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K3 audio quality

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n4cc

Re: K3 audio quality

When I first got my K3, I was used to a FT1000D and had the SP5 speaker to
go with it. A friend who also has a FT1000D told me he thought the K3
sounded like "$#@%" compared to the FT1000D...so I hooked the K3 up to the
second input on the SP5 and switched back and forth between the FT1000D and
the K3, making equalizer adjustments to the K3 as I did so. Finally I felt
I had the K3 sounding like a FT-1000D. My friend came over and I made him
turn around so he could not see which radio he was listening to...At that
point when I switched from one radio to the other, he could not tell which
was which. Of course he grumbled that you shouldn't have to make changes to
a new radio to get it to sound good...but I just laughed... The beauty of
the K3 is having the ability to do what you want, and adjusting the sound to
personal taste is only one feature! 73, Greg-N4CC

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Rich-4

Re: K3 audio quality

Would you be kind enough to post your EQ values?

Rich

K3RWN

On 9/16/2016 15:18 PM, Greg wrote:

> When I first got my K3, I was used to a FT1000D and had the SP5 speaker to
> go with it. A friend who also has a FT1000D told me he thought the K3
> sounded like "$#@%" compared to the FT1000D...so I hooked the K3 up to the
> second input on the SP5 and switched back and forth between the FT1000D and
> the K3, making equalizer adjustments to the K3 as I did so. Finally I felt
> I had the K3 sounding like a FT-1000D. My friend came over and I made him
> turn around so he could not see which radio he was listening to...At that
> point when I switched from one radio to the other, he could not tell which
> was which. Of course he grumbled that you shouldn't have to make changes to
> a new radio to get it to sound good...but I just laughed... The beauty of
> the K3 is having the ability to do what you want, and adjusting the sound to
> personal taste is only one feature! 73, Greg-N4CC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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markmusick

Re: K3 audio quality

Remember RX EQ settings are by mode. One for CW and one for SSB.
Also, has already been mentioned, the settings that suit your taste for
audio quality may not suit anyone else.

Mark, WB9CIF

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Rich
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 9:15 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 audio quality

Would you be kind enough to post your EQ values?

Rich

K3RWN

On 9/16/2016 15:18 PM, Greg wrote:

> When I first got my K3, I was used to a FT1000D and had the SP5
> speaker to go with it. A friend who also has a FT1000D told me he
> thought the K3 sounded like "$#@%" compared to the FT1000D...so I
> hooked the K3 up to the second input on the SP5 and switched back and
> forth between the FT1000D and the K3, making equalizer adjustments to
> the K3 as I did so. Finally I felt I had the K3 sounding like a
> FT-1000D. My friend came over and I made him turn around so he could
> not see which radio he was listening to...At that point when I
> switched from one radio to the other, he could not tell which was
> which. Of course he grumbled that you shouldn't have to make changes
> to a new radio to get it to sound good...but I just laughed... The
> beauty of the K3 is having the ability to do what you want, and
> adjusting the sound to personal taste is only one feature! 73,
> Greg-N4CC
>
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> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 audio quality

In reply to this post by Vic Rosenthal

On Fri,9/16/2016 7:20 AM, Vic Rosenthal wrote:
> High frequencies propagate in a straight line from a speaker, so a speaker facing upward loses 'presence'. Also the K3 speaker is a small speaker in a small box. An external speaker, facing the operator, will help a great deal.

This is exactly right.

Someone else wrote:
> The reason behind is the artifacts from K3 DSP.

False. ALL audio goes through DSP. If it sounds good on headphones or an
external speaker, bad sound is NOT the result of DSP -- unless it's been
badly adjusted, like pushing up the low end or pushing up highs. But
that's a USER problem, not a problem with the radio.

It's all very simple physics. Look at the size of the loudspeaker. Its
low frequency output is limited by its size as a fraction of a
wavelength. The K3 and K3S are designed as compact, light weight radios.
The speaker used is quite good for its size. If you want big bass, you
need a big loudspeaker (or at least one a lot bigger than the little guy
in the K3 and K3S). BUT -- ham radio is NOT about high fidelity, it's
about COMMUNICATIONS quality sound. Nearly a century ago, Bell Labs
learned through a lot of research that all it takes for communications
is smooth (flat) response between about 500 Hz and 3 kHz, and the
telephone system was designed around that bandwidth.

