Tinny Audio on Uniden scanners

[clovisb31]

I have a Uniden BCD996P2 and a BCD996XLT scanner. Both have external speakers connected for "better' audio. Both have "tinny" audio through
these external speakers. That is the low frequency audio seems reduced in favor of the higher audio frequencies. I have tried several commercial
speakers ( Kenwood, Motorola, Uniden, MFJ) . I have tried amplified versions of the same brands also which only results in louder tinny audio.
Is this just a function of Unidens audio processing circuitry ? Has anyone tried a speaker with an adjustable equalizer or constructed a home made
circuit to roll off the high audio frequencies ?
Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[gary123]

Basically the smaller the speaker the tinnier it sounds. Low freq require a larger speaker area. I could suggest ask any stereo fan and they could explain it way better.

We must also remember that radio comms and especially digital modes really have some weird frequency response patterns. Certainly not HIFI by any means.

 

[mmckenna]

Just to rule things out before we go too far:

You do have the Wide/Narrow FM setting correct for the frequencies you are using, correct? If it's a narrow band FM signal and you have the radio set to wide FM, it'll sound tinny and low modulation.

If you've got that sorted out, then it's not the speaker, more than likely, its the scanner itself.

 

[blackbelter]

Some speakers with adjustable equalizer are mostly designed for music not voice. My target P25P2 system sounds are strongly received through my SDS 200 built in speaker.

 

[clovisb31]

Just to rule things out before we go too far:

You do have the Wide/Narrow FM setting correct for the frequencies you are using, correct? If it's a narrow band FM signal and you have the radio set to wide FM, it'll sound tinny and low modulation.

If you've got that sorted out, then it's not the speaker, more than likely, its the scanner itself.

All channels are set to " AUTO" on the " Set Modulation" menu. There are choices for AUTO , AM , NFM , FM, WFM and FMB.

I would "think " that the scanner knows the difference between standard FM and Narrow FM bandwidth if set to AUTO.
But maybe not. I'm going to have to manually set the modulation on the Public Safety narrow channels vs. the standard
FM bandwidth used by the Hams. This may improve the audio quality.

 

[buddrousa]

What is funny is that most complain about the muddy bass sound of most all Uniden Scanners are you sure you know the difference?

 

[clovisb31]

What is funny is that most complain about the muddy bass sound of most all Uniden Scanners are you sure you know the difference?

I've had Uniden scanners of several models on duty and off, for over 40 years. I've never considered them bassy or muddy.
I've also never heard of audio complaints of the muddy variety either. That being said, I DO know the difference.
I'd just like my scanner to sound somewhere close to typical MOTO/Kenwood radios when using their external speakers.

Still playing with audio settings so the Jury is out.

 

[buddrousa]

Hate to hurt your feelings but a $500 Scanner is not going to sound like a Several Thousand Dollar Public Service Radio.
Also I became a 2nd Class General Radio Telephone License Holder in 1977-1978 involved in 2way from 1980 to now and a Fulltime Firefighter 1983 and retired in 2023 40-year career.
Here is a simple search dated 2019 5 years ago.

Uniden BCD996P2 or Uniden SDS200 ?

I know the SDS200 is a better scanner, but what bothers me is the buzzing noise. Seems like a lot of people have a buzzing / chirping noise coming out of an external speaker. I don't want to purchase the SDS200 and get one with a lot of this noise. I know Uniden has a fix for this now....but...

forums.radioreference.com

Introducing the SDS200

Anyone have an Idea why Uniden does NOT have a Audio TONE control or Audio Filters to make Audio Reception more clearer ?

forums.radioreference.com

One More Time 436 vs. 536

I'm sure this subject has been well worn for the years these 2 scanners have been around. There are some obvious reasons to choose one over the other but I wanted to get some more input from those with experience perhaps with both of them. So here's my criteria. * I do like the idea of...

forums.radioreference.com

Uniden 436 in MS--on MSWIN

Does the Uniden 436 preform well on MSWIN? I have the 536 but it doesn't do MSWIN very well. It has a bassy, muddy, underwater sound. And can the 436 be programed manually?

forums.radioreference.com

 

[clovisb31]

Hate to hurt your feelings but a $500 Scanner is not going to sound like a Several Thousand Dollar Public Service Radio.
Also I became a 2nd Class General Radio Telephone License Holder in 1977-1978 involved in 2way from 1980 to now and a Fulltime Firefighter 1983 and retired in 2023 40-year career.
Here is a simple search dated 2019 5 years ago.

Uniden BCD996P2 or Uniden SDS200 ?

