{"id":48596,"date":"2021-04-20T08:52:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T12:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=48596"},"modified":"2021-04-20T08:52:30","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T12:52:30","slug":"belka-dx-installing-the-new-speaker-and-battery-pack-from-mobimax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/belka-dx-installing-the-new-speaker-and-battery-pack-from-mobimax\/","title":{"rendered":"Belka-DX: Installing the new speaker and battery pack from Mobimax"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Last month, Mobimax announced a new speaker option for the Belka-DX DSP receiver<\/a>. This speaker is slightly different from the original Belka-DX speaker<\/a> in that it has a full-size battery pack and fold-out legs to prop up this pocket-sized receiver.<\/p>\n

Mobimax sent one of these speakers to me to install and evaluate at no cost to me–I received it last week and installed it yesterday.<\/p>\n

Installation<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>The installation couldn’t have been more simple: the only tool needed is a small Phillips-Head screwdriver. Note that my Belka-DX already had the original speaker option<\/a> installed.<\/p>\n

All I needed to do was remove the lower two screws on both sides of the Belka chassis.<\/p>\n

After doing this, the bottom section of the chassis simply pulls out (do this slowly since there are both battery and speaker jumpers).<\/p>\n

Next, I unplugged the speaker and battery jumpers from the original speaker option.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Installing the new speaker section was simply a matter of plugging in the speaker and battery jumpers (each plug is a different size so they can’t be confused), then attaching the new pack to the back of the Belka-DX using the same four screws that had been removed.<\/p>\n

The whole process might have taken four or five minutes (mainly because I took photos!).<\/p>\n

How does it play?<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Since I can’t really do a side-by-side comparison with the original speaker and this one, I simply listened to the original speaker tuned to WWV, WRMI, and the Voice of Greece for a while before installing the new speaker.<\/p>\n

Both speakers are obviously very<\/em> small as the Belka-DX is the most compact shortwave portable I’ve ever laid hands on.<\/p>\n

Audio quality<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I believe the original speaker has better audio fidelity, likely due to the fact it uses the body of the Belka-DX as an enclosure or resonance chamber. The new speaker has a dedicated enclosure, but it’s maybe 40% the size of the Belka-DX body.<\/p>\n

In the end, though? Neither speaker will give you the audio fidelity of a traditional portable. The original speaker is just slightly<\/em> better than the new one. With the Belka-DX, I see the speaker as a wonderful convenience, but frankly, I reach for earphones or headphones if I want to do DXing or proper broadcast listening.<\/p>\n

Battery<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The new speaker option allows for a full size battery pack in the Belka-DX. This is probably the biggest selling point of the new speaker. The original speaker option fits both the speaker and a smaller LiIon battery pack on the bottom plate of the radio.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The original speaker and smaller battery pack (top section of this photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Since the new speaker option adds a dedicated speaker section, it opens up the full real estate of the bottom plate for a full size battery again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I should also add that the new speaker section matches the original Belka-DX enclosure and speaker in that it’s incredibly durable. Frankly, it feels military-grade and over-engineered. I love it.<\/p>\n

Fold-out legs<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>I really like the fold-out legs on the new speaker. They actually have two indented sections that click into place as you fold them out. This allows for two different stable viewing angles. I prefer having them folded out all the way.<\/p>\n

Size<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>The new speaker option adds a bit of weight and bulk to the Belka-DX.<\/p>\n

Again: we’re talking about a wee little radio here, so I can’t imagine someone complaining about the size or weight. The new speaker makes the radio slightly<\/em> deeper or thicker if you look at it from the side or profile. Frankly, it’s a negligible amount, but worth noting.<\/p>\n

Should you buy it?<\/h1>\n

In my opinion, the main reasons to buy the new speaker option are to take advantage of the longer play time from the full size internal battery and to gain the two fold-out feet.\u00a0 The Belka-DX is so efficient that even the smaller battery pack in the original speaker option will power this radio for many hours without recharge.<\/p>\n

Still, if these two factors are important to you, this is a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

I would simply pick the speaker option that best suits your needs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I must say again that it’s a real pleasure evaluating products that are engineered to the degree of the Belka-DX (and Belka-DSP) and both speaker options. These feel like they’re built to last a lifetime and could really take a beating in my various radio packs and kits.<\/p>\n

Many thanks again to Mobimax for dispatching one of these for my evaluation.<\/p>\n