Most hams I know use headphones for serious operation, and use the
speaker only for monitoring while doing something else in the shack, or
for tuning in digital modes like RTTY, or listening for meteor pings
with WSJT modes. If you want better sound through a speaker, buy a
decent front-facing speaker and plug it into the rear panel jack.

73, Jim K9YC

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Augie "Gus" Hansen

Re: K3 audio quality

Hi Jim,

> ...
> It's all very simple physics. Look at the size of the loudspeaker. Its
> low frequency output is limited by its size as a fraction of a
> wavelength. The K3 and K3S are designed as compact, light weight
> radios. The speaker used is quite good for its size. If you want big
> bass, you need a big loudspeaker (or at least one a lot bigger than
> the little guy in the K3 and K3S). BUT -- ham radio is NOT about high
> fidelity, it's about COMMUNICATIONS quality sound.

Having the sub receiver doubles my listening pleasure. I use a pair of
old RS Minimus-7 speakers with my original K3, and am using a pair of
Jensen Powered Speakers (JPS 45) with my K3S. Getting excellent sound
from both systems.

> Nearly a century ago, Bell Labs learned through a lot of research that
> all it takes for communications is smooth (flat) response between
> about 500 Hz and 3 kHz, and the telephone system was designed around
> that bandwidth.

As a former Bell head (BTL in Denver) working on PBX systems in the
1970s I was exposed to the training for many telephone products. The
plain old telephone service, POTS, was designed for a 3000 Hz bandwidth
(300-3300).

In the 1960s while earning my EE degree I worked in the broadcast
business. Our main studio to transmitter link was an equalized line, but
the backup circuit was a POTS line. Fortunately we didn't need to press
it into service often, but on those occasions it sure sounded crappy by
comparison to the usual AM 6 kHz or so eq'd circuit. And much more so
when we added an FM station to the mix.

73,
Gus Hansen
KB0YH

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kstover

Re: K3 audio quality

In reply to this post by n4cc

I rest my case.

I think if you blindfold someone and tell them their listening to a
K3(s) they'd come back with the same "it sounds like %$@!" answer even
if it was another manu's rig they were listening to. It's a self
sustaining urban legend now.

On 9/16/2016 2:18 PM, Greg wrote:

--
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
ARRL
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441

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Bill-3

Re: K3 audio quality

*

*Menu settings used at W2BLC for armchair copy on 160/75/40 meters:*

*

The following are the settings I am using on 40, 75, 160 for armchair
copy (meaning very reduced hiss and no ANF warbling). My RX audio goes
through amplified Behringer studio speakers with bass/treble adjustments.

The speaker adjustments: bass at 3 o'clock and the treble at 11 o'clock

K3 settings (Config Menu):
AGC DLY - NORM
AGC HLD - 0
AGC PLS - NORM
AGC SLP - 4 to 6 (low setting reduces artifacts from the Automatic
Notch Filter)
AGC THR - 12
AGC F - 120
AGC S - 20
Shift - 1.25
Width - 2.7
RF Gain - 90 (sometimes less)
ATT - ON
RX EQ 1 -2
2 0
3 +9
4 +12
5 +11
6 +14
7 +7
8 -16

Be sure to read the "Noisy K3" section on http://www.w3fpr.com/ -
excellent information!

The disclaimer: Your mileage for the above settings may vary -
depending upon speaker selection, personal preferences, and your hearing
acuity.

Note: I made all of my settings by hand, using the K3 menus. I did NOT
use K3 EZ as that program will sometimes upset the AGC settings.

Bill W2BLC

**
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Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 audio quality

In reply to this post by Augie "Gus" Hansen

On Fri,9/16/2016 3:37 PM, Augie "Gus" Hansen wrote:
> AM 6 kHz or so eq'd circuit.

In the OLD days when AM was still the "big dog" and FM was a license to
lose money, the station I worked for had a telephone link to the
transmitter equalized to 10 kHz.

