Sorry Joe, but I'm with Fred on this one, as well. You're speaking from what you believe to be true based on specs you're reading, but it's obvious to me as one who has actually used various speakers on the K3, including the COMSpkr, that you don't have as complete a picture as some of us who have actually tested this.
I love the K3 and wouldn't trade it for another rig, but it's not perfect. It's ability to drive external speakers is one of the examples where it does not excel. Compared to other rigs, it basically sucks . Period. I'm young compared to most of you guys and have no hearing loss and have quite a good reputation amongst my friends for having an ear for what *sounds* good. After trying quite a few different external speakers setups with the K3 and not being happy with the overall volume output, I decided that the K3 was probably too finicky with what it needs for speaker impedance and decided to just go with a set of powered external speakers and be done with it. The COMspkr is so damn loud that it practically blasts me out of my den if I turn it up much. I don't like to use headphones if I don't have to, and with the COMspkr, I rarely need to. Regardless of what you think the specs say, you need to try this for yourself and make an informed decision. On Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 5:39 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV <li...@subich.com> wrote: > > > The COMspkr is an ampflied speaker. > > That's right and the amplifier is not any stronger than the amplifier in > the K3. There is no value to using a set of 3W per channel amplified > speakers on a transceiver that provides 2.5W per channel by itself. > > I've used a pair of $5 speakers from surplus cellphone "remote kits" on > the K3 that sound as good as any amplified computer speakers (and I've > used a lot over the years). If one is going to use amplified speakers > use speakers capable of significantly more *clean* power than what is > essentially a low end commodity product. > > 73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > On 11/6/2012 6:34 PM, Fred Smith wrote: > > Joe > > > > The COMspkr is an ampflied speaker. Hell I have a set of Bose speakers > here > > that were close to $500 and don't sound any better on a radio than the > $39 > > ones and they are as loud as you want. I got to call you on this one just > > from using as many sets of speakers as I have. > > > > Fred/N0AZZ > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > > [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Joe Subich, W4TV > > Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 4:43 PM > > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Speaker buzz - But which external speaker ? > > > > > > The COMSpkr is rated at 3W per channel ... barely better than the 2.5W > per > > channel of the K3. A good pair of bookshelf speakers will provide > > everything that the COMspkr does with arguably better sound than the > small > > speakers in the COMspkr enclosures. > > > > A good technician can probably make a $10 pair of computer speakers as > "RF > > proof" as the COMspkrs just by installing the RC RFI suppression networks > > most manufacturers leave off the standard amplifier board! > > > > 73, > > > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > > > > On 11/6/2012 5:00 PM, Fred Smith wrote: > >> 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: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > >> [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of drewko > >> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 3:10 PM > >> To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >> 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 :) > >>> ______________________________________________________________ > >> > >> ______________________________________________________________ > >> Elecraft mailing list > >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >> > >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email > >> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > >> > >> ______________________________________________________________ > >> Elecraft mailing list > >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >> > >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email > >> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > ----- > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5377 - Release Date: 11/06/12 > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > -- --------------------------------------- Owner, worldwidedx.com AE6LX, Amateur Radio NNN0ITA, Navy MARS NNN0GAF FOUR, Southern CA Director Assistant for Training, Navy MARS ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
