[Elecraft] K3 noise reduction vs. Clear Speech speaker

[KM5Q]

Somebody recently was asking if anyone has compared K3 NR with  
external NR systems. I just did, again.

With my old analog rig, I used a Clear Speech speaker (it has built-in  
digital NR). It is VERY effective at reducing any sound that is steady  
for more than about 1/2 second, like stable QRN, and even pretty good  
with less stable QRN. It introduces very little distortion to the  
signal. Really an excellent product. It has since evolved into another  
company's product, but I'm not sure which one.

When I got the K3, I tried the Clear Speech and found it redundant  
with the NR in the K3, so I retired it and went stereo.

Then, NR seemed to improve considerably somewhere around FW 1.88. I  
thought I'd never use the Clear Speech again with the K3.

Changes again ocurred in the NR with subsequent FW versions. I'm not  
so happy with it. Even on low settings, it seems overly agressive.  
There is no setting, even 1-1, that does not unpleasantly distort the  
audio and make the volume unstable.

So I dusted off the Clear Speech guess what? It now works better for  
reducing steady QRN than the K3. By "better", I mean I it pleases me  
enough to want to use it. I have nearly given up on using the NR after  
upgrades of the past 2 months or so. I think it got better, then worse.

All it needs to do on low settings is cancel out any sound that's  
steady. That was done nicely with a $120 product in the 90's. What's  
up, Elecraft?

Windy KM5Q
Santa Fe, NM
K3 #764