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Author Topic: Icom SP-38 speaker and Phonema I38AX upgrade kit  (Read 175 times)

K7JQ

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Icom SP-38 speaker and Phonema I38AX upgrade kit
« on: August 26, 2022, 07:23:06 AM »

Is anyone using the speaker with the driver and foam inserts upgrade kit? Is there a significant difference in sound reproduction and worth it? The stock SP-38 is typical of most manufacturer's matching speakers...aesthetically attractive, better than the radio's internal speaker, but still thin and tinny sounding. Thanks!

73, Bob K7JQ
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W5OT

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Re: Icom SP-38 speaker and Phonema I38AX upgrade kit
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2022, 11:31:48 AM »

I replaced the speaker in my SP-20 with the Phonema upgrade driver (not the kit, no foam inserts).  The crackling I had with the OEM speaker (suspect it had dried out due to age/low humidity) went away and the sound is clean and clear.  It sounds pretty full and broad when I test it with a commercial AM station.  I just left the stock foam/baffling inside when I cut the case in half so it would sit on my shelf properly.   Sounds just fine to me, and it fits where I need it to go that way.
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K7JQ

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Re: Icom SP-38 speaker and Phonema I38AX upgrade kit
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2022, 11:51:23 AM »

Thank you for your input!
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VK6HP

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Re: Icom SP-38 speaker and Phonema I38AX upgrade kit
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2022, 03:04:17 AM »

Bob,

I'm also unable to give a direct response but I did replace the driver in my Icom SP-23 unit (which looks to be a similar physical size to your speaker) with a Phonema driver.  The internal quality of the SP-23 was very disappointing, with poor quality components and terrible construction.  The original driver developed an intermittent scrape/rattle which sounded like debris trapped between the voice coil and magnet but which eluded my efforts to track it down.  The replacement Phonema driver was a better made unit - heavier and better finished but not much discernible difference acoustically. However, I considered it a good deal given its quality, price, direct physical compatibility, and ready availability.

The baffling in the SP-23 wasn't too bad and I wasn't convinced that any extra was going to do much good in improving the communications audio.  To hear what sort of changes might be expected I tried various amounts of medium density wadding (left over from my transmission line speakers!) but never managed to convince myself that it improved matters.  In the end, I just ordered the replacement driver.  However, it's a simple matter to try some extra wadding if you want to experiment.

The only residual problem I have is that the switches on the SP-23 filters and input selector are quite noisy even after having received quite a bit of attention.  But it's tolerable with a bit of regular toggling.

73, Peter.
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K7JQ

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Re: Icom SP-38 speaker and Phonema I38AX upgrade kit
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2022, 04:54:52 AM »

Thanks for the info, Peter!
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