2950 dx Vs. maggy 257 . which is better ?

[BOOTY MONSTER]

the 2950 has 10,11 and 12 meters . the 257 just 10 and 11 meters .
ive read about the 2950 having white noise problems in the recieve section . i dont recall hearing about the 257 having that problem .

what other noticable differences do yall know about ?
which do you think is better and why ?

 

[undertaker]

I have both and like them both....the 2950dx has some white noise but not much...

 

[dxhound]

If your looking for a more professional style radio the 2950dx is for you. In my opinion the RCI is easier to use also with a VFO style tuner and one touch cb channel display. The rx is more than adequate.

Ive used both and both are fine performers, But for me the 2950 is worth the $30 dollars over the 257

 

[davegrantsr]

back in the day, i chose rf limited ar3500's over the rci radios and have never looked back. hence i continued on with magnums. i still am not neccessarily a fan of the 29XX radios, but can easily mention the cons of magnums. the PLL controlled S-series radios are far quieter-less white noise-then their cpu controlled counterparts(delta, omega, 257). when mobile, that issue is well amplified. yeah, lack of 12m on a radio that goes as low as 25.165 is odd at best, annoying to say the least! i've mentioned that issue to sam lewis and some others who 'have his ear' and sam said he felt 12 meter capabilities was not that big of a deal. sam? have you seen how many tech class hams upgraded to general & have 12 meter capabilities today? sam? and i'll bet more then a good portion are cbers who WOULD use a multi band radio proudly! anyway in a base, the 257 i think hears every bit as well as the 29XX radios, if not better. i prefer 257 audio to stock rci audio, and overamplified rci audio. channelized frequency selection the way magnum chose is also a bit odd. well, in the end i chose a 257 due to its small SIZE and that i could fit it AND my cb in the same vehicle, and it gets me on 10m ssb as well as fm simplex & repeaters. when parked or on the open road, the magnum is not all that bad. in 'town' with lots of electrical noise....LOOK OUT! i still prefer the 257 to the 29XX, even with magnums downfalls.

 

[mackmobile43]

anything magnum is inferior to an rci product in construction and performance.

 

[cbradiomagazine.com]

I've had both on multiple occasions, the older Magnum 257 with the NPC mod will give you louder audio than the 2950, 2950DX or the newer magnum 257.

The magnum stock microphone has the power mike inside and once you adjust that and the inside modulation it sounds better than a 2950 with the stock microphone.

Personally I believe the 2950 to be of a more solid construction (the knobs on the 257 have always been something i wish were more solid).

Both radio have white noise issues when mobile...on the base the Magnum 257 will be quieter than the 2950DX. Both are stable on SSB with the 2950DX edging out the Magnum 257.

Output on these is pretty close. 2950DX has more options.

I would say the 2950DX is the better overall radio......I'd say the 257 is a much better "deal" for most people as it's much less expensive to buy.

I love my 2950DX's but the 257's are amazing little radios.

 

[skip searcher]

i have 2 ranger rci 2950 dx radios in my opinion they are hard to beat on ssb only problem they lack output power but all in no complaints ive made many good contact into the states and around europe on my ranger god bless them

 

[davegrantsr]

'(the knobs on the 257 have always been something i wish were more solid)', well, yeah, because the channel selector switches that magnum uses are actually not mechanical switches at all. they are an electronic switch. you can sort of hold 'em & watch the channels change, without ever actually turning the knob. as flimsy as they feel, i have never broken one, seen a broken one, or, having spoken with bob & chris (magnum repair centers), have been told by them that they've seen next to none ever broken.

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

I will and have gone with RCI-2970
RCI is superior

ofcourse was yrs ago i last used what i now ofcourse know are lesser radios

do yourself a favor
find a used Icom HF radio (or a kenwood or yaesu)

 

[9C1Driver]

The RCI 2950 is superior to the Magnum 257, the new blue mosfet 257's are a much improved radio from the first generation though. As far as anything Magnum being inferior to an RCI I would say not true. The Magnum S9 is one of the better all around radio's.