Yaesu FT-DX10 And Icom IC-7300, Side By Side Comparisons, Ham Radio 

The whole reason why I repeat “There’s Nothing wrong with the Icom” is because there will continue to be countless comments from owners of the 7300 leaving comments such as: “I have worked the world on my 7300 why did you make a video telling me it’s not good anymore” and other ridiculous claims such as: “you shouldn’t be telling everyone that the 7300 is not usable compared to a $1600 radio that’s the wrong information” and yet I said nothing of the sort. Much like the ones that were commenting that I said I was cancelling my RU-vid channel and leaving when I never said that at all.

The Yaesu comes with a video port on the back so us old farts can have a larger screen to see. ;-)

It looks like summer there! Wish it was like that here, I'd be taking the radios out all the time!

That is by far the best real life unbiased comparison of competing radios. Really enjoyed the review, concluded that I probably would not swap my 7300, I do like some of the additional features and functions of the yaesu and would have probably have chosen this over the 7300 if it was available at the time

Eric, thanks for the great review! I was on the fence about which one to get into. I don't think it'll take long to get many instruction videos getting all of us up to speed. Thanks. 8P6RC

Bravo guys! Excellent presentation. I just happen to be purchasing either one. Your video answered so many questions I have prior to buying one of these. Thanks!

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing. It was great to get the opinions of others on these two radios. I have the IC-7300, IC-7100 and the new IC-705. I have made voice contacts over a thousand miles on 5 watts on a home made dual band Shark hamstick dipole. Thanks KA0KAE

I wondered why you chose such a noisy location beside a busy road.....and then I got the point.

Yaesu has always had a different philosophy in operating controls. Not necessarily better, but a different way to do things. (I tend to like Yaesu - just personal)

How many times have I posted this same thing: All receiver comparisons *ABSOLUTELY NEED MATCHING EXTERNAL SPEAKERS* for it to be any kind of useful comparison.

This was a very good video because I am certain there are many IC-7300 owners wondering it the Yaesu FT-DX10 is worth the extra $700. And as Jan mentioned the Yaesu would be the next step up the ladder from the IC-7300, feature and price wise, as compared to the huge jump in price from the IC-7300 to the IC-7610. This was a basic review, but it addressed the same exact things most HAMS would look at first. It boils down to what your budget allows and/or what features you must have. I think the IC-7300 is hard to beat at it's price point. If you are bored with your IC-7300 then the FT-DX10 would be the next step up. As I commented in an earlier video, either radio is a winner! Good job gentlemen!

Uh guys, On demonstrating the Notch function, you didn't point out the Icom has a programable width on the manual notch, you didn't show that on the FTDX10, does it have it? You didn't demonstrate the auto notch on the Icom, does the Yaesu even have that.? You didn't show the audio screen on the Icom where you can see the manual notch and where it is in the audio recovery scope a lot larger and clearer than the tiny little screen for this on the Yeasu, but you didn't show that. You also didn't show how the spectrum scope of the 7300 has 3 separate refresh rates, the FTDX10 doesn't have that and looked EXTREMELY busy and annoying. Perhaps that will be fixed in a firmware update. So on those mentioned features, you guys didn't show things plus and minus for each rig in some of the more used features. Of course YMMV. 73 James K0UA

Eric, I've always appreciated your honesty when it comes to talking about radios. It's so easy to fall into one fanboy camp or another and be completely ignorant of all the great stuff out there. I'm thinking of putting one of these next to my FT991a, so thanks for all the information and another awesome video! -73-

Can the contour on the FTDX10 be set to a positive value similar to the FTDX3000's contour? If so, it will really bring weak signals up further.

I have a ftdx10 and love it. I had a k3, ic-7300 and many more radios. My favored one was the IC-756 Pro III but it was too big for my desk. I also had several sdr based radios and they all have this high frequency noise that you don't find in analog radios. For me the FTDX-10 is the best of both world.

Thanks, this was very helpful.

Great side-by-side guys!! Thanks a lot, I made up my mind!! FTDX10 all the way! W5PN

Why would you want the optional 300hz CW filter for the FTDX10, if you can adjust the width down to 50hz?

Great video Eric. I’m running the Icom-718 great starter radio. Will upgrade when I find a 7300 at the right price. I made contact with Gabby a few weeks ago. Keep the videos coming. Thanks 73. Greg KC3PMX

Excellent, thanks guys!

Thank you for the video. I would hope a $1700 transceiver would have more features than a $1000 radio. I feel for the price the 7300 is an excellent radio.

does the Ft-dx10 do cw with the mic buttons like the ic-7300?

