iCom 7300 vs Yaesu 891 Comparison ~ Battle to the DEATH! 

Thanks - I have been looking forward to this video. I have two IC-7300's and will be buying a FT-891 for the mobile./portable ops.

*_Only a minute into the video but I agree, it's an UNFAIR comparison! One is a noisy, loosey-goosey front end, no RF Gain, gritty sounding glorified CB, and the other is a Yaesu._*

I think the opposite, if I were a new ham now thinking back I would get the much cheaper FT-891 with it's far superior noise reduction. It's a lot of radio for the money and the selectivity I find is also much better, this 891 is better at reducing QRM from close strong stations. Then after that I would keep the 891 and get the FTDX-1200 or 3000. All the fancy screens and menus can't help you hear that contact in the noise. Since I last posted here I got my licence in May 2019, loving the hobby. I got the Xiegu X5105 QRP rig + The Xiegu G90 20 w SDR Rig + the IC-7300 and the FT-891, I have to say that I really like the FT-891, the noise reduction simply blows the 7300, G90 and X5105 away, put on some headphones and the 891 is a real pleasure to listen to, it can really pull a station out of the noise or hit DNR and listen to the background noise disappear, it's amazing. It makes me wonder should I have got the FTDX-1200 or 3000 if Yaesu receivers are that good. The filtering is also excellent on the 891. The 7300 is a good radio and I like it but to be honest the screen is too small to be useful for an SWR, seeing a whole band makes the signals look way too small. The menus in the 891 are not bad because most are set once and forget, using the likes of Flrig and you can control many functions from the computer. Now I'm familiar with the menus it's 2nd nature and don't find it an issue at all. The 891 is probably one of the best and very underrated portable radio out there. I now use the FT-891 portable because the 100 Watts make a big difference and a 8.5 Ah LiFeP04 battery gives me plenty of portable time and I bring a 12V car battery in the car just in case, I don't operate very far from the car mostly so power consumption is a non issue. I also use the FT-891 in the living room, I strung up a 2nd EFHW for this and use it on JS8 Call and PSK31 as well as SSB when I don't want to go up to the shack. Is the kx2 or Kx3 a better receiver ? perhaps but the FT-891 is bloody good and a hell of a lot cheaper when you factor in E.U extortion taxes + that 100 Watts, you simply can't beat having the power when you have limited time to work portable, the FT-891 and Super Antenna MP1 is a great portable setup. You can have 10-50-100 watts whatever you want, better to have the power than want it.

Love the intro and panning of the radios with the music. I almost expect the radios to jump up and duel each other.

Great video. Thanks for posting. At end of your video, is someone taking a leak in the background? Lol.

Perfect description of me! I'm a brand new ham operator and didn't have a lot of money. So I wanted a good rig I could use both as a base station and take it out in the field. I got the FT-891 and love it!!!

Picked up an FT-891 and I love it. Right now I’m using it as a base station and I worked all over the world with an EFHW antenna 15 feet off the ground. Sure would I like some of the fancy features of course, but I feel like my money was very well spent and if I want, I have the option to go mobile with it. It’s very well-built, and I get nothing but great comments about my audio quality. I can’t speak to the 7300 because I don’t own one. I’m sure it’s a great radio but I have absolutely no regrets for getting the ft-891

Great comparison. I agree with your thinking. One thing you talked me into without knowing is SSB in the field. I am building the SSB module for my K2 as we speak. Also, signed up for POTA... Thanks for all of your videos... Ron

Good One! I have a Anytone quad 6 and it has knobs, I can just scroll through all the frequencies from the 11 meter broadcast band to 10 meter ham band. Rf power is also a separate knob. mode switch is a single button "mode". The conditions on the 10 and 11 meter bands are not as terrible as most HF bands are here. I sold all my other transceivers.

I also bought the FT-891 as first (and so far only) radio. And it has zero-beating.

you can hook up a morse key on the ft-891 and use that to tune. (It is a menu setting) Page 3 of the ft-891 Advanced menu it is menu item 7-6 and 7-1

Got the 891 for portable. Tough little radio with beautiful receiver capabilities. It doesn’t hold you back when you become familiar on how to adjust the settings.

Nice comparison! Would be nice a back to back comparison with and without filters DSP DNR engaged. I've read the Yaesu have more sensitive receiver and sounds a little better. 73 man! Keep going

Enjoyed your opinions...and looking at the two radios...

