTdx10. I still have the 7300 but it’s not as good as the Yaesu because of the reasons you listed. I can use and enjoy both, no problem

[graememorgan]

Ergonomics - the 7300 for the win I think.

[fvbpacguy]

If a radio still gets you on the air it doesn't matter how old it is. I have a 7300 and a 718 and a ft891 all get the job done. I don't believe in shelling out money every time a new radio comes along. Btw I had my smart phone for over 5 years

[KQBF]

I love the 7300, but I think I may give one of the new Yaesu's a try.

[johnbauman]

I am trying to decide on my first home set up and have had (different) seasoned operators recommend the Icomm 7300 and the Yaesu FT dx10, and I've reviewed the specs online. No radio shop nearby to get a hands on look and listen, so still trying to sort it out.

I gather the Yaesu is newer and nicer in several ways, but has a somewhat tedious user interface that requires a deep dive into a multilayered menu system to get things done.

OTOH, I don't know how the Icom would function without menus unless it has a ton more knobs and switches and/or requires memorization of "knobology."

I don't have to have the latest thing - my phone is a Samsung S8 & I drive a 2001 SUV - but I don't want to have buyer's remorse in 3 months if Icom or Yaesu are coming out with a functionally improved model in the same price range for the holidays/New Year.

My goal is to reach the east coast from the west coast and in between.

So would like to hear pros and cons on these two radios, especially from those of you who have both. For that matter, antenna recs also gratefully accepted.

Subscribed.

73
KK7JBZ

[bradl]

Will be interesting to see what the IC-7300 successor will offer…

[Pivotal_Moment]

Radio isn't in the same category of "stupidy" is very much true--someone tell that to car manufacturers forcing Electric Cars into a must-have craze.

I'm debating the 7300 or DX10 also, but what's driving me at this very moment is cost--$350 difference for a NEW purchased and warrantied transceivers. Now, with the proposal of a 50% increase to electricity costs in our state at the turn of the new year, pinching pennies has really begun.

Being a Ham for 30 years, I still prefer and have a love for radios such as the 950SDX, 1000D and my favorite of all time, FT-990--wickedly awesome CW rig!!! Many of my buds have and love their 7300/7610's, and Anan's. As always it's about personal preferences. The 7300 is tiny, the DX10 also tiny but slightly bigger. The 7300 is simply gorgeous, the 10 is beautiful...but like sound, it's subjective--hence to take over-the-air audio reports with a grain of salt 😁. Still at this point, I'm on the fence...so let's see which path I take in a few days.

[DominicMazoch]

There was a Ham radio demo in a city park near Downtown Houston this Sat by various ham and GMRS groups. Two things came out:

1. My FTM6000, Digirig, Evolve taptop, magmount on pizza pan, and 12v battery was perfect event/ecomm combo.

2. Played with the new Y HF rig, with permission. HF sounded like 2m FM. That Good!

I have been looking at the 7300. But something told me not to get it. I have the 6000 and 2980. Like the sound one build quality of the Y rigs. Have the IC703 Plus with Roma amp. I can wait a little longer to get the Y HF

[de_wtam]

Filtering or DSP? I haven't spent much time using an FTDX10, but I'm curious how they've improved the filters?

[zzxxenith]

After all the new Radios the IC-756PRO3 is still my best.

[chrismosquad]

I own both a 7300 and a FT-891. The audio processing on the Yaesu is great. I really enjoy it. Does it make me not want to use my 7300? Not really. Both are fab in my book! Good points, though! - 73, KC3UIJ 👍🏻

[Rick-wyod]

I think Icom have milked the IC-7300 for about as much as they can. It's way past time for an update! I really want to buy the FTDX10 but I hate that manic spectrum display and the ridiculous button layout 🤢🤮

Come on Icom! Pick up your game..

[MrRadiorobot]

It's all about the point in time that you buy the best spec radio for your money... It was the best radio then...years hence its been superseded...was it still a good purchase? .. Hell yes!! ...in 3 years time when Icom release the IC-7300mk2 the Ftdx10 owners will be kicking themselves and looking to their bank balance. Guaranteed.

[oscorpiono]

I went from 7300 to FTDX-10, it's a completely different radio, Night and day difference compared to the 7300. Some people might get upset with the truth but a lot of People these days just can't accept the truth.

If someone is happy with their 7300 then I am happy for them, perhaps they mostly work digital modes or just rag chew in the evenings when everyone is S9 +20 then the 7300 will do the job just fine.

I found that the 7300 audio was just terrible and harsh and the filtering was not very good and I always had to have NR on but this degrades the audio quality. I always listen with headphones.

The noise floor is so low on the FTDX-10 that I rarely need to use DNR, the audio is just so much nicer on the ears and not harsh + for SWL the audio is just wonderful and full, the 7300 cut a lot of lows from the audio making SWL not nearly as enjoyable.

I even prefer the audio from my FT-891 compared to the 7300, in fact, had it not been for the 891 I would not have noticed how bad the audio quality from the 7300 actually is.

I think Yaesu have long since nailed it when it comes to receiver performance and audio quality. Icom clearly focused on Bling on the 7300 over receiver performance and audio quality but I supposed it was SDR and expensive to produce at the time so something had to give at this price level.

Yes I'd love better ergonomics, a bigger radio with more buttons but I still think the FTDX-10 is an amazing radio.

I really wish Icom and Yaesu would make traditional looking radios with knobs and buttons for all functions and have HDMI out for the waterfall if people really want it or IF out like the Kenwood TS-590SG, they can then add an SDR of their choice.

[steveschaefer]

So, with old timer’s working stations decades old & happy… why spend more money for then next bell or whistle? It would be nice to give some side by side comparisons 73’s

[susqibi]

When signals are an S7 or better it doesnt matter about filtering, if you love weak signal than the yeasu would be the pick. All depends on what you like

[digitaldreamer]

Aloha Jason, I would be happy with any 100w HF rig if they would be willing to ship it to me here in Honolulu. I can’t get Lithium batteries, Power Stations, Antennas and the list goes on. I would love to buy that Renogy Phoenix Elite that you have in the back of your truck in the garage, just a guess. 😂🤣😂😍

[maddus_]

Newer radios may have nicer features, but many will still happily run boat anchors.

[robduncan]

There is no 'night and day ' ! Dx10 might have slightly better filtering as you say, but my worst radio is a ft897 against one of my better ones a ic781 or up against a kenwood ts590sg, but neither is ' night and day ' up against my 7300 . And i have large wire antennas at a very low noise location.