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K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

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Mike Sanders

Re: K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

I have been reading this thread backwards. My K3 inherited
the West Mountain COMspkr pair as they were here and used
with a West Mountain RigBlaster Duo on 2 Icom Rigs. I have
something on top of the internal speaker so need something
external. When I put the K3 in line they were there. No problems
at all.
I have a MicroKeyer II that I am going to try out with the K3 and
see what it might do for me so will have to find another speaker
source. It will probably be another COMspkr as I have some knowledge
of them and used them for several years now with no issues.
Then there will be the YCCC 4X interface that is waiting to be
built and tested.
But the COMspkr works for me. To each his own I guess. 73

Mike Sanders
KOAZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Fred Smith
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 16:01 PM
To: 'drewko'; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

IMHO the best bang for the buck are the West Mountain Radio COMspkr for $39
they have no equal. I have speakers in the shack that cost up to $400 ea.
and these sound the best on my K3's and Never any RF on them with legal
limit ++.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of drewko
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 3:10 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

I am using a pair of MFJ-281 Cleartone speakers with my K3.

Some say they are fantastic; some say they are junk... But they work well
enough for me for CW and SWL. They peak around 600-700 Hz. I would prefer a
little lower, 400-500 Hz, but they work ok in that range. And no buzzing
anywhere that I have heard. They also look like they were made to match the
K3.

As for RF, I have had no issues with them. The lead-in of my end fed wire
antenna is inches away from them (though I do only operate 10 watts output).

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:18:45 +0000, Iain G4SGX. wrote:

>Hello,
>Well after 18 months the buzzing of the K3 internal speaker has reached
>annoying proportions.
>For a while it faded after switching on for 10 mins but now its a
>constant resonance at 580 Hz. Great for CW! (not) Because of the above
>I am sure its because the coil has shifted in the speaker slightly
>rather than any sympathetic resonances from the case.
>
>I'm not complaining, I understand if I contacted Elecraft I am likely
>to get a replacement speaker sent out, (Its a well documented 'extra
>feature') but really haven't got round to it, nor am i likely too, well
>down the list of priorities!
>Will probably order it along with a set of CW filters when I need them.
>
>I'm REALLY after recommendations for an external shack speaker, or is
>any good HiFi speaker good enough? I would assume some RF shielding and
>good high end sensitivity was more of an issue.
>
>Yours.
>Iain G4SGX.
>Happy K3 Owner :)
>______________________________________________________________

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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

In reply to this post by Tim Tucker

> You originally replied that the COMspkr wouldn't work any better than
> the internal speaker,

I have been referring to the internal *AMPLIFIER* - if I typed speaker
it was in error.

> Or, one can simply choose to pay an extra $20-$30 and bypass all of
> the fooling around by trying to find the right combination and just
> buy something that others have proven that works.

Yup, that means a pair of MFJ or Jetstream communications speakers at
$20-$30 for the pair vs. an overpriced $10 amplified computer speakers
for $40.

> My own experience is that I tried a bunch of external speakers with
> the K3 and the results sucked - in fact they were worse than other
> Icom and Yaesu rigs sitting on the bench at the same time using the
> same speakers.

Sure, if you used low efficiency speakers - like those in the Yaesu
or Icom external speakers - they will sound better with the 5 - 10W
amplifiers in the Icom/Yaesu rigs.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 11/7/2012 2:50 AM, Tim Tucker wrote:

> Or, one can simply choose to pay an extra $20-$30 and bypass all of the
> fooling around by trying to find the right combination and just buy
> something that others have proven that works. Sacrificing the Line Out for
> external speakers is a pretty lousy solution, IMO.
>
> You originally replied that the COMspkr wouldn't work any better than the
> internal speaker, however I know from personal experience that it does
> exactly that. Take off your engineer hat and put on your consumer hat.
> For some of us, spending an extra couple of bucks to just be done with the
> whole problem (that shouldn't exist in the first place) is worth it. I
> don't need or want to go execute an algorithm to figure out which speaker
> will allow me to hear the rig at an acceptable volume. If you like doing
> that, no one is going to criticize you, however, not all of us feel like
> going through that exercise.
>
> My own experience is that I tried a bunch of external speakers with the K3
> and the results sucked - in fact they were worse than other Icom and Yaesu
> rigs sitting on the bench at the same time using the same speakers. I got
> tired of fooling around with it and decided to purchase the powered COMspkr
> and was satisfied. Are there better solutions? Perhaps. Do I care? No.
> My problem is solved and I spend time enjoying the radio instead of cursing
> at the volume output of the K3.
>
>
>
>> *IF* one feels the need for an external amplifier, bypass the internal
>> amplifier by using the Line Out and high cut filter to drive a better
>> amplifier - something capable of 10W per channel at 0.01% THD instead
>> of 3W per channel at 1% THD like the COMSpkr. Alternatively, set up
>> the external amplifier with a 16 - 32 Ohm input impedance, set the K3
>> to low AF gain to keep the LM4950 in the cleanest part of its design
>> range and use the external amplifier to provide the power gain.
>>
>> Just like RF power amplifiers, audio amplifiers are all about selecting
>> the right devices, using proper design and bypassing, then matching to
>> the right load.
>>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 10:31 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> *IF* one feels the need for an external amplifier, bypass the internal
>> amplifier by using the Line Out and high cut filter to drive a better
>> amplifier - something capable of 10W per channel at 0.01% THD instead
>> of 3W per channel at 1% THD like the COMSpkr. Alternatively, set up
>> the external amplifier with a 16 - 32 Ohm input impedance, set the K3
>> to low AF gain to keep the LM4950 in the cleanest part of its design
>> range and use the external amplifier to provide the power gain.
>>
>> Just like RF power amplifiers, audio amplifiers are all about selecting
>> the right devices, using proper design and bypassing, then matching to
>> the right load. An audio amplifier needs to be able to source enough
>> current to drive the speaker without saturation or clipping. The audio
>> chip used in COMspkr and other 3W per channel computer speakers is
>> simply no better or cleaner than the LM4950 used in the K3 - they all
>> show high THD when operated at maximum output level because they just
>> can not source the current without driving the outputs into saturation.
>> That is nothing more or less than simple physics.
>>
>
>
>