Thanks for another video

Thanks for another great video!

Jeez, @ 23:16 , all they had to do was go to the audio scope on the 7300, then you can see the notch effect. It does help if the operators know what they're doing lol

Question, what is the name of the vertical antenna U use in the background??

Thanks to all three of you. I'm searching for a replacement for my Ten Tec Jupiter, and my head is swimming with opinions and specs. I'm a bit obsessive my nature anyway. I was a bit skeptical at first when I saw your setup, but now I think it may be the best real-life comparison I've seen so far. These are the two OM's I'd try to find myself for their opinions and they homed in immediately to the critical variables. I'm a casual operator, so functionality over features. I've been leaning toward the dx10 in a close match so far, but now I think i may replace my Heathkit speaker and get more enjoyment from the Icom. Being visually impaired, I was attracted to the Yeasu's external display. I'm now a new subscriber. 73, W2TTV

Hi,good interesting video, to be honest they both radios look and perform excellent 👍, good comparison, thanks from Rotterdam, 73

Is ham radio still popular? I had a tech lisence in the 8o's. Maybe I'll get back in.

Do these have fan spinning and making fan noise when rx and not tx for a long time?

I have both. The quiet receive is nice on the Yaesu. I like having a mouse and Monitor connection on Yeasu. Everything else is better on the Icom 7300.

Great video and objective-style review, Bob. I have both. But the 7300 is moving off the desk and replacing an FT-450D in my portable Gator Case. (I’ll add an external BPF system because of the 7300’s front end.) The Ftdx10 is on my desk in its place.

Hello, can you tell me the reference of the antenna ? thanks

@HamRadioConcepts. Hi, I just got the Yaesu FT-DX10 . What "Resolution of the External monitor" do you recommend for the Yaesu FT-Dx10??

does anyone know if a sound card is built into the FT-DX10. Like in the IC-7300?

I have a Yaesu FT950 with a pan adapter and won an IC7300. I like them BOTH. Head to head, they appear equally capable on my antennas. 7300 internal tuner works better with my fan dipole. As you mentioned, an IC7310 with 2 antenna inputs and a video output would hit the spot for me. I would consider trading up for these features, along with the quieter receive operation of the FT-DX10. Thanks for a great video! WA4KBT

Ive tended to be an Icom fan, but recently got a preowned FT-991 (not A version....I use SDRPlay and OmniRig anyway). Wow...what a great radio. Cant go wrong with either. Just depends on what someone wants

Thx for the side by side honest review. For the difference in age and price, one would think that the Yaesu would have newer technology. I think that the closing comments are spot on, if ICOM put a HDMI output and switchable antenna port on the 7300 then they could slot a 7310 in between the 7300 and the FTDX10. They would likely see a growth in sales overall. FYI, there is plenty of room to put a HDMI converter in the radio and at the same time add two USB-C ports. A/B SO-239 would require a bit more room but putting remote control to an external coax switch would be viable using USB to control it.

I love that Alcatraz cap.

Thank you for a most enjoyable video. I've been debating selling the 7300, adding some money, and buying the FT-DX10. Thanks to your real world comparison, I've got my answer. 73 de W5EN Steve

Is that sharp sound an Icom thing? Because I do think that my simple Icom 718 is a bit sharp too. That filter thingy on Icom? Can it be used too filter out 3 to 5 Russians at the same frequency? 😉 In Sweden Russian hams are really easy to pick up. //SA6HCZ

You can see the Icom pass band and notch if you bring up the audio screen if that hasn't already been mentioned.

What antenna did you say you were using? Great video nice comparison.

What kind of antenna switch are they using?

Love the Comparison

Why are you keeping the 7300 in storage???

Well we now have more shots of the backs of the radios than we ever needed. Just curious, how would an "official" side by side comparison have been different? ;-)

It's like Chevy and Ford. My first ever radio was a FT-3D, people say that's hard to learn. It has a lot of menu options, but it doesn't make it bad. People are just comfortable with what they are familiar with. I actually think the Yaesu way of doing things is easier. Back to an automotive reference, Rock Auto. Lots of drop down menus, but you get right where you need to, quickly. Thanks as always for your time!

the Yaesu is newer. but it uses an older technology for the input. it has a mixer and filtering befire the A/D converter. where the Icom converts the incoming signal directly to digital. Which is better ??? hard to say....

Thank you very much

If you pull up the audio scope on the 7300 then work the manual notch you can see the notch on the fit scope waterfall

They are cleaning up the power line noise here in Nevada. Getting back into radio. I have always liked radio much more than TV.