73, Jim K9YC

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Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 audio quality

In reply to this post by Bill-3

Hi Bill,

One thing we learned many years ago in pro audio is that in general,
it's a bad idea to use "boost" EQ, especially to boost a lot of bands,
and to boost them a lot. The reason is "headroom" -- when you're
boosting a lot, you're more likely to hit digital clip on audio peaks.

I suggest that you subtract 10 dB from each band. The only band where
you'll change the shape of the curve is the top one. And if you're doing
the cut in that band to minimize noise internal to the K3, simply
increase the RF gain a bit (or turn off the ATTEN and reduce the RF gain).

73, Jim K9YC

On Fri,9/16/2016 4:50 PM, Bill wrote:

> *
>
> *Menu settings used at W2BLC for armchair copy on 160/75/40 meters:*
>
> *
>
> The following are the settings I am using on 40, 75, 160 for armchair
> copy (meaning very reduced hiss and no ANF warbling). My RX audio goes
> through amplified Behringer studio speakers with bass/treble adjustments.
>
> The speaker adjustments: bass at 3 o'clock and the treble at 11 o'clock
>
> K3 settings (Config Menu):
> AGC DLY - NORM
> AGC HLD - 0
> AGC PLS - NORM
> AGC SLP - 4 to 6 (low setting reduces artifacts from the Automatic
> Notch Filter)
> AGC THR - 12
> AGC F - 120
> AGC S - 20
> Shift - 1.25
> Width - 2.7
> RF Gain - 90 (sometimes less)
> ATT - ON
> RX EQ 1 -2
> 2 0
> 3 +9
> 4 +12
> 5 +11
> 6 +14
> 7 +7
> 8 -16

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 audio quality

In reply to this post by Rich-4

EQ settings here:

SSB: -16, -16, -6, 0, 0, +3, +5, -6

CW: -16, -3, 0, 0, 0, -6, -10, -12

SSB setting are designed to roll off low frequency QRM,
provide some "presence" in the 1200-2800 Hz range essential
for intelligibility and roll off high frequency hiss, noise
and QRM.

Those who like "full range" audio (ESSB QRM generators) will
be appalled at the low frequency cut but it makes a big
improvement in intelligibility in most conditions. Audio at
100 Hz and below is absolutely not needed for communication.

CW Settings are designed to roll off outside my CW listening
range. My "pitch" is 460 Hz so I keep 200 - 800 Hz flat and
cut above/below a 600-700 Hz passband. If one is using a
higher "pitch" it would be worthwhile changing the 1600 Hz
band from -6 to 0.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 9/16/2016 5:14 PM, Rich wrote:

> Would you be kind enough to post your EQ values?
>
> Rich
>
> K3RWN
>
>
> On 9/16/2016 15:18 PM, Greg wrote:
>> When I first got my K3, I was used to a FT1000D and had the SP5
>> speaker to
>> go with it. A friend who also has a FT1000D told me he thought the K3
>> sounded like "$#@%" compared to the FT1000D...so I hooked the K3 up to
>> the
>> second input on the SP5 and switched back and forth between the
>> FT1000D and
>> the K3, making equalizer adjustments to the K3 as I did so. Finally I
>> felt
>> I had the K3 sounding like a FT-1000D. My friend came over and I made
>> him
>> turn around so he could not see which radio he was listening to...At that
>> point when I switched from one radio to the other, he could not tell
>> which
>> was which. Of course he grumbled that you shouldn't have to make
>> changes to
>> a new radio to get it to sound good...but I just laughed... The
>> beauty of
>> the K3 is having the ability to do what you want, and adjusting the
>> sound to
>> personal taste is only one feature! 73, Greg-N4CC
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: K3 audio quality

Joe and all,
Isn't this where the rubber hits the road? That is while your EQ settings are OK.... It does not address the audio spectrum generated by the speaker.

Consider a baritone against a soprano on the same settings. I think we need to hear from Jim on how they adjust the mixer settings for each person, news or music....
Thanks.

Mel, K6KBE

From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 5:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 audio quality

EQ settings here:

SSB: -16, -16, -6, 0, 0, +3, +5, -6

CW: -16, -3, 0, 0, 0, -6, -10, -12

SSB setting are designed to roll off low frequency QRM,
provide some "presence" in the 1200-2800 Hz range essential
for intelligibility and roll off high frequency hiss, noise
and QRM.

