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Reviews For: Yaesu SP-2000

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : Yaesu SP-2000
Reviews: 47MSRP: 199.95
Description:
Speaker designed as an accessory for the FT-2000 line of Tranceivers
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00474.8
K6BRN Rating: 2023-01-24
One of the "Best of Breed" Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Most dedicated, matching communications speakers sold by the "Big Three" (Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom) are pretty much junk - bling with no useful purpose. While they look nice next to a radio, they're too large (very often way too long) for what they do and don't do much to improve audio. Usually, it's better (and way cheaper) to simply use a good quality surplus (passive) music system speaker. Then tailor the sound with radio controls.

The SP-2000 is an exception. First, it has a built-in switch for use with two radios, which is very handy. Second, it's passive filters for low and high cut really ARE useful for tailoring its sound beyond what the connected radio can provide. And the speaker itself is large enough to produce decent sound without rattling like a marble in a tin can. Sound quality CAN be improved with the addition of the Phenoma PHITS Y2KA acoustic padding kit, which takes the speaker from pretty good to very good - and adds a lot of mass in the process. Installing the Phonema GPH-Y2K replacement speaker increases high frequency response to the point that SSB band noise becomes significantly more irritating, and for my ear, is not a good option.

The Yaesu SP-2000's one real weakness is that the speaker cabinet is WAY too long. It could be half the length and work just as well.

Cost-wise, this speaker is a luxury. Adding the Y2KA sound kit, it will set you back about $260, before tax. So maybe it's ham radio "bling" ... that actually works.

I have and use three of them (at 3 stations), all driven by West Mountain Radio CLRdsp amplifier/noise reduction units and with FTDX-3000, FT991 and FTDX-101MP/MAX radios. The combination of CLRdsp and SP-2000 is so far unbeatable in my experience and results in very clear audio that's easy to listen to and causes little fatigue. Almost FM-like, at times, even when the bands are very noisy. Note that the CLRdsp unit uses a bridged amplifier with floating ground, so if two inputs are connected to a single SP-2000 at the same time, DC blocking capacitors have to be inserted in series with both conductors from the CLRdsp unit or an internal CLRdsp fuse will be blown.

Even by themselves, driven directly from the radios, the SP-2000s sound good. While fairly expensive and not perfect (the Y2K sound kit is very recommended), they do the job well and are light years beyond the tiny, tinny "matching speakers" that are usually offered - external speakers that often sound no better or even worse than those built into the radio.

For that reason, I give them five stars. But note that some quality surplus stereo speakers can do as well (depends on the speaker), but without sound tailoring. And they are usually way cheaper, used. And are often larger.

Regarding the review below that complains of strong audio out of the speaker on TX - I've never heard that, even running over 1 KW, on any mode, at any of my three stations, out of this or ANY speaker. And the SP-2000 is simply a passive speaker/filters in a metal can. Not much to go wrong. It seems pretty obvious that the reviewer very likely has a pretty bad ground loop or RFI problem in his station (or has his monitor on, despite thoughts to the contrary) and should have requested help on the forums before crying "FOUL!" regarding the speaker or retailer. Maybe he's connecting it to two radios and the differential ground currents are causing the audio - we may never know. but it's not likely the speaker's fault.

Happy Operating!

Brian - K6BRN
M7OYR Rating: 2022-02-25
An impressive speaker with effective filters. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a SP-2000 with the Phonema Insulation Kit attached to my FT-2000. (The insulation kit does improve the speaker). Another without the insulation for my FTDX-1200 (replacing the very disappointing SP-20 which I had unfortunately purchased to match the FTDX-1200).
I like these speakers so much that I have purchased another to connect to an MFJ-784B DSP filter to try with my other transceivers.
K1FBI Rating: 2020-05-16
Real quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
No ire here (how fitting).
Built solid and sounds excellent. Filters work nicely.
A little pricey but it matches the rig well and all in all it's worth it.
W3IRE Rating: 2020-05-15
Issues with this speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a follow up on my previous review on this Speaker. Needless to say, I sent the speaker back. Talked to one of the sales person, Wade. A very polite person. Not the rude guy I first talked too. The speaker did have a short in it. They refunded my money.
To the guy here who said I had problems in my shack and said they're was nothing wrong with the speaker. Get your facts straight before you pass judgement on people here. Everything in my shack is set up first class. No rfi in the shack.




Bought this last week. Took about 5 days to get it from Giga Parts. Hooked it up to my FT-991A and my FTDX-1200. Sound is great. Filters work great, but I noticed every time I would key up, my voice would come through the speaker. That happens on both radios. Checked and made sure that my monitor functions on the radios were off, they were. Still getting same problem. Hooked up my Kenwood sp-230 to same radios and no voice when I keyed up. Tried some of my other radios on the sp-2000 and same problem. Don't know if this is typical for this speaker.
Called GigaParts about the problem and they told me to call Yaesu support.
This was the first time I've ever purchased from GigaParts. Needless to say they have no technical support. If it were HRO, they would have told me to send it back. I'm not giving GigaParts a bad name, but I will not be purchasing from them in the future. I'll stick with HRO.
KB7TT Rating: 2020-05-09
Excellent when filled with acoustic insulation Time Owned: more than 12 months.
You can buy acoustic insulation or just us regular fiberglass insulation but do stuff the enclosure with it to reduce resonances and improve the sound. An excellent speaker when stuffed.... White noise is dimished completely... I have owned 2 of these.
KV1P Rating: 2020-05-09
Just a Fantastic Speaker Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have mine with my FT-5000 and I cannot ask for anything better; had mine for over 8 years and still going strong!!!!!
W8STU Rating: 2019-09-27
GREAT SPEAKER Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Greetings

I don't understand why all the negative reviews. I bought mine from a nice gentleman from Ebay. I am using it with my newly purchased FTDX1200. I think it sounds really nice. To my ears SSB sounds great. I am also a shortwave listener. AM sounds rich and smooth. I would highly recommend the SP2000 speaker. Thank you and God bless. 73 Stu W8STU
KE0GXN Rating: 2018-11-20
Great speaker! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Purchased this speaker to to use with my 450D and I must say I have no regrets. However, to really get the audio filters to standout, I strongly recommend buying the Phits Phonema Y2K Modification Kit sold by DX Engineering. It is not hard to install and really enriches the low & high cut filters on the speaker.

Other than being a bit pricey and I can not think of anything negative to say about this speaker.

For some it will be well worth the money (for me it is) and for others it may not. All depends on what you are willing to spend and what you want to get audio wise out of your radio.

I exclusively operate SSB and have more than happy utilizing this speaker.

WA8KOQ Rating: 2018-10-13
GREAT SOUND Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have tried the Realistic Minimus 7, The Palstar SP30B and they are both good but after a while bothered me. Must say I wear hearing aids and everyone has different tastes as to sound, but I finally sprung the money for this speaker and must say I am impressed. I use it with my FTDX-1200 and a DRAKE 2b - Have not had a bad day listening yet, had it over a year. Been a big improvement here at my shack. The filters do help a bit but it is mostly the richness of the sound to me. As a footnote, I operate mostly CW ..
K4AOO Rating: 2018-09-26
Tinty sound without adding an inside liner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good speaker if you spend another 60.00 to get an acoustic liner for the metal cabinet. However, at over 200.00 that shouldn't be necessary. I get better audio from a bose 301.