NX-5200 Audio Help

[emtunderwood]

Hello, our FD uses NX5200 they have been really good for our use. However, we are getting some reports that our tx audio in analog is low and P25 is roboty. I've been told there is a sweet spot for the audio settings for analog and P25 that would get them close to APX sounding. I've searched high and low. I know PD here has nx-5200 and they sound completely different then ours on analog and P25. You cannot tell a difference which system they are on unless you are scanning and see the channel pop-up. There is no low audio, no tinny robot on P25 just clear and loud tx and rx.

Does anyone have generalized audio settings for analog and P25 in a NX-5200?

Thank You

 

[emtunderwood]

Oh, and yes I have contacted the dealer that sold the radios to PD and they would not release the audio settings. I feel this is a raw deal, petty issue because we program our own radios and don't allow a shop to do it. We don't have the funding PD does.

 

[WB5UOM]

Are these radios operating on the same repeater you have had threads on that has constant issues?

 

[emtunderwood]

they both are gtr8000 repeaters, we have the exact same radios just different frequencies. The one radio shop said they do have their audio settings set different than stock. They are just upset that we don't allow them to charge us a service charge for programming all the radios we do it ourselves.

 

[emtunderwood]

Also, There is a chart somewhere that breaks down the settings from motorola to kenwood in what settings to change to remove the tinny sound and louden up the analog. I just have no idea what that would be.

 

[otobmark]

Trial and error….boring but hard to beat. Program up some test radios with different settings and see what happens. In general, my NX5300 is about 10db too hot on P25 and maybe 10 or more db low on analog. There is really no audio shaping settings for analog and to be honest the NX series is a poor analog radio— none of the rich sound previous generations of Kenwoods had. When I’m in CA I hang with a P25 amateur club made up of motorola snobs. They run everything from XTS/XTL to NEXT radios. On my kenwood and EFJ radios they always tell me my radio is too hot—not distorted but just loud. I run digital at mic -10db (still punchy, I could probably go -20) and set the graphic equalizer to maybe +4db or more on bass, about +2 low mid, 0 on mid and -2db on High Mid and -6 or more on treble. Using the preset of “Low Boost” will put you in the general range. I probably should set mic gain at +4 and then digital offset to -15 or more to allow for more analog punch while lowering digital. Not totally sure how the function operates or if it does what I want.

 

[fontanei]

The problem is that you can’t assign different audio profiles for analog and digital channels.

You can change audio profiles in the radio when you go to analog or digital but it involves too many button presses…

Also, for each audio profile, there is a volume delta between analog and digital which is good but you’re stuck with the audio characteristics and that might not workout.

I wish you could tag audio profiles for each channel you program.

I run into this with my nxdn and analog ham radio repeater at home. Analog audio profile is too hot for digital modes.

 

[otobmark]

If you go back to volitile questions about this when the NX5K was first released the conclusion was that the analog equalizer did absolutely nothing. Eventually the analog equalizer disappeared from firmware/cps. The only thing that may have had some effect was the microphone profile. Again if the digital offset does what it suggests then work it till you effectively have the equivalent 10db or so boost on analog and -10db on digital as a starting point. You should be able to get a really decent P25 signal but analog will probably never be wonderful.

 

[emtunderwood]

If you go back to volitile questions about this when the NX5K was first released the conclusion was that the analog equalizer did absolutely nothing. Eventually the analog equalizer disappeared from firmware/cps. The only thing that may have had some effect was the microphone profile. Again if the digital offset does what it suggests then work it till you effectively have the equivalent 10db or so boost on analog and -10db on digital as a starting point. You should be able to get a really decent P25 signal but analog will probably never be wonderful.

So, what should the mic sense, external mic sense and Digital Audio Offset be set to?

Currently, the RX audio is response on digital is set: AGC is off, Audio Equalizer is High Boost -2, -2, 0, 2, 2

TX Audio Response on digital is set; AGC is off, Audio Equalizer is High Boost -2, -2, 0, 2, 2

ANR Preset is Custom with Vocoder, DSP and Low Noise Level Adjust checked.

Are these good or is there something that should be changed to make the P25 sound better. We will be switching to all P25 in the next week or so as the 911 center has the P25 radio installed. Which is the only reason we are using analog at all unless its a tac or fire ground channel.

