Kenwood TS-590SG – The Legend Levels Up
You loved the TS-590S. It was solid, smart, and sharper than a well-tuned CW op at 3 a.m. But Kenwood doesn’t rest on its laurels—they caffeinate their engineers and go full mad scientist. The result? The TS-590SG, a glorious upgrade of their HF masterpiece. It’s not just a facelift, it’s a feature-packed powerhouse that’s been hitting the DSP gym.
Receiver So Sharp It Can Hear Your Thoughts (Probably)
The TS-590SG takes roofing filter performance and IF-stage DSP and cranks them up to 11. Enjoy a superior adjacent dynamic range that practically ignores nearby QRM like a cat ignores your calls. Your ears (and your logbook) will thank you.
DSP-Enhanced AGC: Now With Actual Intelligence
AGC controlled straight from the digital IF stage means smoother signal handling, faster response, and none of that annoying AGC lag that ruins the mood. It’s like giving your rig the reflexes of a ninja.
Morse Decoder & Scroll Display: Read It Like a Book
CW lovers rejoice—now your Morse code gets decoded and displayed in real time, making copying a breeze even if your ear isn’t quite what it used to be. (Or you’re just pretending to listen during dinner with the in-laws.)
Custom Buttons and Knobs: Because You Deserve Options
Want to configure MULTI/CH knobs, RIT/XIT/CL keys, and even pick which PTT port does what? You can. The TS-590SG is the transceiver equivalent of “have it your way.” It practically begs to be customized.
New Split Function – Borrowed From the TS-990S and Better Than Ever
Running split? Do it faster and smarter with TS-990S-style quick split configuration. DX chasing just got slicker than ever.
Display Options as Moody as You Are
Tired of the same backlight every day? The large LED display lets you dial in your perfect color tone—10 shades between amber and green. Match your shack. Match your vibe. Match your socks. We won’t judge.
Audio That’s Not Just Loud, It’s Gorgeous
With a customizable equalizer, independent speech processor settings, and expanded TX monitor and CW sidetone ranges, the TS-590SG ensures your audio goes out clean, crisp, and confidently cool.
Bonus Nerdy Goodness
- DRV connector now doubles as an antenna output (because why not?)
- SSB reception bandwidth control now includes WIDTH/SHIFT options
- 20-step tuning granularity for things like sidetone and TX monitor
- Toggle or press for TX tuning? Have both!
The Takeaway: It’s the TS-590S, But Supercharged
The Kenwood TS-590SG isn’t just a nice radio. It’s a DX-hungry, QRM-slaying, CW-decoding, split-hopping beast that looks great while doing it.
TS-590SG: For when you want your HF rig to act like it owns the band.
