Is palstar speakers worth the price?

[WB2WIK]

I have a "Sounds Sweet" speaker and it's the best sounding speaker for ham radio I've ever used, honestly.

Still not as good as headphones...not even close. However if I need to use a speaker, that's the one.

I got mine used at the TRW Swap Meet three years ago for $75 and didn't overpay for it. It can also handle pretty high volume levels without rattling or distorting, which is a plus if you want to walk into the next room.

Shoule mention, in the car I use nothing but Motorola speakers. They also can handle quite high volume (more than mobile rigs can deliver) without adding any distortion I can hear and the bracket allows me to swivel it to accommodate the car/van acoustics well, overriding road noise much better than any of the built-in speakers could ever hope to.

[K9STH]

JOY:

I strongly suggest that you get off your "high horse"!

You are not going to make any friends, and will probably make a LOT of enemies with your attitude. You expressed an opinion and are getting upset with those who are expressing a different opinion.

Of course, you are free to spend any amount of money on any product that you seem fit. Frankly, I don't care if you use $100 per foot "oxygen free" wire on your speaker, use platinum / gold connectors that are guaranteed to reduce distortion by 0.000001 dB, or even if you replace all of the coupling and bypass capacitors in your radios with leaky Sprague "black beauty" capacitors. That is a decision that you, and you alone, can make.

You have your opinion and you are definitely allowed, at least in my opinion, to have that opinion. However, it is also my opinion, and the opinion of a LOT of others, there are numerous, much less costly, ways of getting excellent performance, equal to, and probably better than the performance of your particular "favorite" speakers.

Glen, K9STH

[WN9HJW]

I think you're one of the "elite snobs" he was ranting about.

I'm merely "dude".

[WB2WIK]

I think most would find, if visiting an "award winning" multiop contest station, or even an "award winning" single op contest station, absolutely nobody is using a speaker for this. Headphones or microphone/earphone headsets rule the roost for good reason.

I've operated from a lot of them and cannot recall anyone ever using a speaker for this.

Even for casual SWL'ing, which I sometimes do, I use the Sounds Sweet speaker in my workshop on an old HQ-180 (sold my NC-183D and I regret that, it was better) and it's quite good. But if I really want to "hear" a weak SW station in amongst the noise and interference, the only way to do it is with headphones.

[K9STH]

JOY:

Conar stayed in business for decades! So did Gotham Antennas. How long in business does not necessarily mean quality. Often it does, but there are a lot of exceptions. Take a look at the quality of Radio Shack 50 ohm coaxial cable and coax connectors. They have been selling them for decades as well. However, I have found 2 real uses for their coaxial cable: The first is as a "leaky line" antenna (because of the dismal shielding on their cable) and the second is to remove the sheath, pull the center conductor out, and then use the braid. Obtaining braid that way is a LOT cheaper than purchasing braid by itself. As for the connectors: I haven't found a good use for them!

I am not commenting on the quality of the speaker. It may be excellent. I am commenting on using how long a company has been in business as a measurement of quality.

Also, I believe that it is a violation of the "rules of the road" on QRZ.com to personally attack someone in a thread.

Glen, K9STH

[WD5JOY]

JOY:
Also, I believe that it is a violation of the "rules of the road" on QRZ.com to personally attack someone in a thread.
Glen, K9STH

Glen ..... ya' give GOOD info 90% of the time .... I read all your "stuff" .... but on this one, well, let's go back and see who kicked the first freakin' rock in those "personal attacks". I defend as well as I offend!

Now .... I must go to dinner .... it will be a long night on those lowly-bands.

[N4CYA]

Guys...Keep this subject on the right path.

[KD2AKG]

Woah, a lot of examples of what we DON'T need in ham radio in this thread. JOY-lighten up a bit. I don't think it's off topic or wrong for a guy to offer his opinion. Headphones ARE a better alternative simply because weak signals are right on your ears. I think the question was well-answered here. If you're looking for an improvement over the crappy built-in speaker,many regular speakers provide that. If you want a low cost alternative, try the Motorola speaker and save the $$$. If ya really want to hear the weak signals, headphones are best. OPinions, yes, but most were likely formed over many years of trial and error, so these guys have some basis.

As for the other nonsense you spewed-true in some cases. You may not want to "fit the mold," but you musta had a bad experience with some hams at some time in your life......

[N4CYA]

Thread went down hill..So CLOSED!