I've just done an A/B comparison between my K3 and my Kenwood TS-480SAT.
I had the pre-amp switched on in both transceivers. On the 480 I was
able to comfortably hear a signal from my signal generator some 10 dB
lower in level on the 480 than I could on the K3, which is quite a
difference.
I think the often quoted MDS (minimum discernible signal) makes the
specification appear "better" than it really is and is not realistic.
MDS is a measure of the signal that increases the output of the receiver
by 3 dB when the signal generators output is turned on. You couldn't
copy by ear a signal of that level except for the slowest of Morse
keying and then it would be very hard going. The "old fashioned" signal
level that gives a signal to noise ratio of 10 dB is more meaningful, as
a 10 dB above the noise signal is a comfortable listening level that we
can all equate to.
I had done earlier A/B comparisons between the K3 and 480 where I didn't
think there was a difference, I must have mistakenly not use the 480
pre-amp...
73 Dave, G4AON
K3/100 #80
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