Given the likely expense of. Real audiophile audio chain, I would happily settle for a audiophile grade 'line out' which I would then run into a high quality stereo amp. So the question is even an audiophile line out feasible for a reasonable amount of $$ given we have to be limited to a 13 v power supply? Harris K9RJ K3 1855
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: Guy Olinger <olin...@bellsouth.net> Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 15:48:00 To: <n...@no3m.net> Cc: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Audio (WAS K3 eHam review after 2+ years) On Sat, Jul 4, 2009 at 10:45 PM, E. Tichansky <n...@ni3s.net> wrote: > Unfortunately, there IS a problem w/ CW audio in the K3, at least with > both here (see concurrently running thread: K3 Audio Low Pass Filter). > The sidetones generated around the 12 kHz DAC leak-through (+/- sidetone > frq., ie. 500Hz)are clearly audible for me and rather annoying, enough > so that I had to insert inline low pass audio filters on each radio to > knock it down to make CW operation tolerable. I was in correspondence > about the issue back in Oct/Nov of last year w/ Elecraft. > > Regardless of the "60 db down" and other levels people have measured on > those sidetones, I can hear it, even with as low a volume setting of > around 9-10 o'clock. Apparently there are others that can as well. The > majority of folks who own a K3, presumably yourself included, have a > reduction or loss of hearing at high frequencies. From that > perspective, the audio is great! However, not hearing it doesn't > necessarily mean there isn't an underlying problem present, and those > that wish to fix it aren't doing so out of "desire to tinker and change > things." > Though I have the typical reduction in high frequency hearing at my current age, I remember well being able to hear TV horizontal sweep frequency (15+ kHz) quite loudly walking into a room with a television on. I began to lose that in my fifties. Due to some lab equipment at college, I know I could hear 20 kHz, though not as well. The DAC artifacts I see clearly on spectrum analysis down 60 would have been 20 db over my hearing floor, and annoying, as I had the typical reaction to someone raking their fingernails down a chalkboard. Such a sound would literally make my gums "vibrate". However, I DO hear any intermod in 3-6 kHz over top of a 3 kHz bandwidth signal, and it DOES make the audio seem harsh if there is anything there. Does harshness make any difference in a contest? Not really. 40m has all kinds of annoying crud that comes in. Less crud if it's a K3. 40m is an annoying band. From the CQWWCW 40m claimed 1728 QSOs, I lost only 15 busted/NIL, which I credit to the clarity of the K3 listening to awful signals up close to overpowering signals. Not that I wasn't trying hard to be accurate in the contest, but this result simply stomps any prior personal best where I was trying just as hard. The log also includes signals that pre-K3, I simply would not have attempted. We were all K3 at NY4A and the other bands/ops reflected like improvements. It was no personal fluke. Given that, I would have to say that the RX is an unqualified success in its intended design. But if Elecraft was to offer an audiophile upgrade to the K3 audio, I would put it in -- not for contesting, but just for listening pleasure. I still far prefer my old tube 75A3 for SSB listening, echoing an old complaint from audiophiles about anything transistor vs. anything tubes. But my K3 hears clearly and accurately much stuff that is inaudible on the A3, and the skirts on the A3's mechanical filters are no match for the K3 combined DSP and INRAD. It would be really neat if somehow Elecraft could product audiophile audio in the K3, but for the price spent, an admitted harshness is really nit-picking. I'll take a board with an intended audiophile outcome, and complain about that if it misses, but I bought my current K3 for the contest results. 73, Guy. K2AV ______________________________________________________________ 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
