[Elecraft] Low audio K3?

[JBaumgarte at aol.com]

I have 2 K3's which I use in a contest station I have, use for remoting  
that station (35 miles from home), or the occasional mobile state qso  party.  
I typically use Heil headsets, but picked up a Yamaha after  hearing K9YC 
speak so glowingly about the unit.  I have always noticed the  low level 
audio, but the remote sight is so naturally quiet, that it hasn't been  a big 
problem.  Typically, in cw mode, both gains are almost wide open. But  not so 
bad in SSB, which led me to believe it was something in the set up.   I have 
played with this some, but not a lot of improvement. The Yamaha is  much 
less of a problem.   Last weekend I did a mobile in the Wisconsin  QSO party 
using one of the rigs, and it was somewhat of a nightmare!  I ran  both gains 
wide open 100% of the time, and still had lots of problems hearing  weaker 
stations.  I made over 700 q's (all CW) in the 7 hour  contest but it was a 
struggle. I was in a new Subaru Outback which is  very quiet, but there is 
still considerable wind and road noise to deal  with.  I was kicking myself 
for not bringing the Yamaha along.   Interestingly, another competitive 
station in the contest was using a K3 and  reports the same problem.  He was also 
using a Heil.  I fully realize  my best and least expensive, option might 
be to sell both Heils and buy another  Yamaha or two, but I know that most of 
the stations in my contest club  (Minnesota Wireless Assn) are using Heils 
and can't believe that there isn't  something I'm missing here.  Comments or 
suggestions would be very welcome  and appreciated.
 
73
John, N0IJ