Edward R Cole

Re: K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

In reply to this post by Iain G4SGX

This thread has gotten long so I risk getting chided for replying so late.

I only used the internal K3 spkr for a couple days when the radio was
new. I switched to an old "venerable" National Radio 8-inch speaker
from the 1950's housed in a metal enclosure. I was made for
communication receivers and has sounded great with most of my ham
radios (now dedicated to the K3). No amplifier in it.

I bought a pair of the COMspkr's for my wife's computer as result of
my RFI getting into it when I ran HF (especially 20m). I am looking
for a better solution for my KX3 which is using some old HK computer
speakers. I have never been impressed with their sound (on
computers, with the SDR-IQ, and now with the KX3). The HK always sound murky.

I am thinking to borrow the wife's COMspkr for a test. As I recall
they ran about $45+shipping.

I have had no issues with the K3 audio but the KX3 needs something better.

For communications I do not need super-low THD and 20-Hz to 100-THz
freq response. For my hearing 300-1500 Hz is good. On my home
theater system the low harmonic distortion and wide freq range is
nice (even with poor hearing it turns out). I see this a little bit
apples and oranges.

73, Ed - KL7UW

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N0AZZ

Re: K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

Ed they are $39 at most places anymore.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Edward R Cole
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 1:51 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

This thread has gotten long so I risk getting chided for replying so late.

I only used the internal K3 spkr for a couple days when the radio was new.
I switched to an old "venerable" National Radio 8-inch speaker from the
1950's housed in a metal enclosure. I was made for communication receivers
and has sounded great with most of my ham radios (now dedicated to the K3).
No amplifier in it.

I bought a pair of the COMspkr's for my wife's computer as result of my RFI
getting into it when I ran HF (especially 20m). I am looking for a better
solution for my KX3 which is using some old HK computer speakers. I have
never been impressed with their sound (on computers, with the SDR-IQ, and
now with the KX3). The HK always sound murky.

I am thinking to borrow the wife's COMspkr for a test. As I recall they ran
about $45+shipping.

I have had no issues with the K3 audio but the KX3 needs something better.

For communications I do not need super-low THD and 20-Hz to 100-THz freq
response. For my hearing 300-1500 Hz is good. On my home theater system
the low harmonic distortion and wide freq range is nice (even with poor
hearing it turns out). I see this a little bit apples and oranges.

73, Ed - KL7UW

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?

Administrator

Folks, let's end this thread. Looks like it has been beaten into submission.

73,
Eric
Elecraft List Moderator
www.elecraft.com
_..._

On Nov 7, 2012, at 12:01 PM, "Fred Smith" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Ed they are $39 at most places anymore.
>
> 73,
> Fred/N0AZZ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Edward R Cole
> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 1:51 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ?
>
> This thread has gotten long so I risk getting chided for replying so late.
>
> I only used the internal K3 spkr for a couple days when the radio was new.
> I switched to an old "venerable" National Radio 8-inch speaker from the
> 1950's housed in a metal enclosure. I was made for communication receivers
> and has sounded great with most of my ham radios (now dedicated to the K3).
> No amplifier in it.
>
> I bought a pair of the COMspkr's for my wife's computer as result of my RFI
> getting into it when I ran HF (especially 20m). I am looking for a better
> solution for my KX3 which is using some old HK computer speakers. I have
> never been impressed with their sound (on computers, with the SDR-IQ, and
> now with the KX3). The HK always sound murky.
>
> I am thinking to borrow the wife's COMspkr for a test. As I recall they ran
> about $45+shipping.
>
> I have had no issues with the K3 audio but the KX3 needs something better.
>
> For communications I do not need super-low THD and 20-Hz to 100-THz freq
> response. For my hearing 300-1500 Hz is good. On my home theater system
> the low harmonic distortion and wide freq range is nice (even with poor
> hearing it turns out). I see this a little bit apples and oranges.
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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