FRG-7 was clearer on every example, at least to my ears. The Kenwood sounded muffled, but as you were using the default settings it may well have been possible to clean up its audio. However with the settings you used, definitely preferred the Yaesu. Thanks for an interesting video 👍😊

Dear Mr. Rob, a very nice video, really. In my ears in nearly all test-cases the FRG-7 sounds more full and brighter. My father owned one before years and combined it with a tunable bandwith filter 1 to 5 khz. That combination was a real joy ! Thank you for the video. All the best from Broadc.-Monitor, Austria

I picked up the Sears branded FRG-7 last fall. After a good cleaning to get all the switches and pots clean it works very well. As most I own a lot of radios.. but the FRG-7 is usually the one I turn on first. It sits right over top the work bench and I use a old 7" homemade external speaker which make it sound even better.

I enjoyed this video. I found that the FRG 7 had clearer audio, and to my ears, was nicer to listen to. I’ve always watched for a deal to come along on the R5000, but it hasn’t worked out yet. I owned the FRG 7 for about 5 years, and replaced all of the capacitors. It was a great performer. I eventually traded it for a JRC NRD-525. Wish I’d have kept it, but only so much real estate on the desk. Thank you for the nice video

I have a R5000. It was given to me broken and I fixed it. It's still a very nice radio and a good performer. The frg-7 does sound better in a side by side comparison.

FRG7 is the winner for me.

Excellent comparison. I prefer the wider, fuller sound from the frg-7. But I suspect I'd get used to the narrower filter on the R-5000.

From my perspective the FRG-7 audio was more pleasant to my ears.

Excellent review, thank you! I have a FRG-7000 with the built in front speaker and the sound is better than any of my other gear!!!!

Hi Rob, I liked the sound of the FGR-7. The Kenwoods AGC seamed to be to fast and did not flatten out the signal fade. The Yaesu was much smoother making it easier to listen to. Thanks for the videos, keep them coming. Tom, W7GER

Im a devout trio/kenwood "rx" guy!! First radio (aged 10) was the Trio 9r59de. I do have an R5000 now for rx. I have a yaesu ft-920 transceiver but despite its DSP, Filtering, and far more updated receive tuner.... Well, the R5000 is an R5000..... and i dont care how fast your car is!! Shes a beaut.

I was gifted an FRG-7 from a SK estate and have only just set up my first Shack - the Frog was the first radio I activated. It was comforting to hear all the background noise on both your Rx's as I was worried my Fritzel OCF was faulty. I agree with comments that the 'harsher' response from the KW would probably help extract more information from a weak signal. However I am happy to give a plug for the Frog's 'smooth tone', and hope to have it re-capped and spruced up one day. Really appreciate the effort you went to in setting up this test - it's great to hear 'real life' examples of what the Bands should sound like on my Rx's. 73 VK2FALF

I do prefer the tone from the frg7, very smooth, great video - really enjoyed it.

The following is my opinion; I've been listening to shortwave for over 60 years. Owning both receivers (as well as many other well-respected radios), for me, the FRG-7 is the receiver that has a permanent position in my hamshack. It's the one I use when DXing, due to it great audio and intelligibility. The only other radio I own that has better audio is the NR5Q Ultimate Regen.

Hey incredible kenwood mush, bravo for your rigor, few OMs are sensitive to this aspect that modifies judgment. 73

For me the Yaesu sounds much better ,clearer and wider sound ,and seems to be able to block more of the noise than the kenwood.I own a FRG-7 and own many high end kenwood transceivers ,I have compared the Frog to several other receivers and found Its hard to beat .Thanks Rob for the video ,73s KL0MP

I enjoyed this. After reading all the comments, I am amused no one pick-up on the concept you were testing two different technologies; Wadley Loop vs Double SuperHeterodyne.

Excelent review. Thank you Rob.

