[Elecraft] K3: Audio settings

[Grant Youngman]

Feed the line-out into a P-P 6V6 amp (e.g., Eico HF-20, Heath A-9x, an old 6V6 PA amp, etc.) and into a pair (or one if your’e not using both output channels) of bass reflex speakers or AR-somethings.  

I did that with a string of pre-K3 “modern” radios (and quite a few vintage radios with puny audio output), including the K3 for a while, before a major downsizing of stuff.  Worked and played great.  Now I just use a pair of E’craft SP-3s on my K3, which work fine .. and are a lot easier to move around :-)  I have no complaints about K3 audio.

Since the days of big 6V6 audio in vintage gear (think SX-28, NC-183D, etc), radio vendors have mostly paid attention to everything but audio stage quality.  Maybe the new output stage in the K3S makes a big difference .. not owning one, (unfortunately, E’craft didn't make the new main board available for upgrade) I couldn’t say.  But if you pick the audio up at line-out and amplify it with a decent amp and good speakers, you won’t be disappointed with the result.

Grant NQ5T
K3 #2091 KX3 #8342

> On Sep 3, 2018, at 2:46 PM, Bill <billclarke at nycap.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> In the real world, is that "theoretical" improvement noticeable? The improvement I am looking for is significant - not small or incremental. Perhaps it is more than the K3 can provide?
>