SDS100/SDS200: 1st Impessions

[Omega-TI]

@GregOH That's odd, I've used computer speakers on an assortment of things over the decades that only had an earphone jack. As you can see in this very short segment from a YouTube video I "liberated", an SDS100 works fine with an amplified speaker using the earphone jack.

Now of course someone here reading this that has an SDS100 and some speakers could clear this up in a flash...

 

[GregOH]

@GregOH That's odd, I've used computer speakers on an assortment of things over the decades that only had an earphone jack. As you can see in this very short segment from a YouTube video I "liberated", an SDS100 works fine with an amplified speaker using the earphone jack.

Now of course someone here reading this that has an SDS100 and some speakers could clear this up in a flash...

I have alot of different audio speakers and amps around here and I'm going to try some different things, because even though the Bluetooth application I'm using now does work, I'm not impressed with the sound quality.

 

[Ensnared]

I'm thinking a headphone amplifier and a powered speaker would do it. The reason I believe this is, if you use a pc speaker audio output to powered pc speakers for an example, the speaker audio out on a pc should be line level out which would be more than what the output of a headphone jack would be.

Just throwing that out there and I don't know for sure. Maybe even an external phonograph preamp that is used in audio systems with a turntable between the headphone jack and powered speaker would work, but again I don't know because I haven't tested these methods yet.

Based on your response, I tried to see what would happen with my computer speakers.

My nephew gifted me with a Lepai LP168HA. When I plugged it into the radio SDS 100, it worked fairly well; however, the volume on the amp did not alter the volume. The only way to adjust the volume in this setup was to use the volume adjustment on the radio. This is exactly what happened when I attached the 436HP to the auxiliary car stereo input, or so it seems.

I don't understand why a mono to stereo adapter would work since the SDS 100 uses a stereo plug. I am quite baffled. I don't understand why amplified Uniden BC23A does not work on the SDS 100. My 436HP works great with this speaker.

My need for amplification would be in a vehicle, not at home. At present, I am using a cheap pair of JVC ear buds, model HA-EB75.

The Sony SRS-XB01 speaker works fantastic on the 436HP. I connected this speaker to the 436HP with a three-ringed 3.5 male to male cord. When I tried this with the SDS 100, it sounded horrible. I have not tried a Bluetooth connection yet.

So, I still don't understand if my radio needs to be repaired. I wonder which speaker Uniden recommended for the SDS 100. Once I understand why the 436HP works with the aforementioned BC 23A and not the SDS 100, I will buy accordingly. Right now, I am stumped.

I saw additional posts while I was typing. I need to digest why my BC23A does not work as well as the 436HP. I am going to check to see if the Uniden amplified speaker is malfunctioning.

Let me ask this. Is there any difference in the speaker jack for the SDS 100 and 436HP?

 

[Ensnared]

@GregOH That's odd, I've used computer speakers on an assortment of things over the decades that only had an earphone jack. As you can see in this very short segment from a YouTube video I "liberated", an SDS100 works fine with an amplified speaker using the earphone jack.

Now of course someone here reading this that has an SDS100 and some speakers could clear this up in a flash...

I just went outside in the cold to check the two radios on the Uniden amplified speaker. The red light that used to come on the speaker is no longer working. I had a radio technician put a stereo plug on the end of the cable. I am starting to question whether my BC23A is screwed up. At present, the 436HP is still working better than the SDS 100 in the speaker's present condition.

However, this does not explain why the 436HP outperforms the SDS 100 using the aforementioned Sony speaker. The 436HP comes in like gangbusters when the Sony speaker is attached with two male 3.5 mm stereo jacks.

 

[GregOH]

I just used a BT transmitter on the radio and a BT receiver on a pair of Yamaha YST-M7 pc speakers and it sounds really good. Only thing that's gonna suck with it being this loud will be when Fire Paging is used because it sounds horrible no matter what you hear it on.

As for in the car, can't you plug the scanner into the aux jack of the stereo?

 

[Ensnared]

I just used a BT transmitter on the radio and a BT receiver on a pair of Yamaha YST-M7 pc speakers and it sounds really good. Only thing that's gonna suck with it being this loud will be when Fire Paging is used because it sounds horrible no matter what you hear it on.

