Slow, I'm pretty sold on the kes-5 with your reports. I'll find one and see how it does with the station rigs to start with. Maybe I can follow your reports but report from a base perspective
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KES-5 Kenwood External/Mobile Speaker
- Thread starter Slowmover
- Start date
Forgot to mention that speaker sensitivity is such that (leaving aside where mounted) only a little volume from the radio produced plenty to hear.
IOW, one is NOT turning it up very far in order to listen (given quiet surroundings; inside moving vehicle).
I’ve not tried to make the case that this is in the upper echelons of devices with which to listen.
1). It’s better than EVERY CB shop offering.
2). It’s ruggedness and quality overall make it a strongly recommended item for your spares shelf — if nothing else — given its xtra-low cost purchased used.
3). I think it good enough to use as reference. Someone makes a speaker suggestion, I’ll want to know how it stacks up against this one. Ask for audio comparison.
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IOW, one is NOT turning it up very far in order to listen (given quiet surroundings; inside moving vehicle).
I’ve not tried to make the case that this is in the upper echelons of devices with which to listen.
1). It’s better than EVERY CB shop offering.
2). It’s ruggedness and quality overall make it a strongly recommended item for your spares shelf — if nothing else — given its xtra-low cost purchased used.
3). I think it good enough to use as reference. Someone makes a speaker suggestion, I’ll want to know how it stacks up against this one. Ask for audio comparison.
.
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Due to the generosity of being given this mentioned speaker, I'll be dissecting the kes-5 to have a look inside and to compare to the truck stop available speakers. I haven't had much time to try it on the air but at first feel it's definitely a hefty one. The build alone is far superior to any bottom tier cb speaker of today.
Slow, as you mention with it being a 4 ohm impedance load it doesn't take much turning of the volume to produce sound. The clarity and frequency reproduction is much wider of any external cb speaker I've ever owned with plenty from the low to the high end. Hopefully I can do a report from a base perspective pretty soon.
Slow, as you mention with it being a 4 ohm impedance load it doesn't take much turning of the volume to produce sound. The clarity and frequency reproduction is much wider of any external cb speaker I've ever owned with plenty from the low to the high end. Hopefully I can do a report from a base perspective pretty soon.
Since I had time on my hands, took the thread subject unit and wound in a fat MIX 31 snap-on ferrite at the radio connexion and another MIX 61 at the speaker junction. Used some scrap split loom and TESA harness tape to complete.
Got about six (6) turns at each end. The supplied power cord is xtra-long. I’ve got it down to about four (4) feet.
This one is now the backup for the big truck.
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Got about six (6) turns at each end. The supplied power cord is xtra-long. I’ve got it down to about four (4) feet.
This one is now the backup for the big truck.
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For those of you looking to step up from the cheap truck stop external cb speaker, this is one to really consider. This one was generously donated to me by Slowmover after his mobile testing so I could give it a shot as a station speaker. Leaps and bounds ahead of the typical junk we can easily buy at a truck stop, amazon or ebay. I decided to open it up to see and grade it's innards. For starters the bracket is a solid steel with brass screws and not that bendable tin or plastic we usually get. It's heavy and by looking at the speaker motor you'll see why. I've put a standard cb speaker like you find in about any cobra/galaxy next to it so you can see the difference. Running it for mainly ssb receive, the innards come to life with a rich frequency range that really shine in comparison to the typical external speaker. This one has been slightly modified with a shielded cable and standard mono plug but originally come with a 2 pin type plug for ham radios. Just something to keep in mind if you're shopping for one.
It's a really nice sounding quality speaker and being a 4 ohm impedance gives a lot of volume with little turn of a knob.
Available under the ma-com name as well
Link to previous thread on this speaker
https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/kes-5-kenwood-external-mobile-speaker.260046/
It's a really nice sounding quality speaker and being a 4 ohm impedance gives a lot of volume with little turn of a knob.
Available under the ma-com name as well
Link to previous thread on this speaker
https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/kes-5-kenwood-external-mobile-speaker.260046/
Attachments
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Great, 828!
We’ll need to link it to the other thread with basically the same name.
I much appreciate your dissection and comments. As I don’t have a base station to work from — where greater range and quietude is possible — I have wondered about speaker qualities as most “reviews” or comments are as informative as asking truckers for a radio check (“yeah, it’s workin’, hand”).
I knew I was sending it the right direction. As with the one I gave to a former Marine truck driver supporting his family.
It’s a helluva piece of gear bought brand-new at retail
list, or found on the used market.
Guys install them in Jeep’s they regularly hose out. I’ve thought I could hang it outdoors under a sheltering eave to hear at a distance (like a fire truck at the scene).
The reproduction of a wider or deeper range of vocal intonations means quite a lot in high speed decision-making. Easier understanding of the INTENT behind the words.
That you call it G to VG for SSB completes the picture for me. Thx.
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We’ll need to link it to the other thread with basically the same name.
I much appreciate your dissection and comments. As I don’t have a base station to work from — where greater range and quietude is possible — I have wondered about speaker qualities as most “reviews” or comments are as informative as asking truckers for a radio check (“yeah, it’s workin’, hand”).
I knew I was sending it the right direction. As with the one I gave to a former Marine truck driver supporting his family.
It’s a helluva piece of gear bought brand-new at retail
list, or found on the used market.
Guys install them in Jeep’s they regularly hose out. I’ve thought I could hang it outdoors under a sheltering eave to hear at a distance (like a fire truck at the scene).
The reproduction of a wider or deeper range of vocal intonations means quite a lot in high speed decision-making. Easier understanding of the INTENT behind the words.
That you call it G to VG for SSB completes the picture for me. Thx.
.
Those who already have a mobile external speaker: this is the one you can hang and aim out the window or place on the roof to keep men informed by radio at a physical distance.
That the other speaker (maybe permanently installed or not weather-rated) is incapable of being used thusly.
IOW, this is the one for the backup Radio Transport Case.
Adjunct to a Uniden Wireless Mic (turned off until signal received) and/or a PRESIDENT Randy (same battery-saving tactic).
A tuned-port DIY PVC enclosure might be able to boost outdoor range.
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That the other speaker (maybe permanently installed or not weather-rated) is incapable of being used thusly.
IOW, this is the one for the backup Radio Transport Case.
Adjunct to a Uniden Wireless Mic (turned off until signal received) and/or a PRESIDENT Randy (same battery-saving tactic).
A tuned-port DIY PVC enclosure might be able to boost outdoor range.
.
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Thanks for the info. I noticed those on E-bay. The VHF High Band radios that my boss has been ordering for the new ambulances are Kenwoods. I think those are the speakers that get mounted with them.
I looked for this thread and couldn't find it but here you go.
https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/kenwood-kes-5-external-speaker.261771/#post-762743
https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/kenwood-kes-5-external-speaker.261771/#post-762743