[Elecraft] Compare: K3 to Collins S-line receiver

Don Wilhelm donwilh at embarqmail.com
Mon Jun 4 10:31:37 EDT 2018


Henry,

I understand, but no matter, the thing that causes the "warm" sound for 
tube amplifiers is the inherent 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion in the 
output transformers.  That is nigh-on to impossible to eliminate.
Solid state gear does not normally use output transformers.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/4/2018 10:19 AM, Henry Pollock - K4TMC wrote:
> Don,
>
> Thanks for the comments.  Good points!
>
> And just to keep the thread from getting off track...my point of 
> reference relative to tube audio is post 1995 era electronic and 
> speaker designs, not the "old tube-type radio" and their associated 
> speakers.
>
> 73,
> Henry - K4TMC
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 4, 2018 at 9:57 AM, Don Wilhelm <donwilh at embarqmail.com 
> <mailto:donwilh at embarqmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     Henry,
>
>     I believe you will find the arguments similar to those among
>     audiophiles when recorded music was changing from vinyl to CDs.
>     My take on the subject is that the dynamic range of the digital
>     techniques exceeded the analog by a wide range you will not be
>     able to discern the microprocessor noise at normal or even very
>     high listening levels.
>
>     Take a look at the dynamic range and MDS of modern hybrid (like
>     the K3/K3S) receivers or good SDR receivers (like KX3 or KX2), in
>     comparison to some of the best analog receivers, and you should
>     find that the dynamic range is much greater (indicating its
>     resistance to overload and distortion is greater).  That increased
>     dynamic range gives rise to a better MDS - in other words, it can
>     hear weaker signals.
>     The mathematics in the DSP code is not going to cause distortion
>     unless the ADC is overloaded with a strong signal (good design
>     says that should not happen).
>
>     The Sherwood listings will verify what I am saying - yes, there
>     are several analog tube-type radios in the Sherwood listing, but
>     they are pretty far down the list.
>
>     Any microprocessor noise should only be introduced in the audio
>     section, and with good design, that should not happen either - oh
>     yes, if you have very good ears, you might be able to hear some at
>     a very low level if you turn the AF gain up all the way, but that
>     is not a normal condition.
>
>     If your ears feel that the tube audio gear is "warmer" than the
>     solid state stuff, then consider that the tube gear generates some
>     2nd and 3rd order distortion which is normally what makes it sound
>     "warmer".  There are devices available for solid state audio which
>     add a bit of that "warming sound" to better satisfy the ears of
>     those who like to hear it.
>
>     Certainly, the large speaker enclosures used with old tube-type
>     radios sound much better than the small speakers in compact solid
>     state radios, so please don't compare based on those speakers. 
>     Connect a good quality audio system to both radios if you want to
>     make a comparison of that sort.
>
>     73,
>     Don W3FPR
>
>
>
>     On 6/4/2018 8:49 AM, Henry Pollock - K4TMC wrote:
>
>         Yes, I would like to here what others can add to this thread. 
>         One of my
>         past hobbies was high-end tube audio electronics, and in
>         numerous set-ups,
>         they sounded superior to solid-state equipment.
>
>         So, my additional question would be...is the microprocessor
>         noise/distortion affecting the RF signal or just the AF
>         signal, or both?
>
>         73,
>         Henry - K4TMC
>
>
>         On Sun, Jun 3, 2018 at 7:46 PM, Ron Genovesi
>         <n3eta at coastside.net <mailto:n3eta at coastside.net>> wrote:
>
>             I’m interested. Keep the thread going here
>
>             Ron Genovesi
>             Sent from My  iPad
>
>                 On Jun 3, 2018, at 7:22 AM, Kjeld Holm
>                 <kh at kh-translation.dk <mailto:kh at kh-translation.dk>>
>                 wrote:
>
>                 Dear Bill,
>
>                 Parts of the answer can be found at
>                 http://www.sherweng.com/table.html
>                 <http://www.sherweng.com/table.html>
>                 search for Collins and you will get some 3 - 5 hits.
>
>                 Vy 73 de OZ1CCM, Kjeld
>
>                 -----Original Message-----
>                 From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>                 <mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
>                 [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>                 <mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net>] On Behalf
>                 Of Bill
>                 Sent: 3. juni 2018 15:17
>                 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>                 <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>                 Subject: [Elecraft] Compare: K3 to Collins S-line receiver
>
>                 Discounting the digital capabilities such as memories,
>                 DSP, etc. and
>                 only considering actual signal reception: I have had
>                 S-lines in the past
>                 (dark dim past), so certainly am familier with them.
>                 However, as a point
>                 of curiosity, how does the S-line compare to the K3
>                 (only interested in
>                 SSB). Basically, I am interested in how a top of the
>                 line analog
>                 receiver does compares to a K3(S)? The question comes
>                 from a QSO
>                 regarding the microprocessor noise of modern rigs
>                 covering and/or
>                 distorting received signals. Offline response might be
>                 good for this, as
>                 I am sure not many would be interested in the subject.
>
>                 Thanks, Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
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