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Reviews For: ICOM SP-23

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : ICOM SP-23
Reviews: 43MSRP: 199.95
Description:
Optional ICOM Speaker with Filters
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00433.4
N4TOL Rating: 2022-01-04
Great speaker for Pro3 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I hesitated to buy this speaker, as with most matching speakers, it is a bit pricey. It may not be the best speaker I have owned, but it does sound great with my Pro3 and I will keep it.

KD9NTD Rating: 2021-04-02
Use a capacitor to cure the tinniness Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Speaker is ok, way over priced for what it really is, but matches well with my TS-590SG.

What many hams do not know is, just poke a capacitor between the positive and negative terminal on the back, adds a deep rich tone and brings out bass. Much easier and quicker than shoving pillow stuffing inside of the speaker
K1VI Rating: 2019-07-10
Needed the upgrade Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Similar to other reviewers, I assumed the IC23 was better than the internal speaker in the IC756Pro3, so I bought both, in 2007. Eventually realized the internal speaker was better. After years gathering dust, I replaced the IC23 internal speaker with the Phonema version; AND replaced the "wool sock" with Phonema's PHITS I23 acoustic kit. Now finally, it sounds like it should have.

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Earlier 2-star review posted by K1VI on 2019-06-29

Bought IC 23 with my ICOM Pro 3 in 2007. Realized in 2012 or so, the Pro3 internal speaker was better.Just reworked the 23 with Phoneme’s replacement speaker and acoustic kit. Clearly better
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Earlier 2-star review posted by K1VI on 2015-04-29

Bought this with my Pro-3 in 2007. Still in awe over the Pro-3, but the speaker is just good enough not to toss. Much better audio through my $12 PC headphones. Tried all the combinations of filter settings. Nope. Slightly buzzy/distorted.
N6JPG Rating: 2018-02-24
Overpriced but Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have to agree with the previous review by K4TB. The older models may have had a problem but the moment I plugged this speaker into my IC-756Pro, I was impressed with the sound. Very clear and full bodied, more so than the stock speaker inside the transceiver. The EQ functions worked well to un-muddy some of the more bassy sounding transmissions and clear up some of the hiss on the higher end.
Like all ham radio brand-name after market speakers, it is overpriced but it matches my rig nicely and really does improve the sound and ease of listening. Nothing tinny about it to my ear and worth the investment.
N4UE Rating: 2017-07-09
The other 1/2 of the story Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Ok, if you have followed my review of the Phonema speaker "upgrade' for the Icom SP-23, read on.
If not, read that review first.
Having an Icom 7610 on order, I decided to get a better matching speaker. Right now, between my 761/SP-23 and my 745, my 'main radio' is my beloved 756PRO, I purchased in Tokyo the week it was announced. Paired with the PRO, is a SP-21 speaker. It's there mostly because it looks good. The PRO feeds an MFJ-616 and then to some external speakers.
I have a LOT of matching speakers from all the radio mfgs. This is how they make their $ !!!!
I 'almost' never buy new speakers from the mfgs.
When the 7300 first came out, I bought an SP-33. What a POS. Then I bought a matching (?) SP-38. I've replaced the el-cheapo original speakers in both.

Anyway, I got the SP-23 from eBay for an 'acceptable' price. Original box, packing etc.
Without even using it extensively, I ordered the Phonema speaker 'upgrade' kit from DXE.
Go to my review of the Phonema kit for details......

Disassembling the Chinese SP-23 revealed why the seller may have sold it. There is a thick 'wool sock' that is supposed to be behind the speaker. It was completely out of position. Very cheaply made.
After putting in the replacement Phonema speaker and gasket, I reattached this 'sock' behind the speaker with some more aggressive glue.

Does it sound 'better'? Dunno, but it will match the new radio (if it ever comes out) and the frequency selection buttons now seem to actually do something......


ron
N4UE
DV2AWN Rating: 2017-04-05
better than expected Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
i bought the icom sp23 having some trepidation from some of the review i heard. apparently though, the issue was more of the older issue as the one i got performed better than expected. Its a big improvement over the stock speaker on my IC7300 whereas i can hardly understand what was being said (for weak stations) on the stock speaker, but with the SP-23, coupled with the filters on it, weak signal stations became easily understandable. i recommend this speaker to anyone looking to match with their ic7300 and radios like it. 73!
N6HBJ Rating: 2016-12-16
Mediocre sound Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got a used one today to match my ICOM 7600. Good looking speaker and matches well. Hooked it up and was very disappointed with the sound. No bass to it and not very full sounding.

I did a direct comparison to a Kenwood SP-930 and the Kenwood blew it out of the water. Then I tried the Yaesu SP-8 and it sounded even better.

But I'm still glad I got it because it matches up good with the 7600 physically. I just have to use my Yaesu speaker for the ICOM and the SP-23 for my scanner ha!
EI3GD Rating: 2015-07-31
Ok, but needs better speaker Time Owned: N.A.
Like many comments before.. the built quality is very poor. But of you get one cheap then it's ok I guess.
Min had a strange digital-like noise at very low volumes... no idea what caused it.

In the end I had to replace the speaker with a better quality Panisonic 3"... WOW big improvement.
Better base and high's response.
The filters now sound more effective with a wide range speaker.
And that low volume buzzing is gone.
Well worth the effort.

73
Ray


K4TB Rating: 2015-07-15
Sounds Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The latest batch of SP-23 speakers must be much better than the earlier ones, judging from the reviews here. I just bought an SP-23 and almost immediately after hooking it up I could tell it sounded very nice. It has a full, well-rounded sound and negligible resonances. On very high volume, i.e. about 2/3 or more on my IC-7600, there are a couple of resonance points when you vary the tone pitch through the speaker but that's a much too loud level anyway, and I rarely crank the volume past 1/2.

I particularly like the filters because they really help in reducing static noise, even after the IC-7600's excellent noise reduction and noise blanker are engaged. Then lastly, style-wise the SP-23 is a perfect match to my IC-7600, .
N1GMV Rating: 2015-04-26
Ok after Dynamat installed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got this speaker last year and like the others I too had vibration especially with CW at certain frequencies. I opened up the box and installed Dynamat self adhesive dampening material on the cover and throughout the lower assembly. It is now working pretty good. If you want to give it a try you can pick it up at any car audio shop. BTW, I also put it in the base of my SM50 desk mike which improved that as well.