Kenwood NX1300 volume

[cmjonesinc]

So I've got a mixed batch of radios mostly consisting of Vertex / Motorola EVX 261, CP200d's, and a few Taits. All are operating analog simplex currently. We've outgrown our usable range and we're in the process of adding a repeater and new radios which will be DMR. I ordered a Kenwood NX1300 just to try out since I've heard good things about the modern Kenwood offerings. So far I like the quality of the radio but my only complaint is the volume is noticeably much lower than all of the other radios we have. The CP200d's seem to really standout with being the loudest and clearest. I should mention the NX1300 is being used with a Kenwood KNB-45L speaker mic. Since I was just ordering the single Kenwood radio to try I just had our vendor program it for me and don't have the programming software myself. Are there any audio settings in the software than can be changed to help with the low volume? Also could it just possibly be an analog issue that wouldn't be present on DMR?

I ask because ultimately the low audio is going to be the deciding factor between purchasing the Kenwood NX1300 and Motorola R2's. I've got quotes from both vendors for the repeater installation and 15-20 new radios and the Motorola is almost double the price of Kenwood. We don't mind spending the extra money if the only way to maintain loud audio is by going with the Motorolas but the cost savings of the Kenwoods would obviously be appreciated.

Also any thoughts or recommendations are appreciated.

Also, before all the "why don't you just ask your kenwood dealer" comments come about.... I have asked our salesperson multiple times but haven't been able to get an answer. I thought some people here might be more helpful.

 

[WB5UOM]

Seems wwird, Ive got ton's of 1200/1300 in field and many with the kmc-45. Never had this issue brouggt up...Its usually the "how good it sounds " comment

 

[cmjonesinc]

A while back I had a couple demo ones that one of our vendors wanted me to try out. They were programmed with a digital channel in them and sounded great. Unfortunately I didn't have any kmc-45's at the time to try with them. I also didn't even bother to try the digital pair out in the loudest area we operate in so I don't really have anything to compare analog vs digital audio to. I'm hoping this low audio on an analog channel issue I'm having is something than can be resolved in the program.

 

[LTR]

There is a maximum volume and minimum volume setting in the programming software, under Optional Features 1 - Common 2 tab. They may not have the maximum setting at it's highest level, (which is 31).

 

[cmjonesinc]

There is a maximum volume and minimum volume setting in the programming software, under Optional Features 1 - Common 2 tab. They may not have the maximum setting at it's highest level, (which is 31).

That would make perfect sense. I'll look further into that. Thanks for the info.

 

[dryfb]

Maybe try putting auto gain control on low if it's on off right now. I've found most NXDN audio on my NX radios sounds a bit quiet unless I turn that on. Should be under DMR>Conventional 2 and make sure to set the speaker type to speaker 1 for the KMC 45

 

[AM909]

There was a change a while back to the audio chip in those radios. If you can give the exact model number and the first few digits of the serial number, we can tell you which it has. I don't know what the reason for the change was – just assumed it was a supply-chain issue.

 

[wd8chl]

We've got hundreds of those radios out in the field. No weak audio complaints at all. They keep right up with any other portables out there within a reasonable price range.
All of the weak audio issues I've ever seen can be traced back to users not talking loud enough, or not talking into the mic, etc. And that's for any brand.

 

[cmjonesinc]

Sorry for the delayed responses everyone

Maybe try putting auto gain control on low if it's on off right now. I've found most NXDN audio on my NX radios sounds a bit quiet unless I turn that on. Should be under DMR>Conventional 2 and make sure to set the speaker type to speaker 1 for the KMC 45

I'm going to program in a digital channel and compare it to analog and see if it's any louder. Right now we're operating on analog. I did double check the max volume was set to the max of 31 in the software and the mic is set to type 1.

There was a change a while back to the audio chip in those radios. If you can give the exact model number and the first few digits of the serial number, we can tell you which it has. I don't know what the reason for the change was – just assumed it was a supply-chain issue.

