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Reviews For: ICOM SP 20

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : ICOM SP 20
Reviews: 46MSRP: 310.95
Description:
External Speaker with 4 audio filters.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00464.4
W5ZZG Rating: 2003-11-21
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I thought my radio sounded great until I got this speaker. I have a lot of line noise here which the filters in the speaker easily cut by half. Now, my radio really does sound great.
KB0ETC Rating: 2003-07-11
Best Speaker! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is the best outboard speaker I have owned. This speaker is GREAT!

Although it is very expensive for a speaker. It has a nice warm sound to it.

I bought the SP-21 to match the 756PROII, that speaker is a joke.

I agree, that the SP-20 should look to match the new rigs. It is Icom's FLAGSHIP speaker, so why not match the FLAGSHIP radios of today?

Well worth the effort Icom! Good Job!
W4PIG Rating: 2003-06-27
O K BUT THE SOUNDS SWEET BEATS IT Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
IT IS A OK SPEAKER BUT WAY OVER PRICED.THE SOUNDS SWEET SPEAKER BEATS IT BY A MILE MUCH BETTER RECEIVE AUDIO OUT OF THE SOUNDS SWEET SPEAKER. I KNOW IT IS UGLY BUT THE SOUND AND PRICE MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR IT. BY THE WAY I SOLD MY SP-20.
K9XK Rating: 2003-06-27
Big - But Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got this to replace my SP-21, which was an ineffective toy whose only benefit was that it matched my '756 Pro II.

The SP-20 is as good as any communication speaker I have ever owned in 28 years as a ham, and slightly larger than any of them. I'll bet they could have cut down on the size just a tiny bit without losing a lot of quality. What is a little odd is the color of the speaker. Icom HF rigs have been black for at least 10-15 years, but nobody has bothered to flush the lines at the ol' paint booth and start painting SP-20s to match the radios. I wish I had a '765 because that would be a perfect match (in color AND size). In any case, it's close enough, and although Martha Stewart may appalled at the color coordination in the shack, I can live with it in exchange for the audio quality.
K4KAL Rating: 2003-06-27
Great Quality ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with the previous reviewer. I just happen get my second one from R&L (Roger) in Hamilton, Ohio this week. I only wish they came in the color to match the newer radios. This speaker looks like its been around since the TS520 Days, and it is a true performer. I have one on both my 756PROI and 756PROII's.
N3TIP Rating: 2003-06-27
Worth It! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I paid $219 for this speaker from GigaParts and—although I was a bit apprehensive about spending that kind of money for a SPEAKER!—I'm glad I did. It has two separate inputs, which has not only allowed me to use it with my IC-718, but also hook up my classic Hammarlund Rcvr. and Uniden scanner using a “Y” adapter. All RF sounds are an easy listen (including CW) even without the filters.
2E0WPZ Rating: 2003-06-03
The Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Getting ready to take my foundation course I`ve been sorting out what might go in my shack(should I pass)I`ve been a SWL for many years and know just what good audio should sound like and the SP20 fits the bill perfectly. I listened to and tried a lot of speakers in my time and can honestly say that combined with the NEIM 1031 box of tricks this is the best I`ve heard. I`m knocking on in years now and my ears have changed to the point where I have to have the sound level slightly higher to hear all the tones but with the SP20 the front filters do a perfect job and allow me to listen and normal levels. They are expensive but give hours of enjoyment and ease of listening and i am about to order another one for casual listening away from the shack and of course the plus is that they are passive so can be used anywhere.If you haven`t tried one then you will not be unhappy and the review earlier in this forum that said that they are tinny must almost certainly have a problem with the rig(or maybe damaged in transit.)That`s how confident I am.

Regards

Dave
K2KOH Rating: 2003-04-06
Second hand...not bad Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked this up, along with an R7100, for $750. Good start as far as price! The speaker is being used with my R75 SW receiver. The use of the filters, along with the PBT on the receiver, greatly enhances my weak military station listening. New, definitely pricey. If you can pick one of these up second-hand, by all means, do it!
NC0B Rating: 2002-09-02
Fine full sound Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The SP-20 has a good low end for a communications speaker, and if conditions are less than optimal, one can use the filters to cut the bottom and top ends as needed. I cannot understand the one review saying it is tinny. (The SP-21 is tinny.) His driver must have been defective. I own three of these even though it is hard to justify the cost. They work equally well on the IC-781, R9000, Drake C-Line and Collins S-Line. I can turn up the volume on my 75S-3C in the basement, and hear a QSO 15 feet away one floor up. Who could ask for more from a 2 watt amplifier?
WB6MYL Rating: 2002-07-28
In the minority Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I read these rave reviews and I cannot understand why?!? I borrowed an SP-20 just to try it with some of my vintage and new receivers, alike; don't get me wrong, I love my ICOM equipment; love my old IC 970 and my R-9000 will never leave my shack. As you may or may not know, I wrote an E-ham article on OEM speakers, "Why Do We Buy These Things?" and my experience with the SP-20 confirms my experiences with such speakers. This thing is very tinney; Using vintage equipment with AF power of 1 to 3 watts will overload this speaker, badly. My 75A4 and Drake TR7 sounds OK at low levels but normal listening levels will bring distortion often; Modern rigs, putting out much less power is not quite as bad but the sound was much clearer and warmer with my old Collins 270G and Hammarhund speakers but even the speaker in a 312B-5 and 312B-4 sounded better. One reviewer suggested saving the money and getting a radio shack music speaker; not a bad idea; if you want to spend $225 to $310 because you have to have something to match the ICOM then go ahead; but A/B some true audio speakers before you decide; your wallet and ears will thank you for a while to come. Philip W. Harris, PhD.P.C.