Bob, when I built my K3 the bare bones rig and 100w module was just about $2200 and then you build it, no optional filters or anything else so I built it and had it for 3 months, never could warm up to the RX side audio, maybe if I just did cw mainly I would not have that complaint but I am talking about threw good headphones not some crappy internal speaker. A buddy came over with a TS590S and we compared the two side by side, three days later I sold the K3 for what I paid for it and bought the TS590S, it sounded soo much better plus it was far easier to use, it made the K3 look like a real PITA plus no filters to buy, I was happy. A few years later Yaesu introduced the FTDX3000, I waited till the ARRL lab review and then bought one, between the Yaesu and Kenwood it was an almost dead heat but the Yaesu had more up front controls so three month later I sold the 590s but I did really like that rig.
FF to about 2017 and everyone and there brother was raving about the 7300, well I had to try this under $1500 dollar at that time SDR with knobs rig and for 6 months I used it plus compared it to the 3K and although the 3K had more features the 7300 had dead nuts on selectivity and I mean on CW were you would see a 20" over S0 meat grinder with what would be key clicks on the Yaesu as you tuned 1 Khz away but do the same on the 7300 and look no key clicks, it almost seemed like there was anywhere between 20-30db better ultimate channel selectivity in the Icom. ON SSB it did not mater but as far as transmit audio the Icom was soo easy to get sounding right. I ended up selling the 3K, I had that radio for a few years but I liked the simplicity of the 7300 and the fact that I never really used the Pre Amp until I was on 6 meters, that dam radio was almost overly sensitive and the RF gain controls could easily be used as a adjustable attenuator. Once you mater the use and understand the 7300 its a very good rig.
I liked it soo much I had to go for the 7610 but I first sold the FTDX3K and then a 746Pro I had and then the 7300 and pony up more cash to buy it in 2018, I still have it and did buy another 7300 for back up cause of the dam display issue Icom had and the 7610 had had three display, over $300 in shipping since then but its still the number one radio on my desk. I did sell the 7300 and try the new Yaesu FTDX10, this little rig is still in the testing stage but it does give the 7610 a run on CW but SSB the Icom always wins, the Pass Band Tuning on the Icom with three programable filter selections just blows away rotating the shift and width on the Yaesu, when your in the heat of the battle during a contest you really don't have the time to dick around with controls, just a button away and your were you wanna be. I also wanted to try the 10 cause I have heard lots of good things about there FTDX101D so I figured this would give me a taste without spending $3K. The Ten is a very good backup but I still like the 7610 better plus always liked that 7300.
Last Year at the Orlando Hamfest I played with the K4, it was not like operating at home and it was threw a $200 plus modified speaker and enclosure that they sell for allot of money so it didn't sound that bad but I was no blown away and the display was kind of squirrely looking the way you set up the spectrum part and her again the menu's were not really set up for every day UI, clearly allot of money for an overpriced version of the 7610 and who knows how many bug there will be down the road.