[Elecraft] K3: Comparison to Big Guns

[Kenneth Waites]

The K3 has a different receiver design.  Its first IF is 8,215 Mhz while the IC-7700, IC7800 has an IF that is near 75 Mhz.  The result is that roofing filters can be built for 8,215 Mhz that have smaller and pass, since trying to build a 200-500 cycle filter for the higher freq is impossible or extremely expensive using current technology.  SO... the design of the K3 and Orion allow the roofing filters that are key to their performance.
   
  The higher first IF used in the Icom rigs has an advantage of fewer images.  That is their key disign criteria, rather than a sharp roofing filter.  As a result, I would say the K3 is the performance choice for CW and digital, where as the Icom rigs with all the bells and whistles are the SSB operator's dream.  It "sure is pretty'!
   
  Ken K5WK