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write your own review of the Icom SP-21.
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W4KVW
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Rating: 4/5
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May 17, 2009 12:20
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OK for me!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I use the SP-21 with my ICOM 746 PRO & it does just fine.It came with the rig when I purchased it(used)so I kept it because it had NO ISSUES & it looks NICE with the rig.I would NOT pay what ICOM gets for one NEW but that was not an issue for me.Sounds good but NOT as good as the SP-23 I used for about a year on my ICOM 756 PROII.I have NOT drilled any holes or made any modifications & I think I will keep it as is for my needs.Even at this price a headphone jack would have been a PLUS!
Clayton
W4KVW
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N4UE
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 20, 2008 18:01
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Tough call!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is a re-do of my (!!) opinions of the SP-21 speaker. I noticed that several recent posters describe drilling holes in the back of the plastic case, etc.
First let me state 2 things:
1. I would never pay what Icom wants for an accessory speaker. Sorry, I KNOW where the profit margins are! I realized this in Tokyo where one can buy optional filters for these rice rockets for less than 1/2 of what they sell for here...
2. You can get a 'flea market' speaker for one or two bucks, that sound fantastic!!!
Anyway, a few years ago, I bought a nice IC-761 and later found a SP-21 on ePay, er, eBay for cheap. It looked brand new. I was happy. After I bought the 756-PRO in Tokyo, I happened upon a NICE SP-20 speaker on 'the bay' It was pretty darn cheap. The face was mint, but the case was really scratched up. I glass beaded and resprayed it, and it looks brand new.
Why do I mention this? Because, the SP-20 matches the 761, and the SP21 matches the PRO....
I installed a DPDT switch on a small plate on the back of the SP-21. One leg goes to the PRO and the other goes to the AUX receptable of the SP-20.
Since the PRO is my main radio, now I can switch between the SP-21 and the SP-20 with it's filters.
OK, OK, what about the results? I disassembled the SP-21 and since my "Unibit" only went to 7/8", I drilled 3 holes in the back plastic cover. I also put some foam at the rear of the metal housing. The results? Dunno. It sounds fine. Switching back and forth between the SP-21 and SP-20, sounds pretty darn close (all filters in the SP-20 off).
The only way I could give an absolute evaluation would be to have a stock SP-21 and the modified SP-21 side by side with my 'speaker comparison switch' in line.
All in all, these are TRUELY $.99 speakers in a $99 housing!!
Please see my Article elsewhere in the eHam Forums on "Speakers".....
Have FUN !!! Life is SHORT!!
Ron
N$UE
EM80pa
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KJ4AMH
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Rating: 2/5
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Aug 20, 2008 09:23
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Drill the holes !
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Drill the holes discribed in the post two previous to this one. I drilled two large (1 1/8") in the rear panel of the smal plastic speaker box and the sound quality improved 1000% ! Do NOT use a twist drill as it will grab and pull the plastic panel out of your hands and maybe break it. I used a 1 1/8" hole saw, use a very slow speed. Remove the padding in the small speaker box as well it only makes the sound dull. These modifications make the sound from this speaker spectacular good for communications use. If you can find this speaker for a good price buy it and do the modifications, you'll be pleased with the results. I will do this modification for anyone that wants for free. Look up my email address in my profile and email me, I will email you my shipping address. You can then ship me your speaker or just the plastic panel and I will drill the holes for free. I will just request the return shipping.
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VK2FTNY
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 14, 2008 02:36
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better than the Sp-23
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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i have been using this speaker for around 3yrs.I actually had this speaker before i bought the sp-23 and hence the 5 rating.This unit has the speaker that the sp-23 should have had,I use this speaker more than the sp-23 and the only thing missing is the filters like its more expensive brother.If i had my way again id have bought this speaker for my proiii and saved myself a couple of bucks.
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KB5AG
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 17, 2008 19:44
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quick fix makes it better
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I got one to match my 756. It sounded bad. I opened it up and, like someone else mentioned, found a nice speaker in a very small enclosure, and a lot of open space. I drilled several holes in the inner plastic enclosure to vent the speaker into the metal box. What a difference! The speaker has much more bass, and sounds great in all applications.
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W3END
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 17, 2008 16:33
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Nice speaker
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I like the sound. I have my radio mounted under a shelf so this works out great for me. All in all it sounds good and matches radio nice. Bought mine on an online auction. Don't think these are sold as new anymore replaced with the SP-23. I'm happy with mine.
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W0DKM
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 25, 2007 06:11
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No problems
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have two of these speakers, Sound Great. They have a hollow sound, but this seems to improve ledgabilty for me? Maybe not a good choice for "Audio" types. I just want to understand what I am hearing. A this speaker does that well.
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N8ERM
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Rating: 0/5
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Feb 28, 2005 11:42
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Bad deal
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I for the most part like Icom products. This however is poor quality. How this got past their Qualty Control department I will never know. I too looked inside . It is a $1.00 speaker in a $99.00 inclosure. Thank goodness I was able to return it and only had to eat the shipping charges.
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N2MWE
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 11, 2004 11:17
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Good for my R75
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I use this speaker on my Icom R75 to monitor HF Aviation. It beats the hell out of the built in speaker. I have not noticed "tinny" audio...to my ears, it sounds pretty well balanced for SSB and CW.
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