+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 19:54:21 -0500 From: "Andy Anderson" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 audio level My K1 speaker will put your ears out, but it does take much more clockwise turn on the volume. Electrically, that stands to reason though. Andy W5VCJ - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Beringer" To: Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 6:44 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K1 audio level > Hi all, > I finished my K1 and it works just fine. First contact was RW1ZA with a > Hamstick dipole. But I'm not here to brag....really. I was wondering if > others have noticed a low level of speaker output but no problems with the > headphone output. I can blast my ears off with the headphones but unless > there is a powerful signal, the speaker output is pretty lame. > Paul W7EAI +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 22:59:32 -0500 From: Mike Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 audio level Paul Beringer wrote: > I was wondering if others have noticed a low level of speaker > output but no problems with the headphone output. I can blast my > ears off with the headphones but unless there is a powerful signal, > the speaker output is pretty lame. I've worked in power plants for a long time, so my hearing is not all that great anymore. That notwithstanding, I can get very uncomfortably *loud* audio from the K1 internal speaker on most signals. I have found that if you overtighten the speaker mounting screws, the audio output and quality from the speaker can be affected drastically. I leave the screws only tight enough to prevent the nut from working out. The least little mechanical distortion (not even visible) of the speaker frame can make a lot of difference. 73, Mike / KK5F ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 07:57:18 -0500 From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 audio level Paul: >I finished my K1 and it works just fine. First contact was RW1ZA with a >Hamstick dipole. But I'm not here to brag....really. I was wondering if >others have noticed a low level of speaker output but no problems with the >headphone output. I can blast my ears off with the headphones but unless >there is a powerful signal, the speaker output is pretty lame. Generally the K1 will BLAST the cone out of the speaker!!! SIGNIFICANTLY more AF output than it's big brother, the K2. Try substituting a different speaker, and check your soldering around both the headphone jack and the speaker connector for possible shorts or unsoldered pins. Also, make sure that C9 on the RF Board (Output Coupling cap) is 220uF and properly polarized. 73 - Tom Hammond N0SS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Low audio on K1 s/n 1253 Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2002 16:21:04 -0700 Steve wrote: Well I found the problem, it was the speaker. I used a different one and life is good again. I would never had thought that a simple speaker change would make that much difference in audio level, I can understand how a cheap speaker can make it sound poor. Seems that Elecraft should look into a bit better speaker for the K-1. This one sure leads one to believe that there is something wrong with the audio stages. -------------------------------------------- IF they are using the same speaker for the K1 as is used in the K2, it may be a simple problem with a bent frame. A number of K2 builders, including myself, had weak and "fuzzy" audio on the speaker but the audio was fine on the 'phones. It turned out to be a slightly bent frame for the speaker that was easily corrected by putting a screwdriver with a wide blade between the edge of the magnet and the frame and twisting it slightly. Listening to a tone (like the sidetone) I quickly found a spot where applying a little twist cleared up the audio nicely. A little harder "twist" made the fix permanent. Elecraft also replaced a number of speakers for those how didn't want to tweak the frame. It was so easy to fix that I suspect the speakers were damaged during normal handling in shipment somewhere along the line. The magnet is so heavy compared to the strength of the frame that it would not take much of a drop to bend the frame. Also, there were warnings in the K2 manual not to over-tighten the mounting screws as that could warp the frame and cause the same problem. Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 +++++++++++++++++++