Elecraft

Speaker upgrade

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SR Reynard

Speaker upgrade

Hi

Anyone care to recommend an internal speaker replacement?

Steve
KA4FOX
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Don Wilhelm-5

Re: Speaker upgrade

Get a replacement from Elecraft.
Which radio?

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/23/2021 3:27 PM, Steve Fox wrote:
> Hi
>
> Anyone care to recommend an internal speaker replacement?
>
>

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George Thornton

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by SR Reynard

Which radio?

With respect to the K3 I would recommend use of external speakers. They can improve comfort for longer listening periods.

I am a personal fan of the Sounds Sweet communications speakers. Unfortunately although the web page remains open they have not been selling them for years.. If you can find them used I would grab a pair.

I don't know that replacing the internal speaker would be worth the trouble.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Steve Fox
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2021 12:28 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Speaker upgrade

Hi

Anyone care to recommend an internal speaker replacement?

Steve
KA4FOX
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Rick Bates, NK7I

Re: Speaker upgrade

Regardless of radio, my go to is the black Motorola mobile speakers (~5"
square, with mounts). Already shaped for communications audio (chopped
lows, peaked mids and some highs) by design, they sound awesome on the
K3 *once you find a matching output pair* (they can vary in output by
several dB). Estate sales, swap meets and radio shop closures are prime
spots to find them; often $10 each (oh heck yeah, snag it and bag it!).

Also, if you find them, the old Radio Shack speaker cubes (about 2"
cubed) have very clear communication audio and work great in a mobile
environment. Before RS went out of business the price was jacked up to
about $60 (from $10) so swap meet prices may vary.

I (almost) never use any internal speaker since they are not usually
more than a basic add on, or have to be cranked up so much to be useful
that they don't last long (and are mono with dual receivers).

You might check to see what Elecraft offers for speakers to match your
radio esthetics should your budget allow it.

73,
Rick NK7I

On 4/23/2021 12:52 PM, George Thornton wrote:

> Which radio?
>
> With respect to the K3 I would recommend use of external speakers. They can improve comfort for longer listening periods.
>
> I am a personal fan of the Sounds Sweet communications speakers. Unfortunately although the web page remains open they have not been selling them for years.. If you can find them used I would grab a pair.
>
> I don't know that replacing the internal speaker would be worth the trouble.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Steve Fox
> Sent: Friday, April 23, 2021 12:28 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Speaker upgrade
>
> Hi
>
> Anyone care to recommend an internal speaker replacement?
>
> Steve
> KA4FOX

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Don Wilhelm-5

Re: Speaker upgrade

> Regardless of radio, my go to is the black Motorola mobile speakers
> (~5" square, with mounts). Already shaped for communications audio
> (chopped lows, peaked mids and some highs) by design, they sound
> awesome on the K3 *once you find a matching output pair* (they can
> vary in output by several dB). Estate sales, swap meets and radio
> shop closures are prime spots to find them; often $10 each (oh heck
> yeah, snag it and bag it!).
>
> Also, if you find them, the old Radio Shack speaker cubes (about 2"
> cubed) have very clear communication audio and work great in a mobile
> environment. Before RS went out of business the price was jacked up
> to about $60 (from $10) so swap meet prices may vary.
>
> I (almost) never use any internal speaker since they are not usually
> more than a basic add on, or have to be cranked up so much to be
> useful that they don't last long (and are mono with dual receivers).
>
> You might check to see what Elecraft offers for speakers to match your
> radio esthetics should your budget allow it.
>
> 73,
> Rick NK7I
>

Jim Sheldon

Re: Speaker upgrade

Don, you’re right on about those West Mountain Com Speakers. I’ve had a pair on my K3S since day one and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

My wife got me a second pair and I use them with my KX2 when I’m operating on my back deck. Sure makes the KX2’s receiver sound super good.

Jim, W0EB

Sent from my iPad

> On Apr 23, 2021, at 6:13 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Since the K3 has stereo output, I suggest you look at the West Mountain Radio ComSpeakers. They do a good job.
> My K3 had 2 Radio Shack mini speakers on it, and the KX3 uses the ComSpeakers. Great in all respects.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 4/23/2021 6:01 PM, Rick Bates, NK7I wrote:
>> Regardless of radio, my go to is the black Motorola mobile speakers (~5" square, with mounts). Already shaped for communications audio (chopped lows, peaked mids and some highs) by design, they sound awesome on the K3 *once you find a matching output pair* (they can vary in output by several dB). Estate sales, swap meets and radio shop closures are prime spots to find them; often $10 each (oh heck yeah, snag it and bag it!).
>>
>> Also, if you find them, the old Radio Shack speaker cubes (about 2" cubed) have very clear communication audio and work great in a mobile environment. Before RS went out of business the price was jacked up to about $60 (from $10) so swap meet prices may vary.
>>
>> I (almost) never use any internal speaker since they are not usually more than a basic add on, or have to be cranked up so much to be useful that they don't last long (and are mono with dual receivers).
>>
>> You might check to see what Elecraft offers for speakers to match your radio esthetics should your budget allow it.
>>
>> 73,
>> Rick NK7I
>>
>
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ke9uw

Re: Speaker upgrade

I bought a couple of 6X9 Jensen speakers with whizzer cones at Best Buy years
ago along with some rectangular fuzzy boxes that are designed to mount them.
These speakers used to be the ones that were the rear seat speaker in the GM
cars in the 60's. They sound great and I use them wired as stereo on the K3.
Turning the AFX on sounds great too.