Those who like "full range" audio (ESSB QRM generators) will
be appalled at the low frequency cut but it makes a big
improvement in intelligibility in most conditions. Audio at
100 Hz and below is absolutely not needed for communication.

CW Settings are designed to roll off outside my CW listening
range. My "pitch" is 460 Hz so I keep 200 - 800 Hz flat and
cut above/below a 600-700 Hz passband. If one is using a
higher "pitch" it would be worthwhile changing the 1600 Hz
band from -6 to 0.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 9/16/2016 5:14 PM, Rich wrote:

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Don Wilhelm

Re: K3 audio quality

I was not going to "chime in" on this thread because that "horse" has
been thoroughly beat to death in the past.

Let's face it, a small speaker like that used in the K3/K3S is not going
to produce astounding bass and since it faces upwards away from your
ears, the high frequency sounds are going to get lost.
I believe it does exceptionally well for its size and quality.

If you want good quality speaker audio from your K3/K3S, you are going
to have to use external speakers - pick your quality there too. I use a
pair of old Radio Shack Optimus speakers that I picked up for cheap at a
2nd hand store. The 4 inch drivers sound great with my K3, but being 4
inch drivers they are not expected to produce 'resounding bass', but
that is not required for communications. The internal speaker sounds
worse by comparison, but is usable if the external speakers are not
available.

So, if you are comparing the audio between two radios, don't rely on the
internal speakers. Connect each one to good quality speakers - that way
you are comparing the radio's audio, and not the quality of the internal
speakers. Some radios produce better quality audio from their internal
speakers than others - for instance the KX3 internal speaker is far
inferior to the internal speaker used in the KX2.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/16/2016 8:27 PM, Mel Farrer via Elecraft wrote:
> Joe and all,
> Isn't this where the rubber hits the road? That is while your EQ settings are OK.... It does not address the audio spectrum generated by the speaker.
>
> Consider a baritone against a soprano on the same settings. I think we need to hear from Jim on how they adjust the mixer settings for each person, news or music....
> Thanks.
>
>

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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 audio quality

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

> Consider a baritone against a soprano on the same settings. I think
> we need to hear from Jim on how they adjust the mixer settings for
> each person, news or music....

The way EQ settings are adjusted in a recording studio or FM broadcast
(where one is concerned with 20 Hz to 15 or 20 KHz) has *no bearing* in
*communications* service. As Jim and others have already pointed out,
Ma Bell learned nearly 90 years ago that 300 Hz to 2700 Hz works just
as well for the baritone (or basso profundo) as the soprano (or even
coloratura). Even news/talk does minimal vocal equalization leaving
that to the preemphasis/deemphasis built into the transmission system.

When it comes to communications, the fundamental tone of the voice is
not [so] important ... what is important is overtone structure and
that is transmitted better in the 300 - 2700 Hz range than a 100 (or
50) Hz to 2200 Hz range for a baritone/basso profundo as the power
is concentrated in the frequency range critical for intelligibility.

With either the baritone or soprano, the speaking voice has very little
useful *power* above 3 KHz. In RF systems (and old unequalized phone
circuits), there is more broadband noise than actual voice energy above
3 KHz so a 3 KHz roll-off improves intelligibility and reduces "listing
fatigue".

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 9/16/2016 8:27 PM, Mel Farrer wrote:

