On the optima mk3, if you can find an Icom HM36 mic that was made in Japan and not China, which will have to be done by looking around and also eBay. eBay is where I got lucky and got mine for like $25 shipped. It was used, but in excellent condition.
Also just turn the AM power down some on the Optima MK3 and see what happens when you do as far as audio quality goes. Might help. Might not. It will read about 60 watts pep on AM. But average power is weak. Not much if any forward swing. That or see if you can track down one of the mods that Yeticomm LTD. spoke of.
He is the dealer and I am sure knows the in's and out's of that radio. Hope you find a happy medium. One radio comes to mind as being a good one on both AM and SSB as well that I left out and maybe no one else posted about either. The Kenwood TS480hx or the sat. The HX model is 200 watts and they do sound pretty good on AM. Again, it's all in how you set the radio up. It has RX and TX EQ, processor, and many other things to make your audio sound good believe it or not. The 200 watt one if I remember from an old thread on another forum where itbwas spoken about. The HX model. 50w DK, and 200 watts pep. That is with RF power turned all the way up though. But just goes to show there are some HF radios that can and do work well on AM. And not real expensive at the moment, even brand new. Again, good luck messing about. The cobra 29 will sound better on AM. But like Yeticomm LTD said, they can make them swing machines. Just have to look for that mod somewhere.
Anyhow, have a good one, and God Bless.
Also just turn the AM power down some on the Optima MK3 and see what happens when you do as far as audio quality goes. Might help. Might not. It will read about 60 watts pep on AM. But average power is weak. Not much if any forward swing. That or see if you can track down one of the mods that Yeticomm LTD. spoke of.
He is the dealer and I am sure knows the in's and out's of that radio. Hope you find a happy medium. One radio comes to mind as being a good one on both AM and SSB as well that I left out and maybe no one else posted about either. The Kenwood TS480hx or the sat. The HX model is 200 watts and they do sound pretty good on AM. Again, it's all in how you set the radio up. It has RX and TX EQ, processor, and many other things to make your audio sound good believe it or not. The 200 watt one if I remember from an old thread on another forum where itbwas spoken about. The HX model. 50w DK, and 200 watts pep. That is with RF power turned all the way up though. But just goes to show there are some HF radios that can and do work well on AM. And not real expensive at the moment, even brand new. Again, good luck messing about. The cobra 29 will sound better on AM. But like Yeticomm LTD said, they can make them swing machines. Just have to look for that mod somewhere.
Anyhow, have a good one, and God Bless.