I know the SDS200 is a better scanner, but what bothers me is the buzzing noise. Seems like a lot of people have a buzzing / chirping noise coming out of an external speaker. I don't want to purchase the SDS200 and get one with a lot of this noise. I know Uniden has a fix for this now....but...

forums.radioreference.com

Introducing the SDS200

Anyone have an Idea why Uniden does NOT have a Audio TONE control or Audio Filters to make Audio Reception more clearer ?

forums.radioreference.com

One More Time 436 vs. 536

I'm sure this subject has been well worn for the years these 2 scanners have been around. There are some obvious reasons to choose one over the other but I wanted to get some more input from those with experience perhaps with both of them. So here's my criteria. * I do like the idea of...

forums.radioreference.com

Uniden 436 in MS--on MSWIN

Does the Uniden 436 preform well on MSWIN? I have the 536 but it doesn't do MSWIN very well. It has a bassy, muddy, underwater sound. And can the 436 be programed manually?

forums.radioreference.com

Yeah,
Seems like each model of Uniden scanner has it's own individual audio quirks. My complaint is with the BCD996P2
and BCD996XLT models. Identical in appearance, but probably not audio circuitry .
I've been toggling the modulation settings between FM and NFM to gauge the difference in audio tone. Not noticing
any real meaningful difference so far.
Yes, I DO know these cheap $500 scanners won't sound like the Public Safety Moto/GE/Kenwoods I used for many
years. But with an external speaker they "should" sound a LOT better. They really don't.
Just for the Hallibut I connected my Yaesu FT60 handheld to the same Motorola and Kenwood external speakers
used with my scanners. The audio was FANTASTIC ! The Yaesu FT60 is a $150 handheld radio, not a $7000 Motorola.
So this shows to go you...all audio circuitry is not created equal...especially between Uniden scanners.

And sorry you had to do 40 years for a full pension...I only had to do 30.

 

[buddrousa]

I have 9 996p2 scanners running all have audio run through eq mixer with the bass flat to kill the muddy base sound

 

[buddrousa]

I chose to work and keep my younger wife insurance I also was living a childhood dream and chose to work I could have left at 55 with 30 years

 

[MStep]

Maybe these old ears are shot, but I have no complaints about the audio quality from any of the Uniden scanners I've had. And I've had practically all of the higher-end models that have been produced over the years. FWIW, YMMV

 

[Bob1955]

I have a Uniden BCD996P2 and a BCD996XLT scanner. Both have external speakers connected for "better' audio. Both have "tinny" audio through
these external speakers. That is the low frequency audio seems reduced in favor of the higher audio frequencies. I have tried several commercial
speakers ( Kenwood, Motorola, Uniden, MFJ) . I have tried amplified versions of the same brands also which only results in louder tinny audio.
Is this just a function of Unidens audio processing circuitry ? Has anyone tried a speaker with an adjustable equalizer or constructed a home made
circuit to roll off the high audio frequencies ?
Your thoughts are appreciated.

clovisb31- Go out and purchase Logi computer speaker from Staples/Amazon and connect the plug into the rear of the external speaker jack.
Also, the "Uniden" amplified speaker is great and that can be purchased on Amazon too.
Hope this helps you.

Bob

 

[trimmerj]

300 to 3khz is sufficient.......

 

[clovisb31]

300 to 3khz is sufficient.......

Correct...that's what the engineers and filter designers tell us.

I just need to recover or enhance the 300Hz to about 1000Hz range.

I'd be very surprised if a computer speaker from Staples/Amazon performed better than
an external land mobile speaker made by Motorola or Kenwood.

 

[nd5y]

I would "think " that the scanner knows the difference between standard FM and Narrow FM bandwidth if set to AUTO.

AUTO selects the bandwidth based on US frequency allocations. It doesn't automatically change to match the actual received signal.

 

[Ubbe]

Uniden use a 250Hz highpass filter for the audio to reduce the CTCSS/DCS subtones to a minimum. It will make the sound thinner. Sometimes the filter isn't used when no CTCSS/DCS decode function are used. For digital signals the filter isn't used and then the sound gets too bassy and muddy. If you have a 0,5W output at 1000Hz then it needs to be 5W at 200Hz to sound equally loud. There's few amplifiers and speakers in scanners that can produce that power without creating clipping and distorsion. That's the major reason for not allowing the full frequency range to be produced. Motorolas biggest 2-way speakers, not the smaller ones, have a where bassy sound and no treble and seems to be a good match to a SDS100E and sounds just fine.

/Ubbe

 

[DisconeDave]

The Bearcat ESP12 sounds better than Motorolla Communication Speakers on this scanner. I modded one cap inside to add some "pseudo" bass. C305 way in the back of the scanner is 220uf I tried 470uf and the increased bass toned down the highs a bit. I'm not done yet as I felt it was a little bass heavy so changed to 330uf. I just did it this afternoon and haven't had time to listen and see it it is better.

This cap is the DC blocker for the output amp, 220uf should go down to 50hz with 8 ohm speaker. So bigger shouldn't get you any bass especially as it gets filtered to 250hz but to my ears it makes a difference. I wanted to mod a few other caps but they are so tiny it is difficult to work on them...

 

[StoliRaz]

I actually think my Uniden base models sound great from the factory built in speaker. The worst Unidens were the 246T/92XLT/95XLT body style models. Static city and zero bass at all. My 325P2 is similar but not as tinny. Big mistake using this bodystyle over the far superior 396XT 3 battery body style for the 325 but what can you do? (Complain!)