The Malahit DSP2 is a portable, all-mode software-defined receiver covering roughly 10 kHz to 2 GHz. It’s a Russian-designed unit (by Georgy Yatsuk RX9CIM et al.) built in a sturdy aluminium case. Weighing ~500g with a 5000 mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery, it’s truly self-contained: a 3.5″ color IPS touchscreen, dual speakers, antenna, and battery are all inside. The DSP2 supports every common mode (AM, SSB, CW, FM (narrow & wide), DSB, etc.). A reviewer notes it offers a “full SDR spectrum and waterfall display…portability [and] great build quality,” even including built‑in decoders for CW, RTTY and FT8qsl.net. In other words, it behaves like a mini portable SDR radio in your hand, capable of everything from AM broadcast and shortwave listening to ham bands, VHF/UHF scanning, and digital modes.

Key Specifications and Features

The DSP2’s specs are impressive for its size. It tunes 10 kHz–380 MHz and 404 MHz–2 GHz, with just a small gap around 380–404 MHz (to protect certain cellular bands). The onboard multi-mode MSi001 tuner and STM32H743 480 MHz CPU drive an 82 dB dynamic range front-end, with sensitivity around 0.3 μV up to 1 GHz. You get bandwidth (panorama) of up to 192 kHz (selectable to 96 or 48 kHz), so a wide spectrum section is visible at once. On the software side, Malahit includes all the usual SDR tools: adjustable IF filter width, multiple noise reduction options, noise blanker, notch filter, automatic gain control, and even FM stereo with RDS text display. In fact, the latest firmware (V2.4 and beyond) added digital modes like RTTY and FT8qsl.net, greatly expanding the receiver’s utility for modern amateurs.

Connectivity is generous: there are two antenna ports – a 50 Ω SMA input for coax-fed antennas and a separate high-Z (Hi-Z) port for simple long-wire or tie-rod antennas. The DSP2 also provides bias-tee power on the 50 Ω port for active antennas. On the electronics side, you’ll find a headphone jack, a Type‑C USB port (for charging and data)radioddity.com【42†】, volume and tuning knobs, and two SMA jacks labeled “Hi-Z” and “50Ω.” When plugged into a PC via USB, the DSP2 enumerates as three devices: Malahit RX (a microphone‑like audio input), Malahit IQ (a 192 kHz I/Q data stream for SDR software), and Malahit CAT (a virtual COM port using the Kenwood TS-480 command set). In practice this means you can connect with HDSDR, SDR# or SDR++ (using the Malahit IQ stream) and even control the radio’s frequency and mode from your PC via OmniRig or Ham Radio Deluxe. These features combine to make the DSP2 both a standalone unit and a full-fledged SDR front-end for your computer.

Display, Spectrum and Controls

The front panel centers on a 3.5″ color touch LCD (480×320). The display is bright and crisp; on-screen text can be small, but readable (many users recommend downloading the PDF manual for clarity). The main interface always shows an S-meter and frequency readout at top, and a panadapter/spectrum display with the tuned frequency marker in the center. Below that is a scrolling waterfall showing signal activity over time. This modern “pan+waterfall” view replaces the traditional analog dial, letting you see adjacent stations and relative signal strengths at a glance. The example below shows a wide FM capture with a FM broadcast station tuned (90.900 MHz) – the green spectrum and waterfall traces clearly reveal signal peaks and bandwidth:

Figure: The DSP2’s panorama and waterfall display. Here WFM is used (90.900 MHz). The red line marks the tuned frequency; colored bars indicate audio levels and filtersradioddity.com.

Below the spectrum, six virtual buttons (“RADIO”, “AUDIO”, “VISUAL”, etc.) open menus for mode, filter, noise and display settings. As a touchscreen, you can often enter a frequency directly by tapping, or scroll the panadater with a finger. The radio also has two heavy-duty mechanical knobs (IP6X-rated for dust resistance) – one for volume/AGC/attenuation and one for tuning. Many controls have dual functions: for example, a short press on the tuning knob toggles tuning step size, while press-and-hold locks the current frequency (you hear a beep). Holding the volume knob for a few seconds even disables the touchscreen if you need to avoid accidental touches. In short, the interface combines the best of both worlds: quick touchscreen access to complex menus, plus tactile knobs for fine adjustment and familiar feedback.

FM “Retro Scale” Mode

One standout feature is the FM Retro Scale, a vintage-style FM dial display. When you select WFM (wide FM) mode on the DSP2 and double-tap the waterfall area, the screen flips to a classic-looking FM bandscale from 75–109 MHz (region settings allow either European or Japanese band layout). In this view, you see radio station names or frequencies along the curved scale, much like an old analog tuner. You can then tune between stations with the knob – it scrolls the dial like an old radio. A single tap returns you to the modern panadapter view.

The “retro” menu lets you add/edit station presets, rename scales, auto-scan FM band, and even choose preset city lists. For example, “Auto Searching” will fill the dial with whatever stations it finds in order. This mode is a fun throwback for FM enthusiasts and makes band-surfing feel nostalgic. In practice, many users enjoy using the Retro scale when driving or relaxing, as it emulates the feel of antique radios.

