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K3 ssb sound

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mikerodgerske5gbc

K3 ssb sound

I'm still hearing rumblings about how the k3 sounds on ssb. This concerns me. The k3 will be a huge investment for my income and I can't help but wonder if it will be the right one. I'm really not seriously considering anything else but I'm sure getting nervous about unloading the cash. I'm just a rag chewer so there's more to it than just making the contact. I have however listened to Hector's audio files and they all sound good.

Happy QSO'ing. Mike R

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Tim Tucker

Re: K3 ssb sound

The K3 sounds very good as a SSB rig. Apart from a few digital modes,
that's almost all I use it for. You have almost complete adjustment of your
TX audio by adjusting 8 band EQ, compression, and noise gate. If you hear
one that sounds bad, it's more than likely a setup issue by the operator.
When I'm rag chewing on 75 meters, I almost always get someone new that
passes by and stops to ask what rig I'm using because they like the way it
sounds.

Tim

On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 8:30 AM, Mike Rodgers <[hidden email]>wrote:

> I'm still hearing rumblings about how the k3 sounds on ssb. This concerns
> me. The k3 will be a huge investment for my income and I can't help but
> wonder if it will be the right one. I'm really not seriously considering
> anything else but I'm sure getting nervous about unloading the cash. I'm
> just a rag chewer so there's more to it than just making the contact. I have
> however listened to Hector's audio files and they all sound good.
>
> Happy QSO'ing. Mike R
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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KD8NNU

Re: K3 ssb sound

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Mike, TX reports that I get are wonderful that I am easily understood
and clear. I have the ability to mess this up as I have worked with
some guys trying different settings and their comments reflected what I
was changing.

Also don't confuse with the audio discussion, I am able to hear weak
signals and filter out others that are either close or splattering. Now
that I have learned to use the filter options, it really out hears my
7000. Now the 7000 is deaf compared to the K3. But the good news is
that the 7000 is in the Jeep and for that application I would not change
anything.

I am however, struggling to get the audio output to my liking. I think
this due in part to frequiencies that bother my ears and second I should
have not purchased the Heil setup as the earphones have to much fedality
in the frequency range that bothers my hearing.

Don
KD8NNU

On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 11:30 AM, Mike Rodgers wrote:

> I'm still hearing rumblings about how the k3 sounds on ssb. This
> concerns me. The k3 will be a huge investment for my income and I
> can't help but wonder if it will be the right one. I'm really not
> seriously considering anything else but I'm sure getting nervous about
> unloading the cash. I'm just a rag chewer so there's more to it than
> just making the contact. I have however listened to Hector's audio
> files and they all sound good.
> Happy QSO'ing. Mike R
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Re: K3 ssb sound

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

I have had my K3, #1025 for 2.5 years now and have made a few thousand SSB
contacts. I have not had a single negative comment about the audio. My
secret? Don't use any exotic microphones or external audio shaping devices.
Don't jack with the available audio shaping. Don't engage in any long
conversations with the group that talks continuously about audio shaping. In
short, don't work at screwing up the audio and it won't be screwed up.
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ

________________________________
From: Mike Rodgers <[hidden email]>
To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thu, December 2, 2010 10:30:07 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 ssb sound

I'm still hearing rumblings about how the k3 sounds on ssb. This concerns me.
The k3 will be a huge investment for my income and I can't help but wonder if it
will be the right one. I'm really not seriously considering anything else but
I'm sure getting nervous about unloading the cash. I'm just a rag chewer so
there's more to it than just making the contact. I have however listened to
Hector's audio files and they all sound good.

Happy QSO'ing. Mike R

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Lou Kolb

Re: K3 ssb sound

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Mike,

I've heard several of those complaints but have never really understood
them. As a person who depends on sound more than most folks do I can tell
you I've always been pleased with the sound of the K3 receiver on sideband.
I used a Kenwood TS-440 for 21 years and I can tell you it sounds much
better than that rig, at least to my ears. HTH. Lou, WA3MIX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Rodgers" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:30 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 ssb sound

> I'm still hearing rumblings about how the k3 sounds on ssb. This concerns
> me. The k3 will be a huge investment for my income and I can't help but
> wonder if it will be the right one. I'm really not seriously considering
> anything else but I'm sure getting nervous about unloading the cash. I'm
> just a rag chewer so there's more to it than just making the contact. I
> have however listened to Hector's audio files and they all sound good.
>
> Happy QSO'ing. Mike R
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

AD4C2009

Re: K3 ssb sound

In reply to this post by Tim Tucker

Likewise,every night on 40M when I don't say to the station I am talking with, the radio I am using,they always ask because they say I sound too good and when I say its a K3 they start asking more about it.The K3 is a very versatil radio in which TX and RX EQ can be set to your "taste".Nobody will be disapointed with the audio of this K3.