I'm a Yaesu guy don't own any Icom's but I love my FT-991A wanted to check out the FT-DX10

What kind of switch is that? I had seen the one radio to 2 antennas switch, but never an HF 2 radio input to one antenna switch. Name brand please? Thank you. 73 @SATX

2wks and ill have mine in me shack can't wait.yes im from the 🇬🇧

Merci pour cette video 2 super tx !!

Which performs better using cw?

Rádio top demais parabéns guerreiros o bazuka Foz do Iguaçu pr Brasil

I've used the 7300 and 101MP with the same external speaker. I can listen to the Yaesu all day long whereas the 7300 was a bit fatiguing. The contour control on the 101 (and presumably the 10) is worth the price of admission. Also I don't think the numbers for the DNR are "level" but rather different algorithm settings so DNR 1 on the 7300 isn't the same as DNR 1 on the 10.

Very nice review on those radios but for me a CUBEX QUAD 4 element it will made the job for me . The most important thing in a shack is the antenna radios come and go . The antenna is like when you tune a quitar if isn’t it tune will not sound right

Next review at the airport? close to the runway?

Thank you for this. Being a new ham, this is what I'd like to see when a radio is shown to me. I'm definitely into recieving weak signals because I run QRP and i.know how it feels to be covered over by much stronger stations so that's who I'll be listening for when I get my first 100 watt radio. Learning curves are in the eye of the beholder. I also want something that has everything 8 need to be successful and keeps me interested for a long time. Happy New Years y'all

...what is the name of the antenna ???? 73, DF1YE

I have been a Yaesu fan since the late 1970's. My first Ham Radio was the original Yaesu FT-101E. My first Icom Radio was the IC-706. Both Companies make a fine radio. But for me I am a Yaesu Fan Boy. I always gravitate to Yaesu. I will be buying the FT-DX10 soon. Great video guys. 73 Joe KN4IFI

Hi, Please help me ... I will buy a new radio and I am in doubt which one to choose ??? Kenwood ts 890 or Icom 7610 ??? can you help me with the opinion on which one is best ??? thanks 73

If you set the 7300 to display the audio scope you can absolutely see the notch in the passband graph. Non-issue.

I would have focused less on the audio quality comparison as I suspect most ops would be using an external speaker, which would likely always sound better than either of the internal speakers. I have an IC-7300 and two Kenwood TS-830S's with the matching SP-230 speakers. The Kenwoods always sound better on receive than the IC-7300, however, when I use one of the SP-230 speakers with the IC-7300, the improvement in sound is dramatic. Also, I would have appreciated a more detailed comparison of the band pass filters, notch, NR & NB when attempting to dig out a weak signal. It is very easy to add an external large display to the IC-7300 by connecting the IC-7300 to a PC and using software such as Win4IcomSuite. If you add an SDR, such as SDRplay, you can have a 1920 X 1080 display, and a fast refresh waterfall equaling or exceeding many of the features of the IC-7610, for less cost (not including the PC or the external display) than the FT-DX10. Rick W0RCF

Phil doing a review of a Yaesu radio!!! The sky is falling!!!!

As a ftdx10 owner, I just lock the frequency dial at all times, unless I'm cruising the band. Otherwise the small buttons around the dial can get in the way, hence knocking the frequency dial, well, off frequency. It is a habit thing, just push the lock button when a frequency you want to sit on is found.

Every time I hear someone refer to Digital Noise Reduction by the acronym my brain flashes to the medical version, Do Not Resuscitate. It's definitely a different meaning.

dimensions are about the same, where is the 50% weight gain from the FT-DX10 come from?

On the 7300 the notch is visible if you select audio scope.

Nice video, thanks! I had hoped to find out how it behaves in CW when it comes to TX/RX relay switching noise... Can anyone comment on this? I have tried the Icom 7300 but found the relay noise annoying, perhaps I am spoiled from the pefect behaviour of Elecraft radios in this respect. Any experiences anyone?

I have an IC-705, which is quite similar receiver-wise to the 7300 and also have a Yaesu FT-710. Both radios are just fine in 'normal' conditions with no other strong signals to either side. Where the difference comes in is when selectivity becomes necessary. If you're not contesting often, then go with whatever works. I love my old Kenwood TS-570D with it's terrible selectivity. It's my 'casual SSB' rig while either my FT-710 or FTDX-3000 is used for contesting. 73 DE WA5RR

I am being tempted, not really a yaesu fan but this radio looks pretty good so far...my 7300 has been solid for over 2 years of use and hundreds of contacts with 100w. I like that the display is slightly bigger and the noise reduction is a bit better on the yaesu...