> Joe and all,
> Isn't this where the rubber hits the road? That is while your EQ settings are OK.... It does not address the audio spectrum generated by the speaker.
>
> Consider a baritone against a soprano on the same settings. I think we need to hear from Jim on how they adjust the mixer settings for each person, news or music....
> Thanks.
>
> Mel, K6KBE
>
>
> From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <[hidden email]>
> To: [hidden email]
> Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 5:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 audio quality
>
>
> EQ settings here:
>
> SSB: -16, -16, -6, 0, 0, +3, +5, -6
>
> CW: -16, -3, 0, 0, 0, -6, -10, -12
>
> SSB setting are designed to roll off low frequency QRM,
> provide some "presence" in the 1200-2800 Hz range essential
> for intelligibility and roll off high frequency hiss, noise
> and QRM.
>
> Those who like "full range" audio (ESSB QRM generators) will
> be appalled at the low frequency cut but it makes a big
> improvement in intelligibility in most conditions. Audio at
> 100 Hz and below is absolutely not needed for communication.
>
> CW Settings are designed to roll off outside my CW listening
> range. My "pitch" is 460 Hz so I keep 200 - 800 Hz flat and
> cut above/below a 600-700 Hz passband. If one is using a
> higher "pitch" it would be worthwhile changing the 1600 Hz
> band from -6 to 0.
>
> 73,
>
> ... Joe, W4TV
>
> On 9/16/2016 5:14 PM, Rich wrote:
>> Would you be kind enough to post your EQ values?
>>
>> Rich
>>
>> K3RWN
>>
>>
>> On 9/16/2016 15:18 PM, Greg wrote:
>>> When I first got my K3, I was used to a FT1000D and had the SP5
>>> speaker to
>>> go with it. A friend who also has a FT1000D told me he thought the K3
>>> sounded like "$#@%" compared to the FT1000D...so I hooked the K3 up to
>>> the
>>> second input on the SP5 and switched back and forth between the
>>> FT1000D and
>>> the K3, making equalizer adjustments to the K3 as I did so. Finally I
>>> felt
>>> I had the K3 sounding like a FT-1000D. My friend came over and I made
>>> him
>>> turn around so he could not see which radio he was listening to...At that
>>> point when I switched from one radio to the other, he could not tell
>>> which
>>> was which. Of course he grumbled that you shouldn't have to make
>>> changes to
>>> a new radio to get it to sound good...but I just laughed... The
>>> beauty of
>>> the K3 is having the ability to do what you want, and adjusting the
>>> sound to
>>> personal taste is only one feature! 73, Greg-N4CC
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>
>
>

Alan. G4GNX

Re: K3 audio quality

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

Well guys (and gals) so far there have been 34 replies on this thread and
I'm grateful for every one of them.

I guess we need to try out forming some kind of hood to see if that will
work for the complainers and if that fails we may need to try an external
speaker.

We actually had one guy last week (who is the main complainer) who boldly
stated that he was a hi-fi buff and I just groaned silently! I also agree
with the appliance-operator syndrome, where "it's no good unless it's
totally plug and play"!

Several points come to mind:

The comparison with the IC7300 seems to be a fair one to me, because that
rig also has an upward facing internal speaker and we did disconnect the
external speaker to check. To my ears (and several others) the IC7300 had
far better "quality" audio, but that said it is probably not optimum for
Amateur communications, which is what many don't seem to realise is what we
are 'actually' trying to achieve.

It may pay us to find time to experiment with the DSP settings with the
complainers in the same room but unable to see the adjustments, to see if
they can be appeased, but I have my doubts because I suspect that the
prejudice is already well entrenched.

I brought the IC7300 home and compared it with my IC7100 and it didn't show
a great deal of difference, perhaps slightly better because the IC7300 is in
a bigger enclosure. I haven't yet made a comparison with my own K3.

One of the greatest problems with club owned equipment is the variation in
members' preferences as well as poor test conditions. In a large room with
many people, it's impossible to keep them all quiet and some folks seem to
think it's OK to stand right next to the operator/s and discuss some other
topic - LOUDLY. The only answer there seems to be headphones. The same goes
for filed days/contests.

Perhaps we should start to wind this thread up now before it outstays its
welcome? :-)

73,

Alan. G4GNX

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2016 1:58 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 audio quality

I was not going to "chime in" on this thread because that "horse" has
been thoroughly beat to death in the past.

Let's face it, a small speaker like that used in the K3/K3S is not going
to produce astounding bass and since it faces upwards away from your
ears, the high frequency sounds are going to get lost.
I believe it does exceptionally well for its size and quality.

If you want good quality speaker audio from your K3/K3S, you are going
to have to use external speakers - pick your quality there too. I use a
pair of old Radio Shack Optimus speakers that I picked up for cheap at a
2nd hand store. The 4 inch drivers sound great with my K3, but being 4
inch drivers they are not expected to produce 'resounding bass', but
that is not required for communications. The internal speaker sounds
worse by comparison, but is usable if the external speakers are not
available.

