Equipment / Base transceiver · Icom
discontinued

Icom IC-765

$$$$·

160m – 10m
Bands
100 W
Output
1989
Introduced
FrequencyTX: 160–10 m (incl WARC), RX: 0.1–30 MHz general coverage
Bands160m, 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m
TX power100 W (10-100W SSB/CW/RTTY. 10-40W AM.)
ModesUSB, LSB, CW, RTTY, AM, FM
Weight17.5 kg (38.6 lb) - ~17.5 kg estimated (similar to IC-761, built-in PSU+ATU). Full-size desktop.
ConnectorSO-239 (TX/RX through ATU) + RCA (RX only)
Year1989
Connectors
antenna tx rxSO-239 (through built-in ATU)
antenna rxRCA (RX-only separate input)
mic8-pin round (HM-36/SM-10 compatible)
keykey/paddle jack
accaccessory connector
ext spkrexternal speaker
ac in120 VAC mains (built-in PSU)
power req120 VAC mains via built-in power supply.
Icom's flagship for a decade, widely regarded as one of the best receivers ever made quad-conversion receiver: 4 IF stages (69 MHz, 9 MHz, 455 kHz, 9 MHz) general coverage receiver: 100 kHz - 30 MHz continuous built-in automatic antenna tuner built-in AC power supply (120 VAC, self-contained station) 500 Hz CW filters FACTORY INSTALLED (same approach as IC-761) optional 250 Hz CW filters: FL-101 + FL-53A optional FL-102 6 kHz AM filter 99 memories (IC-761 had 32, tripled!) passband tuning (PBT) IF notch filter all-mode squelch adjustable AGC noise blanker built-in electronic keyer (iambic paddle) full and semi CW break-in (QSK) RF speech compressor dual digital VFOs + RIT + XIT keypad frequency entry multi-function analog meter two-color fluorescent digital display 20 dB attenuator + preamplifier separate RCA RX-only antenna input top panel access door for adjustments widely praised as one of the best receivers ever made; still holds its own against radios costing far more VINTAGE. DISCONTINUED. Replaced by IC-775.
Strengths

An excellent quad-conversion receiver (per reviewers, among the best made), with general coverage 100 kHz-30 MHz, a built-in PSU and ATU, 99 memories, band stacking, full QSK, and pre-installed CW filters. Its receiver competes with modern rigs costing far more, and it was Icom's flagship for a decade.

Weaknesses

Vintage (1989). ~17.5 kg (heavy). No DSP. No 6m. No digital modes. No USB. No spectrum scope. A large footprint. 120V AC (no 240V without a transformer). Replaced by the IC-775/IC-775DSP.

Verdict

A timeless flagship receiver. The IC-765 was Icom's flagship for nearly a decade because its quad-conversion receiver was, and in many ways still is, outstanding. One reviewer called it among the best receivers ever made, and users say it holds its own against radios costing far more. At $500-900 used with PSU, ATU, and CW filters built in, it is strong vintage HF value for operators who prioritize receiver performance.

The Icom IC-765 is a full-featured HF transceiver built for the dedicated DX enthusiast, and the successor to the IC-761 in Icom's all-in-one station line. It operates from 160 through 10 meters with a high-performance 100 kHz to 30 MHz general-coverage receiver, delivers 100 watts on SSB, CW, and RTTY (40 watts on AM), and like its predecessor includes both a built-in antenna tuner and a built-in power supply, so the whole station lives in one box.

The IC-765 earned a strong reputation for receiver quality and operating comfort, with the kind of robust, heavy construction that marked top-tier station radios of the early 1990s. It sat at the top of Icom's HF lineup until the IC-775 arrived, and it remains a respected choice for operators who want a capable, self-contained vintage station rig.

It is a discontinued classic. See the earlier IC-761 and the 200-watt IC-775DSP.