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Reviews For: Kenwood SP-23

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : Kenwood SP-23
Reviews: 31MSRP: 80.00
Description:
Kenwood speaker matching the TS-2000, TS-570 ect...
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
13313.5
IK1VQY Rating: 2017-01-11
Very good for human voice Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Little and simple speaker, It's very good for human voice, very clear. I like it with my TS-2000E.



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Earlier 5-star review posted by IK1VQY on 2009-12-30

It sounds very well for its dimensions, very clear. The SP-31 sounds much better but it is greater than the SP-23.
I like it and not only for the line with the TS-2000E.

Best '73 de IK1VQY Alfredo
WB4TJH Rating: 2016-10-02
Overpriced new , but OK used Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I did like W3END, but used a mass of synthetic fiber used for stuffing pillows and it really improved the sound quality. I got mine for about $25 used at least 25 years ago and have used it on a dozen different radios since. Buy one for a good price used at a hamfest, and fill the empty case with tightly packed pillow stuffing and you will be amazed at the difference it makes in audio quality.
W3END Rating: 2015-02-01
Not the best but OK Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I followed the advice of a friend and filled an old nylon stocking (loosely) with packing peanuts. Then stuffed this into the open cavity. It takes the "tinny / hollowness" away resulting in what I think is a deeper, better quality sound. Again, this isn't the best ext. speaker IMO but it's OK. If like others you replace the speaker it probably makes it better but I'll live with this as it is now. It's fine and works for me.
KK8ZZ Rating: 2014-12-16
Hmmmm Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Our friends at Kenwood, well known for excellent audio, should not have subcontracted this out to the lowest bidder. Poor audio, nice case. Darned shame....
KB7TPB Rating: 2014-07-17
I would not buy this speaker again. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased an SP-23 speaker to match my TS-590. The factory speaker in my TS-590 sounds better. Thinking it might be the audio output of my radio I tried the speaker on my other radios. I even switched the connecting wires to make sure it was the speaker. Although I really like the looks it has very poor sound. Before you buy one read all the reviews. To get good sound you have to replace the speaker and I thought that was what I was buying.
EI2HWB Rating: 2014-05-15
Weak and tinny, fine for a scanner but not a TRX Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I received the SP-23 when I purchased a Kenwood TS-850. After I let the radio go I was left with the speaker. I find that the SP-23 is a little tinny and doesn't have the full sound when connected to any of my other TRX's. I find it is fine when connected to my FRG-9600 and that is where I will leave it! I use a Yaesu SP-8 with my TRX's and find that the sound is full, smooth and what I would expect expensive radios to sound like.
OE3SGU Rating: 2014-04-20
nice affordable speaker Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Using mine with an ICOM IC-7600. The sound is full and nice even with higher volume levels on AM broadcast. The case makes a sturdy impression - much better than the ICOM SP-23. For less than half the price of the ICOM you get a much better sound and a decent quality speaker (although without any filter options and only one single input). The box says 'made in Japan' not in China like the Icom. Ordered a second one for my TS-480HX.
AJ3H Rating: 2013-12-05
great speaker for voice communications Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought it after worrying greatly about some of the reviews about the sound quality. It is a great speaker for voice communications. It does not have the +bass response (which muddles voice communications) of 4” or 5” surround sound speakers. Match to my TS-590s with its DSP filtering and RX equalizing features gives me a sound that I prefer to listen to with a HF radio.

Case/cabinet = 5.0 plus - The metal cabinet is very professional looking (technical look) vs Wood Box.

Sound = 5.0 - I don’t have the cheap transistor radio sound that has been reported and feel there is no need to replace the driver.

Matching the TS-590s = 4.0 - All grey cabinet and front panel match the grey stock microphone but not the 590s Black painted radio.

Purchased new from HRO November 2013. 

Would buy again and would recommend it to a friend.

Regards
VE3ATM Rating: 2012-04-26
Good Quality Speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased an SP-23 speaker to match my TS-590. Having read some of the other reviews I also ordered a BOSS driver to replace the factory one. I ordered and had these two items sent to my daughters in Florida as we were going to visit. When I got back home and hooked up the speaker to my 590 I was quite suprised at the quality of the sound.

I previously had an TS-850sat with the matching SP-31 speaker and I would say that the sound from the SP-23 is as good as the SP-31. I opened up the speaker and from descriptions in other reviews I would say that Kenwood has redesigned the speaker and put in a better driver. I changed out the Kenwood driver and put in the BOSS $15 driver that I purchased separately expecting to hear better sound than the Kenwood driver, but I would say that the sound is very similar, maybe slightly better, but not worth the effort or money to change out the original.

If you are purchasing a new SP-23 try it before purchasing another driver as you may be suprised at the sound quality.
IZ0NPN Rating: 2012-03-03
Now useful Time Owned: N.A.
Like WT4C said, there is a lot of space inside the case of this speaker. Well, i used this space to put inside a modified atx switching power supply 35A 13,8V. It fitted PERFECTLY! I started removing the bakelite plate with "8ohms" label, putting a 220v triangular socket (PC'S way) and the backpanel has enough holes to connect a switch, plugs red and black, a little fan...it works very well, i save a lot of space in my desk, no rf issue...The rate of sp 23 ALONE is 2 but now is a full 5. Surely no for the sound! Bye from Claudio, Roma-Italia.