[Elecraft] FW: New CW audio recording: K3 vs. K4D

Sat Jun 27 10:17:34 EDT 2020

Hi Morgan,

The recorded audio stream accurately represents the output of the radio. The spectral analysis is also accurate. There is no claim asserted however, only to point out that in this particular test something does not seem to be right with the K4 filter. Others had reported it with comments such as a bassy sound, etc. and the analysis I provided merely quantifies that. I have professional experience using spectral analysis techniques and am positive that the analogy with smoke signal analysis is false. I know we all are expecting a great radio, and also that hiccups such is this in early tests are common. However it is essential that this sort of situation be clearly identified and documented during test to make sure it doesn’t leak out into production.

I also have a K4D on order and am confident that the problem is either accidental or will be cured by delivery!

Cheers,

Ed / w2rf

From: Morgan Bailey <mbaileycrna at gmail.com> 
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2020 9:24 AM
To: E.H. Russell <ehr at qrv.com>
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FW: New CW audio recording: K3 vs. K4D

Armchair analysis, not having the radio in front of the equipment, taking a compressed audio file and staking a claim...this is sadly funny. Go to Eham.net and look at the same thing by people who believe themselves an authority on smoke signals. 

I'll wait for my 2 K4's to arrive. I know I will be quite happy. The radios are feature rich and will take a learning curve. What makes a good/great radio is not just what the equipment on the bench reads out or measures. There is ergonomics, ease of operation, asthetic beauty, technical electronic construction and design that make the total package. For instance, Flex radios are plagued with problems in software, drivers, memory cards, multiple error messages, failure to boot taking 45 minutes to get the OS working properly, and besides, they are one of the most ugly radios on the market. People still buy the 6600M and use it for contesting even though it does not score in the top ten on Sherwood tests. Contests are still won every day with radios that are 30 years old and with new tech that  are plagued with problems. If you want a stereo, then go buy a stereo and leave the audio analysis to the audiophiles, besides I doubt your ears are that good at any age. If one was an orchestra Maestro, then maybe this might be true but for the average ham, these clips sound great. There are known problems with the audio recordings like RF getting into the MK2R+. Now there is an area that Elecraft could surely work on and make their own seamless interface to the elecraft line for SO2R operation.

On Sat, Jun 27, 2020 at 5:01 AM E.H. Russell <ehr at qrv.com <mailto:ehr at qrv.com> > wrote:

I finally got a chance to listen to the recordings. The K4 sounded very
bottom heavy with band noise. I did a quick analysis on the spectrum
analyzer and confirmed that the K3 envelope looks ok, but something is not
right about the K4. The K3 is centered on about 450hz and is symmetrical,
with steep skirts on both low and high end. The K4 appears to be set at the
same center but it blossoms out on the lows, accounting for the low
frequency band noise evident in the recording. The K4 filter high end is
also soft.

Spectrogram available here:

http://www.qrv.com/download/K3K4CWspectrum.png

The K3 is light blue and the K4 is green (the red and blue are unused
channels).

It looks like the DSP filter on the K4 may have a configuration problem.

Tks,

73 Ed w2rf

-----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> >  <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 Charlie T
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2020 6:21 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net>  <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net> > 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New CW audio recording: K3 vs. K4D

This is sorta like demonstrating a 4K TV screen using a 1080 video.

Too many detracting variables, recorder, internet, D to A, your audio
system,  etc.

Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----

From:  <mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> >
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> >
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Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2020 8:32 AM

To:  <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net> > elecraft at mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New CW audio recording: K3 vs. K4D

I would have to say both sound better then my KX3 speaker.  ;-)  And I'm
waiting for my 

K4D!   BTW, the recording doesn't sound as good and my K2.  :-)  So we'll

see if the K4 can

hold up against the K2.  :-)

--

73, William KT5TE

On Wednesday, June 24, 2020 10:32:51 PM CDT Macy monkeys wrote:

> Overall, the K3 sounded a little smoother to my ears. I do not own a

> K3 nor have I ordered a K4. But I would be happy with either one!

> 

> John K7FD

> 

> > On Jun 24, 2020, at 7:24 PM, Bob Wilson, N6TV < <mailto:n6tv at arrl.net <mailto:n6tv at arrl.net> >
n6tv at arrl.net <mailto:n6tv at arrl.net> > wrote:

> > 

> > 73,

> 

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