[Elecraft] K2 receive volume

[Don Wilhelm]

Jim and all,

I have worked on about 5 K2s since I acquired my XG1, and I can state that
the gain of a properly aligned K2 from the antenna through the IF amplifier
is very close from one K2 to another.  Filter alignment will account for
huge variations.

Also, since I have been experimenting with my fixed audio output board for
the K2, I have found that the audio level at the volume control (VOL1 and
VOL2) is also close across the board - but some do sound louder than others
to my ears (given a similar AF gain setting).

I have long wondered what the difference may be and am at the point of
concluding that it is due to differences in the LM380-N audio amplifier gain
(but the parts should sufficiently consistent from batch to batch than the
differences I hear - and my own SN 00020 is one of the 'weak' ones.  I am
not inclined to blame it on speaker differences because I have tried several
speakers in my K2 and all produce about the same level.  One of these days,
I might investigate further, but it is not really important enough to persue
at the moment - more a curiosity than anything else.

73,
Don W3FPR

Life is what happens when you are making other plans

----- Original Message ----- 

> One point:
>
> We need to distinguish between "volume" and "gain".
>
> I've never noticed any K2 being short of "volume" - meaning the ability to
> deliver room-filling audio without unacceptable distortion, *given a big
enough
> signal*.
>
> But some K2s have more gain than others, meaning total overall
amplification
> from the antenna terminal to the speaker or headphones.
>