Excellent presentation, thanks for all your work. I'd want both receivers and several antennas to tinker with. I listen with a Kenwood R2000, an Kiwi moded COM R75 and an I COM 7410...all through an external filtered ICOM SP23 speaker. Each has its own personality, but the R2000 has the most pleasant audio with a strong signal. Steve KZ5MSE

Rob I installed a 16 to 1 drive on the tuning dial. My model is one of the first, with out the fine tune nob. Been very happy with it for the last 45 years. Thanks for the video all the best from Andrew VK3KFK 73s

I had some years ago the FRG-7. Very good receiver. Now i use a Kenwood R-5000; it has absolutely a better sound quality. Greetings from the Netherlands.

Rob - prefer FRG7 under good receiving conditions. Kenwood sounds like a receiver designed by a ham DXer so it's better under poor conditions. It should have had a wider filter option for audio comparable to the Yaesu.

Greetings from California, once again. I have viewed only about 50% of this segment. AND the winner is ...... YAESU FRG-7. Not trying to comment negatively at KENWOOD R-5000. You know what I mean. FRG-7 has a charm of its own, the receptions are always crisp depending on signals, of course. The audio through 120mmX70mm elliptical 4 Ohm speaker with tiny magnet is appreciably marvelous with even low frequency output. (Music/Jazz) You can count me in as YAESU FRG-7 enthusiast. Cheers, Sir. Stay safe and 73s.

When the microprocessor in the R-5000 fails, the FRG-7 will still be easily repairable. Plus it sounds better.

I owned an FRG-7 for 10 years and used it mostly for DXing rather than program listening. From this comparison, I would have been happier with the Kenwood, not that it existed for much of the time I owned the other one (starting in 1977) because it has a narrower passband, but the FRG-7 is certainly more pleasurable to listen to. I replaced the FRG-7 with an old SPR-4!

Hi Robert, I'm WA7MAD though I haven't been on in many years. I owned a FRG-7 and purchased a digital readout for it made by Bob Grove of Grove Enterprises...remember him? The FRG-7 clearly has a wider audio bandwidth, going both higher and lower than the Kenwood (I haven't used the Kenwood). For audio quality, then, the Yaesu wins but as a communication receiver intended to dig out a signal from the noise, the Kenwood would be my choice. The love of my SWL-ing life was the Drake R7A with both synchronous detection that eliminated selective fading distortion and 5 filters to choose from, very wide down to a 300 Hz that would pull through CW in the worst conditions. But it had terrible drift, cured with an RV75 synthesized VFO. Thanks for your well done video.

Interesting video! I currently own both receivers. I purchased my FRG-7 brand new, and it's still mint. My father purchased the R-5000 brand new, and gave it to me when he lost interest in SWL. I recently sent it to Jahnke Engineering for a refurb and alignment. I'm also an amateur radio operator; NF7X. For general SWL-ing, I'll take the FRG-7 hands down. The audio quality is much more pleasant. For digging tough stations out of the noise, the R-5000 has the edge. In that situation, the R-5000's poor audio is no longer the key consideration. But, for listening to SSB, well, no contest there at all. The R-5000 is superior in its ability to tune SSB signals. Love 'em both, and I'm keeping them both!

Very close race. As you say, they both have their pros and cons. In a real world situation, sitting on a table with no external audio connections, I would think that the larger speaker on the FRG-7 would be a big advantage.

Very, very good comparison. Obviously FRG-7 sounds better as a BC radio. I haven't own (yet) FRG7 or R-5000, but I have got similar results when comparing R-1000 to NRD-525 or IC-R71E, not mentioning bunch of "world band radio" including various Sony ICFs, Tecsuns, etc. Kenwood R-1000 being the simplest to operate and the less sophisticate radio sounds best for AM/SW b-cast. I have sold JRC and Icom, but I will never sell R-1000.

I found the Yaesu FRG-7 more pleasant to listen to. I thought that the Kenwood R-5000 sounded muffled. Great job equalizing the two receivers for the test! 73 Paul AA1SU

Thank you, friend. 73 and Good DX from Mexico. XE1007SWL, Mr. Magdiel Cruz.

My first SW radio was a Zenith Transoceanic from the early 1960s. I replaced it with a Kenwood R-1000, which I wish to this day that I'd kept and still owned, but I sold it to a friend when I upgraded to an R-5000 with the better replacement filters. I've been dreaming about getting another Kenwood but after watching this and hearing the much clearer audio of the Yaesu I'm starting to want a Frog 7 instead. Besides, the purely analog tuning controls and frequency readout are intriguing. (Sadly I can't afford either one on my pension. I'll have to be satisfied with my Tecsun PL-680 and my various software-defined radios instead.)