Hey there, Thanks for sharing :) On the band-selection/frequency stuff, did you know you can enter the frequency directly? When in band selection mode - tick the F INP button and you can enter the frequency right away, without having to turn the dial, might be even faster from time to time 73 de PC4AD

I have both and love them both! No problem zipping thru the menus on the 891. The 891 is much easier to cart around for portable work while the 7300 sits nicely on my desk and works well for digital modes. I'd say, the amount of time I spend using either one is about the same.

What is the song you used for your opening credits?

there is a tension knob below the tuner knob on the ft-891 for to make it smoother tuning

Thanks! Wondering what the stand is that you are using on the 891?

I have an IC-7200 and an Ft-891. Similar results in my unfair comparison . Both radios are great. I get really good signal reports with the FT-891. Looking forward to working portable this spring!

I have an IC-7300 and a Yaesu FT-897D and love them both for different reasons. But no experience with the Yaesu FT-891 although I plan to purchase one for portable use. I really think you should have familiarized yourself a little more with the FT-891. Although I agree that the IC-7300 is the far superior radio. I absolutely love mine. I learn something new and very useful about the IC-7300 constantly! It has endless yet easy to figure out features. Good job Tom!

Great comparison, thx! I have the 891 and I am studying to upgrade my license. I enjoy all of your videos.

My first HF radio was a Yaesu FT 707 with matching PSU, ATU and external VFO. HF only, no 160m. I just bought a Yaesu FT-897 All band All mode because the local club holds 2m SSB nets so I needed something that could do that. I was looking at buying the 7300 but again its only HF. The menus on the 897 are taking a little getting use to especially since my 707 doesn’t have anything other than buttons and knobs. Oh and compared to my 707, the 897 is nice and small on my desk, even with the ATU stuck to the side :-)

Great 'unfair' comparison. :) We can use wider auto tuner range up to 10:1 for IC-7300 if we set it on 'Emergency mode', and its limit thee TX power to 50W only Thank you for sharing your thought. Bahathir 9W2GNU, 73. .

Regarding your first stated concern. Either of these, needs to go into a Pelican or similar case for transport. Moreso the 7300 due to the screen and extra weight if it ever got moving during a sudden stop.

I came close to pulling the trigger on the 891 but after seeing the display on the 7300 I went for it instead, I also have the kx2 which works excellent but after getting used to the waterfall on the 7300 the kx2 sitting idle. It really is useful, I have the display set to see the whole band so I can get an idea of how much activity is out there....I miss that a lot on radios that don't have it...and yes imo the radio is easy to operate, everything you use often is easy to find without a ton of menu drop downs

Harbor Freight sells a case: Apache 3800. The IC -7300 fits perfectly inside and is well protected. It’s similar to a Pelican case. On sale 03.08.2019 for about $30! Picked one up today early sale and plucked the foam to fit my radio. I was also worried about bring mine into the field. And like you I also have the FT-891. Both great rigs.

I really like these types of comparisons :-) Next step compare FT-891 and KX2 on portable operations. :-) 73s, Stephan, DF6PA

Finally i subscribed to your channel, another great video, another thing to consider is you could go on e-bay and buy a secondhand transceiver full of bells and whistles and get ripped off for the same price point for a NEW 891, they are a great radio, i have been licensed 40 years and i am really tempted to get one, having used a 7300 at my friends house, they are a good radio, they are twice the price and find me a good secondhand ICOM756 Pro without problems with the screen ! Personally i would buy the FT891 at the price....... Keep the videos coming, i like your 'thinking out of the box' style. Best 73 from South West France.

It would have been a bit better test concentrating on the reception sound quality, rather than 'ease' of operation. It would be interesting to hear a clear comparison of the two, considering the price difference.

I had $1000 mad money to spend. Deliberated for days. Do I get an IC-7300 or do I buy an FT-891 plus an Acer Aspire E 15? Long story short, I'm typing this on my new laptop. Menu system becomes pretty automatic if the 891 is the only radio you use.

I have been considering exactly these 2, for the reason I'm brand new!

I have both radios just as you do. In fact it was because of your reviews of the FT891 that I bought it as my first HF rig. I then got the 7300 and again as a result of your videos and several other hams on RU-vid. I am very happy with both radios. I used the 891 as my base until I got the 7300. They are sitting side by side and I only turn it on when I want to talk on 3.963 and I use may MFJ auto tuner to be able to talk there. My 7300 will not tune there with either my MFJ-939 or my LDG AT100Pro auto tuners. If I want to talk on the net on 3.963 on the 7300 I have to use my MFJ-962D manual tuner. Kind of strange and a pain in the butt if I want to use the 7300 on that frequency. Other than that you are right, it is an unfair comparison but as you those are the two radios I have to compare to each other. The 891 comes to the field with me when I set up for portable use. Thanks for sharing.

