Elecraft

K3S vs. K3

Classic

List

Threaded

46 messages Options

123

Jim Bolit

Re: K3S vs. K3

The hiss is always present, even fully CCW audio setting.

SSB operation does not even make my top ten list.

Life is only heard at bandwidth of 400 Hz or less. ;>)

Jim
W6AIM

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2015 6:20 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S vs. K3

It is a fact that out of the box, many rigs do sound better than the K3
- warmer and richer audio. That was my experience and is also reported by
others. However, these rigs are not equals to the K3 in most other aspects
and have no K-Line of supporting equipment available.

It took me a long time to get the K3 sounding the way I wanted it to - to
suit my needs of armchair copy on 40/75/160 for rag chew. Hiss and audio
response were both a problem, making my K3 less than desirable for my needs.

I decided to make use of all the various menu settings/changes/selections
afforded by the K3 to get it to produce the audio I wanted. The Cady book
was a help in understanding what the various settings do and why they do it.

I dogged and dogged the problems and menus. I asked for help and basically
found I was in this by myself - other reflector users said the
K3 sounded wonderful. To me, it did not. My TS480 ran audio rings around it
- right out of the box.

By trial and error - and keeping careful notes - I eventually I found a
combo of settings that work for me. My K3 now provides rich warm receive
audio via a pair of Behringer amplified speakers and is most pleasing to
listen to for hours at a time. Having said all this - I have to say my K3
has excellent receive audio. I just had to dig to get to it.

Now, will I get the new synth? I don't know yet. I will first need to hear
what experiences other K3 users are having with it. So far, none have
replied to my question on the matter. However, that really doesn't matter
much, as I am in no hurry.

Bill W2BLC K-Line

______________________________________________________________
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
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]

Bill-3

Re: K3S vs. K3

In reply to this post by Joe Subich, W4TV-4

For Joe: Must be the K3's audio amplifier is a very weak link? Is that
what you are saying?

I have never experienced what you are describing - then again I do most
of my audio boost outside of the K3 and typically run the audio pot at
less than 9 o'clock. Perhaps that is why I have had no problems.

Thanks,

Bill W2BLC K-Line

______________________________________________________________
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]

Bill-3

Re: K3S vs. K3

In reply to this post by Jim Bolit

I just checked to be sure - I do not have any hiss when the audio pot is
at minimum, didn't think I did, but thought I'd check anyway. That is in
my normal SSB settings

Bill W2BLC K-Line

______________________________________________________________
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]

Bill-3

Re: K3S vs. K3

I know I am somewhat rabid when it comes to RX signal quality -
but.................... It is all in the ear of the beholder!!!

Everyone of us has slight to major hearing differences and K3 uses etc.
No rig will ever be perfect for everyone. But, the K3, with its many
menus and adjustments comes really close. 'specially if you use external
speakers - in my case Behringer MS40 pair.

Headphones are a whole different topic - which I may decide to explore
in the future (probably using something designed for HiFi (old fashioned
word)). I am sure the purists will see no need for them - and really so
for CW. My ears - my radio - my pleasure ............ and the K3 is a
pleasure to use - after you learn how to do so.

Bill W2BLC K-Line

______________________________________________________________
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]

Mike Reublin NF4L

Re: K3S vs. K3

In reply to this post by Jim Bolit

I'm confused. How is it possible to hear anything with the audio gain knobby fully CCW, or as I like to put it, "off" ? Is the control not going full stop electrically?

73, Mike NF4L

> On May 17, 2015, at 12:12 PM, jim <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> The hiss is always present, even fully CCW audio setting.
>
> SSB operation does not even make my top ten list.
>
> Life is only heard at bandwidth of 400 Hz or less. ;>)
>
> Jim
> W6AIM
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill
> Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2015 6:20 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S vs. K3
>
>
> It is a fact that out of the box, many rigs do sound better than the K3
> - warmer and richer audio. That was my experience and is also reported by
> others. However, these rigs are not equals to the K3 in most other aspects
> and have no K-Line of supporting equipment available.
>
> It took me a long time to get the K3 sounding the way I wanted it to - to
> suit my needs of armchair copy on 40/75/160 for rag chew. Hiss and audio
> response were both a problem, making my K3 less than desirable for my needs.
>
> I decided to make use of all the various menu settings/changes/selections
> afforded by the K3 to get it to produce the audio I wanted. The Cady book
> was a help in understanding what the various settings do and why they do it.
>
> I dogged and dogged the problems and menus. I asked for help and basically
> found I was in this by myself - other reflector users said the
> K3 sounded wonderful. To me, it did not. My TS480 ran audio rings around it
> - right out of the box.
>
> By trial and error - and keeping careful notes - I eventually I found a
> combo of settings that work for me. My K3 now provides rich warm receive
> audio via a pair of Behringer amplified speakers and is most pleasing to
> listen to for hours at a time. Having said all this - I have to say my K3
> has excellent receive audio. I just had to dig to get to it.
>
> Now, will I get the new synth? I don't know yet. I will first need to hear
> what experiences other K3 users are having with it. So far, none have
> replied to my question on the matter. However, that really doesn't matter
> much, as I am in no hurry.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> 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]

Jim Bolit

Re: K3S vs. K3

All you hear is a high freq noise and it is there at any setting, but by
turning the AF knob fully CCW, it eliminates any noise generated by
"upstream" circuits.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike
Reublin NF4L
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2015 1:07 PM
To: Elecraft List
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S vs. K3

I'm confused. How is it possible to hear anything with the audio gain knobby
fully CCW, or as I like to put it, "off" ? Is the control not going full
stop electrically?

73, Mike NF4L

my needs.
>
> I decided to make use of all the various menu
> settings/changes/selections afforded by the K3 to get it to produce
> the audio I wanted. The Cady book was a help in understanding what the
various settings do and why they do it.

>
> I dogged and dogged the problems and menus. I asked for help and
> basically found I was in this by myself - other reflector users said
> the
> K3 sounded wonderful. To me, it did not. My TS480 ran audio rings
> around it
> - right out of the box.
>
> By trial and error - and keeping careful notes - I eventually I found
> a combo of settings that work for me. My K3 now provides rich warm
> receive audio via a pair of Behringer amplified speakers and is most
> pleasing to listen to for hours at a time. Having said all this - I
> have to say my K3 has excellent receive audio. I just had to dig to get to

it.

>
> Now, will I get the new synth? I don't know yet. I will first need to
> hear what experiences other K3 users are having with it. So far, none
> have replied to my question on the matter. However, that really
> doesn't matter much, as I am in no hurry.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> 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
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
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]

123