i have run both the s-9 and the s-3 and the s3-80
and to me and just my thoughts the receive had a very hashy sound to it
Well...maybe I have the 1 out of a 100 but the S9 receive on mine is a very "mellow" sound. Maybe its the tech. Maybe is just that it's one of those radios where everything comes together. I would also agree that radios will vary from radio to radio. I would not make a statement and say all Magums are like mine. Now my 447 I would say might be called "harsh"... with more noise when compared to the S9.
All I know is ... this particular S9 is one sweet TX/TX radio.