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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
GM0WNR Rating: 2012-01-21
Good with FT-897D Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use mine with a Yaesu FT897D, not quite what you would expect, but it works great! I bought it on a whim from my local amateur emporium, and find that with the CW filter, and DSP and the sp-23 it is a killer CW combination. I only paid half the new price, so I'm happy with my bargain speaker!
WB6UTW Rating: 2011-10-29
Easy to improve Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Having a hearing impairment made this speaker almost unusable to me. Following some ideas posted in this review, I was able to remove its stock 3 inch diameter "transistor radio" speaker and replace it with a much beefier 3 inch Harman Kardon PC speaker from my junk-box. Drilling 4 small holes in the cardboard mounting plate allowed me to use the existing mounting screws but I had to purchase four flat washers and metric nuts to complete the job. The results were amazing! I too am amazed why Kenwood would skimp on such a cheap stock speaker.


KB4LGM Rating: 2011-04-07
Does the job Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got my SP 23 on a whim. It is not a great speaker but at the same time not bad one either. I use this on my old Bearcat scanner and it works much better than the built in speaker. It is good for general use but I would not us it on more on air rig.
WA7NDD Rating: 2011-03-05
Works well with TS590s Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Reading the other reviews on this speaker I was a bit hesitant when I purchased it along with my new TS-590s. I wanted a matching speaker and saw there was a fix in these reviews to replace the cone. The speaker looks good and sounds good with my 590 and I am glad I bought it, and will not be replacing the cone. If I wanted anything more from the SP-23 it would be a headphone jack in front, there is no jack on it at all. Color matches the new 590.
Jim, WA7NDD
73's
WX4O Rating: 2009-12-30
Not so hot Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had one of these for a year. It was acceptable only. I got rid of it.
VE2EZD Rating: 2009-08-31
Sounds cheap but... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine at an Hamfest to match my TS-570DG.
I rate this speaker 5/5 for the case quality and the look and 1/5 for the sound.
The only advantage to use this piece of equipment is to have a front firing speaker.
The FP-23 sounds like a cheap transistor radio of the 60s.

Then I read VE7DTR's review here on eHam and the mod he made by changing the speaker inside the SP-23. As he wrote the Scoshe speaker doesn't fit in the SP-23 but by just a small margin.

I took the original speaker out of the cardboard monting plate. I fixed the Scosche on this plate using two small pop rivets. Then, knowing that I could ruin the speaker, I used a Dremel to trim the edge of the Scosche just enough so it can fit inside the case. I checked the sound before reassembling the unit and the Scosche was still perfect. Then after reassembling it I now have a very nice speaker with much more bass.
The SP23 is now heavier and much more pleasant to listen to.

I rate the original SP-23 3/5 and it is mostly for the quality of the case and the look. VE7DTR's version of the SP-23 is without any hesitation 5/5.
NC2F Rating: 2009-07-15
Get the Ten Tec 307B instead Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When I owned my TS2000 I matched the SP-23 up to it and thought the audio was awful from the Kenwood SP-23. I decided to plug my venerable Ten Tec 307 into it and it was robust in comparison. For the money and performance, the Ten Tec 307, to me, is a no-brainer for a external speaker solution.
WT4C Rating: 2007-05-07
Disappointing sound and a waste of desk space. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a three week wait (back ordered and shipping from the left coast to South Carolina) my final new station accessory arrived today. What a surprise. I really don't know what I was expecting and it sure looked bigger in the pictures but I hooked it up (cable white stripe to the + ) and tried it as soon as it was out of the box. The overall quality is good and the style matches the TS 570 but I'm really disappointed with the sound quality. It reminds me of the sound from an old transistor radio from the 60's. The internal speaker in the 570 sounds as good or better and this one will surely end up in the garage or an e-bay listing. Definately NOT the quality I was expecting from Kenwood. It does however sound slightly better when packed with speaker padding. Not quite as hollow and annoying but still NOT worth the $75.00 price tag. (YMMV)

My $2 fleamarket Motorola sounds much better it just don't match the new 570.

Slim (WT4C) says that.
M3SKF Rating: 2007-04-19
SPEAKERS FOR ITSELF Time Owned: more than 12 months.
NICE SPEAKER WORKS VERY WELL WITH THE 570 AND 480 NO AUDIO DISTORION WELL MADE LOOKS GOOD - SPEAKERS FOR ITSELF HI HI
W0DKM Rating: 2007-04-18
looks the part Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a fan, and user of all kinds of Kenwood Gear
But,
My father told me if I dont have something good to say, Dont say anything!