Like the intro...new camera at work? Bokeh!

As an owner of two Ic7300's and also an FT891, yes this is an unfair comparison. Yes the 7300 is intuitive, and the interface on the 891 is not. I have the 891 in the truck and it is a good mobile rig. ALSO you may not know but the 7300 has a wide ranging tuner if you put the rig in emergency mode. It takes about 10 seconds to put the rig in Emergency mode, It will tune about a 7:1 SWR, BUT you are limited to 50 watts in Emergency mode. In normal mode the tuner is limited to 3:1 SWR. While the 891 has a USB output for CAT control, it DOES NOT pass audio for digital modes over this USB like the ICOM does. You must have an audio interface using analog connections on the back of the 891. The rigs are for two different purposes, and to be fair the 891 has a lot less "real estate" on the front panel and no touch screen so its MMI (Man Machine Interface) must by definition be harder to use. Current price on the 7300 is just under $1000, after rebate and current price on the 891 is about $650 73 James KØUA

The illumination of surface buttons for evening operations is a huge purchase factor to me.

Is there a reason you have your RF gain turned almost all the way down so there's nothing to see on the waterfal display? Also, try press+hold on the "Filter" button, it will even bring up another menu.

Awesome work.

See Pp 9 of the advanced manual for the 891 - it describes the "auto zero" feature that is built in to the radio (CW settings screen, "ZIN")...

I have a Yaesu FT450D I always use portable, tomorrow I am getting the Yaesu 891 for portable and leaving the 450D at home connected to my EFHW antenna, before I take the Yaesu out though I am going to change all of the settings I require for portable operation and have it all ready to start operating from about Saturday, then I just need to change band or mode whilst out. good honest video Thanks, Oh by the way the 891 can Zero in (Zin) and spot on CW, it's on page 9 in the advanced manual

Surely you buy both. Use the 7300 as a base station and 891 for portable ops?

A great, "Unfair Comparison." *lol* I almost bought a 7300, and kinda wish I had, but I opted for the 7100, primarily because it has HF/VHF/UHF. I still see a 7300, maybe even a 7610 in my future. I may need to take a second mortgage on the house for the 7610, however. :-( All things considered, including price, the 7300 seems like the perfect radio, if there is such a beast.

I absolutely LOVE my FT-891! You really do get a lot for your money. The ability to plug it in at the shack, mobile HF and on location POTA makes it very versatile. The menus take some getting used to, but it all becomes second nature in short time. I’ll be honest, it’s kind of fun working the radio to try and pull someone from the weeds…. It’s all part of the fun!

I got 'em both and I agree with you. The 891 is a monster receiving tho'...😮

Thanks for the comparison! Right now the 7300 runs $1000 incl rebate from DxEngineering and the 7610 is $3100 incl rebate. I am looking to buy my first 100W radio. I built a qcx, am learning morse code, and have been running WSPR. Is the $2100 extra really worth it for a starter radio? I like the idea of spending $1000 for the 7300 now. Then something portable for another $700 (FT-891) maybe in the next couple of months - similar to the setup you compared.

Excellent presentation!

i have both now. and you didnt know that the 7300 has its own tuner?

As stated, it is not a fair comparison regarding rig control and operation. The 7300 has a MUCH better UI than the FT-891. But I'd like to have seen more about the performance. What I would like to have seen was a more detailed comparison of the DSP qualities of both. I just bought an FT-891 and I have to say that its DSP works better than any other radio I have, ICOM included--and was an ICOM guy for a long time. I'd make it my base rig except for the cumbersome menus that I have to navigate to do stuff. As mentioned, adjusting power levels is one of them. I need to buy a new base rig (the 7300 is on the list), but I'd like to see more on the DSP coverage of both so I can see how these two compare before I commit.

how can you compare these radios?

Quite right, you can only compare what you have. Something interesting comes out of it.

Why do I need luck to make antenna resonant? I am a mm7 call and don't need any ATU with my set up.

hi where did you get the sides from on the Yaesu 981 thanks

"Cinder block", "huge radio". Even the BIG radios of today are pip-squeaks compared to back in the day of the boat anchors! You haven't lived until you have carried a Viking II up the stairs to the ham shack bedroom. And that was one of the LIGHT ones of the day. Thanks for the video!

love my 7300 but travelling overseas need a small unit for my backpack 891 looks like a great rig for travelling

What is the frame that you have protecting your 891?

