[Elecraft] The K2 can compete with the big boys.

[WA2JJH at aol.com]

Had my trusty DRAKE TR-7/R7A, 1978 THE DRAKE 7 LINE WAS TOPS The combo  
transceiver with the rare R7A weighed in about $4000. Everything was  optional.
 
  I did some side by side performnce checks. The sensitivity issue is  very 
complicated.
The tR-7 does not use a pre-amp at all before the mixer. This gives a  
dissapointing .5uv
instead of .15uv the K2 spec. I often bypass the pre-amp to get a drake  
sound out of the K2.
 
  I did pump the RX audio from the K2 into the drakes audio amp and  larger 
speaker.
Amazing The 2 RX's had a low noise floor.
 
  Do your self a favor. Bypass the 14db rf amp. Then get an amplified  
speaker(5w AMP..15w SPEAKER) for your K2 at home. With the 1,8khz filter on  SSB, 
you too will have audio of the big rigs.
 
   One of the uses I have for my newly odered T1 was to match my  K2 rf 
output at 1 watt.
I would then have the TR-7's overbuilt 250W+ input amp, be the '"mouth  
piece''
 
   The later TR-7's always had two blank RCA connectors, They  must have 
known some
ham would put them to use.