As for in the car, can't you plug the scanner into the aux jack of the stereo?

I don't know if this applies to the SDS 100; however, I was warned by someone in the RR forums several years ago about doing this with the 436HP. Like an idiot, I plugged one into an auxiliary input on my car stereo. This warning slipped my mind.

Afterward, the Crane stereo over-the-ear earphone no longer worked. I had to use a gaming adaptor with the three rings on the 3.5 mm plug.

 

[GregOH]

I don't know if this applies to the SDS 100; however, I was warned by someone in the RR forums several years ago about doing this with the 436HP. Like an idiot, I plugged one into an auxiliary input on my car stereo. Afterward, the Crane stereo over-the-ear earphone no longer worked. I had to use a gaming adaptor with the three rings on the 3.5 mm plug.

I use a bluetooth transmitter on the radio and a bluetooth reciever on the stereo and avoid using a cable.

 

[GregOH]

Also I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to buy this amp and a 12v to 24v stepup converter, and attaching my BT reciever to the input and a 4 ohm speaker, and using it in my SUV.

 

[GROL]

So far I am very impressed with the SDS100. I was fortunate to get one for Christmas. I would never spend so much money for one. Not only has almost all simulcast distortion disappeared, but the sensitivity improvement over my BCD436HP and BCD325P2 is obvious. I am receiving an adjacent county system much better. I bought an extra battery and charger kit. I have read about the broken battery door latches, so I am being very careful with that. Are many people experiencing broken latches? I see the aftermarket 3D printed latches for sale. From recent experience, it is becoming near impossible to get parts from Uniden. Are these breaking due to hyperextension when opening the battery latch, or just breaking over time due to pressure? If I am going to continue swapping out batteries, am I going to need a spare latch?

 

[GregOH]

So far I am very impressed with the SDS100. I was fortunate to get one for Christmas. I would never spend so much money for one. Not only has almost all simulcast distortion disappeared, but the sensitivity improvement over my BCD436HP and BCD325P2 is obvious. I am receiving an adjacent county system much better. I bought an extra battery and charger kit. I have read about the broken battery door latches, so I am being very careful with that. Are many people experiencing broken latches? I see the aftermarket 3D printed latches for sale. From recent experience, it is becoming near impossible to get parts from Uniden. Are these breaking due to hyperextension when opening the battery latch, or just breaking over time due to pressure? If I am going to continue swapping out batteries, am I going to need a spare latch?

I use a power bank with mine.

 

[buddrousa]

I find it much better to press the front of the case and the battery cover together when locking or unlocking the battery cover latch never broke one yet 2 sds100's 2 spare batteries 1st release sds100's.

 

[GROL]

I too am pressing the front of the case and battery door together to open the latch carefully. I have also tried a USB battery bank. Thanks for the hints.

 

[Ensnared]

So far I am very impressed with the SDS100. I was fortunate to get one for Christmas. I would never spend so much money for one. Not only has almost all simulcast distortion disappeared, but the sensitivity improvement over my BCD436HP and BCD325P2 is obvious. I am receiving an adjacent county system much better. I bought an extra battery and charger kit. I have read about the broken battery door latches, so I am being very careful with that. Are many people experiencing broken latches? I see the aftermarket 3D printed latches for sale. From recent experience, it is becoming near impossible to get parts from Uniden. Are these breaking due to hyperextension when opening the battery latch, or just breaking over time due to pressure? If I am going to continue swapping out batteries, am I going to need a spare latch?

You are doing the exact same thing I am doing. I too bought the smaller battery and charger. I love it. I like the smaller battery and door because it will fit my MAXX mount on the windshield. I bought a cup holder fashioned for this radio using the larger battery. The cup holder was a bit larger than I needed. However, I can fashion something to keep it in the holder. The tilt was said to be around 25 degrees. I am looking to buy one of the sturdier battery doors when I find the source. I will give credit to Uniden for increasing the audio. I can hear the radio fairly well inside my Corolla.

 

[krokus]

Any headway on the external speaker issue? I had two thoughts about the lack of audio quality.
1) The two channels are out of phase, canceling out at the amp.
2) Inadequate volume from the scanner, so the external amp has mostly noise to process. (Possibly due to the first thought.)