The 891 works better for me. I need no Bling Bling self Destroy-Branding-Displays. The 891 will hear also better on large Antennas and is good for Fielddays. Test it. Sorry for my English. 73,s DO9YY

I'm a pretty new ham and have both of these radios. I got the 7300 for a base and did some POTA with it. I discovered it's a pain to pull my shack radio and haul that heavy radio to the park. So got the 891. The 7300 is MUCH easier to use in every way, but I've found that when I'm doing POTA, I set up pretty much the same all the time. So not a lot of changes required, just mode and freq. Most everything else stays the same from park to park.

I own both of these radios as well. For ease of use, the 7300 is very hard to beat and the ergos are second to none. Yeasu FT 891 can be a little frustrating at first until you get the menus in muscle memory and of course is more portable. The DSP on the FT 891 is best and rivals or beats the IC 7300.

So funny. This is me totally. I got the 891 as my first HF radio. I saw the 7300 in action, and had to have it. 7300 base. 891 portable. I am tempted to swap out the 891 with something more fancy for portable, but I'm concerned about durability. Looking the 891 it is. (Changing some stuff on the 891 is DEFINITELY a PitA!!)--mad props for the 897 though. Wow, what a tank?!?!

Where did you get the metal letters and number in your intro?

Makes me wonder if I should just use my 7300 for portable use instead of buying a 891

FT-891 has the tune in function its called Zin under CW Settings not the deep menu.

Still like the Yasue more, all I got is yasue and 1 kenwood tm-v71a. Yaesu has the atas 120a that makes tuning alot easier...

Nice case. Who makes it?

Yeah, I'll be getting the 7300....keeping the Ft-857 for portable ops.

Why you don't have "what buttons to select" for the most common functions you use puzzles me. Trying to remember all the menu functions of early SDR's and current SDR's is mind boggling. The ICOM 7300 touch screen has eliminated much of the guess work without a shortcut list. Still, having a short cut list for each rig that uses multiple menus will give you less frustration. A comparison I might make would be between the HW-9 and the FT-817ND even though the HW-9 is CW only. Comparison could be made for weight, ease of use, packability, and power requirements. Enjoyed your video Tom. 73 KB8AMZ

the 897 has hf 6 2 70 +you can fit an internal battery +you can fit an internal power supply it depends how many radios you want but it is older technology but it works well

All I know is that from the west coast I can talk to Portugal barefoot with DX Commander Vertical with my FT 891...

I was faced with that decision as a new ham, I thought of it this way. there is no one on 2-meter sofar, am I sure I want to stick with the hobby? also if I stick with the hobby, I am going to want a mobile later. my desk is small I had no room for a 7300. I went with the FT-891. It will work very well in my car later. I used it on field day easily. and it fits on my desk easily with my VHF/UHF rig. I love this radio, it works great. I can see the younger generation liking the 7300 menus that's what you're used to. a little menu doesn't bother me. I grew up with typing the program in your computer before you could play your game. I would recomend the FT-891 to anyone. and you can by your VHF FM rig, SignaLink, coax and antenna's and still not spend as much as you did on the one radio. Maybe something fancy later? but for now I'm transmitting on everything I want for under $1000. Can't beat that.

Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your video about overnight camping and operating qrp with various antennas. I operate portable but there are no places to do overnight camping around here with the same open space freedom you enjoy. 73 de KE2YK

If I had an extra $1000 laying around I would buy a 2nd ICOM 7600 without hesitation.

have they fixed the ft-891 switching from USB and LSB issue? can you easily switch from USB to LSB on any band now or do you have to do weird menu work around stuff?

I have enough problems using the touch screen on my cell phone, plus I have a shack cat that loves to lay in between my computer keyboard and monitor stand under which my radio would go as I don't have much room and I'm sure he'd be bumping that touch screen and changing things on me. The smaller size and lack of a touch screen makes the 891 a clear winner for me, nt to mention the excellent receiver as I don't have a license yet and would be using the radio just for listening until I'm legal to transmit. It costs way less than either the 7300 or a new general coverage receiver that's far superior than any Tecsun or other portable SW receiver made.

Good video man. I don't plan on getting a 7300 at all, just because it's not inline with my intent (yet). But I do like seeing features an operator might get used to having on a variety of radios. The 891 is in my potential purchase list (for a first HF rig), as is the 991a.