Click here to check out the new speaker option from Mobimax.<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read about the original speaker option and its installation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last month, Mobimax announced a new speaker option for the Belka-DX DSP receiver. This speaker is slightly different from the original Belka-DX speaker in that it has a full-size battery pack and fold-out legs to prop up this pocket-sized receiver. Mobimax sent one of these speakers to me to install and evaluate at no cost […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4199,627,836,3,3196,43],"tags":[8933,8886,9024,9086,8690],"class_list":["post-48596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-how-to","category-new-products","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-shortwave-radio","tag-belka","tag-belka-dx-dsp","tag-belka-dx-speaker","tag-how-to-install-belka-dx-speaker","tag-mobimax"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-cDO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48308,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/a-new-belka-dx-dsp-speaker-from-mobimax\/","url_meta":{"origin":48596,"position":0},"title":"A new Belka-DX DSP Speaker from Mobimax","author":"Thomas","date":"March 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Markku (VA3MK), who shares a link to this new Belka-DX speaker option from Mobimax: This speaker option is similar to the one we featured a few months ago, but keeps the larger 2200 mAh battery pack and has fold-out legs. The compromise is the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Feet-e1617050069649.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Feet-e1617050069649.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Feet-e1617050069649.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Feet-e1617050069649.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45988,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/the-new-belka-dx-dsp-now-available-via-mobimax\/","url_meta":{"origin":48596,"position":1},"title":"The new Belka-DX DSP now available via Mobimax","author":"Thomas","date":"October 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, JMMHam, who comments: The new DX version of BELKA -DSP is now available in the Mobimax Store. The new Belka-DX receiver is about 5 euros more expensive but great. I bought it here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.mobimax.bg\/en\/BELKA-DX-shortwave-receiver Very fast delivery !!! Thank you for the tip! I've only\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Icom-IC-R9500-v-PL-990x-1-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46308,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/belka-dx-a-pocket-sized-radio-for-pocket-change\/","url_meta":{"origin":48596,"position":2},"title":"BELKA-DX: A Pocket-Sized Radio for Pocket Change","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"November 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bf8B_GcgQqo Well, not pocket change for most people, but I couldn't pass up a clever headline! I want to alert SWLing Post readers to a lower cost option for the new BELKA-DX than the Mobimax source: the ecommerce web site of Alex Buevky (EU1ME) who designed the radio. In early\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Deals"","block_context":{"text":"Deals","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/deals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/bf8B_GcgQqo\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":47344,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/installing-the-belka-dx-dsp-speaker-option\/","url_meta":{"origin":48596,"position":3},"title":"Installing the Belka-DX DSP speaker option","author":"Thomas","date":"January 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"This month, I received my Belka DX speaker option in the post and recently did this very simple install. All it really requires is a small Phillips-Head screwdriver and maybe 10 minutes of time. You start by removing the four screws holding on the left side panel. The side panel\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Installation-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Installation-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Installation-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Installation-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Belka-DX-Speaker-Installation-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52164,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/a-case-for-the-belka-dx-and-cautionary-tale\/","url_meta":{"origin":48596,"position":4},"title":"A case for the Belka-DX and cautionary tale!","author":"Thomas","date":"March 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steve Allen (KZ4TN), who shares the following guest post: My Belka-DX: A Cautionary Tale One of the most amazing SW radios I have ever owned and listened to is the Belka-DX. Its size to performance ratio is without equal, IMHO. Late last year I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Steve-KZ4TN-Belka-DX-Screen-and-Case-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Steve-KZ4TN-Belka-DX-Screen-and-Case-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Steve-KZ4TN-Belka-DX-Screen-and-Case-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Steve-KZ4TN-Belka-DX-Screen-and-Case-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Steve-KZ4TN-Belka-DX-Screen-and-Case-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44483,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/belka-dsp-shortwave-receiver-now-available-via-mobimax\/","url_meta":{"origin":48596,"position":5},"title":"Belka-DSP shortwave receiver now available via Mobimax","author":"Thomas","date":"July 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to Boris (LZ2JR\/AC9IJ) who notes that his company, Mobimax, in Europe now distributes the excellent Belka-DSP receiver. Boris informed me that he has inventory and they ship immediately (at time of posting--July 25, 2020). The price is 145.72 EUR (roughly $170 US). They have two shipping options to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Belka-DSP-YouLoop-NCPL-antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Belka-DSP-YouLoop-NCPL-antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Belka-DSP-YouLoop-NCPL-antenna.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Belka-DSP-YouLoop-NCPL-antenna.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Belka-DSP-YouLoop-NCPL-antenna.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48596"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48596\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}