A great one guys. I do wish that I had waited to get the FT 10 instead of thinking Oh I want the VHF &UHF also on the 991A. I could have got a mobile dual band to work the local repeaters. I rarely go on VHF/UHF Side Band or CW etc. So that is a no go..Plus I have not got 4 meters on the 991A. Well thanks a lot for the review. 73 de John - G0WXU

I have the 7300 and was never happy with the audio so I got the Ptrx 7300 pan adapter and use it with the Airspy Hf+ made a big difference but my ft-891 still sounds better so I think yaesu have the edge when it comes to audio and the audio is the most important thing with ham radio.

Icom twin pass band is a slight variation on Yaesu (and others) bandwidth/shift method - they accomplish the same thing. Which one depends on your preference.

the antenna tuner in the FTDX-10 is more advanced. it take a few seconds longer because it fine tuning the Yaesu antenna tuner in tuning more advanced . the 730 is quick because it's limited in it's tuning capability. ON Sherwood Engineering Inc. the Yaesu FTDX-10 is in 3rd place & the ICOM IC-7300 is in 22s place. As of today 9/15/22

Whatever you try, why is the Icom IC-7300's original handheld microphone modulation so bad on FM?

Hey Eric, I know that bench!!! This was a great idea trying them side by side. I have to listen again. How did the receivers compare?? I'm glad you are back. DE WS4K Eric Palm Bay, FL

Hi Eric. Thanks for this video but may I suggest if you do something similar again do get your guests their own separate microphones. Their comments are really tough to hear. 73, Martin WD9ABG

It took three years of development after they studied the IC7300 to come out with FT DX10, it is all good.. I respect both of these guys opinions. Now Icom will be releasing a new radio to compete with DX10. It is all good. I think the price of the DX10 will come down several hundred dollars in a year or so. I think I will keep my 7300 as it has not let me down. I am still using an ft 857 as a portable rig with a zebra display.

Great Vid I think your friends opinions were right on. So glad this wasn’t a Yaesu bashing ☺️ I love that we have three great choices Ftdx10,Ftdx101D, kenwood 890 all depends on your budget 1700/3k/4K to bad there is no availability on the kenmores 😜KC3ONO

No CW testing?

I'd expect the 7300 to sound "less full" - the internal speaker is tiny. A good test would be to have both rigs driving same model external speakers.

Not everyone has a IC 7300! I only wish I had one. LOL

If you’re storing the ic 7300 does that mean you are gonna sell it to me?

My Icom suffered from agc overshoot causing nasty power output spikes ... Sold it getting a Yaesu ftdx 10

Today they are $200 apart. That yaesu rocks.

The Icom IC-7300 suffers from front-end overloading. Several hams in Europe sold Their radio for that reason. You must try to contest on a full band or close to a full-power station next to your frequency. You're done. The best test is to go on 20 meters during a contest. A test like this is of no value. These new hybrid radios like this FTDX10 and FTDX101 are build for QRM fighting but are very recent compared to the 7300. The latter is a very good radio on a quite band.

Hopefully, your next review can be at a motocross track or a chainsaw logging event.

About Your statement "Everybody has a 7300", Ohhh God I wish You were right! :)

Great show thanks very informative Eric de 2e0ree

Thank you Everyone !!

Notch filter on 7300 CAN be adjusted visually too, you just need to open the audio spectrum window on 7300, and it has more detail than yaesu.

It's like looking at twin radio's. The rear fans are the same, tuning knobs are the same style, lifting foot is the same. Are these really the same manufacturer with two radio lines? Pretty coincidence don't you think? KI5IQE

I don't have either radio but both rigs have +&- . But I would love to have the new Yaesu FTDX10 . But it is would be great if Yaesu would have put the ptt &alc RCA plug on the FTDX10 instead of the modular plugs it would have been a lot easier. But all in all I love the Yaesu FTDX10. Giga Parts has a extra one send it my way. 73 AE4OY WILLIE P. EM-81UF (OldYella) South East Georgia

Thanks for doing this comparison. I had my heart set on the 7300 until the evil little man at HRO convinced me that I might like the FT-DX10 better. My question is whether its worth it to spend a few hundred more for the FT-DX10, knowing that its a newer, superior radio. I know its better, but how much better? Maybe my $300 is better spent on that sweet Chameleon antenna! I would have liked to see a comparison of CW capability but regardless, this is a very helpful video and its great that you got a couple more experienced hams to give their opinions.

I wish I could go in the field with a couple of $2000AUD radios and an $800AUD MPAS antenna .......just for TESTING