I have a Kenwood TS450 which I only use on Ham bands, never on CB. I have not been on CB since got licensed for Ham in 1976. I agree that Kenwood has good sounding audio, both tx and rx. Kenwood is known for their great sound quality on home entertainment equipment and two-way radio. Several years ago I did own a Yaesu FT840. Stock hand mic was useless, but with a D104, what a difference...made it sound like a Mark V...I was told. Nice rig for the money. Shame they stopped making it. Was a nice rig for the money...no bells and whistles, but easy to operate, receive was good and great sounding transmit audio with a good microphone. I acquired the Kenwood TS450, fell in love with it, and sold the Yaesu to a friend who enjoyed using it and who made lots of good DX contacts and local ragchews with indoor mounted 20m dipole.
Another post asked about difference between a Tempo One and Siltronix 1011. I had both back around 1970. Siltronix was like most Swans, drifted like heck. I am sure the finals were 8950's. The Tempo took 6js6c's as did the FT101's. The gray Tempo One power supply can be modified easily by just changing tap on transformer to supply 800v to plate of tubes and change four 2amp diodes to 2 and a half amp diodes. This will make rig put out 200watts instead of the 125. Safe to do because those tubes are rated at having 990v on plate. Stock they are only getting 600v so with mod they get 800, still under the rated voltage. Tempo did not drift noticeably. Receive was fairly good, as the Yaesu 101's, and with good mic had good transmit audio. Putting on CB, Henry Radio sold them with it in there by just having the right xtal in a 10m spot and some tuning of some coil slugs. Very easy job. Not supposed to use that rig on CB, but many have. My opinion on this is Tempo One much better than Siltronix.
