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write your own review of the MFJ ClearTone 281 Speaker.
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KE7QFM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 21, 2009 11:19
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Guess I don't "get it"
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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So many reviews complaining about tinny sound, high frequencys amplified, not HiFi quality etc.
Heeeelllloooo...It was designed that way! It's the very reason I bought it!
I heard this speaker in use by a HAM who I was assiting as net control for our local ARES group. I could not believe how clear and sharp this speaker sounded! When you are Net control you better be able to hear clearly. I just knew this was the speaker I needed in my convertable. The sound cuts right thru the noise so well I can operate with the top down @65 MPH no problem.
I am older (55) but my hearing is still good...maybe not as sensitive to the high frequencies as some other reviewers here who are offended by the clarity. But I just had to say...it was designed to be very clear at the sacrifice of some midrange and low. Get over it or buy something else. It hardly rates a 1 or 2.
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K7UA
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 23, 2009 19:37
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Good for what it is
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I installed a new 2M FM mobile with a detachable control head. The rig is under my truck seat. I couldn't hear the rig's internal speaker with any highway noise. I had a limited space for a speaker. I saw a MFJ 281 at the local ham dealer. I bought it because of the size and price - just as an experiment. I didn't expect much from it, but it worked out ok in this application. Not hifi quality, but ok for what it is. I bought another one to use on an old boat anchor receiver. Its ok, especially for the low price.
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W8AAZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 4, 2009 20:51
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Passable modified
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have a removeable mobile 2M FM consisting of a Yaesu FT-1500. It's tiny built-in speaker is excreble and usable as a last resort. I got the MFJ and it's bracket mounted nicely on top attached by the screws that mount the 1500. However in the mobile, with this radio, I found the MFJ speaker to be rather tinny and sharp sounding also. As I recall, I stuffed some fibreglass batting inside to absorb the backwave, and I selected an electrolytic cap across the speaker inside, based on how much of the high freqs it rolled off. Be careful not to overdo it. But that can take some of the edge off of the tinny highs and make it acceptable as it fits my application well. What do you expect from a small speaker anyway? It ain't hifi but hifi speakers cost hifi prices. It is a comprimise for size.
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N8FXH
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 10, 2009 04:44
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Good not great
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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For the money this speaker is hard to beat. Sure it is not a top class speaker but does a fine job on SSB...I own two and will probably pick up another at my next hamfest.
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KB1RNX
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Rating: 1/5
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Jan 9, 2009 17:08
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Save your money
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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What a waste of money. Did A/B test with several speakers and this is no better than any (even the built in speaker of the radio), in fact it is worst on audio because it is so tinny sounding that it increases the hiss. Does absolutely no reduction of noise in any way. Checked it on all emissions CW, SSB, AM and FM. It did help a tiny bit on CW but that was about it, but not enough to justify buying one. So far to date the speakers that have done the best are a pair of cheap computer speakers with a bass, treble adjustment on the speakers paired with a stereo to mono plug. These cheap speakers cost only about $8.00. Walla, fidelity is a lot better and the hiss and noise can be adjusted to a lower level, by changing the tone a tad.
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KG0WX
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 16, 2008 22:10
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Works, good value
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I didn't have much choice when picking speakers - I needed two identically looking speakers to fit in a 4x9" area on my mobile console and wanted to spend less than $30 total. I new I probably would not get HiFi quality sound for that price/size but that's not what you need for H/VHF SSB/CW/FM when you are doing 60 down the freeway, IMHO.
This speaker comes wired to a right angle 1/8" mono plug - bad idea for situations like mine where I had to route the lead through the thick console. A straight plug would have only needed a 1/4" hole but this one required a bigger hole to get through the 3/8" thick wood console front...
The sound quality *is* tinny but what sounds not so good in the shack does the job nicely going down the road. Want a comparison? Try this speaker mobile - with the windows open & on the freeway. There the punchyness of the speaker makes a HUGE differance in readability.
What's more, the price was good ($12.95 ea) and I read no reports of failure (MFJ-ness) here on eHam so I'm looking forward to a long term of satisfied ownership.
Ken KG0WX
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KE7NHQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 10, 2008 10:04
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Good speaker
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm a newer ham, and I don't have much to compare it to (other than the internal speaker of my 857), but this little speaker does a great job and I have no complaints about it. For the money, you can't go wrong.
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N0AH
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 8, 2007 11:16
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Nice Fit
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have it in the back of the cab in my Ford F-150. Is just smal small enough to stay out of the way unlike my Icom communication speaker. I'd say about 70% it's size. Makes a diffeence. Sound quality is OK but lacks base....but I guess that's the point of making signals easier to hear? Maybe I'm just deaf anyway............I would like it if they tripled the price. I'd feel better about the potential for quality since most everything these guys make from what I have heard is a stolen design from someone else and breaks down- But they are improving lately.......
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KE6TNN
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 21, 2006 11:55
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I'm happy
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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It is the only MFJ product that I have ever owned. No complaints as far as sound quality or volume.
A really good deal, considering some of the other external speakers that I have seen advertised, or have personal experience with.
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AF4KK
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 24, 2006 10:57
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Good value; Good speaker!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Considering that these speakers are only about $13.00 each, they are a very, very good value. They sound great and are rugged enough for mobile use! Good job, MFJ!
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