[K3] K3 fan noise, part XXLIV

[Roy Morris-6]

I have two K3s, one with the Elina fan and other with the UTEC fan.  I have checked both radios at all fan levels.  They are the same to me at all levels.  The fans in both radios are very quiet.   I see no performance difference in the fans.  Roy Morris  W4WFB
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[Guy, K2AV]

I have to agree with the idea that this is about ears.

At one time in my youth I could hear the 15k whine from a TV
horizontal flyback transformer if a TV was on in the room.  The sound
was part of the TV and I had to listen to it to watch TV. It was
clear, and loud.  I could clearly hear harmonics probably higher in
frequency than that listening to someone play a violin live, as I
could listening to a hard strike on a high piano note.

But alas, no more, at my age, and I am happy to have as much hearing
as I do because my family has a pattern of deafness in old age.  I
only hear my K3 fans when blowing at the highest setting.

But having said that, I must add that EVERY other fan in the house in
anything is louder than the K3.  The K3's fans are the quietest fans I
own.

If I still had my youthful easy hearing of the TV sweep frequency, I
am sure that I would have heard the 12 kHz artifacts from the K3 that
were then an object of complaint, particularly in the sensitive
music-oriented wide response stereo phones some use.  The artifacts
were clearly visible on audio spectrum analysis.  I didn't/couldn't
hear them.  The typical but not universal loss of wide spectrum
hearing with age likely accounts for the wide variation in reporting
both the 12k artifacts and fan noise.

If someone can actually find a fan of the requisite CFM that IS
quieter and fits the mounting, it is an easy mod.  However I think you
are going to have a hard time of it.  I spent some time and real money
trying to add one more quiet fan to my computer case.  Don't believe
the ads.  Everyone SAYS their fans are quiet. This includes the
company that made the fairly quiet fans that came in the case.  They
all lie.  None of the manufacturers appear to be doing quality
control.  I gave up.  I would pay some good money to get a 120 mm
computer case fan as quiet as my K3 fans.

I remember being down in Mammoth cave when they turned out the lights
to experience. I remember being able to hear everyone breathing in the
darkness.  I also remember getting outdoors afterwards and thinking
how loud the wind in the trees was.

Those who complain about the K3 fans must indeed be surrounded by a
lot of audio that bothers them.  I can understand wanting to get
Mammoth Cave quiet with things running.  Good luck.

Those of you with such tender ears (no slight intended), let me know
if you ever find a reliable source of 120mm computer case fans that
makes you even mildly happy. Or, for that matter, a through the wall
air conditioning unit that does not force you to turn up the volume on
anything in the room when it comes on.  They all advertise their units
as "quiet".  They all lie.

As to my K3, number one, I want it COOLED as it transmits.  And the
roaring blower I have on my CCS 3-1000Z amp is sized to put a constant
and high static pressure on the chimney, enough so that the air blown
out the top is never HOT, even brick on key.  It was a conscious
decision to go with airflow over aesthetics:   First, 3-1000Z
meltdowns interfere with a contest.  Second, an expensive pair of Bose
noise canceling phones is way cheaper than a 3-1000Z.

Facts in context, and priorities.

73, Guy
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