[Elecraft] K3 Mics

[amsctalx at comcast.net]

I'm not going to try to "sell" anyone on the idea of buying a "premium" audio chain, but... 

I agree the K3 provides "good" results with about any mic that can be attached to it. It has a good compressor, useful TX equalizer, bandwidth control and a noise gate. I have obtained "good" results with a Yamaha CM500 and, without processing, my Heil PR40 doesn't sound substantially different from the PR40 on the K3. But I do use audio processing on the K3 and my other transmitters, for several reasons. 

Probably the main reason is that I can make myself sound, within the previously noted 3 kHz bandwidth, sound "casually loud": optimized intelligibility without undue harshness. My station is, as are many people's, a collection of compromises controlled primarily by where I live. This is something I can "tweak", and thus I am gonna tweak it... 

Another factor is that I like to be able to switch TX audio properties quickly to suit operating conditions. I can switch very quickly between "casually loud" and "best-effort pile-up busting" very quickly, even as a DX station is responding to me so that I can go back to "normal" for the exchange. 

I adjust my transceivers "to" the rack, allowing me to switch between radios very quickly and still get the same "sound" from all of my transmitters. This is important as every phone transmitter I have every used has subtle (sometime not-so-subtle) differences in the way they sound on the air. 

Finally...I just want control over this set of parameters. I probably wouldn't make the investment if it were substantially more than what I spent, but as it is I'm very happy with the price/performance ratio. And that, at the end of the day, is what counts. I can't help but notice that this isn't the "cat's whisker and carbon mic" mailing list, so everyone here is making some kind of price-to-performance decision and I suggest that no-one's decisions in this hobby are un-assailable. 


Mike Alexander - N8MSA 

amsctalx at comcast.net 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Alsop" <alsopb at nc.rr.com> 
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 7:49:48 AM 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Mics 

David, 

Yes this is a very interesting phenomenon. Add external gazillion band 
equalizers, compressors, noise gates, $30 connectors, fancy mike 
mounting hardware et al to the mix. All to massage an under 3KHz 
bandwidth signal. 

However it isn't just the phone guys. Some CW guys spent many hundreds 
of dollars for a paddle. All it does is close two contacts. 

I suspect in both cases the point of diminishing returns is reached far 
earlier than these price levels. However, it is good for the economy. 




Like an OT said; If you want to feel your have a strong signal, turn up 
the monitor level. In other words, it's often an in the head game. 

73 de Brian/K3KO 

On 8/15/2012 10:04, David Pratt wrote: 
> I can never understand why people spend hundreds of pounds on Heil 
> headsets and similar when inexpensive computer headsets give such good 
> results. 
> 
> 73 de David G4DMP 
> 
> In a recent message, Graham Kimbell G3TCT<g3tct at lineone.net> writes 
>> I have been using a computer style headset and mic bought from a rally 
>> for about £2. Reports have been very complimentary and it even has its 
> 
>> own volume control. I just bought another one as a spare for £1. Can't 
>> get better value than that! 
> 




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