AOR AR7030 DRM

The AR7030 still is a very well-known and still demanded shortwave receiver. Several versions are available:
First, the normal version without any special modification.
The "Plus" version offers more memory spaces, 400 in number. In addition, these can also be signed alphanumeric. Parts of higher quality seem to be installed, which should offer a better large signal behaviour. Also a notch filter/noise blanker unit can be installed without upgrading firmware on the "Plus" version.
Then there is another AR7030 with many other modifications, especially offered by Bogerfunk.
My AR7030 has a Schneider DRM unit installed. With this, DRM reception (digital radio mondiale) can be done together with a computer. Another modification was done on the bandwidth filter section: In addition to the normal filter, Juergen Martens built in a high-quality Murata 3.2 kHz ceramic filter K455J and a Collins 6kHz mechanical filter for me. The Bandwidths are as follows:
F1> 2.1kHz, F2> 3.2kHz, F3> 4.9kHz, F4> 5.5kHz, F5> 6.6kHz F6> 9.5kHz
Those two filters complete the others and give an even nicer, rounder sound to the AR7030, which already sounded good before.
Furthermore, the defective "Alps"-Encoder was replaced by a new one. But these Alps Encoders are not really good - they are imprecise. Smooth frequency changes are quite hard to do and need patience.
After researching, I found a "Bourns"-Encoder, which is much better than the cheap Alps-Encoder.
The Bourns Encoder which I got in my unit even has less impulses per turn of the vfo knob, namely 64.
The original Alps encoder had 100 impulses per turn. The Bourns Encoder contained in the AR7030 Plus even has 128 impulses per turn. Together with the new Bourns-Encoder, tuning over the bands is much better and more comfortable.
My AR7030 had the widely known IP+ modification inside, which I removed immediately, because the sensitivity of the AR7030 suffered from it. The slightly better large signal behaviour through IP+ therefore changes the sensitivity. In my opinion, this is not recommendable.
How does all this sound after all:
DRM works fine. Analogue reception is better owing to the new bandwidth filters, the receiver even gets more flexible.
Regarding large signal behaviour, the normal AR7030 does not differ from the AR7030Plus.
Using the ALA1530S+ antenna, the AR7030 works like on 20m long wire antenna. In the upper frequency ranges, some ghost stations can be heard.
A still recommendable receiver. Even if the new SDRs give more flexibility, an analogue receiver still is up-to-date!!

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