[Elecraft] re: Head-to-Head

[Jeff Davis]

Gang,

I see that my last message on this subject was a little sketchy, so
let me give you my final conclusion.

After searching for the "Holy Grail" of 100W, amateur HF, CW
transceivers, my list narrowed to the K2/100 and the 756PRO2.

A local amateur who has a PRO2 invited me over a few nights ago so I
could do a head-to-head comparison (receiver only) between it and my
low-powered K2 (#524).

The PRO2 is a LOT of radio, and I can certainly see how a serious DXer
or contester who has little interest in building a kit transceiver
might choose it as the centerpiece of their station. Almost every bell
and whistle imaginable can be found in the PRO2 and its performance
was exceptional.

But in the testing that I did, there was never a signal that the PRO2
heard that the K2 didn't hear just as well (obviously the numbers
don't lie). In fact, I found the crystal filtering to be superior
because of what I'm assuming were digital artifacts detected on the
received signal of the PRO2. While the DSP did offer some improvement
with regards to QRM elimination, I generally operate the crystal
filter (on my K2) so narrow that I don't see this as an advantage on
CW. If I were a phone operator, I think that I would be more impressed
with DSP in general--but I have yet to find a situation while
operating CW where it (DSP) provides a spectacular advantage.

In fact, I see it as a disadvantage because while I don't consider
myself an audiophile, it was almost like listening to the difference
between a stereo with a tube amplifier and a new CD player. The
received audio was crisp on the PRO2, but signals sounded "warmer" and
a bit "cleaner" on the K2--at least to my ear.

For the record, my completely unscientific "testing" was not done
during a major contest where wall-to-wall signals and overloading are
common problems. But I already have a *lot* of hours in the CQWW, ARRL
SS, and ARRL DX contests with my K2 and I'm completely satisfied with
the way it handles "close-in" signals.

So for those reasons (I'm not counting the $1000 savings or the fun of
building another K2), I've decided to order a new K2/100 with the ATU
and all the other options and it will become my new "main" radio in
the shack. My older K2 will continue to be my "go everywhere, QRP
buddy". Heck, its already earned a few hundred thousand frequent flier
miles on Delta and now gets in the Crown Room with me for free! ;-)

Thanks to all for your feedback and suggestions, it was very much
appreciated.

Vy 73,

--
Jeff, Ke9v