[Elecraft] How loud it i!

[Rich Lentz]

What are we trying to compare here???
Are we talking weak signals are normal signals?  (at least close to S0 -
S1)
With W1AW at a good S3 signal the audio level is painful loud at full
volume. With the knob set at 12:00 I can hear it three rooms away. And I
need a hearing aid, to many years on subs.

With this same signal and then switching over to ANT 2 (which has a
dummy load directly connected to the K2, no cable) the signal level
drops to the point that the S meter lights do not even flicker, however,
I can just detect the signal at 12:00 and must turn past 3:00 to copy.
Headphones or of no help. Turning on the preamp makes it louder, but
increases the noise/hiss. (Signal level still below S1, no flicker of
the S meter.)

At the same time I got a comparable (not scientific) signal level by
putting 8 inches of wire into the jack of my Omni Delta (Similar
sensitivity and noise level as the K2). Yes I could turn the volume up
louder, but the noise was also louder.   I doubt if anyone would want to
copy a signal any weaker due to the hiss/noise.  You would have a
migraine before you completed the QSO. You would need a very narrow
filter to get rid of the HISS and quit possibly a very good DSP to get
any better.

I think what is happening and what the complaint may be is that the K2
is so sensitive that you can signals that are to weak to copy.

If it is not that, then you have jammed the speaker, have a bad
component, or something.

KE0X