Hi all,
Mancow has touched on the reason but receivers vary widely depending on the application and the mode of transmission. In other words it's a world of complex variables.
"I've hooked up everything from basic Radio Shack speakers to Motorola speakers, and it doesn't change it."
Of course not, you only get out of a speaker what you put into it.
Ohio also has only part of the equation, there is usually a series resistor in the headphone output but not the external speaker. That means plug the speaker into the proper jack. One thing you do NOT want to do is run the output through what amounts to home entertainment audio systems or computer speakers unless the transmission is high fidelity to begin with.
Normal voice comms not only restrict the audio for clarity but the stuff on a scanner often carries PL tones and other things you do not want to hear. Professional equipment filters it out and some scanners likewise but most do not and the last thing you want is that annoying hum in the background. Stick with your Moto speakers, they're designed for the task and the rest is up to the receiver.
"Deep rich sound" takes a back seat to communications intelligibility if you want to hear what's going on. Leave the hi fi stuff for broadcast listening and those wonderful AM hams filling the airwaves with "angel music".
Keith, when you upgrade your license and get on HF you might discover those annoying "wideband sideband" operators who have that same attitude toward audio and change your opinion right quick. No need to elaborate, just listen or try to anyway and you'll see what I mean. Then compare what you hear to the "yay-emmers" between 3870 and 3900 and you'll wonder why there are idiots who can't grasp the concept of matching audio to the mode. No don't wonder, it's the difference between audio engineers and broadcast engineers or at least that's how it is here between Boston and Baltimore. Sorry if I left out Pencilwhania. (;->)