ND Ham, I have been called a Yaesu poster child, that being said I HATE the microphone jack for the Yaesu radio's the rest of the radios I have dearly loved but the hokey microphone jacks are a joke. I bought a set of Heil Pro 7's for my FT-991A and have been trying to find a way to keep from tearing the jack from the radio. As far as portable use the FT-891 can't be beat, my guess is you feel about iCom's like I do about the Yaesu products. Lets face it they both have good and bad points, my 991A does everything your iCom 7300 does and in some places more but heck, I've only had the 991A for a few months so I don't know all it will do yet.

I have both radios. My 7300 is hands down easier to navigate and I use it as a back up radio for my home shack. When I go out and activate WWFF parks and Beaches I actually take both with me. I am 100% CW and the DNR feature on the 891 has the 7300 beat hands down. I am surprised that ICOM hasn't caught up with this little feature. There is no question that the 7300 is easier and quicker to change bands, modes and power levels. I love both radios and have no plans to get rid of either. I recently used my 891 on one of contests and had a lot of fun and was able to pull a lot of stations out of the mud. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :-) :-) de W6LEN / Jess

Thanks for the honesty here. IF you used the Yaesu everyday for a couple of weeks, you'd be more fluid with it. The Icom IS better, but as a newbie I want to start and work up.

I think you need to get comfortable with the Ft-891 then redo this video, I'm looking to buy the 7300 as I do Own the Ft-891.

The 7600 isnt meant to be any better than the 7300 ive been told off a number of people that owned both. I currently have the 7300 but thinking of swapping to a yaesu ft991a

Its not a guy on 3581 its W1AW code practice sent by a computer. The video is informative so the haters can hate me too. LOL.

14:31 'pretty sure that that radio hasn't zero beat'. You're mistaken, it has, push ZIN.

It seems that this is a comparison of ease of use vs. Actual features and sound. The FT891 is superior in filtering, which is arguably the key element along with transmit signal/cleanliness. Not a bad video, just a misleading title. Perhaps if the videos title matched the subject matter, I'd feel more drawn to it. Regardless, thank you for your efforts. 🙂

Thanks for the video lesson seven minutes in and I already don’t like the Yaesu. Glad the 857 is still available much easier to operate.

I've had the 7300 for almost a year and I just ordered the 891 about 2 hours ago.

Good overview of the two radios but as far as a fair comparison you kind of missed the mark. What you are basically arguing is that you, personally, understand how to use the IC-7300 better. I will agree that the 7300s features are more intuitive but that's because you have a touch screen vs an LCD and buttons. Compare the IC-7300 to the FTDX10 which is more apples to apples and then the comparison becomes a little more relevant and less lopsided. The radios themselves each have great "functionality" but what you are battling out here is "user interface", which just by looking at the radios you can already tell which one is going to come out ahead. Would love to see that 7300 vs FTDX10 comparison though.

like it my first way 817 now i was thinking of the 819 ha 73s nige m6ltv

how can you compare these in so many ways different purposed radios? the only thing to compare is receive / transmit. I expected to hear some noise but you say you don‘t even know the ft-981. strange...

No battle for me . . . I own and love both !

"Battle to the DEATH" - expected e.g. destroyed receivers caused by a strong signal immunity test. Got a bit disappointed.. :)

I have the ft891. Here it costs half the price of the ic7300. I do not regret the choice as it has a great receiver for cw my operating mode for hf. It also can lower power to 1w level, nice for a qrper. 73, Luís

Where do I get the side rails for the FT-891?

By the way, it didn't look to me like they battled to the death. It seemed they sat there side by side very nicely without any hostility at all. 73 James KØUA

My 2 cents is basically this... each radio has its place and specific purpose in ham radio. While I could afford the ICOM 7300 I chose the FT 891 at around $ 575.00 ? The 891 sits mostly on 10 meters on its own dedicated antenna. I have an old Yaesu FT757GX that I use for the other HF bands with a different antenna. I love that the FT757 has no menus to fiddle with. 73 !

I’d be more worried about having a proper efficient antenna than using a tuner to fool the radio into thinking the antenna is efficient.

More importantly ....what music is that in the intro????

I am aware its winter in the US and this may answer my own question. You seem to have moved away from QRP field operations and never mention it now. Is that a thing in the passed now Tom? 73 Colin vk2jcc

A menu either helps you or makes you want to smash things.

Le ft891 est un très bon poste ,il est parfait en réception il est très discret , le ic7300 est plus amusant,plus fun , c’est un poste qui fait chercheur avec son super écran .. deux univers différents Superbe vidéo

Just got my 7300 yesterday

891 filters are very good indeed, ZIN will zero in on CW, have both radios and they are great rigs. Fast access to bands can be done several ways on 891, easiest is via stored memories (M->VFO button) then rotate selector to choose. thanks for review :-)