AD4C

"If freedom means something,it is the right to tell others what they don't want to hear" –George Orwell

--- On Thu, 12/2/10, Tim Tucker <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Tim Tucker <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ssb sound
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010, 4:53 PM

The K3 sounds very good as a SSB rig. Apart from a few digital modes,
that's almost all I use it for. You have almost complete adjustment of your
TX audio by adjusting 8 band EQ, compression, and noise gate. If you hear
one that sounds bad, it's more than likely a setup issue by the operator.
When I'm rag chewing on 75 meters, I almost always get someone new that
passes by and stops to ask what rig I'm using because they like the way it
sounds.

Tim

On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 8:30 AM, Mike Rodgers <[hidden email]>wrote:

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K2QI

Re: K3 ssb sound

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Hi Mike,

I've always gotten compliments on my K3's audio. This is with the Elecraft
MH2 hand mic. As others have said though, you will need to tweak the TX EQ
settings for best performance, or to whatever suits your taste.

73,
James K2QI

On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 11:30 AM, Mike Rodgers
<[hidden email]>wrote:

--
73 de James K2QI
President UNARC/4U1UN
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--... ...-- -.. . .--- .- -- . ...

Doug Turnbull

Re: K3 ssb sound

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Mike,
What sounds good seems to be very personal. When I use to monitor the
TT web site there were those who were critical of the OII sound. We are
all different. I go for a very low tone on CW of 320 Hz others prefer 500
to 600 Hz. I would say that the K3 is an excellent value radio and maybe
overall the best radio on the market today. This does not take away from
the competition, which also make good radios. You are purchasing a radio
with backup and ongoing improvement from a most unusually good company run
by hams that only make amateur radio equipment. They are not pulled off
amateur products because of a military or commercial product whose customer
has mucho clout. You are purchasing a modular built radio which makes
service easier. You are on to a winner. Sleep well and be happy for you
surely will when the K3 arrives.

73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike Rodgers
Sent: 02 December 2010 16:30
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 ssb sound

I'm still hearing rumblings about how the k3 sounds on ssb. This concerns
me. The k3 will be a huge investment for my income and I can't help but
wonder if it will be the right one. I'm really not seriously considering
anything else but I'm sure getting nervous about unloading the cash. I'm
just a rag chewer so there's more to it than just making the contact. I have
however listened to Hector's audio files and they all sound good.

Happy QSO'ing. Mike R

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Andy Wood

Re: K3 ssb sound

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Hi Mike,

I have posted some of this information to the reflector before, however I will copy it again here. Basically, there is enough adjustment to make the tx sound any way you prefer. However, it worked great for me "straight out of the box".

Here is an email I received about it after working a few NA contacts on the 75/80m DX window:

--------------------------------

Hi Andy,

I was talking to David, W6ANR today he informed me you are running K3 transceiver and you had the best audio he has ever heard from any K3. So I am asking if you could give a run down on all your setting as you have them on your radio that pertains to Audio so I can help my neighbor Bob, W9KNI get his dialed in. His sounds lousy and he has always been a CW man but has now been enjoying using the mic instead of the paddle. He has had comments that he need to dial in his audio so I told him I would help. SO maybe with all your setting etc I can have a good place to start as I am not to familiar with that radio.

I hope your summer was a good for you? Here we are anxious for spring to arrive so I can get out and do some real work out in the yard and get the veggie garden started.

Best 73,

Rich K7ZV
--------------------------------

Here is my reply to Rich:

Hi Rich,

Great to hear from you - it has been a long time since we have worked on 80/75m. I haven't been very active lately, due to work and family commitments.

I hope I am not going to disappoint anyone when I reveal my audio setup on the K3 as it is far from spectacular..hi hi. The fist mic I was using is a five dollar CB type that you could find at any hamfest (no kidding!). I have not adjusted the TX equalizer so it is still at the factory default (all "flat"). I do use the compressor, but only allow it to indicate between about 5-10dB on the meter. I also always make sure the ALC bargraph indication is well below the upper limit. For what it's worth, my mic gain is set to 23 and the compression setting is at 19.

Not very fancy is it? I found the K3 to work well "out of the box". As the old saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
--------------------------------

I think this speaks for itself - nothing else required!

Andy VK4KY