-----
Chuck, KE9UW
--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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Chuck, KE9UW

NJMike

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by SR Reynard

Can you confirm the West Mountain ComSpeaker is
#58410-950?

Since I’m a new K3S owner and still learning the radio, can you also confirm
that those speakers can be hooked up while keeping the headphones plugged
into the rear jack?

I’m sure there must be a Config menu change also.

Thanks,
Mike NJ2OM

--
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Buck

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by Jim Sheldon

If you don't care for amplified speakers, the Pyle 3" Mini Cubes are
excellent. Less than $30 a pair online.

k4ia, Buck
K3s# 11497
Honor Roll 8B DXCC
EasyWayHamBooks.com

On 4/23/2021 7:23 PM, Jim Sheldon wrote:

> Don, you’re right on about those West Mountain Com Speakers. I’ve had a pair on my K3S since day one and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
>
> My wife got me a second pair and I use them with my KX2 when I’m operating on my back deck. Sure makes the KX2’s receiver sound super good.
>
> Jim, W0EB
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Apr 23, 2021, at 6:13 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Since the K3 has stereo output, I suggest you look at the West Mountain Radio ComSpeakers. They do a good job.
>> My K3 had 2 Radio Shack mini speakers on it, and the KX3 uses the ComSpeakers. Great in all respects.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>>> On 4/23/2021 6:01 PM, Rick Bates, NK7I wrote:
>>> Regardless of radio, my go to is the black Motorola mobile speakers (~5" square, with mounts). Already shaped for communications audio (chopped lows, peaked mids and some highs) by design, they sound awesome on the K3 *once you find a matching output pair* (they can vary in output by several dB). Estate sales, swap meets and radio shop closures are prime spots to find them; often $10 each (oh heck yeah, snag it and bag it!).
>>>
>>> Also, if you find them, the old Radio Shack speaker cubes (about 2" cubed) have very clear communication audio and work great in a mobile environment. Before RS went out of business the price was jacked up to about $60 (from $10) so swap meet prices may vary.
>>>
>>> I (almost) never use any internal speaker since they are not usually more than a basic add on, or have to be cranked up so much to be useful that they don't last long (and are mono with dual receivers).
>>>
>>> You might check to see what Elecraft offers for speakers to match your radio esthetics should your budget allow it.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Rick NK7I
>>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: Speaker upgrade

Absolutely, I've used a pair with each of my K3(s) for several years.
They replaced larger "bookshelf" speakers with no loss in quality.
The little Pyle do not have the low end of the larger "bookshelf"
speakers, the spectrum below 200 Hz or so is not something that is
missed for "communications" audio.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2021-04-24 10:14 AM, Buck wrote:
> If you don't care for amplified speakers, the Pyle 3" Mini Cubes are
> excellent. Less than $30 a pair online.
>
> k4ia, Buck
> K3s# 11497
> Honor Roll 8B DXCC
> EasyWayHamBooks.com
>

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NJMike

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by SR Reynard

Don Wilhelm-5

Re: Speaker upgrade

Yes, They call it ComSpkr and it is priced at $39.95.
It is a pair of "computer" speakers, but it is shielded so it does not
buzz when RF is present.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/24/2021 11:50 AM, NJMike wrote:

> Can you confirm the West Mountain ComSpeaker is
> #58410-950?
>
> Since I’m a new K3S owner and still learning the radio, can you also confirm
> that those speakers can be hooked up while keeping the headphones plugged
> into the rear jack?
>
> I’m sure there must be a Config menu change also.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike NJ2OM
>

Jim Brown-10

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by NJMike

On 4/24/2021 8:50 AM, NJMike wrote:
> Since I’m a new K3S owner and still learning the radio, can you also confirm
> that those speakers can be hooked up while keeping the headphones plugged
> into the rear jack?

You did study the K3S manual, didn't you?

73, Jim K9YC
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Don Wilhelm-5

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by Rick Bates, NK7I

Since the K3 has stereo output, I suggest you look at the West Mountain
Radio ComSpeakers. They do a good job.
My K3 had 2 Radio Shack mini speakers on it, and the KX3 uses the
ComSpeakers. Great in all respects.

73,
Don W3FPR

The original poster asked about plugging in both the speakers and
headphones into the rear jacks.
Yes - I leave the headphones live at all times and toggle the SPKR +
PHONES menu to use the speakers - no plugging/unplugging.

73,
Don W3FPR
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Phil Kane-2

Re: Speaker upgrade

Really OT but where else can I ask and get good replies?

I am looking for a small mixer that will handle two inputs: the wired
low-level audio output from my computer as well as a blue-tooth
connection to my HT. I have a pair of small amplified speakers that do
a good job on the computer output. I can find several blue-tooth
"receivers" that would do that job except that they don't have a second
input. I'm not in any shape to build a mixer - it has to be plug-and-play.

