[Elecraft] bad audio

[Don Wilhelm]

Marshall,

Are you operating the MC-43 in the 500 ohm position - there is a 50K/500 
switch shown in the MC-43 schematic and it should be in the 500 ohm 
position.
How are you handling the mic bias when switching from the MH2 (electret 
element which needs the bias resistor) and the MC-43 (dynamic element 
which should NOT have the bias resistor installed.
Since you did not build this K2, you may not have the relevant 
information about the bias resistor.  The MH2 needs a 5.6k resistor 
soldered between pins 1 and 6 on the back of the K2 mic jack, or some 
other clever means (put the resistor in the MH2 mic plug body) to 
provide bias for the electret element.

I assume you have successfully aligned your filters with Spectrogram.   
How does the OP1 filter passband look in Spectrogram.  It should have a 
rather flat appearance within the passband.  If it looks ragged with a 
LOT of passband ripple, that is an indication of a faulty crystal in the 
KSB2 filter.  You MUST have SSB FL1 set to the OP1 (or OP2 thru OP5 - 
they are all the same) filter or TX SSB will sound horrible.

Let me know if I can help further.  I may not be available by phone, but 
email does work.

73,
Don W3FPR 

William Marshall Denny II wrote:
> Hello all,
>  I bought a K2 serial number 5334 some time ago and I have been 
> enjoying the capabilities of the receiver since I got it in the shack.
>    Transmit audio on SSB is another matter.
>
>    I have tried changing mics and readjusting the BFO for OP1  etc.
>  I continue to get audio reports that I have muffled or distorted 
> audio.  In general, the reports are that I am barely understandable in 
> good condition and I can not use the k2 to transmit in poor conditions.
> I am using a kenwood mc-43s mic currently and have tried the mh2 mic.  
> I get better reports with the kenwood mic.
> I have tried to monitor my own audio with another receiver but  I am 
> not sure even when using a dummy load that I am not getting distortion 
> from overload on the second receiver.
> But, considering at a .1 watt power level in to a dummy load is not 
> over loading. I hear badly distorted audio that seams to me to have 
> elements of clipping at the peaks of words.  And also even when i 
> whistle a single tone I hear multiple tones in the second receiver. In 
> addition, I would have to characterize my audio a generally unpleasing.
>
> I have also tried all mic and processor level in the menu., both SSBa 
> and SSbC
>
> I have tried every thing I know.
> I would like to get some input on what to try next.
>
>
>
>