[Elecraft] Just how good is the K2?

[George, W5YR]

Not to prolong the "mine is bigger than yours" discussion, but listening to
the major CW contests has not produced either the cacophony or the aural
fatigue that have mentioned.

Perhaps it is a combination of headphones/speakers, outboard audio system,
"old" (74 years) ears, etc. that make the difference. I have no doubt that I
fail to hear much of the higher frequency components that induce fatigue in
people with normal hearing.

Yet the IF/audio response of the PRO2 spans about 60 - 3400 Hz at the -6 dB
points with a fairly abrupt flank beyond that point, so not too many highs
are coming through that I would miss. And the K2 has a passband much more
restrictive than that for SSB. And the higher shape factors on CW would tend
to allow more high-frequency artifacts and band noise, etc. into the headset
than would the PRO2 when set to the same nominal IF bandwidth.

Brendan, in response to your lengthier email as well, I do not at all
disagree with your preference for the K2. I might share that with you if (a)
I had your hearing and (b) my K2 were equipped with the audio DSP module and
the latest mods, etc.

Remember that I was not attempting to put down the K2 in favor of the PRO2.
I merely was enquiring as to why the K2 has gained such favor as the
"preferred" station receiver, based upon BDR and IMD3 measurements,  in the
face of the features and functions that it lacks in its design. You
explained quite clearly why in your case, such was the preference.

I appreciate your input and viewpoint. No one is trying to convince anyone
of the inferiority or superiority of one radio vis a vis another. As long as
each of us is pleased and can operate effectively with our preferred radio,
then all is well. As a paraphrase of another old saw "One man's bells and
whistles are another man's toolset."

73, George W5YR
w5yr@att.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brendan Minish" <ei6iz@oceanfree.net>
To: "George, W5YR" <w5yr@att.net>; "Lee Buller" <k0wa@swbell.net>
Cc: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 5:16 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Just how good is the K2?


> At 06:19 20/01/2004, George,  W5YR wrote:
>
> >When I can watch the spectral response of an S1 CW signal in a 150 Hz DSP
IF
> >filter and the associated receiver noise floor in that bandwidth, and
then
> >introduce an S9+40 dB signal just off the flank of the passband and see
no
> >change in either the weak signal or the receiver noise floor, then I have
to
> >believe that the PRO2 is just not the bad actor that the ARRL front-end
> >measurements would have us believe.
>
>
> This isn't a real world test! introduce 2 or 3 9++ signals within 5 Khz
and
> I suspect things will not be as pretty
>
>