[Elecraft] K3 Audio [was: K3S vs. K3]

[G4GNX]

I tend to use my K3 with headphones and a boom mike and the audio quality is 
excellent. From this I could  deduce that it's possibly because the main 
amplifier is not in use, neither is the K3 speaker. If a new audio module 
becomes available, I may purchase one but for the time being, I'm happy to 
use the low level output from the K3 into a better quality audio amplifier 
and a decent sized speaker.

I also have an Icom IC7100 which temporarily gets more use than the K3, but 
although the audio quality through its speaker seems to be better than the 
K3, if it's increased to a medium to loud output, the speaker rattles and 
the amplifier is being pushed too hard and doesn't have sufficient output. I 
really need to connect a better quality outboard speaker to evaluate the 
rig's internals.

Once my new shack is completed, I intend to have a small sound system that 
can be connected to one or more rigs at a time, which will bypass the high 
level outputs.

73,

Alan. G4GNX

-----Original Message----- 
From: Phil Hystad
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2015 6:43 PM
To: Doug Person
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S vs. K3

I had a debate a while back (about a year ago) with a friend of mine who got 
an Icom 7600 and he thought it was far superior to the K3.  His evaluation 
though was listening to the audio of the K3 versus the audio of the Icom 
7600.  Since the 7600 sounded more like what he thought a good radio should 
sound like, he chose the 7600.  I had been trying to “sell” him on getting a 
K3.

So, I am wondering — is audio quality and tone the big measure of the 
performance of a radio.  I know that my K3 audio does not sound as deep as 
my old Icom Pro III audio (I sold the Pro III last year) but my K3 could 
pick up and hear stations that did not even register with the Pro III.  And, 
I could narrow down and separate out close CW stations with ease on the K3 
compared to the jumble on the Pro III.  These features and many others are 
the hallmarks of a superior radio — audio quality to me is down the list 
past the top dozen other useful features found in the K3.

Will I buy the new audio/DSP board when it is available for the K3.  Not 
sure, but so far I have no problems with my current K3 audio.

73, phil, K7PEH