It's a NX-1300DUK. There's also another set of number to the right of the model if you need that. The serial starts with C4510

We've got hundreds of those radios out in the field. No weak audio complaints at all. They keep right up with any other portables out there within a reasonable price range.
All of the weak audio issues I've ever seen can be traced back to users not talking loud enough, or not talking into the mic, etc. And that's for any brand.

I would normally attribute it to people not speaking into the mic or talking quietly but this problem is really just noticeable with the Kenwood. We operate in a really loud environment. Most of us typically have the volume turned all the way up on our radios with speaker mics on our shoulders and we usually still have to lean our heads closer to the mic to hear clearly in the loudest areas. Obviously we're wearing hearing protection as well but I can typically hear the audio from the CP200d (or any of the EVX's) the person beside me is using better than my own Kenwood. I've even had others carry the radio for the day to see how they liked it. I didn't mention the volume issue beforehand. Everyone has said something along the lines of "I like the radio but it seems quiet". I beginning to wonder if there's something else going on. Hopefully I'll have a few minutes tomorrow to see how DMR audio compares to the current analog. I'll report back!

 

[mmckenna]

How do they sound Kenwood to Kenwood?

I've got about 75 of the NX-1300DUK's in use and about 10 of the NX-1300NUK's.

All the NUK's are running analog and they sound fine between themselves as well as NX-3300's and some old TK-390's.
The DUK's are all DMR only and sound fine.

I'm wondering if the audio from the Motorola radios is just low? Running compander?

 

[cmjonesinc]

How do they sound Kenwood to Kenwood?

I've got about 75 of the NX-1300DUK's in use and about 10 of the NX-1300NUK's.

All the NUK's are running analog and they sound fine between themselves as well as NX-3300's and some old TK-390's.
The DUK's are all DMR only and sound fine.

I'm wondering if the audio from the Motorola radios is just low? Running compander?

Well that's where it gets slightly more complicated... I've got the only kenwood at the moment. I ordered the singular radio to demo it and honestly the volume never crossed my mind as a possible problem. I was more concerned about build quality and such as our people are rough on equipment. I had 2 other nx radios from my dealer that sat on my desk for a week and unfortunately they were gone before I actually noticed the volume thing and didn't get a chance to test with just kenwoods. I'll see if I can take a look at the motorola codeplug tomorrow and see what settings it has. I really want these kenwoods to work because from a price standpoint they are a much better value. I just don't want to be the person who's blamed when we order a pile of radios and people say they aren't loud enough.

I'll reach back out to my kenwood rep as well and see if we can test drive some more radios to determine if kenwood to kenwood sounds good.

 

[mmckenna]

Good deal. I've not had any issues with the NX-1300's running them with the NX-3300's and TK-390's, so that's what makes me think the compander function on the CP200's might be on.

I'd take a long look at the Motorola codeplug, especially see if the compander is turned on. Might be an easy fix.

 

[AM909]

If companding is enabled on the transmitting Motorola, receiving with the Kenwood with the companding disabled would sound loud and compressed (like FM broadcast radio), wouldn't it?

We've got lots of NX-1300 in some very loud manufacturing environments and haven't heard complaints – even when they are being added to various fleets of older radios. Even the display radios have been surprisingly durable, too. Way more serviceable with they do break, too.

C4510* (only a few months old) definitely has the newer TI audio chip which is capable of much higher output, though they would have had to configure it lower for the specs of the surrounding circuitry, existing speaker (which did not change), battery life, acoustic feedback, etc..

Some use the OTTO headsets for noisy environments, but they're expensive.

 

[mmckenna]

If companding is enabled on the transmitting Motorola, receiving with the Kenwood with the companding disabled would sound loud and compressed (like FM broadcast radio), wouldn't it?

Compander compresses the audio signal and then uncompresses it at the far end. The non Motorola radios won't uncompress the
audio.

Easy test is to shut off the compander on one of the Motorola's and talk to the Kenwood, or get another Kenwood and talk between them.

Just turned up another NX-1300 a few days ago to replace a lost one, didn't have any issues with audio quality.