Better Audio

[zguy1243]

I have been wanting to make audio improvements to my radio gear. I have in the past used passive external speakers on all my scanners and receivers to improve over the internal speakers. Today I picked up a set of Bheringer MS-20 Studio Monitor Speakers. Wow what a difference. These are self powered speakers sized about right for the desk top and offer much better audio reproduction. One thing I note about them is the constant hiss from cheaper amplified speakers is not present with these, nice and quiet between comms. Sitting here now listening to loads of 4th FW F-15E's leave Seymour Johnson AFB. Sounds killer.

 

[krokus]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.973 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Audio can never be better than the source material.

 

[DickH]

...I have in the past used passive external speakers ...

You haven't said which external speakers you used. The ones in your photo look to be for all audio, music and voice. The audio used in 2-way radios (the type we listen to on our scanners) is a limited range. Speakers used in 2-way radio equipment is designed specifically for just that range of audio and does a remarkable job at it. I use Motorola speakers on my scanners and the audio is fantastic.

 

[commscanaus]

A good pair of studio monitor speakers can be very helpful in the shack.
Good sound with a wide dynamic range can help lift an otherwise non audible signal out of a noisy band.

Those speakers that Zguy has bought are exactly what I am talking about.

To help with the narrow audio range present in most radio communications, may I suggest you try what is now a mostly discarded piece of technology.....A Graphic Equalizer!
They can be had very cheaply nowadays- as nearly everyone relies on Dolby surround or other digital processing.

An equalizer in the audio path BEFORE the P.C. soundcard input can greatly help reduce hiss, CTCSS hum or just plain noise like that on the HF bands which can make for some really good quality recording that still sound natural. DSP can sometimes produce nasty artifacts that can spoil a recording.
An old analog graphic equalizer can be just the thing for cleaning up noisy audio.

Here is my little audio "mastering module" which was quite cheap to setup, with mostly older Radioshack branded equipment.
The venerable Minimus 7 speakers, Realistic 10 band graphic with "cool LED spectrum display" and a small Realistic SA-10 amplifier. An Autek QF-1A audio filter (an awesome piece of gear) helps to clean up the HF audio. A Psyclone multi input "gamer console" switcher is used to switch between radios and even has a remote control.

Grab those studio monitors and an equalizer! You will be pleased at the results!

Commscanaus

 

[DickH]

Talk about overkill! Ha ha ha ha ha.

 

[n5ims]

While you're at it add something that will help level the audio levels out so you won't get blown over by the loud transmissions that always come after cranking things up to hear the softer ones. Something like this should work nicely --> http://www.ebay.com/itm/CBS-Audimax...063?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b7ba997f

 

[zguy1243]

I agree. I am using a Berhringer RX1202FX pro mixer and the Berhringer MC20 studio monitors. It sounds great and much easier to hear than small extension speakers from the scanners. I have tried amplified speakers before just to be disappointed with the cheap noisy amplifiers in them but the Berhringer stuff really performs good. As far as the Motorola speakers go they are good and I noticed they are more at home with FM modulated signals. I listen to mostly AM mode and SSB from aircraft. The really sorry audio amplifiers that are in the scanners are the main reason to improve the audio output. Frequency response of the speakers is not the biggest thing but it sure does sound good to have some low end in the signals, especially aircraft. With the EQ on the mixer I can tune the audio on weaker AM signals to be much more readable than the weak audio provided directly from the scanner. The higher end radios like my Icom R8500 sound pretty good with just a passive extension speaker connected of any sort, but the scanners leave much to be desired on their own.

A good pair of studio monitor speakers can be very helpful in the shack.
Good sound with a wide dynamic range can help lift an otherwise non audible signal out of a noisy band.

Those speakers that Zguy has bought are exactly what I am talking about.

To help with the narrow audio range present in most radio communications, may I suggest you try what is now a mostly discarded piece of technology.....A Graphic Equalizer!
They can be had very cheaply nowadays- as nearly everyone relies on Dolby surround or other digital processing.

An equalizer in the audio path BEFORE the P.C. soundcard input can greatly help reduce hiss, CTCSS hum or just plain noise like that on the HF bands which can make for some really good quality recording that still sound natural. DSP can sometimes produce nasty artifacts that can spoil a recording.
An old analog graphic equalizer can be just the thing for cleaning up noisy audio.

Here is my little audio "mastering module" which was quite cheap to setup, with mostly older Radioshack branded equipment.
The venerable Minimus 7 speakers, Realistic 10 band graphic with "cool LED spectrum display" and a small Realistic SA-10 amplifier. An Autek QF-1A audio filter (an awesome piece of gear) helps to clean up the HF audio. A Psyclone multi input "gamer console" switcher is used to switch between radios and even has a remote control.

Grab those studio monitors and an equalizer! You will be pleased at the results!

Commscanaus