[Elecraft] My K3's hissy and noisy audio

[Jack Brindle]

I felt the same thing when I first started using my K3. As I started  
learning how to adjust the IF filter controls I found that as the  
bandwidth became more optimum I was also able to cut out the super  
highs and lows. The K3 can give you a really wide audio frequency  
spectrum if you want to hear it. But I have found that for SSB a low  
cut of 350 to 450 Hz coupled with a high cut of around 1.75 KHz  
provides a very good audio range that does not fatigue my ears. For  
contesting I narrow it down even more and still have very copiable  
reception.

For CW I vary the width to give similar results, but much more narrow  
bandwidth. Hearing high or very low pitched sounds can tire your ears  
quickly. My K3 does a great job of eliminating those while still  
allowing me to hear what I need. While I am used to closing down the  
bandwidth to limit what I hear, the other two hams in my family are  
not. Both KB4TGE and KG6YMN have had no problems at all with the  
narrow bandwidths. Both are definitely not in the contester category  
(yet)...

As others have noted on the list, it seems to be best to adjust the  
high and low cuts for SSB, while adjusting the IF bandwidth for CW.  
The latter varies the IF frequency, while the high/low cut does not.

And, for the record, my K3 has the stock 2.7 KHz 5-pole filter along  
with a 500 Hz 5-pole filter. I use a Heil Proset headset with HC-4 mic  
element. I don't yet feel the need for other filters, although I am  
sure that will change as the gift-giving season (Christmas, birthday,  
etc) approaches and the above-mentioned hams start asking what I might  
like... ;-)

The environment of Silicon Valley is very RF-intensive. As one would  
expect of a high-technology area, there are a lot of hams, and  
contesters, in close proximity. I have found that the best setup for  
my K3 in a contest is to run with attenuation ON, preamp OFF, and as  
narrow bandwidth as possible. With this combination, I am actually  
getting back to not having headaches at the end of a long contest. The  
K3 has definitely improved my contest enjoyment.

I think the message here is to experiment with the radio to get what  
you want and need from it. It shouldn't be giving you headaches or  
extraneous noise unless you really want it to. Once you learn the  
magic combination for your operation you should have very enjoyable  
operation.

-Jack Brindle, W6FB
=======================================================================


On Apr 5, 2009, at 10:39 AM, Evert Bakker (PA2KW) wrote:

>
> Maarten Wrote:
>
> " Several other operators also stated the K3's audio was hissy and  
> sharp
> and not nice and smooth. We could hear it using the built-in speaker  
> as well
> as on a Heil Pro Set Plus."
>
> I think there is nothing wrong with your K3.
>
> About a week ago I reported the "bad" audio quality of the K3 but  
> especially
> *in combination* with the (latest version of) Heil Proset headset. I  
> guess
> that the wider freq-response of this headset is showing high  
> "spurious"
> signals which are definitely direct related to the base band audio  
> (100-3000
> Hz) of the signal you are listening to. It's very tiring to listen to.
>
> I'm right now at the point of testing with an audio analyzing  
> software tool
> and will report.
>
>
> The question now is, what can we do about it?
>
>
> 73's, Evert PA2KW
>
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