Discussion:
[Elecraft] External speaker recommendation.....
Eddy
2014-01-06 21:01:40 UTC
Permalink
I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every time I plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal speaker........

So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better" than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$ on one...

Thanks and 73

ed
Fred Smith
2014-01-06 21:12:26 UTC
Permalink
YES!

The West Mountain Radio COMspkr $39, I have several sets of them on my
K2/K3.


73,
Fred/N0AZZ
K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 5210--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100
P3/SVGA--KAT500--W2
Amps Elecraft KPA500 HF/6m--Alpha's 9500 HF--87A HF--Mirage B-5030-G
300+w--(2) B-5016-G's 165w 2m



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Eddy
Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 3:02 PM
To: Elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] External speaker recommendation.....





I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every time I
plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal
speaker........

So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better"
than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$
on one...

Thanks and 73

ed
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Rose
2014-01-06 21:23:14 UTC
Permalink
I too endorse the West Mountain speakers! I have them in use on my K2,
K3, KX3 and two commmputers.

73 !
Ken - K0PP
Don Wilhelm
2014-01-06 21:31:20 UTC
Permalink
Ed,

One possible reason for your lack of satisfaction in external speakers
may be that they are all 8 ohm speakers.
The K2 audio amplifier does not have a lot of excess gain (that was by
design to limit the receive current). If you are to get a decent amount
of power out of it, the speaker load must be 4 ohms or less. A higher
impedance (or less efficient) speaker will sound quite weak compared to
the internal speaker.

An amplified speaker can be used to fix that.

73,
Don W3FPR
Post by Eddy
I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every time I plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal speaker........
So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better" than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$ on one...
Thanks and 73
ed
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Vic Rosenthal K2VCO
2014-01-06 21:58:35 UTC
Permalink
EricJ
2014-01-06 22:02:15 UTC
Permalink
I thought something was wrong with my ears (OK, there is, but not this).
I've tried several external speakers as well. The latest was the West
Mountain ones which I made the mistake of opening and lost all
confidence in what I saw.

The K2 speaker has been better for CW than anything else I have tried.
No explanation.

Eric
KE6US
Post by Eddy
I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every time I plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal speaker........
So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better" than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$ on one...
Thanks and 73
ed
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Fred Smith
2014-01-06 22:21:49 UTC
Permalink
I have paid upwards of $350 for a sets of speakers for radios and ending up
selling all the others in favor of the West Mountain ones......If you're
only going to use your single receiver K2 for CW and digital modes
headphones might be the only required. Come to think of it I do still have 1
set of Icom speakers left for low clearance and match an Icom radio I have.
But they only cost about $300 for the set and don't sound as good as the $39
set.


73,
Fred/N0AZZ
K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 5210--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100
P3/SVGA--KAT500--W2
Amps Elecraft KPA500 HF/6m--Alpha's 9500 HF--87A HF--Mirage B-5030-G
300+w--(2) B-5016-G's 165w 2m




-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of EricJ
Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 4:02 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] External speaker recommendation.....

I thought something was wrong with my ears (OK, there is, but not this).
I've tried several external speakers as well. The latest was the West
Mountain ones which I made the mistake of opening and lost all confidence in
what I saw.

The K2 speaker has been better for CW than anything else I have tried.
No explanation.

Eric
KE6US
Post by Eddy
I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every time
I plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal
speaker........
Post by Eddy
So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better"
than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$
on one...
Post by Eddy
Thanks and 73
ed
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list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Jim Brown
2014-01-06 22:54:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by EricJ
The K2 speaker has been better for CW than anything else I have tried.
Elecraft found a VERY good speaker for the K2. Don's advice about
looking for a 4 ohm speaker is also good -- virtually all loudspeaker
amplifiers have a VERY low output Z, typically 0.1 Ohm or less, making
them a constant voltage source. By simple Ohm's law, they will provide
maximum power to the lowest impedance which they are designed. Power is
E squared divided by R, so you can use them with higher Z speakers, but
you will lose 3 dB of level for 8 ohms, another 3dB for 16 ohms.

The second part of the equation is loudspeaker efficiency. In general,
the smaller the loudspeaker, the less efficient it is. In other words,
louder = bigger. The best 4 ohm loudspeaker I know of is the MR55, made
by RCF, and Italian company. I've used them in some high profile
projects. They're not cheap. Smaller speakers in their line are not
nearly as nice.

73, Jim K9YC
Walter Underwood
2014-01-06 22:58:42 UTC
Permalink
Then I should plan on using my Magneplanar SMGa's, because they are 2 Ohm speakers. Except I don't have a K2. Dang.

wunder
K6WRU
Post by EricJ
The K2 speaker has been better for CW than anything else I have tried.
Elecraft found a VERY good speaker for the K2. Don's advice about looking for a 4 ohm speaker is also good -- virtually all loudspeaker amplifiers have a VERY low output Z, typically 0.1 Ohm or less, making them a constant voltage source. By simple Ohm's law, they will provide maximum power to the lowest impedance which they are designed. Power is E squared divided by R, so you can use them with higher Z speakers, but you will lose 3 dB of level for 8 ohms, another 3dB for 16 ohms.
The second part of the equation is loudspeaker efficiency. In general, the smaller the loudspeaker, the less efficient it is. In other words, louder = bigger. The best 4 ohm loudspeaker I know of is the MR55, made by RCF, and Italian company. I've used them in some high profile projects. They're not cheap. Smaller speakers in their line are not nearly as nice.
73, Jim K9YC
Mel Farrer
2014-01-06 23:07:23 UTC
Permalink
So far with my KX3, I have found the the self powered X-Mini speaker does well on CW and SSB.? While not hifi, it is very good.? <$40.

