Hi Paul,
It is perhaps worth remembering that the RA98 and RA121 both have 6kHz audio bandwidths intended for the reception of 4 channel ISB. The RA63 and RA218 are more suited to SSB working, having audio bandwidths of 3 kHz.
Thus the RA98 and RA121 will probably sound better, providing that there is no interfering signal in the adjacent channel, while the RA63 and RA218 will do better in a crowded band given the more tightly controlled audio passband.
hope this helps
Peter G8BBZ