 

[Ensnared]

Any headway on the external speaker issue? I had two thoughts about the lack of audio quality.
1) The two channels are out of phase, canceling out at the amp.
2) Inadequate volume from the scanner, so the external amp has mostly noise to process. (Possibly due to the first thought.)

Thanks for your response. I've not found a direct plug-in speaker yet. I am reluctant to use Bluetooth because the Bluetooth speaker or Bluetooth ear buds and scanner must be charged. I am a bit disorganized in my behavior, not a good mix.

I am still wanting to know if there was any change in the headphone jack between the 436HP and SDS 100. I can go from one radio to another, same frequency, same everything. I have not found a speaker other than the Bluetooth. Regular stereo buds may be the way to go, but I am still experimenting and researching.

 

[krokus]

Thanks for your response. I've not found a direct plug-in speaker yet. I am reluctant to use Bluetooth because the Bluetooth speaker or Bluetooth ear buds and scanner must be charged. I am a bit disorganized in my behavior, not a good mix.

I am still wanting to know if there was any change in the headphone jack between the 436HP and SDS 100. I can go from one radio to another, same frequency, same everything. I have not found a speaker other than the Bluetooth. Regular stereo buds may be the way to go, but I am still experimenting and researching.

Have you tried a contact cleaner on the jack? It is new, thusly shouldn't be oxidized, but could be.

 

[GROL]

For anyone needing to clean and lubricate electrical contacts, I would suggest trying CRC 2-26. It is safe for plastics. Some cleaner/lubricants can cause plastics to eventually break down and crack. I use CRC 2-26 on connectors, antenna parts and controls. I coat my Buddipole antenna coils and parts before exposure to the elements, especially salt air at the beach. You can get it a Home Depot and Lowes. Home Depot has the cheaper 5oz can for $3.48.

I would not recommend spraying it directly into the audio jack of the scanner as you will not be able to control how much. Instead spray some onto an earphone or external speaker plug and insert it into the jack in and out several times and even turning it while inserted.

Multi-Purpose Lubricant x 5 oz.

 

[Omega-TI]

Tonight I remembered I had some really cheap speakers in a drawer that I used on a project a year or so ago. Anyway I pulled them out, plugged the USB power cable into the laptop and the audio jack into the top of the scanner. Oh Mama! What a difference! (In a good way!) I can only imagine what the scanner would sound like with a good set of speakers.

 

[werinshades]

Tonight I remembered I had some really cheap speakers in a drawer that I used on a project a year or so ago. Anyway I pulled them out, plugged the USB power cable into the laptop and the audio jack into the top of the scanner. Oh Mama! What a difference! (In a good way!) I can only imagine what the scanner would sound like with a good set of speakers.


View attachment 114862

Here's an old thread from March 2020 on the speaker quality that might have interested you prior to purchase. I'm sure I could go back further, so buyer should have been aware.

Too much clutter to achieve the speaker quality you probably would have liked in the SDS200. I use a $13 Road Pro speakers on all of my SDS200's. I prefer the "tinny sound" on digital systems due to the nature of a digital's base sound. Have been using them since day 1 and never have a complaint.

SDS1000 Atrocious Audio Quality

Is there any fix at all for the absolutely terrible audio quality of this scanner? Very high treble. Quality is DEFINITELY not there with the $700 price tag.

forums.radioreference.com

 

[Ensnared]

Here's an old thread from March 2020 on the speaker quality that might have interested you prior to purchase. I'm sure I could go back further, so buyer should have been aware.

Too much clutter to achieve the speaker quality you probably would have liked in the SDS200. I use a $13 Road Pro speakers on all of my SDS200's. I prefer the "tinny sound" on digital systems due to the nature of a digital's base sound. Have been using them since day 1 and never have a complaint.

SDS1000 Atrocious Audio Quality

Is there any fix at all for the absolutely terrible audio quality of this scanner? Very high treble. Quality is DEFINITELY not there with the $700 price tag.

forums.radioreference.com

Yes, I cannot understand it. However, at least I am not alone. The front fire speaker is actually pretty loud in comparison to the 436HP. I hate those rubber things on the top and side. Yes, I too don't intend to take a shower with this radio, LOL. I believe I am going to accept this and move on. Most of the time, there are good and bad things you buy. The good outweighs the bad in this case.