[Elecraft] Use of external speakers/amp

[Don Wilhelm]

  Rick,

Some DSP based receivers are capable of producing great audio.   
Consider that CD audio is an implementation of DSP.  How close to CD 
quality any practical receiver can come depends on the sampling rates 
and the number of bits in the A-D and D-A conversions.

Inexpensive amplified speakers can sound bad, although some sound quite 
good.  I would suggest using unamplified speakers with the K3 - I was 
able to pick up some old RS Optimus speakers and those are currently on 
my K3.  I have also driven a good quality stereo receiver equipped with 
large stereo speakers - the K3 sounds good within the restrictions 
imposed by the highest frequency that the K3 audio will go - 4 kHz.

You may be trying to straighten out a deficient speaker response with 
the K3 RX-EQ.  I run my K3 with all the EQ settings at zero.  Many 
speakers that are just speakers in a box (usually with an open back) 
will have many irritating peaks in their response curve.  I prefer small 
Hi-Fi speakers over any of the speakers normally found with ham gear.

Since Brian has suggested - yes, I wear hearing aids, but I normally 
listen with the response set for a flat response without noise reduction 
- my audiologist set up a special "music" program for me.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/4/2010 9:16 AM, Rick Stealey wrote:
> Over on qth.com in the forums area (the "Talk" sub-forum) is a discussion called "A sad thing happened
> on the way to a more perfect receiver."  Some interesting topics came up in the discussion, such
> as
> - Are DSP based receivers fatiguing to listen to for long periods of time?
> - The benefits of using external audio amps and speakers.
>
> In connection with the second topic, I wonder what other K3 owners might have done.
> Have you gained any improvement by using external speakers, PC-type speakers with audio
> amps built in, or even something like a stereo amp with hi fi speakers?
>
> I have been experimenting with the receiver equalization, using an external Collins 312B4 speaker
> but still don't have the audio to the way I want it, and I wonder if the internal audio amp might
> be pushed to its limits in normal operation?  When I say it's not the way I want it, that is not
> something I can quantify, at all!  I just haven't been able to make SSB sound smooth and mellow
> like I want.  I won't go so far as to say it is fatiguing.  K3 has the stock ssb filter.
>
> Rick  K2XT
> K3 #3814
>   		 	   		
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