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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
ND3R Rating: 2014-12-25
Very Pleased Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got this speaker for Christmas and been playing with it all morning. I find it is very well made and sounds great with my Pro 3. I won't need to make any modifications to it at all as previously suggested. It matches my rig perfect. I was using and old stereo speaker from the 80's which worked fine but this is much, much better by far. The filters work fine also. Definitely worth the price.
K5RR Rating: 2014-10-27
Good communication quality speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought an SP-23 speaker at the same time I bought my new 7600. If I had seen all of the negative reviews of this speaker I might not have bought it. But I find that it is very acceptable if you use the high pass filter to cut out the low frequencies.
KA4DPO Rating: 2014-03-31
Lacks Quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this speaker in December of 2012 to go with my new IC-7600 and just got around to getting it out of the box. All I can say is that it is very cheaply made considering how much it cost. I found the sound quality less than great but acceptable after I glued the insulation around the speaker as others had suggested. I have a number of older speakers including Kenwwod, Drake, and a Heathkit SP-600 and all of them sound much better than the SP-23. I wish I had opened it much sooner, I would have returned it but it is far too late now. I like Icom but this is the worst piece of Icom equipment I have ever purchased.
CR7000 Rating: 2012-07-08
Second review Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Second review

My first purchase had vibration issues

I had a new 7600 and the sp-23 was bundled with it

This one had absolutley no vibration whatsoever, so it looks like some were poorly made and others were well made

This is puzzling but my new one works perfectly and the filters work well

Dont know what else to say, but this one earns a 5

It seems like the bad ones are no good, but if you get one that works well then all is good

Maybe a friday afternoon / monday morning thing at the factory

This one seems like a wednesday model - just hope theres more out there
G0MMI Rating: 2012-06-01
Made in JA, Nope! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Shame on Icom! I bought a high quality rig made in Japan. I also bought the SP-23...."Made in China" and it shows. I only noticed where it was made when I took it out of the box! IC-AT-500,IC-2KL,IC-756proIII and IC-PS30 all sit nice on there stands but the speaker..forget it.Can't even get into the thing to try and repair it, the scew's just keep turning! Forget the filters and use what's in the rig.I paid Icom prices for this. Naughty Icom!
N5AS Rating: 2011-08-10
OK after Speaker Change Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The only reason I obtained this speaker is to match my 756 ProII. The SP-20 which sounded much better than the SP-23, but too large and wrong color to match.

As received the speaker sounded too crackly for my listening pleasure. The filters have some effect on audio response. As all have stated, the speakers just aren't worth the new price.

Now to what I did to make it sound much better. I replaced the speaker with a 3" woofer. Imagine that! He-he! Yep, a woofer as listed on eBay. The speaker is used in Sony LCD TV's with part no. 1-826-237-11. This 'woofer' was chosen for its mounting ears, offset just like the original Icom speaker to properly fit into the baffle. The mounting ears/holes were cut open to allow best mounting. Also stuffed the cabinet with acoustic material. Much smother response than original speaker. After this mod the speaker is a keeper.
WD8MNX Rating: 2011-01-27
Nice Speaker, works well. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had, already, owned an ICOM SP-23 for years and had no problem with it audio filters and the style. So, I needed another speaker for some additional ICOM Ham gear. I went and purchased, a bit on the pricey side, another SP-23. Hooked it up and sounds great on SSB & FM; no vibrations at all on even the loudest volume settings.
N4QT Rating: 2011-01-17
Needs work to work! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This thing went into feedback and bad vibration right out of the box! I decided to see what I could do to correct the bad engineering in the sp23. I took the cover off the speaker. I placed soft vibration absorbing pads under all four speaker screws. Then found a role of rubber splicing tape. Put strips of tape under the top and bottom front speaker case. Put the thing back together with the multitude of screws provided. Works okay now not great but no vibration. At least at reasonable volume. Would I recommend this speaker. Nope ! The bookshelf radio shack speaker I was using is far superior in performance to this so called communications speaker. Shame on icon. I love your rigs but your external speakers need upgrading!
W8MIS Rating: 2011-01-13
Icom should be ashamed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This made in China speaker is the most low end product on the market! It sounded like it was vibrating and I removed the case there is a sound baffle inside that is not properly mounted and the speaker is very small and I am sure low quality. The small circuit boards are installed crooked and the solder job looks like a 2nd grader mounted the components. I read the reviews prior but wanted a matching speaker. I have it next to the new Icom 7600 but turned off. Please don't waste your money.
KB3SI Rating: 2009-12-15
Good Speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
While it is overpriced, I got mine with a coupon and so that was not a factor. Finish is good and filters work, but I find I can get better filtering using the output from my 7600. I have ordered a better quality speaker to replace the one that came with the unit. If you are looking for a speaker to match your ICOM transceiver,this is the one to get.