I know there's a lot of "matching" speakers that go along with communications receivers of various types, but I'm curious how many of you boatanchor owners out there actually use the proper speaker, or whether you use something else. I'm currently using an old wall-mounted school PA speaker with my SX-73, but I'm finding it's not the greatest sounding speaker overall; it sometimes seems to emphasize some of the worst noises that come along with listening to distant SW stations. I was contemplating finding something better, but I figured I'd see what you all use to get some ideas. I was thinking of finding a coaxial woofer like this one, but I don't really think the school PA speaker housing would do it much justice since it's a basic open-back box. So, show us what you've got!

-Dan

Some brands have horrible speakers, Hammarlund is a prime example for much beyond communications quality. Later Nationals are no better but the earlier ones are great as are most Hallicrafters.

The speakers I use are a mix of Hallicrafters, National, a few Collins and a couple of those school type speakers with quality dual cone 10" replacements. One exception to the usual rule about military audio is a LS-12 which can really rattle the timbers!

The SX-73 does not have outstanding audio to start with, it was purpose built for communications.

Carl

I'm using a Hallicrafters R-42 and an R-46 with my boatanchors.

Larry

I use a couple of the big older nationals that came with HROs and 173/183s.

I concur with Carl on this. Most of the communications radios matching speakers were not a "full range" speaker. But a majority of the communications receivers weren't designed to have full range audio so it would have been a waste to have a full range speaker coupled to a receiver that was designed with a 300 to 3000 hertz audio pass band. What kind of speaker I use on a radio depends on what I using the radio for. If its shortwave listening or BC band and I want music, then I will probably run the audio output into a separate amp that drives a decent speaker system. If I'm using the receiver to listen to sideband or CW, then I will use something that doesn't respond to the bass content, because the audio distortion that the extra bass creates makes copying difficult in noisy or low signal situations. I don't really think that there is one speaker that does everything, just as there aren't really any receivers that do a great job at everything.

I used a crossover network with my communications speaker to provide some filtering of the speaker response. Most 3 way crossover networks have 100Hz and 3KHz crossover points, so they provide filtering for the mid range frequencies. I can switch the network out if I don't want a filtered response.

I have also selected a speaker that is designed for mid-range use, so it's frequency response is in the 70Hz to 4KHz range.

Almost all of my communications receivers have their "matching" speakers. This is more for historical significance than anything else.

As far as I am concerned, and to my ears, communications receivers do not have very good audio out to begin with. They have some great design and technical features, but good sounding audio is not one of them.

There are a few exceptions to this poor audio statement, my Hallicrafters SX-42 and SX-62 come to mind, but for the most part they do not have very good sounding audio. I use a Hallicrafters R-42 bass-reflex speaker with both of these Hallicrafters and the audio is very good.

Except for the previously mentioned 42 & 62, I usually use whatever speaker is handy and matches the output of the particular receiver I am working. I always try and keep in mind that it is the quality of signal that I am after and not necessarily the quality of the sound.

BR,

Terry

All good points so far. I think I should find a slightly better speaker for my SX-73, but I do also realize it's not "hi-fi". The big thing that kills the fidelity is the selectivity control, but unfortunately it's pretty necessary most of the time, especially since I still haven't come up with a stellar solution for an antenna. (Have to find a spool of thin, cheap wire I can toss out the window to see how much better the reception becomes.)

Now, if I could find an SX-42...well, let's just say it's at the top of my list now. AM and FM reception in an awesome looking box with great selectivity/control, count me in!

-Dan

You may laugh at me for this, but on my SLR-12B I use a 12vct power transformer to match impedance from the 600 ohm out to one of my Klipsch KG-4 speakers. It sounds great. The speaker is way overkill, but its what I happened to have available in the shop to wire up. The tranformer may also not be optimal, but again, its what I had. The SLR-12B will go fairly wide on the IF response, so it will easily reproduce all that a typical AM broadcast station will throw at it and then some. With the push-pull 6v6 audio amp its also got enough oomph to make more sound than I require.

