Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom IC-7400

[MrWeetabix]

Hello all, looking for some real world experience from you lot. I have read a lot of eham reviews but I just wanted some feedback from users on here too.

I currently use the TS-2000, but I find it a little deaf on some bands and it also suffers from that lazy needle issue.

I have a chance of an Icom-7400 and I was wondering how people rated them? I am not bothered about 70cm really, so its just HF-2 multimode I am interested in.

I'd welcome some opinions

[SgtBilko302]

Morning Craig. I had a 7400 a few years back and it was a fantastic radio. I had great success on all bands and with the 100w on 2 mtr it allowed me into some further afield repeaters. Saying that, i have never had a ts-2000.

Paul.

[MrWeetabix]

Did you have any failures at all? Lotds of people say it had the same screen failure issue as the 746.... also they were prone to the finals failing...

[Transmission1]

Can't speak for the IC-7400 as I've never owned one but the TS-2000 can be a little deaf on some bands. I found 70cm a little disappointing on the secondary receiver but you've already said that's not really a problem for you. Don't forget that the TS-2000 is nearly 20 years old in design now so it probably does seem a little lacking in some ways, still a great radio though.

[SgtBilko302]

@ Craig. Mine was almost new and had it for a year. No issues what so ever.

Paul.

[ch25]

7400 suffer backlight problems and µPC1678G overheating problems.
I would stay away until is already improved by previous owner.
Chris

[MrWeetabix]

7400 suffer backlight problems and µPC1678G overheating problems.
I would stay away until is already improved by previous owner.
Chris

I have read about the issues, but I was looking for experience from actual owners. Have you owned one?

[ch25]

I had 2 or 3 on my bench for repairs years ago. That's why I would stay away until it's already improved.
Also knobs micgain, rfpower, cwpitch/cwspeed are crap. If you use them often they start wobbling and wear quickly.
Hard to obtain new pots even 15 years ago.

[m3lmy]

I have two TS-2000s both excellent radios, yes a lazy meter but can still hear everything my other radios can, old design yes, but perfectly usable radios.

[MrWeetabix]

I have two TS-2000s both excellent radios, yes a lazy meter but can still hear everything my other radios can, old design yes, but perfectly usable radios.

I actually did really like the TS-2000... as well as the 7410 I subsequently got. Both have now been sold on and replaced with more-modern radios. Never had them all in the shack at the same time, so hard to compare between them, but the TS-2000 is still highly sought after and they do still fetch a decent price when sold :-)

[m3lmy]

Yes the 2000 is a nice radio, I keep trying to sell one of mine but keep changing my mind because I know I would regret it.

[warhorse]

Nice gear the 2000 but still flaud with the preamp problem in every model, one transistor right at the back at the bottom of the board! this site explains
https://erikarn.github.io/kenwood/TS-2000/notes enjoy lol

[warhorse]

opps left this out lol https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?thread ... ed.466335/

[warhorse]

these vids on the preamp saga are a good watch of 10 years ago - just saying! lol

https://youtu.be/hXn3OhmbBzI

https://youtu.be/Kqv_ZJQb1B8

[26TM5890]

Do you do satellites? As the TS-2000 can do that, we had one at the club mostly for 2 meters