The Yaesu FT-101 and FT-102 are two very popular transceivers with the CB radio crowd because of their high quality and multiple functions. But multiple people have made reference to their AM audio loudness and quality.
Before anyone starts yelling at me I'll point out that NO these are not CB radios. These are ham radio transceivers and have to be modified to be used on 11 meters.
The FT-101B and some early 101E`s had 11 meters right on the band switch, and with out a doubt were awesome on AM. The single biggest mistake made with these radios`s was to try to run the dead key (carrier control) too high. While these radio could easily exceed 100 watts on SSB, for best results on AM they need to be run at 20/25 watt carrier level.
At that setting, you will find that you do not need to exceed about 50% on the Mic gain...hard to beat plate modulated audio
A lot of the early cb radios used high level am were Mic audio was feed to the Audio IC, then a transformer that added the audio voltage directly to the DC supply voltage going to the driver and final. The result of this is collecter voltage that varies at an audio rate. A good example is the TRC 433.
Soon after they stopped using transformers, and used the audio Ic to drive a couple of transistor`s in a current amp circuit( cobra/uniden) or a "darlington IC" (cybernet) set up.
Both ways can produce very robust audio levels in AM mode, even more so when compared to low level Am that is used in most current ham rigs, or even some radios like the president jackson or the old CPI radios, like the CP 2000.
Not that Low level don`t work, it is just much easier to get more "punch" modulating the collecter voltage.
Now having said all of this, it is still easy to go overboard, and wind up with raspy/overmodulated audio with any of the methods used to modulate a carrier if AMC limiters are ripped out and the radio adjusted wrong.
A lot of the guys you hear running the old 101`s or a old Johnson on AM, have nice, smooth, bold audio. And it is because they take pride in a good sounding radio.
73
Jeff