RadioRanked verdict
Kenwood
Kenwood TS-890S
The TS-890S is built for operators who spend serious time in crowded band conditions, contesting, DXing, or working split pileups where a lesser receiver would simply lose the target signal in the noise. Its weight and permanence mean it belongs on a dedicated desk, not in a car or a field kit, and its 120 memory channels and selectable filtering are aimed squarely at operators who already know why those features matter. Casual operators and anyone prioritizing portability should look toward the FT-891 or IC-7300 instead; this radio earns its keep specifically when band conditions get difficult and receiver performance is the deciding factor.
Decision helper
Is this HF radio right for you?
Yes, if you're…
- ✓Contesters and DXers working crowded, high-pressure band conditions
- ✓Permanent home stations with a dedicated operating desk
- ✓Operators who need maximum memory channel capacity
Skip it, if you're…
- ✕Anyone needing a portable or mobile HF radio
- ✕Casual operators who mostly work quiet, uncrowded bands
Tradeoffs
The good and the bad
What we like
- Strong receiver dynamic range for contest and DX pileup conditions
- 120 memory channels, more headroom than any other radio here
- Robust, heavy-duty construction built for permanent shack installation
- Touchscreen spectrum scope and waterfall for band management
- Built-in ATU for everyday mismatches
What we don't
- By far the heaviest radio in this lineup at 15.8 kg
- Not remotely portable; requires a dedicated permanent desk
- More capability than a casual or occasional operator will use
Proprietary RR score
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Overview
The TS-890S is Kenwood's serious desktop HF transceiver, sitting just below the company's flagship in capability. It runs 100 watts across HF and 6 meters, supports SSB, CW, AM, FM, FSK, and PSK, and holds 120 memory channels, more than any other radio in this lineup. At 15.8 kilograms it is by far the heaviest rig here, and that weight reflects a substantial power supply, extensive shielding, and front-end components chosen for interference rejection over a small footprint.
The color touchscreen display runs a spectrum scope and waterfall, and the built-in automatic antenna tuner handles everyday mismatches. What separates the TS-890S from lighter competitors is a receiver built around strong dynamic range and selectable filtering, the kind of engineering that matters most when you are trying to pull a weak DX station out of a band packed with strong adjacent signals during a contest weekend.
The honest caveat is size and mass. This is not a radio that moves between a desk and a car trunk casually, and at nearly 16 kilograms it demands a dedicated, permanent spot in the shack. It is also more radio than a casual operator working occasional SSB nets needs. If your operating is mostly relaxed conversation on quiet bands, the extra dynamic range headroom here will go largely unused.
Specifications
| Price | $5059.94 |
| Frequency bands | HF, 6m |
| TX Power (High) | 100.00W |
| Receiver Architecture | superhet |
| Built-in Antenna Tuner | Yes |
| Spectrum Waterfall | Yes |
| Memory Channels | 120 |
| RX Range | 0.1300–74.8000 MHz |
| unitCount | 1 |
| formats | WAV |
Key Features
- 100 watts on HF and 6 meters, SSB, CW, AM, FM, FSK, and PSK
- 120 memory channels, the most in this lineup
- Color touchscreen with spectrum scope and waterfall display
- Built-in automatic antenna tuner
- Receiver built for strong dynamic range and interference rejection
- 15.8 kg build with a substantial internal power supply and shielding