Sadly, my hearing is failing at a rapid rate, and it hardly makes any difference which
speaker I use. Getting old sucs.

Pete

This is an interesting topic. Matching Brand speakers are selling for an arm and a leg
on ebay. Has anyone built their own speaker and if so what speaker
did you use? How does it compare to the boatanchor speakers, like the Hallicrafters?

Ken

Bruce Vaughan had a nice article on some of his home built speakers and cabinets in Electric Radio September 1998. I have been away from wood working for a few years but after completing a few projects that my wife and daughter are waiting on my wood working will take an electronics turn.

I am generally unwilling to pay more for a speaker than I did for the radio, especially given the low quality noted by Carl I do have a few Halli R-42 "reproducers", several of the National HRO and NC-173 and 183 types. Both of my NC-240D receivers have the matching speaker and one set still has the proper feet (why did people take these off of this series???). But a lot of my receivers share speakers and or have more modern types connected.

Doing some family friendly wood working keeps the family happy and avoids complaints about the room (and time) my vintage gear occupies. One of my first big projects was this reproduction china cabinet made from black walnut and no project was more important than the hard maple crib with cherry accents that I finished shortly before daughter Anna's arrival. It created one of the more humorous moments in our marriage when Maureen came out to my barn workshop while I was doing the final hand sanding on the crib slats before applying the first coat of finish. She noted that I was maybe being a bit too much of a perfectionist. I testily replied that I am not a perfectionist but I just want this crib to be perfect. We both got a much needed laugh out of this during a rather stressful time in life.

Rodger WQ9E

@ Carl. I've only had the chance to use 1 Hammarlund speaker so far, the S-200. I thought too that it was awful, and just to see if it really was the speaker, I hooked it up to a late 70's Technics receiver/home stereo amp. It was really very good quality sound coming from the speaker. It may be a replacement, I don't know. Doesn't look like it though. Looks like a crappy old 6X9 with a whizzer cone.

I also tried hooking up a nice 70's JBL bookshelf speaker to the 180. Sounded just the same as the Hammarlund speaker (albeit more bassy).
In my case the speaker sounded fine, and the hq-180 sounded like it was intended to, crap.

Wow, Rodger! I didn't know that we needed to add work working to your long list of talents

I, too use a mix of matching and non-matching speakers. I use a Hallicrafters R-46B with my SX-115 and it sounds quite good. I also love the R-42 with my SX-42. With my SP-600, I use a Hammond matching transformer to drive an old Rat Shack Minimus 7 speaker with good results. I also use one with my HRO-500.

73,

Clark, K9OA

I have two speakers I use on BAs, a 4 ohm Jensen R-10 field coil speaker in a wood case and an 8" Utah 8 ohm in a metal case. Both speakers were under $5, the wood was scrap plywood and the 48VDC power supply was free. (dumpster)
Both sound pretty decent on AM.

Doug

Dan,
I use a pair of Sony SS B1000 speakers for different radios. There are a 5 1/4 inch woofer and 2 inch tweeter made for small stereo systems.. The old equipment drives them well and they offer very good sound. The cost was about $45 for the pair. They only come in Henry Ford's favorite color, Black.
Jerry W5JH

Unless I am looking up the wrong speaker, the R10 sells for around $100. You did well at $5

Ken

I use matching speakers for my commo receivers, but that is mostly because they were included at the time I picked up the receivers (all at hamfests).

In a pinch I'll use what I can or may.

Larry

Another choice if you have the room is a 50's AM-FM console radio with at least PP audio and a good selection of audio related controls.

I was given a mid 50's RCA with a seperate audio/PS chassis with PP 6V6's and 2 each 12" and 4" speakers. After a simple overhaul it is now driven by one of my SX-62A's as I wanted more audio range/optons than stock in our large LR. Another SX-62A and R-42 is in the BR.

Carl