|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the ClearSpeech Speaker CSS-1.
|
N5GLR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 13, 2004 17:28
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
OUTSTANDING
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
Having had the pleasure of owning and using two of these speakers/DSP units for about a year, I can say they work like majic in removing band noise, ignition noise, carriers, and just about every other nasty noise heard on HF. I own one of the newer models, mounted mobile with my DX70T, and one of the older models, mounted in the shack, and, althought not cheap, they were worth the price. Someone else has called it a marriage saver and I couldn't agree more. My operating desk is back to back with my wife's computer desk and about 5 feet apart. She no longer complains about the "noise" from the HF rig. The Clearspeech makes listening to HF almost as easy as listening to FM.
HF mobile is very comfortable listening using my Clearspeech II. I find the Clearspeech II is an improvement over the standard model. It attacks the noise a little quicker than the original and does a better job of quieting more of the noise. If either of my speakers die, I'm under orders from the XYL to replace it right away.
N5GLR
Garry
|
|
WC4V
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 31, 2003 19:20
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Works great, better with external speaker
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I found out about the CSS-1 from KGØDK who raved about it and after hearing it bought one. Installed in 96 GMC Jimmy with FT100. Made HF ham radio possible. Previous experience with Alinco DX70TH and Timewave 59+. DX70TH totally useless due to ignition noise and Jimmy. 59+ was no help.
Enter FT100 and CSS-1. Totally different experience. FT100 noise blanker superb, CSS-1 takes care of the rest. Only complaint (other than having to install my own power switch) was low audio output. Reading reviews this afternoon led to my plugging Motorola Micor mobile speaker into CSS-1 external speaker jack. WOW - live actual hearable audio. You can find Micor speakers at every hamfest. The last ones I bought at Orlando were $5.00! Fabulous speakers with great audio, almost impossible to overdrive. Now the CSS-1 will really deliver the sound needed to overcome road noise.
|
|
VA3BJD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 30, 2003 07:56
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Best thing since sliced bread
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
This is a fantastic piece of Amateur Gear. I have hooked up to a 706 remotely mounted and it works wonders! This works better than the DSP that comes with the 706. The plastic mounting bracket is a let down but I don't use it. Over all a good buy!
|
|
W4PIG
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Apr 29, 2003 23:19
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
SAVE YOU MONEY!!!!!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
FIRST YOU WOULD THINK FOR THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR THAT SPEAKER IT WOULD BE OF GOOD QUAILITY THINK AGAIN!! THE MOUNTING BRACKET IS MADE OF PLASTIC EVEN THE CHEAP RADIO SHACK SPEAKERS GIVE YOU A METAL MOUNTING BRACKET. I HOOKED IT UP WITH MY YAESU FT-100D I HAD BAD RF PROBLEMS WITH IT THE AUDIO SOUNDED GARBLED. I CALLED FOR TEC SUPPORT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH HF RIGS THAT HAS THE HEAD SEPERATION KIT. HE TOLD ME TO GET SOME TORIDS AND PUT ONE HERE AND THERE. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WORK THESE PROBLEMS OUT FOR THE PRICE OF THE SPEAKER . THIS PIECE OF JUNK WILL BE SHIPPED BACK TOMMORROW FIRST THING. THE ONLY GOOD THING IS THERE GURANTEE IF THEY HONOR IT. WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THEY HONOR THERE GURANTEE.
|
|
DG2IAQ
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 23, 2002 18:23
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Modifications for 5+/5
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I own 4 ClearSpeech Speakers since I was satisfied with my first one. In Germany they're called "Midland DCSS48" or "Alan DCSS48".
But I did some modifications for even better audio, especially for car use:
- Remove R11 (8,2 Ohms/5watts)
- C26 (100n) -> 2,2µ pluspole toward Pin5/U4
- C40 (100n) -> 4,7µ pluspole toward Pin1/U4
- R9 (820) -> 2,2k
- 22µ parallel to speaker
- fill out speaker box with audio foam
(used in audio speakers)
This gives much more heights, loudness and clearance. The af volume of the receiver now can be reduced for the equal af output on CSS-1. This reduces disortions of the internal receiver af amp.
The problem on mobile use is that in the original state you have to give a high af input to get a readable af output on the CSS-1 while driving. But then the DSP processor is overdriven and can't work as good as it could. So for mobile use you have to reduce the af input by reducing the rigs volume. Then you can hear the difference of DSP on/off ! With the modified R9 I raised the output (!!) level of the DSP to give a higher af output to the speaker.
C29 opens the af lowpass filter for less darkness and better clearance.
But the af signal always sounds a little bit like a robotic speech, but that's the work of the DSP.
I put a piece of speaker foam into the CSS-1 speaker box. This reduces the dark, hollow sound drastically and gives a much better clearance, even without the above electronic mods. The foam is a must ! Cause the box is plastic and no wood like in good, big audio speaker boxes.
With the above configuration I never had any problems on my mobile VHF/UHF Yaesu FT-90. And for sure the CSS-1 works even better on shortwave AM/SSB, its main appointment.