Any ideas?

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

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Don Wilhelm-5

Re: Speaker upgrade

Phil,

You may want to check out the Behringer mixers even though they may have
more inputs than you need. I don't know if any of the inputs support
Bluetooth natively.
They are low in price and work well.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/26/2021 10:06 AM, Phil Kane wrote:

> Really OT but where else can I ask and get good replies?
>
> I am looking for a small mixer that will handle two inputs: the wired
> low-level audio output from my computer as well as a blue-tooth
> connection to my HT. I have a pair of small amplified speakers that
> do a good job on the computer output. I can find several blue-tooth
> "receivers" that would do that job except that they don't have a
> second input. I'm not in any shape to build a mixer - it has to be
> plug-and-play.
>
> Any ideas?
>

Jim Brown-10

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by Phil Kane-2

On 4/26/2021 7:06 AM, Phil Kane wrote:
> I am looking for a small mixer that will handle two inputs:

Look at Radio Design Labs for something new, or used products from
Tascam, Mackie, or Yamaha. Also Rane for versions of their products
built AFTER about 1998 -- in 1995, they made running changes to fix
their Pin One Problems. They were and are a very good company -- one of
their engineers was on the initial AES Papers session (led by Neil Muncy
and Bill Whitlock) in Nov '94 which exposed the Pin One Problem. Their
engineer did a detailed mea culpa, and what they were doing to fix it.

73, Jim K9YC

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SteveL

Re: Speaker upgrade

In reply to this post by Phil Kane-2

Search “bluetooth mixer” on Amazon - there are several possibilities depending on the specific details of your application.

One such example:
https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Wireless-Audio-Mixer-Controller/dp/B08JH7L8D9/ <https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Wireless-Audio-Mixer-Controller/dp/B08JH7L8D9/>

Steve
aa8af

> On Apr 26, 2021, at 10:06 AM, Phil Kane <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Really OT but where else can I ask and get good replies?
>
> I am looking for a small mixer that will handle two inputs: the wired low-level audio output from my computer as well as a blue-tooth connection to my HT. I have a pair of small amplified speakers that do a good job on the computer output. I can find several blue-tooth "receivers" that would do that job except that they don't have a second input. I'm not in any shape to build a mixer - it has to be plug-and-play.
>
> Any ideas?
>

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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Speaker upgrade

I'd still prefer the Mackie Mix5. Same price, 1-day free shipping... more features, and it's just a mixer, not an interface. And it has a metal chassis.
73 de Ray
K2ULR

-----Original Message-----
From: SteveL <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Sent: Tue, Apr 27, 2021 3:28 pm
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Speaker upgrade

Search “bluetooth mixer” on Amazon - there are several possibilities depending on the specific details of your application.

One such example:
https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Wireless-Audio-Mixer-Controller/dp/B08JH7L8D9/ <https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Wireless-Audio-Mixer-Controller/dp/B08JH7L8D9/>

Steve
aa8af

> On Apr 26, 2021, at 10:06 AM, Phil Kane <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Really OT but where else can I ask and get good replies?
>
> I am looking for a small mixer that will handle two inputs: the wired low-level audio output from my computer as well as a blue-tooth connection to my HT. I have a pair of small amplified speakers that do a good job on the computer output. I can find several blue-tooth "receivers" that would do that job except that they don't have a second input. I'm not in any shape to build a mixer - it has to be plug-and-play.
>
> Any ideas?
>

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neil weisenfeld

Re: Speaker upgrade

I couldn’t tell if you wanted native Bluetooth or just something to connect to a Bluetooth dongle.

I have a behringer micro mix mx400 mixer and the matching ha400 mini amp. So I can mix in four inputs and independently control four outputs. And they run off 12V, so it all gets powered off of my main power supply.

Amazon has them, but I think that they were cheaper from guitar center.

Neil

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 27, 2021, at 3:36 PM, Raymond Sills via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I'd still prefer the Mackie Mix5. Same price, 1-day free shipping... more features, and it's just a mixer, not an interface. And it has a metal chassis.
> 73 de Ray
> K2ULR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SteveL <[hidden email]>
> To: [hidden email]
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Sent: Tue, Apr 27, 2021 3:28 pm
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Speaker upgrade
>
> Search “bluetooth mixer” on Amazon - there are several possibilities depending on the specific details of your application.
>
> One such example:
> https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Wireless-Audio-Mixer-Controller/dp/B08JH7L8D9/ <https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Wireless-Audio-Mixer-Controller/dp/B08JH7L8D9/>
>
> Steve
> aa8af
>
>> On Apr 26, 2021, at 10:06 AM, Phil Kane <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Really OT but where else can I ask and get good replies?
>>
>> I am looking for a small mixer that will handle two inputs: the wired low-level audio output from my computer as well as a blue-tooth connection to my HT. I have a pair of small amplified speakers that do a good job on the computer output. I can find several blue-tooth "receivers" that would do that job except that they don't have a second input. I'm not in any shape to build a mixer - it has to be plug-and-play.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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