Re: [Elecraft] K3: Poor AM receive audio quality
Hello Shane, Assuming there's nothing wrong with your internal speaker or it's mounting I still wouldn't expect it to sound very good. I view that little speaker as little more than a device to tell if the radio's working or not, and not suitable for listening. If you haven't done so, try an external speaker, or better still, two. The AFX feature is really nice. After all the K3 -is- a "communications" transceiver. (:-) 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP elecraftcov...@rfwave.net ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Poor AM receive audio quality
Thanks for your replies guys. Hopefully Icom's SP20 makes a difference. I've received too many emails privately to reply to each separately sorry so I hope those who were kind enough to spend their time writing to me won't mind if I answer all questions here? I do have a KBPF3 general coverage bandpass filters installed and my comments about the relatively poor audio quality referred to the sound coming from the K3's internal speaker. While the R2000 sounds terrific using a 6KHz max bandwidth to listen to AM broadcast, the K3 just does not sound very nice at all despite being opened up to 10KHz bandwidth. I couldn't believe how poor it sounded when I turned the rig on the first time (it was factory assembled). I had that sinking feeling you get when you first suspect you've not spent your money on what you should have. At this stage I do expect the K3 will sound fine with the SP20, after all 50Hz and 100Hz were included in the RX EQ for a reason? It's a pity their level doesn't make any difference when listening to the K3's internal speaker. - Shane -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3%3A-Poor-AM-receive-audio-quality-tp1642606p1651351.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Poor AM receive audio quality
You are right, even with an external speaker. I would not say it is bad, but my THS480 is much better, as is my SDR IQ. Like the difference between a cassette tape and a CD say. I think the problem is the low frequency response - it could be something to do with the DSP filtering. The good thing is, it can be changed. For comms, you do not need full frequency response. The K3 is designed primerily for communications. Mike -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3%3A-Poor-AM-receive-audio-quality-tp1642606p1644878.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Poor AM receive audio quality
Shane, you will probably find external speakers transform the quality of the K3. I am using a cheap pair of HiFi book shelf speakers that cost under 20 GBP and it sounds great on local AM broadcast stations using no RX EQ and 6 KHz IF filter. In side by side comparisons with a Perseus SDR and fairly cheap PC speakers on my PC, the K3 sounds much better, with the internal K3 speaker the opposite was the case. The speakers I am using are from a UK high street chain store, www.argos.co.uk and stock number 513/6113. You might want to try a pair of speakers, as the pseudo stereo effect of AFX is amazing. 73 Dave, G4AON K3/100 #80 - Relative to my 1983 Kenwood R-2000 (http://www.rigpix.com/kenwood/r2000.htm), my K3 sounds awful when listening to any AM broadcast stations. I have the 6KHz and 12KHz filters installed and despite widening the AM IF bandwidth to 10KHz and spending many hours fussing about with the RX EQ, I cannot make the K3 to sound even remotely enjoyable. Shane VK5ABQ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3: Poor AM receive audio quality
Relative to my 1983 Kenwood R-2000 (http://www.rigpix.com/kenwood/r2000.htm), my K3 sounds awful when listening to any AM broadcast stations. I have the 6KHz and 12KHz filters installed and despite widening the AM IF bandwidth to 10KHz and spending many hours fussing about with the RX EQ, I cannot make the K3 to sound even remotely enjoyable. Quite frankly, this is really annoying me although I am impressed by the K3 thanks Elecraft. I've ordered an Icom SP20 in the hope this will help but while waiting for it to arrive I did some research and stumbled on this archived thread - http://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft@mailman.qth.net/msg52230.html, which suggests the K3's DSP attenuates the IF passband below 250Hz and the frequency range of the IF passband will be widened in a firmware upgrade. So I have the following questions - Why have the low frequencies been attenuated? Is 250Hz the -6dB or -3dB point? Will the passband be widened in an upgrade? I do admit though that the K3's SSB audio is FAR superior to that of the R2000 (but it does have a VFO resolution of only 100Hz). The K3's SSB audio does sound great. Shane VK5ABQ -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3%3A-Poor-AM-receive-audio-quality-tp1642606p1642606.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