On my first impressions I gave the CSS-1 a 5/5. Now I would give him a 5+/5 !
Maybe in a few weeks, when I've got the time, I'll publish the mods with some images on my homepage
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dg2iaq/
Best regards.
Jochen, DG2IAQ
|
|
N7QY
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 26, 2002 21:33
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Greatly Satisfied
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I mounted my new ClearSpeach Speaker between the headrest and seat top of my Sebring convertible. It is compact enough not to detract from the safety aspects of the headrest.
What a pleasure it is with my 706G. It makes mobile operations for me actually comfortable. I wired my CSS-1 through the car ignition switch, so it comes on when the car is started, or when I'm parked using the ignition's ACC (accessory) position.
I am extremely pleased with the quieting aspects of the speaker, and it doesn't seem to affect the signal strength.
And the price is right for its high performance.
73, Ted
N7QY
|
|
KE3HO
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Aug 15, 2002 08:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Almost a 5
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Based solely on performance, I would have given this unit a 5, not because it is perfect, but because it is the best DSP unit I have found. It could be better, but it is better than any other I have found. It will not pull a signal out of the noise - if you can't copy the signal without this DSP you probably will not be able to copy it with this DSP. It does not perform miracles. It does do a very nice job of reducing the background noise. As someone else said, with this unit you could even listen to HF in the car with your YL along without catching a load of crap about "that noise".
Aside from performance, I have a few issues with this unit that kept me from giving it a 5:
The instructions say that it should be powered through a 1A fuse. This should be included, even if they just used an inline fuse holder.
There is no On/Off power switch - just a switch to enable or disable the DSP. My mobile setup, like many other, has the power run straight from the battery. An On/Off switch should be included as well.
The case is nicely made. Although it is molded plastic, it seems to be fairly tough, rigid, and the pieces fit together well. The mobile mounting bracket is also molded plastic, and I have some reservation about that. It is fairly thin, and while I have not broken it yet, give me time and I will probably manage it hihi.
The power cord is very light duty. Of course, it is more than adequate for the 300mA max that the unit draws. For a piece of mobile gear I would have used heavier wire just for mechanical strength. The conductor is 0.020"(0.5mm) in diameter, which is 24 AWG. Much to delicate for a mobile installation.
73
Jim
|
|
K9VDD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 14, 2002 18:30
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
A REAL MARRIAGE SAVER !!!!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
OK guys & gals, when was the last time you went HF mobile and brought your other half along, only to hear a complaint soon after starting out that that radio sure sounds like a "hash" grinder and all static. "How can you hear anything"? Then add the road noise and the "noise" of the complainer !! Makes for a rather poor ham radio experience to say the least!
Now comes the Clear Speech machine!! Nice quiet and clear audio, no "hash" and no complaints from the back seat drivers !!!! Result.... enjoyable HF mobile experience and a good trip and a SAVED MARRIAGE!
73, Ralph K9VDD
|
|
KC5UN
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Apr 25, 2002 15:30
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Close, but not perfect
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Much more effective noise reduction than my IC-706's audio DSP, and it really does make listening less tedious. Not nearly as much attenuation and distortion of the desired signal as the '706's built-in DSP circuit for a given amount of noise reduction; however, there is some attenuation, and the distortion does take some getting used to. The notch filter does remove hetrodynes effectively, but takes a few seconds to do it. I don't know if this is a 'feature' to allow its use on CW, but the Icom's notch seems to work better, albeit not on CW.
I was somewhat unpleasantly surprised to learn that the speaker draws about 200 ma as long as it's connected to a power source. You'll either need to add an on-off switch or jumper cables if you go a week without driving the car. When I called customer service to verify this, I got a very pleasant person who suggested that I get power for the speaker from the '706's antenna tuner jack. Elegant solution, as long as you're using a radio that has switched power available. I think most folks would go an extra couple bucks for an on-off switch with a power-on LED as a reminder. (Admittedly, it's a minor squawk.)
I really do like the speaker -- it makes listening to HF in the car much more enjoyable.
Tom, KC5UN
|
|
WB4M
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Apr 25, 2002 11:19
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Agree with W5SU
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I installed my CS speaker in my SUV, used with an Icom 706MK2G. After using it for a few weeks now, and reading the other reviews of it, I have to agree with W5SU's assessment of it. Yes, it definitely will reduce the static and background hash and help you to hear much better. But like W5SU mentioned, it also knocks down weak signals that you are trying to copy. Additionally, mine makes a person's voice higher in pitch, and also gives it an unnatural, metallic sound, as if the person was in a barrel. Like most DSP units this one works best on strong signals. But when listening to weaker signals, I prefer to turn it off and use the Icom's DSP and SSB filter.
Oddly, when I use the radio with the engine not running, I get tremendous RF into the speaker, and it is almost as if I am listening to a monitor speaker. I wound some RF chokes on the speaker cable but it did no good at all. But when the motor is running, the RF goes away.
I wish the power cord was a bit longer but that is a minor issue.
Overall I think this is a good unit that will make your mobile listening much better than a regular external speaker.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