Mel, K6KBE





On Monday, January 6, 2014 2:59 PM, Walter Underwood <wunder at wunderwood.org> wrote:

Then I should plan on using my Magneplanar SMGa's, because they are 2 Ohm speakers. Except I don't have a K2. Dang.

wunder
K6WRU
Post by EricJ
The K2 speaker has been better for CW than anything else I have tried.
Elecraft found a VERY good speaker for the K2.? Don's advice about looking for a 4 ohm speaker is also good -- virtually all loudspeaker amplifiers have a VERY low output Z, typically 0.1 Ohm or less, making them a constant voltage source. By simple Ohm's law, they will provide maximum power to the lowest impedance? which they are designed. Power is E squared divided by R, so you can use them with higher Z speakers, but you will lose 3 dB of level for 8 ohms, another 3dB for 16 ohms.
The second part of the equation is loudspeaker efficiency. In general, the smaller the loudspeaker, the less efficient it is. In other words, louder = bigger. The best 4 ohm loudspeaker I know of is the MR55, made by RCF, and Italian company. I've used them in some high profile projects. They're not cheap. Smaller speakers in their line are not nearly as nice.
73, Jim K9YC
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ac5p
2014-01-07 03:49:57 UTC
Permalink
?

________________________________
???
The K2 speaker has been better for CW than anything else I have tried.
No explanation.

Eric
KE6US

?
?My experience likewise and this includes my K3.?? The CW sidetone is improved and boosted
even more with a right angle deflector on top of the internal speaker.? A 2 inch PVC elbow (painted?black)?does this nicely.?

Mike
AC5P
Scotty Long
2014-01-06 22:30:18 UTC
Permalink
The best I've used for monitoring while working in the shack or letting my kids listen to an active cw QSO is the speaker from my Drake TR4C. Otherwise I use headphones most of the time...

Scotty/NU0S

K1-4...S/N. 3206

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Eddy <k6sdw at yahoo.com> wrote:





I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every time I plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal speaker........

So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better" than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$ on one...

Thanks and 73

ed
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Bob
2014-01-06 22:37:42 UTC
Permalink
Hi Ed,

Well "better" is very subjective but I liked the powered Motorola
speaker. I used the original built in Motorola amp, Type 1 as shown here:

http://www2.opparc.org/mirrors/n0ss/www.n0ss.net/index_general.html

They are widely available at ham flea markets and Ebay. To me the
better aspect was level as I felt the K2 was lacking for my ears. Maybe one of
the none powered ones would even work for you.

73,
Bob
K2TK
Post by Eddy
I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every time I plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal speaker........
So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better" than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$ on one...
Thanks and 73
ed
______________________________________________________________
Randy Lake
2014-01-07 00:59:08 UTC
Permalink
I am currently using the Bose Companion2 Series 2. They sound really nice.
They are roughly 3in.x 7in. and dual inputs so I can have the radio and my
system sound card going into it without having to switch or have a second
set of speakers. I think I got them on www.woot.com for around $70.
73 HNY
Randy N1KWF
Post by Bob
Hi Ed,
Well "better" is very subjective but I liked the powered
Motorola speaker. I used the original built in Motorola amp, Type 1 as
http://www2.opparc.org/mirrors/n0ss/www.n0ss.net/index_general.html
They are widely available at ham flea markets and Ebay. To me
the better aspect was level as I felt the K2 was lacking for my ears. Maybe
one of the none powered ones would even work for you.
73,
Bob
K2TK
Post by Eddy
I'm amazed at how well my K2 internal speaker works and sounds! Every
time I plug in an external speaker, I've quickly gone back to the internal
speaker........
So, has anyone found an external speaker for the k2 that sounds "better"
than the internal unit? Also, I'm really not willing to spend a bunch of $$
on one...
Thanks and 73
ed
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--
Randy Lake N1KWF
73 Gunn Rd.
Keene,NH
Bill W
2014-01-07 00:48:19 UTC
Permalink
The West Mountain Radio COMspkr work great with my K3 station.
Available from HRO for under $40.00.
Good luck.
Bill - W0BBI



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Eugene Balinski
2014-01-08 04:37:59 UTC
Permalink
All,

I am finally getting around to assembling my KX3. If I
read the invoice correctly, the Serno is 888.

I know that there have been a number of ECO's for
various issues. Is there some place that they are all
collected such that I can order the necessary parts at once
? How about from-to instructions or errata so one would
know when to use the new parts ?

Thanks es 73

Gene K1NR
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