Recovered audio in R-5000 sounds much more congested and unnatural as compared to the more open and less-distorted sounding FRG-7. For AM mode listening, I’d say the FRG-7 is the clear winner in terms of providing more pleasant, more natural -sounding recovered audio.

Hi Rob, thanks for a most interesting and informative video. I actually own a Yaesu FRG-100, which works quite well. Prior to that, I had an FRG-7700, which was eventually used as a trade in for the FRG-100 at Dick Smith, after the receiver completely broke down. I also have a Kenwood Tuner KT-6040. With your receiver comparison, the FRG-7 seems to have the clearer sharper sound. Wishing you the very best from Robert.

I liked the Frog personally. I find that the Kenwood (I have the little R600) just has more hiss that can get a bit tiresome for program listening. Sometimes it's hard to beat analog technology, but then I am also partial to the tube (valve) boatanchors (had a r390 non-a after college and hearing Radio India International with that super quiet background from California was a real treat!. But just try moving that around looking for different jobs and apartments! Just picked up a Barlow Wadley XCR30 and am anxious to see how the wadley loop performs on the little beast. Really enjoyed your high quality video. Yes, having said all that above, memories and quick easy tuning make the Kenwood a very good band scanner, and of course the IF filters matter and there the Kenwood has the 7 beat. Thanks again.

I enjoyed your production and agree completely with your own assessment. BTW I have just acquired an R-5000 - it works on AM broadcast, but I only get noise on the shortwave bands. i have a lot of work to do.

A great comparison there. The R5000 is where put my money, having had a Frog7, I like the ease of use of the Kenwood vs The time it takes to tickle a good signal reception from the FRG. 73"

The audio from the FRG-7 is just so much better to my ears. I'm wondering if there isn't a problem with a normal superhet in the form of audio-induced instantaneous frequency drift? Perhaps the audio modulates the power rail and that modulates the vfo and local oscillators? The FRG-7 might be cancelling that.

I had a small collection of full size classic short wave receivers before I had to downsize my QTH, the only one I still own is a FRG-7. The tuning is slower and the lack of a digital display means that it's hard sometimes to be exact about what frequency you're listenin to and the filtering is a bit wide sometimes. But it's just so damn pleasant to listen to (and I've got 2 ham rigs with general coverage if I need something with tighter filtering). I thought the same about your comparison, the Kenwood has the edge on dragging the most readability out of the noise (and that's without you using the filters) but the FRG-7 just sounds nicer to listen to most of the time. Thanks for the video it was interesting and well shot. VK3LZ and KJ7LJJ

keep up the great videos rob 73 and stay safe

Good video, thats for shure. I have had the FRG7, FRG7000, and now twice the R 5000. But, they have the best filters. The sound is good, i use an external speaker, R 5000, if you can get one,... take it. This is a great radio.

I have owned both. The FRG7 was easy to listen to, but the R5000 was much easier to operate. My R5000 was probably the best RX I ever had.

Excellent comparison!!!

I liked the Frog 7. The sound quality seemed better to me.

A very nice and helpful comparison, thank you for the effort! The FRG-7 is what I like, but the R5000 sounds better.

Hi Rob ,very interesting well done Regards Tim

I wonder how many views would be changed if it was a blind test.....

Hello Rob, It is a nice video and comparations. I like the sound in Yaesu. Yaesu had a base old tecnology reception (1940). It is easy repair and I like this chases as a hood of that old car. If you open the case, Kenwood have a lot of component, the tecnology is higher but But I think that sometimes listening to the signal in an original way through fewer filters and processes is better, it is closer to the original tone of voice, but everything depends on many factors such as the transmitting and receiving antenna and the atmospheric and propagation conditions. Kenwood It is more easy and confortable tune un station bit It have old microprocesador, I think better It have both receivers 😁😁😁😀. The video watch in my phone and the sound maybe sounds different on live. Sorry for my english and muy spanish digital phone keyboard. Greetings from the north of spain, thank you very much for the video.

