[Elecraft] More Audio OUTPUT please

[Mike McCoy]

Here we go again on the 'need more audio' discussion. I think I started the
last one a couple months ago. I am pretty much now convinced of the
following:

1. First and foremost I submit it's not the *audio* gain that is the issue.
Indeed, my K2 spot/sidetone audio level can/will 'rock the house' on
internal/external speaker or phones. Otherwise my K2 does not come close to
being able to 'produce enough audio to be painful if not actually damage
your hearing'. Thus I believe the problem lies somewhere in the RF
gain/sensitivity chain.

2. There doesn't seem to be much of a middle ground either... Those with
plenty of "audio" state setting their AF gain to anything beyond more than
the 9-10 o'clock position will produce very loud audio whereas those lacking
audio need to set *AF and RF* gain (at least) past 12 to achieve "adequate
to normal" listening levels.

3. I've not been able to ascertain where the dividing point is but appears
earlier K2 (SN# under 2K?) do not exhibit this problem. OTOH it seems pretty
much all later K2's do. I think it would be very enlightening that anyone
commenting pro/con regarding their audio to include their 'normal listening'
AF, RF gain settings and (especially) SN# in their response.

My real concern is I specifically purchased the K2 based on the reputation
that the K2 RX was clearly a superior design with regard to MDS, dynamic
range, IMMD, etc. as objectively measured by the ARRL, etc..

Since it's not AF, but RF 'gain' that seems somehow deficient and there is
apparently a distinct difference in performance between earlier K2's (when
performance was measured) and later ones (e.g. mine) the question for me
becomes 'is the K2 I paid a cool grand for achieving the same level of RX
performance as advertised'?  Frankly I'm not really confident it is.

I'm not disgruntled/criticizing/complaining mind you. Gary & Wayne have been
very helpful, offering all sorts of troubleshooting suggestions. Finding
nothing and unable to achieve any distinct improvement they offered to check
my K2 personally and I've yet to take them up on their offer (I have some
modifications to complete before I send it to them).

73,
Mike - AD5IU

>
> Any suggestions for BEEFING UP
> the audio output of the K2?
>
> I would welcome a bit more audio
> output -  I have optimized headphones.
>
> Josh N7XM
>
> There must be something wrong with your K2, Josh. If you have the right
> phones, the K2 will produce enough audio to be painful if not actually
> damage your hearing.
>
> How's the speaker audio?
>
> Ron AC7AC
> K2 # 1289