Tom,

I second Steve's thoughts, and I'll add some of my own.  You can make the 
480 sound quite respectable by using a desk microphone such as the MC80, and 
you can further enhance the audio by using an equalizer such as the W2IHY 
8-band equalizer.  If, however, you choose to use a hand mic, all this 
discussion of audio quality is irrelevant.

When thinking about these two radios, I consider the important factors to 
be:

1.  Size.  The TS2000 is considerably larger than the 480, which could very 
easily become an issue if you have limited space.

2.  Number of bands.  The 480 doesn't have 2 meters or 440, but I have to 
wonder how much that matters since you've indicated that you already have a 
dual band radio for those frequencies.

3.  Price.  Unless you've run into an incredibly good deal, you'll be paying 
considerably more for the 2000 than for the 480.  In fact, if I remember 
correctly, the 2000 costs about half again as much as the 480.  Ask yourself 
if you see enough difference in quality to justify that kind of expense.  If 
you do, then by all means go for the 2000.

I firmly believe that at this point, you'd be better off hearing the two 
radios and maybe even trying to get some hands-on experience with them.  My 
offer still stands to pick a time and frequency on 40, and I'll demonstrate 
my 480 for you.  If we were closer, I'd invite you over and let you play 
with the radio.  I think you'll find that in addition to its size, the 2000 
is a much more formidable radio in terms of the number of whistles and 
bells.  For example, it is really two complete transceivers, which makes it 
far more complicated than the 480.  The 480, on the other hand, is compact 
and fairly straightforward.  All of this will be much clearer if you can 
actually lay your hands on the radios.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 13:25
Subject: Re: TS480 and TS2000 comparison needed for HF


> OMG, Tom,
>
> Who cares if the audio is just slightly narrower?
>
> And, you wouldn't give that much up in portability since you could combine 
> it
> all in one rig.  However, the 480 is a bit more accessible in that mic 
> gain,
> power talk where on the 2000 they mjust beep.  But, I think you are 
> quibbling
> over a niggling amount of transmit quality difference.  I wouldn't have an 
> ulcer
> over either rig in terms of audio quality.
>
> Steve, K8SP
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 7:00 PM
> Subject: TS480 and TS2000 comparison needed for HF
>
>
> Hi, all.
>
> Even though things are not totally certain, there's a chance that I might 
> be
> in the enviable position of choosing between getting a Kenwood TS480, or a
> TS2000 for the motor home radio set-up.
>
> Originally, I was thinking solely of the TS480, because of its lower cost,
> because of its portability, and because of its somewhat greater blind
> accessibility.
>
> Since I already have a VHF/UHF rig in the motor home, I really don't need 
> 2
> ,meters or 440.
>
> However, I then started reading various comments about what some of you
> folks have said about the TS480's less than optimal transmit audio quality
> on SSB, and began to have second thoughts.
>
> So, in light of what I've said so far, can someone give me honest
> comparisons in the HF capability and performance of the TS480 vs. the
> TS2000?  Is the TS2000 substantially better on HF than the TS480;  and if
> so, in what regards?
>
> If I were to go with the TS2000,  I'd loose the portability I was looking
> for.  I also don't really need extra 2 meter or 440 capability, although I
> guess a back-up for trips wouldn't be a bad thing.
>
> I have been trying to read reviews on e-ham, but after a while, they seem 
> to
> be much more opinions rather than facts.
>
> Any help would be appreciated here, and, in the meantime, I'm trying to do
> some creative financing here.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>
>
>