I was curious, so I tried an A/B test between my KX3 and my Lowe HF-150 Europa. Listening to Radio Havana Cuba on 6100, I eventually preferred the KX3. The Lowe had more highs, especially with the synchronous detector, but the signal was cleaner from the KX3. The KX3 does have a somewhat better antenna, a dipole with a balun and coax feed instead of a wire stapled to the top of the fence. I listened in USB with the filters wide open (0.05 to 4.05), NR off. To be fair, this was a fine signal, S9+10.
This was with my ham-cheap external speaker setup, an $8 audio amp and a $22 per pair set of Pyle 3” speakers. wunder K6WRU Walter Underwood CM87wj http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) > On Feb 1, 2017, at 9:07 PM, Walter Underwood <wun...@wunderwood.org> wrote: > > This might help. It is a review of the KX3 as an SWL receiver. The K3 would > add synchronous AM reception and wider filters. > > http://swling.com/blog/2013/07/a-review-of-the-elecraft-kx3-a-world-class-transceiver-superb-shortwave-receiver/ > > <http://swling.com/blog/2013/07/a-review-of-the-elecraft-kx3-a-world-class-transceiver-superb-shortwave-receiver/> > > wunder > K6WRU > Walter Underwood > CM87wj > http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) > >> On Feb 1, 2017, at 8:26 PM, Dauer, Edward <eda...@law.du.edu> wrote: >> >> I would like to hear from anyone who uses a K3 or K3S extensively for >> general coverage HF / short-wave listening. >> >> I am looking for a table-top receiver with general coverage strictly for >> bedroom listening, as the station downstairs already includes a K3/100 >> system, a KX3 system, two K2s, and a K1. This seems to be a neglected part >> of the radio market. What is available seems pretty slim and, frankly, >> tinny. The Sangean ATS-909X has the best reviews but still looks like >> something I would have taken to the beach rather than sat in front of while >> transfixed with the global reach of radio. The new ICOM IC-R8600 looks >> good, with a range up to 3 gigs, but it’s not available yet and the price is >> likely to be in the multi-kilobuck range when it is released. >> >> So, being a loyal member of the Elecraft community, I thought about a K3S >> with just the basic 10 watt TX that this particular radio would never use, >> no sub-RX, the general coverage bandpass filter and the other accessories >> that would extend its range down to LF, an AM roofing filter and naught else. >> >> Then I thought about the ongoing commentary about the K3’s audio . . . . >> because . . . >> >> I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 10-tube >> supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker grille and an amber >> back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors while >> listening to a Radio Moscow announcer crow about Sputnik. Or so I now >> fantasize about my early radio experiences in the 1950s. >> >> I will spend some quality time with my own K3 trying this idea out, but >> thought I would also ask for counsel from the group. Is there something out >> there I haven’t seen yet? Is it reasonable to think about using a K3S in >> just this way? >> >> Thanks for whatever thoughts anyone can offer . . . >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to wun...@wunderwood.org > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to wun...@wunderwood.org ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
