[Elecraft] Phonema Speaker for K3

[GRANT YOUNGMAN]

On Sep 5, 2014, at 8:43 PM, Luis V. Romero <lromero at ij.net> wrote:

> 
> This is sort of like those beautifully machined knob sets... $250 for a VFO knob that probably cost less than $20 to make!
> 
> But then, yes, Im guilty of accessorizing as well... I had my callsign engraved on my K3's display window and it cost me $25, so I wont throw Bencher Paddles in a glass Shack  :)
> 

I suspect you underestimate the cost of materials, CNC milling, finish machining/polishing, coating, and QC of the knobs.  But — we all spend too much money on what might seem to be “little” things.

I got a tip from someone on a boatanchor list several years ago about RCA (sold by Radio Shack) 40-5035 bookshelf speakers.  These are just slightly larger (and older) than the common Minimus 7 things, but play a whole lot better.  I found several of them over time on the auction site, and use them on virtually all of my BA radios — and a pair on the K3.   Very nice audio quality with reasonable low end and efficient enough for the K3 to drive them easily.  They have a 5 inch cone and a mylar ribbon (Linaeum) tweeter.  Nice little speaker.  They still show up from time to time.  There’s a 40-5037 that shows up more frequently and is just a bit larger, but I don’t have any experience with them.

Potato Potahto … :)

Grant NQ5T