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K2 -- Audio output

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2rGarry

K2 -- Audio output

The speaker audio seems a trifle low on my K2. With headphones it's good but I have to crank the volume control quite high to get decent audio output from the speaker. I suspect that the audio is just as designed. Is that typically the case with the K2? Or should I be looking for a problem? As I said, with the headphones there is no issue whatsoever, I can feed audio to the headset and to the computer input (for psk) with no problem by just using the headphone jack and a splitter.

I'm wondering if I need to build an amplified speaker for monitoring without having to wear the headphones.

Thanks.

Garry -- K2 6849

Gregg R. Lengling

Re: K2 -- Audio output

Disable the AGC and see if the volume goes up quite a bit, if it does
then the AGC voltage set point is not set proper, go thru that part of
the alignment again.

Gregg, W9DHI

2rGarry wrote:

> The speaker audio seems a trifle low on my K2. With headphones it's good but
> I have to crank the volume control quite high to get decent audio output
> from the speaker. I suspect that the audio is just as designed. Is that
> typically the case with the K2? Or should I be looking for a problem? As I
> said, with the headphones there is no issue whatsoever, I can feed audio to
> the headset and to the computer input (for psk) with no problem by just
> using the headphone jack and a splitter.
>
> I'm wondering if I need to build an amplified speaker for monitoring without
> having to wear the headphones.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Garry -- K2 6849
>

--
Gregg Lengling W9DHI
http://forums-ham.radio.ch Administrator

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Ross Primrose N4RP

Re: K2 -- Audio output

In reply to this post by 2rGarry

On 1/11/10 3:18 PM, 2rGarry wrote:
> The speaker audio seems a trifle low on my K2. With headphones it's good but
> I have to crank the volume control quite high to get decent audio output
> from the speaker.
>

I've had some issues with mine where sometimes when I unplug the
external speaker, the jack doesn't make a good contact, plugging in and
removing the external speaker usually fixes the problem...

73, Ross N4RP

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 -- Audio output

In reply to this post by 2rGarry

Garry,

Yes, the K2 audio output is on the 'wimpy' side. The audio of the K2
was designed for low current drain so it could be operated efficiently
on batteries, and as a result there just is not a lot of reserve audio -
it is adequate for most situations, but not for use with the speaker in
a slightly noisy hamshack. Yes, I would suggest an amplified external
speaker. If you don't run into RF pickup problems, computer speakers
will work fine - just plug them into the headphone jack, or build an
adapter to change the mono output of the external speaker jack to a
stereo plug (the computer speakers will work on only one channel if the
stereo plug is used in the external speaker jack because the ring on the
plug will be shorted to the shell).

73,
Don W3FPR

2rGarry wrote:

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2rGarry

Re: K2 -- Audio output

In reply to this post by 2rGarry

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have come to the conclusion that the audio is probably where it should be and that there is nothing amiss within the audio circuitry. I just installed the Ksb2 today and have that to play with. Listening with the ssb filters does make a fair difference in audio sound compared with the cw filters. I have to go through the manual a couple more times and to perhaps repeat the alignment procedure as well before I will get a good grasp on what is required. I currently am getting decent audio reports but not up to what my friends are used to hearing me sound like on my Icom or Yaesu, but I suspect I will never get the radio to that stage. I do have a scope so maybe I can utilize it to best advantage for setting up the audio and the filters.

Just wanted to pass along my thanks for the replies received to my question.

73

Garry

2rGarry wrote

The speaker audio seems a trifle low on my K2. With headphones it's good but I have to crank the volume control quite high to get decent audio output from the speaker. I suspect that the audio is just as designed. Is that typically the case with the K2? Or should I be looking for a problem? As I said, with the headphones there is no issue whatsoever, I can feed audio to the headset and to the computer input (for psk) with no problem by just using the headphone jack and a splitter.

I'm wondering if I need to build an amplified speaker for monitoring without having to wear the headphones.

Thanks.

Garry -- K2 6849

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 -- Audio output

Garry,

To get the best filter alignment (both SSB and CW), use Spectrogram.
Take a look at the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website
www.w3fpr.com as well as the information provided by Tom Hammond on
aligning the K2 filters using Spectrogram at both www.n0ss.net and the
Elecraft Builder's Resource page.

The settings in the manual will provide you with usable filters, but
they are not necessarily optimum. Spectrogram allows you to optimize
the filters for your particular K2 - If you have perfect pitch, then
your ear can likely do as well as Spectrogram, but some of us are not
blessed with that gift.

73,
Don W3FPR

2rGarry wrote:

> Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have come to the conclusion that the
> audio is probably where it should be and that there is nothing amiss within
> the audio circuitry. I just installed the Ksb2 today and have that to play
> with. Listening with the ssb filters does make a fair difference in audio
> sound compared with the cw filters. I have to go through the manual a
> couple more times and to perhaps repeat the alignment procedure as well
> before I will get a good grasp on what is required. I currently am getting
> decent audio reports but not up to what my friends are used to hearing me
> sound like on my Icom or Yaesu, but I suspect I will never get the radio to
> that stage. I do have a scope so maybe I can utilize it to best advantage
> for setting up the audio and the filters.
>
> Just wanted to pass along my thanks for the replies received to my question.
>
> 73
>
> Garry
>
>> that typically the case with the K2? Or should I be looking for a
>> problem? As I said, with the headphones there is no issue whatsoever, I
>> can feed audio to the headset and to the computer input (for psk) with no
>> problem by just using the headphone jack and a splitter.
>>
>> I'm wondering if I need to build an amplified speaker for monitoring
>> without having to wear the headphones.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Garry -- K2 6849
>>
>>
>
>
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