Computer Connectivity and Software Integration

Connecting the DSP2 to a PC is straightforward. The manual notes that modern Windows can interface without extra drivers. Use a data-capable USB-C (or micro-USB on older units) cable. Once connected and powered on, Windows will show the three Malahit devices. Enabling “Malahit RX” and “Malahit IQ” as audio inputs in your sound control panel is recommended.

With software like HDSDR or SDR# you select Malahit IQ as the input; the SDR program will then display the same spectrum and waterfall as the radio. You can even click on the SDR’s panadapter – if you have CAT sync enabled (the Malahit uses the Kenwood TS-480 command set), your clicks/frequency changes on-screen will tune the hardware radio. Thus the DSP2 can serve as a high-quality 192 kHz SDR front-end, with full self-contained knobs and speakers if needed. Amateur operators have successfully used this link to decode digital modes: for example, feeding the DSP2’s IQ stream into WSJT‑X for FT8, or using computer decoders for RTTY/FT8 via the DSP2 firmware’s built-in supportar15.comqsl.net. In short, the Malahit bridges standalone portability and PC SDR flexibility seamlessly.

Antennas and Reception Tips

Because the DSP2 is often used in the field, antenna choice is crucial. The unit comes with a telescopic “tie-rod” whip for general use (good from FM down to mid-shortwave, especially where there isn’t too much local noise). For lower bands (longwave, MW, SW below 30 MHz), the built-in whip is not optimal; the radio has a special SW Antenna (Hi-Z) setting in the RADIO menu to improve LW/MW/SW reception. In Hi-Z mode the DSP2 feeds a longer wire or the whip’s longer settings with an internal high-impedance circuit, and the front-panel “ANT” light turns green. For even better shortwave performance, many users run a long wire or a small loop antenna outdoors. (For example, you can attach a random long wire to the SMA and string it outside; brands like XHDATA offer compact pull-wire reels.) Use of an external preamp is possible via the bias-tee port, but be aware it increases noise if not needed.

Above ~80 MHz, tiny whip antennas work well. The DSP2’s female SMA fits standard “rubber duck” whips from handheld scanners (Nagoya NA-701/771, Diamond SRH, etc.). These give good FM, VHF and UHF reception. Outdoors, directional loops are an option to fight urban EMI, as loops pick up magnetic components and reject many man-made noises. In all cases, keep the antenna (and tie-rod) away from noise sources: power supplies, LED lights, chargers, refrigerators, etc., can overload the sensitive SDR front-end. If you must operate near noise, try switching off Hi-Z or moving the antenna further from the radio.

Usage Tips and Practical Scenarios

In the field, the DSP2 shines for casual DXing and scanning. Its 5000 mAh battery and efficient electronics mean several hours of listening on a charge. Type-C chargingradioddity.com is convenient too; [42] shows the unit charging from a USB wall port. Use the front speakers for hands-free listening around camp or home; for quiet headphone use, plug in any 3.5 mm earphones. The stereo FM/RDS support means broadcast FM comes in with good fidelity and even station text on-screen. For weak SSB/CW signals, take advantage of the DSP2’s dual notches, noise blanker and multiple noise reduction modes – some operators praise its “best noise reduction I have ever heard on a portable”radioddity.com.

Quick operation tips: tuning steps (1 Hz–25 kHz) are set via the MODE menu, but a short click on the tuning knob toggles to “fine” mode. Long-click the frequency knob to lock out tuning (handy if you set a frequency and don’t want it to drift). The touchscreen menus can be deep – for example, pressing the volume knob cycles through A>TV (attenuator), main volume, and filter width settings, as noted by reviewersradioddity.com – so spend time learning the layout. The manual (and [10†L1118-L1126]) is worth reading; it even suggests keeping the PDF on your computer for easy reference.

As for use-cases, think of the DSP2 as a one-stop travel receiver: shortwave broadcast listening, amateur band monitoring (HF to V/UHF), FM scanning, airband/utility reception, and even handheld satellite or digital mode reception via the IQ port. Its high-frequency limit (2 GHz) and noise floor let you pick up low-power signals like NOAA weather (137 MHz), aircraft ACARS (131 MHz), or L-band satellitesqsl.net if you add the right antenna. The combination of onboard decoding and computer connection means you could even set it up for on-the-go digital comms (e.g. FT8 on HF via the built-in DSP, or connect to WSJT‑X on your laptop via USB). In daily use, it excels at quick frequency changes (touchscreen or dial) and scanning: the built‑in scanner can step through memory channels or bands easily.

Conclusion

The Malahit DSP2 is a unique blend of retro and modern SDR technology. It’s built like a tank with a premium feel, yet has the brains and flexibility of a full software-defined rigradioddity.comqsl.net. From its versatile mode support (AM/SSB/CW/NFM/WFM/Digital) to its waterfall and high-resolution displayradioddity.com, it gives radio enthusiasts a lot to love. Whether you’re at home in your shack or out in the field, it offers features that usually require multiple devices. Antenna-wise, the DSP2 adapts to anything from simple whips to complex loops. By blending an intuitive touchscreen UI with powerful DSP processing, the Malahit DSP2 truly brings portable wideband listening to a new level for hams and SWLs alike