Nrd-535d

nickcarr · #1 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 04:09 AM

Anyone use a 535D for their listening station?

scancapecod · #2 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 09:00 AM

I had one, which I recently sold to generate funds for the purchase of an amateur radio HF transceiver. Best desktop HF receiver I have ever owned, hands down. Sophisticated yet extremely easy to operate with great ergonomics. I would highly recommend it.

raisindot · #3 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickcarr

Anyone use a 535D for their listening station?

Don't have the 535D, but recently in a fit of GAS broke the 401(k) fund to get a 545D. Truly an amazing radio that is being totally underutilized by me, who is a complete neophyte in terms of antennas, etc.

Suzie

nickcarr · #4 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 07:49 PM

Yeah Suzie the 545 is a really nice radio. I wish I could afford one myself. Now that they are discontinued they are the same price if not higher!

raisindot · #5 (**permalink**) 06-18-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickcarr

Yeah Suzie the 545 is a really nice radio. I wish I could afford one myself. Now that they are discontinued they are the same price if not higher!

Oh, I absolutely could not afford one---but an offer came my way that I couldn't refuse. Hell, who needs to own a house anyway, when a nice big refrigerator box will do just fine?

But I would say, overall, I've read many better reviews of the 535D than the 545, which some say has some quirks that affect performance.

Suzie

tomeduk · #6 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisindot

Oh, I absolutely could not afford one---but an offer came my way that I couldn't refuse. Hell, who needs to own a house anyway, when a nice big refrigerator box will do just fine?

But I would say, overall, I've read many better reviews of the 535D than the 545, which some say has some quirks that affect performance.

Suzie

Hi Suzie. I'm new to this forum as i've only ust bougth a NRD-545 off ebay! I too read all sorts of bad reviews for the NRD-545 bt i bought one anyway! These people who are finding all these faults must have access to some pretty impressive receivers as i've found the JRC to be extremly well built and so far it is producing excellent results using a Wellbrook ALA330S Loop antenna. I regard it as the best receiver i've ever owned and for me that's all that matters...

Star56 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 03:21 AM

Yes I have a 535D in my radio stack. It had several Gilfer mods done to it back in the 1990's.

For utilities it has no peer ( well the 515 is fun also). I love my two R75's but they come up a bit short of the 535 performance.

The tuning knob is heavenly smooth. A delight to use.

nickcarr · #8 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 03:42 AM

Star, any chance you could post some audio recordings? I'm really curious as to what SSB and/or AM stations sound like?

Star56 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickcarr

Star, any chance you could post some audio recordings? I'm really curious as to what SSB and/or AM stations sound like?

Hmmm... I could cook something up but I am not sure it will do justice to the receiver. The Rec out produces "ok" audio. The headphone jack is somewhat bassy as is the speaker jack. The old RS Minimus 7 matched up beautifully with it.

For everyday AM shortwave broadcast listening there are better choices. However. if you leave the AUX position empty (or pull the filter out) it defaults to 12 kHz. If you have a shortwave station in the clear and dial in some ECSS (well documented PBT-ECSS quirk) and use the AUX position, the result is incredible high fidelity audio with a Minimus -7 speaker.

I will try to record some of this type audio over the next few days.

OH...the original manual is perhaps the funniest piece of literature I have ever read. I assume the translator was marginally skilled in the English language.

ka3jjz · #10 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickcarr

Star, any chance you could post some audio recordings? I'm really curious as to what SSB and/or AM stations sound like?

Nick if you're really interested in getting a used 535 (which is likely the only way you'll find one) I'd strongly suggest doing some homework. Passport to World Band Radio has, I believe, a white paper on the radio. It's somewhat technical, but it does have details you won't find too easily anywhere else. Don't forget checking the EHam reviews (I suspect there will be some), and of course the other links in our Receiver Reviews wiki. Expect to pay some bucks for one - more so if it has been modified.

I played a little with the 535 when Gilfer was still around (Perry saw me playing with one and would, I think, have tried to sell it to me - he and I were old friends. His showroom was about 1/2 hour ride from my NJ home) and from all the reports, AM mode reception is tiresome to hear over long stretches. Not surprising, really - keep in mind this radio is made by a company that specializes in maritime applications, so this would have been low on their priority lists.

Wish I had the money for one, though...73 Mike

majoco · #11 (**permalink**) 06-23-2009, 10:59 PM

I have a NRD-515 with the memory unit and matching speaker - it sat in the JAL office in Auckland for years and I persuaded them that they didn't really need it - made an offer and to my surprise it was accepted! Waaay off frequency and filthy dirty but lots of TLC and it's back on top line. Very sensitive, very stable, good audio on AM and SSB after I modded the AM detector and added some capacitors to the audio to get rid of some hum.