 

[otobmark]

Currently, the RX audio is response on digital is set: AGC is off, Audio Equalizer is High Boost -2, -2, 0, 2, 2

TX Audio Response on digital is set; AGC is off, Audio Equalizer is High Boost -2, -2, 0, 2, 2

My receive audio is very similar to yours because I have hearing loss and everything above 1200 hz tapers off to nothing so I boost treble and attenuate the bass on receive so it won’t drown out the highs. A normal person could use flat audio.
On my NX radio I use about 90% digital so I have not been working on the analog (I do hold radio close and speak loud on analog if I remember to).

My Mic settings are just the opposite of yours: I use “Bass Boost” preset on the equalizer as starting place and have since increased the bass component (+db) to about max. My mic sense is -10db which helps digital and hinders analog. I haven’t tried it yet but next time I work on a NX plug I will probably set mic sense to +10db and the digital offset to -20db. I didn’t really notice the digital offset feature before. My goal is lower digital to net -10db while boosting analog to +10db and see what happens. If I wanted my NX to sound exactly like my APX radios I would probably go -15db or more on net mic sense except I like a punchy signal—my priority is that I am heard loud and clear more than my audio is pleasing. The aforementioned motorola snobs want me to turn my radio down even more. I am a loud and close speaker.

 

[emtunderwood]

My receive audio is very similar to yours because I have hearing loss and everything above 1200 hz tapers off to nothing so I boost treble and attenuate the bass on receive so it won’t drown out the highs. A normal person could use flat audio.
On my NX radio I use about 90% digital so I have not been working on the analog (I do hold radio close and speak loud on analog if I remember to).

My Mic settings are just the opposite of yours: I use “Bass Boost” preset on the equalizer as starting place and have since increased the bass component (+db) to about max. My mic sense is -10db which helps digital and hinders analog. I haven’t tried it yet but next time I work on a NX plug I will probably set mic sense to +10db and the digital offset to -20db. I didn’t really notice the digital offset feature before. My goal is lower digital to net -10db while boosting analog to +10db and see what happens. If I wanted my NX to sound exactly like my APX radios I would probably go -15db or more on net mic sense except I like a punchy signal—my priority is that I am heard loud and clear more than my audio is pleasing. The aforementioned motorola snobs want me to turn my radio down even more. I am a loud and close speaker.

so what would the setting be for the digital to make it more like APX. I'm sorry i'm stupid when it comes to audio db. I do not see a Bass Boost preset, just High Boost. I don't understand.

 

[otobmark]

 

[otobmark]

Microphone Sense is set to -6db at the moment. -10 would maybe be better.

 

[emtunderwood]

Microphone Sense is set to -6db at the moment. -10 would maybe be better.

Ok, cool. What about the digital offset?

 

[otobmark]

I’m currently running 0db offset which means my analog FM is low.

Up until now I never noticed the offset feature or tried to use it. I’m only theorizing that maybe setting mic at +6 or 10 and then offset at -16 or 20 might have the desired effect of louder FM analog (+6) and lower digital (-10db P25, DMR). Since I’m rarely on analog fm it’s not a big deal. I may play with it sometime later or wait for your results.

 

[emtunderwood]

I’m currently running 0db offset which means my analog FM is low.

Up until now I never noticed the offset feature or tried to use it. I’m only theorizing that maybe setting mic at +6 or 10 and then offset at -16 or 20 might have the desired effect of louder FM analog (+6) and lower digital (-10db P25, DMR). Since I’m rarely on analog fm it’s not a big deal. I may play with it sometime later or wait for your results.

Ok. I'm working on it today and see what happens. I will post my findings. Thank You

 

[emtunderwood]

Ok. I'm working on it today and see what happens. I will post my findings. Thank You

Now the receive audio response, should that be left to like midrange or midrange high?

 

[otobmark]

That depends on your preference and hearing. Some people when listening to music like more bass than others. My hearing is shot so I need more treble (mid/high boost) to understand traffic than a person with normal hearing. Since you are seeking a Motorola like audio I would listen to Motorola traffic on the NX for evaluation. Just a guess but probably set receive audio to mid boost to start. If you have enough radios then carry a nx and a Motorola for comparison throughout the day.