Yaesu FTDX101MP Speaker Upgrade

Not CW related, but I have seen a number of posts on different forums describing a quick, easy and inexpensive mod to the external speaker for the FTDX101. Since I have the 101MP, the speaker is also the power supply.
I bought the speaker - The Visaton FRW10N - from Digikey. It was pretty inexpensive and was an easy install. Take a look at some quick notes about this mod. I think for the money - it was worth it. Was it a massive difference? No... but I also didnt do the acoustic foam mod, which is also touted as something particularly great! Maybe some other time, but I dont even know if it would work with the powersupply in the way.
Anyway - hope this helps someone considering doing this modification.
P.S. This is for folks that like to use the speaker and not head phones. Using a headset is hard to beat when working weak signal DX, but if you are using the Speaker regularly, this is a decent upgrade - especially for SSB and folks that have a lot of bass tone in their transmissions.

[@JS-oq2cd]

Parts Express is an excellent source for raw drivers and usually has a lot of options. A midrange driver for a 3 way type hifi speaker works the best. You need frequency range from about 200 Hz up to about 7 or 8000 Hz and matching impedance. The natural roll off in response helps make static noise easier on the ears but doesn't interfere with human voice range...which is nice if you have an excessive noise floor. To get the best audio, use a larger driver...say 5" to 6" diameter and build a sturdy sealed cabinet with wood, adding some acoustic dampening material inside. Parts Express has the specs for proper cabinet size with most every driver....usually somewhere between 1 to 2 cubic feet.

[@n8wrl]

A friend of mine removed the cap across the input lines at the rear of the speaker (the RCA jack). That by itself made the stock speaker sound a lot better!

[@mikeprowler4735]

This past weekend I swapped the Yaesu provided speaker in my SP-101 with the Visaton FRW 10 N from Digi-Key. Your concise video eliminated most pitfalls except for one. I have an FTdx101D, so my SP-101's internals lack the internal PSU. I found the felt strip was sticky and lighter looking around the same hole as yours was, so more likely from the manufacturing/assembly process than from internal heat. The main difference I encountered was that the leads going to the speaker were too short. They must have measured the length down to millimeters. After I clipped off the old connectors I had to extend the length of the leads, so I gave it another 3 inches, and had suitable crimp-on connectors in my parts stash to connect to the speaker tabs. I buttoned it back up and have to agree that it sounds pretty darn good on both CW and SSB. The original speaker sounded ghastly in comparison. I probably would not have bought the SP-101 had I not gotten it for 100 bucks. Thanks for sharing your mod. 73 de K2CD

[@k9kj]

Thanks for the note Mike! Great write up!

[@Bigfeather]

Sounds better👍

[@bodstrup]

Would it be an idea to but a thin sheet of fabric between the speaker and the transformer assembly - to avoid possible ressonanse ?

[@k9kj]

I was thinking about that. Good idea

[@norbertomontalvo]

definitely richer, stronger sound.

[@louisianaconservatives2304]

Nice video, and thanks for doing it. I wanted to ask why soldering the leads to the speaker is considered bad form? Done correctly, thats always been my preferred way.

[@k9kj]

I really think that soldering is the way to go... But some frown on it because the ability to swap it out is harder

[@elanpaim33]

great but with this very strong magnet on that speaker it may change the value of the part on the PSU may be not good idea I may be wrong vy 73 any comment ?

[@k9kj]

I think that relative to affecting the components in the power supply, the magnet on the speaker is relatively weak to have any noticeable effect, and I think it only really may affect the closest inductor.... But marginally... If at all.

[@jeffdiscovers]

Off topic but where did you get that desk mat ? Looks great.

[@k9kj]

Check out hamboutique.com. It's kind of buried but it's under shack accessories

[@g0fvt]

The original speaker is a bit woeful, I may soon try the same, of course with the power supply in there I cannot do as I did in another Yaesu speaker and enhance it by putting an old t-shirt in the cabinet. :-)

[@giulianoggg2035]

Hello great explanation, I have a question if I wanted to connect my MFJ 962E External Antenna Tuner is it possible either to the radio or the FPS 101 speaker power supply? Or would I have to get an external power supply? Many Thanks in advance

[@k9kj]

Thanks for watching. I think the MFJ might need an external power supply. There is an external power jack on the back of the radio, but it is limited to 200 milliamps. I think the MFJ draws a little bit more than that and I wouldn't risk it. The FPS does not have the ability to provide 12 volts to the user.

[@giulianoggg2035]

yes it needs 12V 1.5 A 2.1 plug. Shame I will have to get one external! I wanted all to be as tidy as possible as the setup is in my leaving room. thanks for now 73s

[@1OFGODSOWN]

I would have just soldered the wires onto the connectors.

[@nikubogdan9486]

Hello,does this speaker model fit in the ftdx10 model? How many watts is it?

[@smiffykuk]

I think Yaesu have their speakers specially made….. never seen a poorer speaker…😏

[@k9kj]

😂

[@ve6wo]

Not trying to defend Yaesu.. I own a 101D and definitely there are things I’m not happy with, however… the speaker they used is small and light because it uses a neodymium magnet instead of ferrite. Ferrite magnets require a much larger amount of material to produce the same flux density as a neo magnet. Be careful not to assume that the tiny size of the neo motor structure means that it is junk. Let your ears decide! 😉

[@k9kj]

This is a very excellent point! I wonder if my noticing the difference was actually not real! Maybe I was hoping it was better! 😬

[@johnsvideo3403]

Nice vid. I punted on doing this. I am us1ing amplified speakers which I have found to be useful with new radios like the 101dx which has so much processing for weak signals that the audio level that comes out is very low. For what they charge for that 50volt power supply that has to be right near the radio they really should have supplied a better speaker. Also wonder if that sticky stuff was to keep dust out or when pushing the volume on the speaker it the case doesn't rattle? Again nice vid.

[@Pascal-F11DRE]

Merci beaucoup. Je vais faire la modification. 73's Best regards

[@louisianaconservatives2304]

I’ve debated whether to swap my speaker out, because I use a Pro7 headset 98% of the time. Only use speaker when I’m doing other things in the shack away from the operating position. I have always thought the oem speaker was pretty poor. I have an old computer speaker on a different radio which sounded much better.

[@k9kj]

If you don't use it much I wouldn't even bother. It does add some improvement, but it's not super dramatic or anything. I will say that it was a fun little project if you feel like doing some tinkering around.

[@rickinlaughlin5697]

I HAD NO IDEA THAT YAESU USED SUCH SHT CHEAP PARTS

[@9w8zzkmohamad59]

Great sharing. What spec speaker do you recommend for upgrade?

[@k9kj]

I did like the Visaton speaker. I have the model number listed in the description

[@9w8zzkmohamad59]

@@k9kj thanks mate for the sharing

[@dennisyounker2422]

Wish you had done a before and after sound quality comparison, perhaps using WWV or something like that. That said, great little video! Thanks!

[@k9kj]

That's a great point. I totally forgot to record the before part 😭

[@JayN4GO]

Sounds good. Better than the Taiwanese factory speaker

[@QRZContest]

Thanks for the video. I have ordered the Visaton speaker. Looking forward to improved audio. Love your desk mat. Where are they available?