Sanwa MT-S review

Overview:
I needed a couple of small Sanwa receivers and found a screaming deal on an MT-S with two RX-482 receivers.  These are the tiny, wireless receivers that normally cost about $100 each.  Banzaihobby (in Japan) was having a sale for an MT-S with two of the receivers for $168.  With the strong US dollar, there are some amazing deals on gear from overseas.  Considering the radio costs $240 with one receiver in the US, it was essentially half off.  So although I didn’t really need another receiver, it was sort of a freebie.
I’m a big fan of Sanwa radios, and this is their newest entry into the market.  The MT-S is basically their new mid-range 4-channel radio, but it has some nice improvements over their old radio, the MT-4.
Retail price:  $240

Features: 9
The MT-S has a host of features, targeting a wide audience.  It has the full complement of normal adjustments (EPA, dual-rate, expo, trim, sub-trim) that you would expect from a modern radio, 20 model memory, and an internal antenna, as well as some more advanced features you usually see on higher-end radios. 
It also has a backlit dot-matrix display, supports telemetry (either from the special Sanwa telemetry receivers, or the RX-462 with external sensors), has adjustable trigger and steering tensions, and a lap timer.
For the bashers and crawlers, it also features a variety of 4WD modes (mixing, 4WS, etc.).  I don’t own a basher or crawler, but the list seems pretty comprehensive and I have no doubt it would fulfill any 4-wheel requirement.  It has switches for a 3rd and 4th channel.
The feature list is almost exactly the same as my MT-4S (a slightly higher spec radio), but I did notice slight disadvantages feature for feature:  for example, the telemetry on my MT-4S has an analog RPM display and voltage to the 100ths (example 7.67v instead of 7.6v).  The link disconnect beeps immediately on my MT-4S, while the MT-S has an inactivity timer.  Little things that don’t matter much, but they show where the MT-S saved a few bucks over the MT-4S.
I tested out the telemetry, using an RX-462 and external temp and battery voltage sensors.  It’s pretty damn nice to be able to see your voltage and temps in real time, and I plan to use this on all of my future RC cars.  Be aware that the RX-462 (at the time of this post) is the only receiver that lets you use any brand ESC.  The rest of the receivers require a special Sanwa ESC (example: Super Vortex) to use telemetry.
Sanwa uses 4 different frequency protocols for their radios (FHSS, FHSS-2, FHSS-3, FHSS-4/T).  The MT-S only supports  FHSS-3 and FHSS-4/T which are the ones used by the higher-end and newer receivers.  If you have lower spec FHSS or FHSS-2 receivers, they will not work!  Some of the higher end Sanwas support all 4 frequencies.

Design: 7
The MT-S design is quite similar to the MT-4/MT-4S and fits most of the 4-series radio cases/foams.  It’s a little uglier – the angles of the antenna are weird, but it is still a modern, fairly expensive looking radio.  It has a nice, big dot-matrix display that is easy to read, uses blue LEDs like the big boys, and the plastics look very similar.  Overall, a nice design that is inline with the other high-end Sanwa radios.  The radio is slightly lighter than the more expensive Sanwa radios, which is nice.
It doesn’t have any dials or thumbwheels, everything is laid out with buttons which I actually like better than the MT-4S.
The MT-S runs on either 4 AA batteries, or it has a connector to use a LiPo or LiFe battery.  I use a Protek 1600mah LiFe battery, and there is plenty of room to spare.

Controls: 8
The MT-S wheel and trigger feel exactly the same as the MT-4/MT-4S.  The ergonomics are identical.  Honestly, besides the weight, this radio is indistinguishable from the 4S when I’m holding it in my hand and driving.  The only difference is the higher end radios have an adjustable grip with a thick and thin handle.  This one is stuck with the thin handle which could be a bit of an inconvenience if you have large hands.  For me it’s perfect though.  It doesn’t have that rubbery, grippy handle like the big boys – it’s smooth plastic, but this is a pretty minor difference.
The trigger and steering wheel are very smooth and precise.  The adjustable tension is nice and allows you to get just the right amount of resistance.  It has a non-linear spring (more you turn the wheel, the stiffer it feels), which is typical of Sanwa.  My MT-4S did develop slop over time, so there is a good chance the MT-S will also, if you’re like me and ham-fisted with the controls.
Performance seemed just as fast as my MT-4S.  I couldn’t tell a difference, but it does seem faster than the lower spec MX-V.  For anyone but world-class racers, I think the speed and performance and controls will be more than sufficient.  This radio isn’t going to hold you back.

Price: 3
At $240, this is not a cheap radio, but is about par for a mid-range radio.  If you can find a deal from banzaihobby or elsewhere, at $168 with two receivers this is an amazing transmitter for the price and would be a solid 10 rating.
Be aware that while the radio is not that expensive, the receivers are very costly.  At the time of this post, the cheapest FHSS-3 or FHSS-4 receiver is $100!  I’m taking that into consideration and have to give it a below average score as a result.  The radio itself is not overly expensive, but the price of the high-end receivers really hurts it.

Conclusion: 8
The Sanwa MT-S has all of the features and performance most people are ever going to need.  It’s $60 less than the MT-4S and I think will meet the needs of 99% of the people out there.  You can’t get as crazy with the throttle curves, there’s no programmable “slam” button on the back, and there are little nuances here and there that separate the very highest radios from this one.  But with telemetry and very good performance latency, this is a pretty damn good radio for most everyone.  It does everything you could want.
If you are able to get this radio from Japan or elsewhere for a low price, especially with multiple receivers, it’s a no-brainer.  You won’t be disappointed.
My main hesitation with regards to purchasing one is that it does not support the older FHSS/FHSS-2 frequencies.  The newer receivers are very expensive.  If you have basic Sanwa receivers you’d like it to work with, or if you are price-sensitive and need a lot of receivers, spending a little more on the MT-4S would actually save you money in the long run by letting you buy the cheaper receivers.
Overall, still highly recommended.  It’s a mid-level radio that has most of the features of the high-end radios.

Helpful tip:
My MT-S from Japan came setup in the Japanese language.  To change it:

• turn on the radio
• press ENTER to get into the menu system
• select the last option
• select LCD
• you should see a choice for language, change it to ENG