So, if you are comparing the audio between two radios, don't rely on the
internal speakers. Connect each one to good quality speakers - that way
you are comparing the radio's audio, and not the quality of the internal
speakers. Some radios produce better quality audio from their internal
speakers than others - for instance the KX3 internal speaker is far
inferior to the internal speaker used in the KX2.

73,
Don W3FPR

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Jim Rhodes-3

Re: K3 audio quality

Nothing to add except that I have never owned tranceiver that did not
sound better on headphones or an external speaker(s).

On Sep 17, 2016 8:02 AM, "Alan. G4GNX" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Well guys (and gals) so far there have been 34 replies on this thread and
> I'm grateful for every one of them.
>
> I guess we need to try out forming some kind of hood to see if that will
> work for the complainers and if that fails we may need to try an external
> speaker.
>
> We actually had one guy last week (who is the main complainer) who boldly
> stated that he was a hi-fi buff and I just groaned silently! I also agree
> with the appliance-operator syndrome, where "it's no good unless it's
> totally plug and play"!
>
> Several points come to mind:
>
> The comparison with the IC7300 seems to be a fair one to me, because that
> rig also has an upward facing internal speaker and we did disconnect the
> external speaker to check. To my ears (and several others) the IC7300 had
> far better "quality" audio, but that said it is probably not optimum for
> Amateur communications, which is what many don't seem to realise is what we
> are 'actually' trying to achieve.
>
> It may pay us to find time to experiment with the DSP settings with the
> complainers in the same room but unable to see the adjustments, to see if
> they can be appeased, but I have my doubts because I suspect that the
> prejudice is already well entrenched.
>
> I brought the IC7300 home and compared it with my IC7100 and it didn't
> show a great deal of difference, perhaps slightly better because the IC7300
> is in a bigger enclosure. I haven't yet made a comparison with my own K3.
>
> One of the greatest problems with club owned equipment is the variation in
> members' preferences as well as poor test conditions. In a large room with
> many people, it's impossible to keep them all quiet and some folks seem to
> think it's OK to stand right next to the operator/s and discuss some other
> topic - LOUDLY. The only answer there seems to be headphones. The same goes
> for filed days/contests.
>
> Perhaps we should start to wind this thread up now before it outstays its
> welcome? :-)
>
> 73,
>
> Alan. G4GNX
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Don Wilhelm
> Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2016 1:58 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 audio quality
>
> I was not going to "chime in" on this thread because that "horse" has
> been thoroughly beat to death in the past.
>
> Let's face it, a small speaker like that used in the K3/K3S is not going
> to produce astounding bass and since it faces upwards away from your
> ears, the high frequency sounds are going to get lost.
> I believe it does exceptionally well for its size and quality.
>
> If you want good quality speaker audio from your K3/K3S, you are going
> to have to use external speakers - pick your quality there too. I use a
> pair of old Radio Shack Optimus speakers that I picked up for cheap at a
> 2nd hand store. The 4 inch drivers sound great with my K3, but being 4
> inch drivers they are not expected to produce 'resounding bass', but
> that is not required for communications. The internal speaker sounds
> worse by comparison, but is usable if the external speakers are not
> available.
>
> So, if you are comparing the audio between two radios, don't rely on the
> internal speakers. Connect each one to good quality speakers - that way
> you are comparing the radio's audio, and not the quality of the internal
> speakers. Some radios produce better quality audio from their internal
> speakers than others - for instance the KX3 internal speaker is far
> inferior to the internal speaker used in the KX2.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Gary Gregory-2

Re: K3 audio quality

Ditto Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: "Jim Rhodes" <[hidden email]>
Sent: ‎18/‎09/‎2016 4:51 AM
To: "Alan. G4GNX" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 audio quality

Nothing to add except that I have never owned tranceiver that did not
sound better on headphones or an external speaker(s).

On Sep 17, 2016 8:02 AM, "Alan. G4GNX" <[hidden email]> wrote:

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______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]