The frog sounds very natural similar tona tube receiver. the r5000 sounds more processed. Some digital processing going on to save components? And narrower roofing filter 6khz? Add also an external speacker to the r5000 since the stock is crappy

Great comparison Rob! My ears found the FRG-7 much nicer to listen to. It seemed that the AM filter on the R5000 is too narrow and seems to cause distortion. Never owned an FRG-7, since I do not like the tuning method which prompted me to get the FRG-7700 instead. I am envious of your local noise, or lack thereof!

Hard to judge on this one -- the 5000 has far better selectivity options if you get the right filters...but of course the 5000s almost all suffer from the keypad bounce problem...this does show how good the FRG-7 was in its day..

The YAESU has a better audio !

Strangely enough i have both of those models. Just getting used to using the frog.

If you had selected/pressed the "NOTCH" button on the R5000 you would have had the same sound type as FRG7. Most of the time the "richer"/normal sound of the R5000 sounds better. All the best!

For DXing I prefer a bright, crisp tone like the Yaesu. The Kenwood sounds like it's playing through a wet rag.

I couldn't find the specs for the FRG, but this sounds more like a filter width issue. Then Kenwood I think is 8Khz, the FRG is probably 15KHz.

Got to be bloody honest with you, but the two of them would be a pleasure to own Sir 👍 73s Tam.

As a hearing impaired person I found the R5000 easier to understand Vk3hjw

Sound aside, which receiver is more sensitive. Thanks, Tom

Have you compared an SDR like an Airspy HF+ to the Kenwood? I find my HF+ somewhat addicting.

The Yaesu FRG-7 sounds a bit fuller and warmer than the Kenwood R-5000. Could be due to different audio 'tone control' in the two radios. Also there may be differences between the IF bandwidth filters. But the reception quality seems pretty much the same. Not any easy test to compare radios but thanks for your interesting video.

It begins at 3:05.

The bandwith sounded wider on the FRG-7, to my ears the R-5000 sounded quite narrow.. It would be interesting to hear the difference on a DX station on SSB where the bandwith wouldnt make too much difference in sound as SSB is narrow anyway...

Some might say I've ruined it, but I replaced the stock filter in my FRG-7 with a Murata CFS455J, rated as a 3 kHz filter. I like the improved selectivity. If I want "hi-fi" shortwave, I turn to my Kenwood R-1000, which has all its original filters.

Very fine ! What sort of antenna did you use ?😀

Kenwood has "warmer" audio.Nice to listen to for long periods. The Frog will dig out signals very well, but can get tiring to listen to, especially with headphones.

Good review Rob, would be interested to compare a Barlow Wadley as well which I regret selling, I have a FRG-7 which I fire up from time to time and I wonder how the R-5000 compares to a TS-440 which I compared to my SDR's the other day and it stood up rather well.

The r 5000 wins hands down (even somewhat muffled and digitally processed) that wistle in on the from was annoying. The downside is that you could lose clarity or information when digitally processing info

Strange. This R-5000 sounds more like SSB in AM Mode. I also use the R-5000 and it sounds better. I have the INRAD 6kHz Filter in it and did some Audio-Mods für the analog output stage. I also completely recapped mine with Panasonic FC Caps. I always use a homebrew external Speaker on it.

Like others, I slightly prefer the FRG-7

I think both receivers seem pretty darn close performance-wise. The audio from the R5000 seemed to have a bit more treble to it. Filtering or audio stage difference I don't know. Either rig would serve well I'd guess.

FRG no question

just a thought instead of doing brordcast bands when your doing the test use the ham bands i think ppl will enjoy it more just a thought rob

Why don't they do a modern retro frg 7 on to a winner long over due cheers uk...

Hi Rob, did you re-cap the Frog-7 prior to this test?

Has to be the frg7👍

According to my ears, the good old Frog beat the Kenwood hands down!

Frg-7 takes the win.

good day mate lol

FRG 7 sena dubbio il migliore.

👍EA7FKI 73dx

For me FRG wins

Throw the R5000 away!!