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Reviews For: Icom SP-33

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : Icom SP-33
Reviews: 9MSRP: $89.95 and up
Description:
Speaker that was made for the IC-7700 and IC-7800
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0094.2
W8ZT Rating: 2023-07-31
Nice communications grade speaker Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I do not expect Hi Fi sound from any Amateur Radio. These speakers are very good for most communication needs. They are composite board cabinets with a nice bezel around the front and the Icom logo near the bottom. They produce a clean, clear, voice reproduction. They match my 7851 perfectly, right height and color. Over the years I’ve found the filters on most factory speakers, all brands, leave me somewhat disappointed in relation to their cost. I have scads of speakers of most brands and I use them when necessary. If someone needs to enhance their audio due to hearing requirements I would suggest taking some time and design an audio system that has eq and a clean amp. Use line level from the radio or speaker output and hook up a couple sets of speakers that suit your SSB or cw hearing. MFJ speech intelligibility enhancer comes to mind or roll your own. I’m sure there are other third party audio devices out there. The composite wood construction gives the speaker a “warm” feeling if that is a proper term. Kinda like the high quality home speakers vs cheap plastic ones that come with a lot of surround systems. Anyway, if you want a Icom factory speaker for a reasonable cost these should not be overlooked
W9JTC Rating: 2019-09-23
Very Good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bought mine new with a New 7300. Sounds really good. You can tailor the audio from the 7300 which makes it even better. The price is better than some of the others. I would recommend to someone who needs a very good sounding speaker on the IC-7300.
K7NA Rating: 2019-07-09
SP33 Follow Up Review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I’ve now used this speaker for the past three years in a variety of situations and have compared its sound to that of a few other loudspeakers.

For example, I just switched the SP33 and an old Optimus Pro 7 back and forth on my TS590s while listening to local SSB transmissions to compare the amount of sound and the quality of the reproduction. I must admit, I much prefer the clarity of the Optimus speaker, which produces some crisp highs to improve articulation. The level of sound was comparable (for a given AF gain setting) but the reproduction coming from the SP33 was more muffled and indistinct. It was a readily noticeable difference and the little Radio Shack bookshelf HiFi speaker surprised me.

Of late, I’ve come to greatly appreciate the difference between simple speakers like the SP33 and acoustically designed and carefully manufactured “communications” speakers.

I recently acquired a Phonema Rhea loudspeaker and what a difference in audio reproduction and articulation! If my little Optimus speaker was superior to the SP33, the Rhea was far superior to the Optimus and in a completely different category of superb sound compared to the ICOM SP33. The ICOM unit is garbage compared to the Phonema speaker!

Hearing the difference in solid copy of voice transmissions on a speaker like the Rhea and comparing it to a product like the SP33 really demonstrates the difference between mediocre sound reproduction and crystal clear, full audio that comes from a quality, purposefully designed loudspeaker.

After this comparison, I must admit the SP33 is not the quality product I had hoped and it will now reside on my little-used 2-meter FM rig on the operating desk.

Vince

N4UE Rating: 2017-01-15
My FINAL comments Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I 'fixed' this speaker today. As I mentioned in my other review, this speaker has been the most disappointing product I've ever purchased in 55 years as a ham.
I also just posted a review of the newer SP-38 which matches the R8600 and IC-7300.
I DO understand every ones hearing and preferences are different. Also, everyone BUT me loves theirs.
I thought about just throwing it out, so today I thought I had nothing to lose by dissecting it.
These speakers are glued together. Once I got the speaker itself out, I was surprised at it's small size. 8 ohms, 3W. I found several possible canidates and did some side by side tests and found one that sounded MUCH better. Unfortunately, the mounting scheme was quite different so major surgery was required to the enclosure. The replacement is 4 ohms, 10W. I also added some acoustic foam inside.

Bottom line?
Everything went back together and looks original, but more importantly, sounds exactly like my new SP-38. That said, it's now a 4.....
Good but not 'great'.

ron
N4UE
WB9VKM Rating: 2016-05-25
Its true Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After using a ic730 I got a IC 7200, the audio from that little speaker on the 7200 was horrible compaired to the 730 , so I used the 730 more and didn't use the 7200.So after reading the reviews I got a sp33 speaker. Opening the box I was surprised - the quality of years gone by. Better yet when mated to the 7200 the audio is so much better even with the filters turn on. Its got my vote. The 730 has been almost retired ,for now.
VE3WCQ Rating: 2016-05-21
Still loving it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am glad to see that there are others starting to enjoy this speaker. When I first posted I had operators emailing me and asking if I was just shoveling the smelly stuff. I emailed back saying the same as here, I love this little speaker in fact I am sure that the other reviewers will say the same. That it is hard to listen to anything else. I am still amazed at the detail that it does on the received audio, if someone's audio is not right you will pick it out, and when something can make static noise almost sound pleasant what else could you ask for.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by VE3WCQ on 2015-01-20

I would like to start by saying that I am very picky when it comes you sound. I use to be a Stereophile back when I had the room and lived in area that I would not drive the Neighbours nuts.
I have reviewed a couple of speakers on eHam and I gave them both 5's ( Yaesu SP-2000 and Palstar SP-30H )and I still stand by them but when this little speaker left me with my mouth open. I can not believe that it had no reviews and does not seem to be known very well. The speaker is nice and small 6.5"H x 5"W x 5.5"D with a nice high gloss trim on the front. It is made of MDF and is totally sealed and are the two factors that I believe makes it the BEST external speaker I have heard. The tone and full body sound is great and the reproduction of details it picks up in the audio is just well I did not think that I would find a speaker that would do that. I have used many different speakers. Quick list.

Palstar SP-30H
Yaesu SP-2000
Bose VS- Center channel
PSB- Center channel
Bose- Computer Speakers
Mackey- Studio Monitors
and a bunch of different bookshelf speakers and none have reproduced the sound like this little ICOM SP-33 I truly believe this will be the last speaker I will ever buy, in fact I am just about to order another one but can't decide if it should be 2 more, one for the mobile.
Anyhow if you are looking for an external speaker or you are not happy with the one you have go get the SP-33 and that will put an end to it!

All the best!
73
VE3WCQ
K7FD Rating: 2016-04-08
Packs a punch! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hooked this speaker to my TS-990S (and IC-7300) with stellar results. Excellent presence, punch, and bass response making it a great communications speaker. Wooden box, small footprint...but don't let the size fool you. A very nice speaker!

John K7FD
AD5VM Rating: 2016-04-05
Finally, the perfect speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My search is finally over. How the #$%@ does this thing only have two reviews??? I don't know how else to put this.. if you don't have one, get one. Makes SSB sound like AM, makes AM sound like FM. I'm actually sitting here worried that Icom will stop making it because nobody is buying them and, something will happen to this one and I'll spend the rest of my life ticked off that I didn't buy several and store them in the gun safe...
... screw it, I'm ordering a spare right now.
Daniel Steele Rating: 2015-11-29
Amazing sound Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My favorite external speaker was the Palstar SP-30H which sounds great. Upon listening to the Icom SP-33, my initial reaction was "WOW". Like the previous review, this little speaker sounds better than anything I've heard. I'm amazed at the richness and quality coming from this speaker. No spec sheet is included in the box, and not available on Icom web site. The new model is still a bit of a mystery, but it is an awesome little speaker. IMO, a great buy for the money.