Alinco DX R-8 Comms receiver, a good radio?

[Looking-Glass]

Came across an advert for the Alinco DX R-8 communications receiver for around AUD$1,000 which is strange, as Alinco market the DX-SR9T transceiver (which looks identical to the DX R-8 receiver) "on sale" for also AUD$1,000.

Since 1975 I have always had Yaesu, Kenwood, Drake or Icom so Alinco is unknown to me.

Currently in the market for a new comms receiver, mostly to suit NDB DXing on Low Wave, some MW but mostly Utility bands covering CW and SSB on aviation, marine and numbers stations.

Has anyone owned the DX R-8 receiver by Alinco, and if so what do you think of it in general?  It looks very small, I am used to a larger base style radio, don't really like fiddly buttons and knobs too close together.

Valued opinions welcome...

[pinto vortando]

Have the Alinco DX-SR8T transceiver here.   Got the transceiver as it only cost a bit more than the DX-R8 receiver, but rarely use it for TX, got it mostly for SWL...  mostly LW NDBs and MW AM BCB DXing.  The receiver in the transceiver specs and operating instructions appear to be very similar to those of the stand alone receiver, however, the transceiver RX lacks the SDR output if that matters to you.

This was my first Alinco radio so didn't know what to expect but have had the radio for a couple of years now and have been quite pleased with it.  Yes, the buttons are a bit small but not really a problem for me.  The radio measures about 10" W X 4" H x 11" D...  maybe a bit "small' but the display is large and bright.  Audio out of the small front facing speaker is surprisingly good but most of my listening is done with headphones.  By today's standard, a very simple radio to use.  Very simple menu, easy to understand instructions,  about as intuitive as it gets nowadays.  The receiver is very good on LW, very sensitive,  good selectivity and filtering too... can easily pull a Canadian 400 cycle NDB out from between the sidebands of a 1020 cycle modulated U.S. NDB on the same frequency.

Have not used it that much for HF SWLing but it does a good job receiving the aviation VOLMET stations.

Overall, very happy with the Alinco radio. 

[Looking-Glass]

Thanks Pinto Vortando, after a little more reading around the net I have decided to go for the Icom R-75, paid for it today so should be here by the end of the week. 

Will be glad to decommission the Tecsun 2000 and relegate it to VHF aircraft monitoring, which is about the only thing it does really well!

[pinto vortando]

Thanks Pinto Vortando, after a little more reading around the net I have decided to go for the Icom R-75, paid for it today so should be here by the end of the week. 

Will be glad to decommission the Tecsun 2000 and relegate it to VHF aircraft monitoring, which is about the only thing it does really well!

L-G,

Sounds good.  I really like my Alinco but if a new IC-R75 were available I would grab it.  Amazing that you were able to find a new R75 as they were discontinued about 2 years ago.
IIRC, the late production radios included the DSP unit.  However, you may want to look into some optional narrow filters especially if you like to chase NDBs.  My Satellit 750 (similar to the Tecsun 2000) is a nice radio for casual listening but it is not a communications receiver.  With a good antenna, it is so-so on LW but pretty good on MW AM and HF SWL.  FM performance is lacking. It is quite good on VHF AM aircraft reception even with just the internal whip antenna. 

Anyway, enjoy your Icom, looks like a very enjoyable radio to operate...  not a lot of layers of menu nonsense. 
Let us know how you like it when you get it up and running.