[Elecraft] Low headphone audio level

[Tom W8JI]

>> We sort of got sidetracked from the original posters remarks. It's about 
>> low
>> headphone level on the K3. If the level were a bit higher there would be 
>> no
>> need to plug the headphones into the speaker jack. Similarly each pair of
>> headphones you grab seems to have a different level. I have 3 different
>> headphones and don't intend to buy a forth. Naturally the one that is the
>> most comfortable is also the one with the lowest level. And I understand
>> that most people don't seem to have this problem. It might be better 
>> hearing
>> or better headphones.

A good audio line with lots of volume headroom is everything. I can't 
imagine spending so much time on everything else in the station and then not 
spending any time on something used and changed all the time like the audio 
output lines.

I have never liked nor used the headphone jacks in anything from my 
boatanchors up through my FT1000's of all flavors and the K3. I've never 
found them suitable or flexible enough for my tastes.

I always run the speaker line out to a switching system, and I terminate 
that line in a load safe for the radio. Then I bridge off that line with 
either a good big speaker and audio amp, or headphones.

I have virtually no problems at all with any headphone bridging across the 
speaker output lines of any radio, and I can bridge multiple headsets at 
once.

The toughest thing for me is to get guest ops to stop using the headphone 
jacks on receivers and transceivers, and to use the desk mounted jacks.

http://www.w8ji.com/cables_and_wiring.htm

I have to finish that page some day. :-)

73 Tom