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Here is the fix to make this radio a 6 star product. If you want to make it a rock solid radio that will play with much better sound than take out those speakers and replace them with 4" speakers that you find at your local stereo place like a Best Buy. If you want something of better quality than you might want to consider taking out those cheap little 3" full range speakers and upgrading to a better quality 4" speaker since it's almost impossible to find 3" speakers that have separate speakers inside the 3" size.This leads me to what I think needs to be done to make this Jobsite radio rival any jobsite radio out there. The one thing that I didn't like about the radio is the fact that the speakers are just full range speakers and Makita definitely skimped here with the quality since in my opinion the sound is just decent and not befitting of something that needs more power and a bigger sound.
Because you have limited real estate you will need to glue the corners of the metal backer plates inside so that the screws have a tread to screw into. You will also have to disconnect and then reconnect the wiring to the new speakers. Everything about the radio is well designed and compact as well playing songs from an IPOD which is much clearer than using the radio. Upgrade and modify the plastic body to use 4" speakers with separates inside instead of using the existing 3" speakers which are better off in the trash can or donated for something else.I went and shopped around for 4" car speakers and in about half a day on a Saturday, I modified my radio and installed the new speakers and now it sounds like something that you can hear and actually the amp inside will play just fine until distortion kicks in about 3/4 of a turn on the volumn knob. Listen to them before you buy them.
I took out the old speakers and I had to make the openings a bit bigger to accomodate the wider diameter speakers. The problem is that Makita engineers were attempting to make a radio that is easy and portable to move around and still give decent sound in such a small box, but it still doesn't work because the speakers are not big enough and their quality does not match up to the rest of the radio. No, it is not High fidelity but I will say that it is an 80% improvement from what it sounded like before and will sound as good as ANY jobsite radio out there without all the weight. The hardest part and cutting into the plastic body to allow for the magnet to fit into the diameter opening.
If you are looking for a jobside radio that plays music and also AM talk radio without a big and bulky box then this is the radio for you. Once you find a speaker you like shop around and purchase on the internet. I went to Frye's and purchased a pair of KICKER speakers. The old metal backer plates are no good since you have to cut them. The speakers are just not good. Also since the magnets are not deep there will be no issues with the magnets butting up to each other.You will also have to cut out a little bit of the rubber since the speaker grills will hit it. I think if you don't really care that much about the sound and you just want to hear background music or talk then this radio will suffice for your needs.
When you are done you will have an awesome radio with a 6 star rating. The main reason you want to buy this radio is the fact that it's light weight, small, has a great handle to move around, and has rubber on the corners to protect it from damage. The main reason I decided to do this is because my wife's IPOD player sounded so much better when I had them next to each other that it made me realize that I would not be happy with the sound.If you don't want to hassle with this radio then of course it is a great design however, in my opinion the sound is not even befitting of something on a jobsite or a workshop. When the glue dries (use polyurethane construction adhesive) connect all the wiring and by the end of the day the glue is dry and then rescrew the supplied screws into the original metal backplates pieces. It was worth the addition $ 35.00 plus I spent for the speakers and the radio will cost more than $ 100.00 but you have something that is really unique and better quality than anything out there.If you are handy it's worth the time and effort, if you are not then be happy with what you have.
Best portable radio that I ever owned. It just plugs into the wall or use the 18 volt battery. Very Nice.
I purchased this radio a few months ago and have been pleased with it. Its flaws: If you want a super loud radio/boombox this isn't the one. If you're using a 18 volt battery you have to plug your iPod in the front. This radio fits the bill. If you need to buy a 18 volt battery, they cost almost as much as the radio.Overall this is a nice radio with a rugged design, some cool features, and is reasonably price. Its pluses: The antenna is easy to remove (antennae always break). I wanted a portable radio that I could connect with my iPod and could use with Mikita 18 Volt batteries, for listening to audio books, either at the job site, or on the road. The sound is good, but it doesn't have a treble/bass adjustment.
Comes in a well protected case that opens up so you can store accessories. Has 10 presets, alarm, easy tuning knob, long run time on a fully charged 18 volt battery. AC adapter is big and bulky. It has it's limits, and it's not for everyone.
Input for mp3/CD player via male/male 3.5mm cable. I think they had to engineer a specific mid-band width to get good open area coverage. Runs off many Makita batteries. Decent sound for size. Professional user. Buy it. Really carries sound well when working outside or in a large indoor work area such as new home construction, additions, basement, tailgating too. not the most dynamic sound, but then again it is NOT designed or marketed to be a home stand-alone system.
Needs bass boost button, equalizer or pre-set equalizer settings to get more vibrant sound in more enclosed areas. Better overall size and features compared to whats on the market right now. Like digital tuner good pick up. Down side, can't charge batteries of any kind while plugged into 120V. VERY sturdy/solid unit. Flex antenna was an initial selling feature for me as every previous job site radio has a broken antenna.Good value for the money.After 1 year of owning: o.k. Needs a usb hook up, then I can charge my mp3 while playing OR use a usb flash to play tunes.on a job site mp3's don't last long unattended.Bottom Line. If they took my suggestions and added a few more features I'd buy it again.
Some of the stations would drift over time and I'm not talking a small drift like 96.1 to 96.3. I bought one and returned it because I thought it was defective. The reception on this radio is really bad. Im talking 96.1 drifting into 98.1.I have had better reception from a radio I got for free with a magazine subscription.Also the auxiliary plug for mp3 players inside the battery compartment is useless because it is so close to the battery you can NOT plug anything into it because the battery is in the way. The replacement was the same. I work outside construction so there isn't a problem with interference from walls. Even if you try to take the battery out, plug in the cord and then put the battery in you can not get the battery back in because the plug is in the way.I gave up and got my money back.I love the great tool designs of Makita but something tells me they did not design this radio. Either that of their designers should stick to tools and stay out of the radio business.
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