so ive been running SSB on 40m mostly and ive had a few guys tell me my audio sounds like im talking through a blanket or something. im using an IC-7300 with the stock mic and i honestly havent touched any of the audio settings since i got it. the TX EQ is all flat, compression is on but i think its at like 4 or 5, and i usually run about 60-70% power. not sure if thats relevant.

i did some reading and people say to roll off the low end below like 300hz and boost a bit in the mids but i dont really know where to start with the parametric EQ on this radio. also someone in my local club said to watch my ALC and not let it slam too hard but i wasnt totally sure what he meant by that. anyone have actual settings they use or a starting point they can share? getting a little frustrated because ive heard other guys on the same radio sound crisp and punchy and mine just sounds like garbage comparatively

the ALC thing your buddy mentioned is real and probably your first issue honestly. if your ALC is peaking and holding, youre basically overdriving the modulator and that smears everything. back your mic gain down until the ALC is just occasionally kissing the top of the meter on voice peaks, not sitting up there. the 7300 is kinda sensitive to this.

for the EQ, yeah rolling off below 300hz helps a lot especially on 40m where theres a lot of low frequency noise floating around. it cleans up your signal and makes you easier to copy. i run a pretty aggressive high pass around 250-300hz, then a small boost somewhere around 2-2.5khz to add some presence. nothing dramatic, like 3-4db. and honestly turn the compression down or off while you dial in the EQ first, otherwise youre chasing your tail because the compressor changes how everything sounds dynamically. set the tone first then add compression back in gently.

also worth checking — are you talking directly into the mic or is it off to the side? i had a similar complaint from a buddy and turned out i was just not positioned right and the mic was picking up too much room. the stock HM-207 on the 7300 isnt bad but it kind of wants you right in front of it. minor thing but made a difference for me once i fixed my mic technique. also if you havent already, do a quick record and playback using the built in function on the radio, it'll kind of show you roughly what youre sending and sometimes thats enough to hear whats off without needing someone else to critique you on air