[Elecraft] K3 noise reduction vs. Clear Speech speaker

[Dave Martin]

> 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
>
>
I was the one asking for a comparison, and I received two replies,
each one saying that the external speaker (two different brands) they
were using was an improvement over the K3's noise reduction.  I
ordered one, and sure enough, it's better.  It seems that any NR
system is far from perfect however.  But now my external NR gives me
some relief from the constant grind I have.  I had quit using the K3's
NR not only because it wasn't helping on SSB, but also because if I
had been using it, the AF gain had to be set so high that the next
time I powered up the radio I was blasted out of my chair because it
powers up with NR off, even if it was on before.  So I'll use the
outboard NR until the K3's NR becomes satisfactory for me.  If it ever
does, I'll offer my NR speaker to some unfortunate OM with a lesser
radio.

Dave  W5DHM
Goshen, Indiana