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Reviews For: MFJ ClearTone 281 Speaker

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : MFJ ClearTone 281 Speaker
Reviews: 61MSRP: 12.95
Description:
Communication Speaker
Product is in production
More Info: http:// http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-281
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25613.9
KG0WX Rating: 2008-02-16
Works, good value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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
KE7NHQ Rating: 2008-02-10
Good speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.

N0AH Rating: 2007-06-08
Nice Fit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.......
KE6TNN Rating: 2006-09-21
I'm happy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.
AF4KK Rating: 2006-02-24
Good value; Good speaker! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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!
OE3SGU Rating: 2006-01-23
OK Time Owned: more than 12 months.
OK speaker. Not as good as eg. a Kenwood SP-31 but it does the job.
KG4RUL Rating: 2006-01-06
Works great for me! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used this speaker mobile in two different vehicles and with two different rigs. Great sounding at all times.

Dennis KG4RUL

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KG4RUL on 2005-11-28

Mine is has been installed in a second vehicle. It was first used with an FT-1500M and is now doing duty with an FT-100D. An excellent sounding speaker. The only one I have found which sounded better is a RS bookshelf speaker which is a alittle too large for a mobile install.

Dennis KG4RUL
K6SDW Rating: 2006-01-06
Works in the truck Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using the speaker connected to an FT100d in my truck for a while now and it actually sounds very good -- not often I can honestly say something good about MFJ products....my guess is the speaker is made by another company.

Anyway, been satisfied with the performance of this small, cheap speaker

Cheers All!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K6SDW on 2005-11-28

Not often I feel OK about giving an MFJ product a 5 but what the heck....the little speaker works FB -- had in and out of two cars in two years and the sound is good.

Cheers all!
N6HBJ Rating: 2006-01-06
Junk Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tried it for a mobile installantion. Sounded tinny and annoying and distorts when the volume was turned up high. It didn't last 3 days before I replaced it.

I then tried it in my shack but all the built in mobile rig's speakers sounded better than this - even the speaker in my Uniden BC785 scanner!!

The only speaker it outperformed was the one in my TH-F6A HT so now I use it with my HT when it's in the shack.

Well, for about 12 bucks what do you expect? All these guys that love this speaker so much must have hearing problems...

Mike
N6HBJ
N4UE Rating: 2005-12-12
Very happy!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased a pair of these speakers from Gentry Electronics on eBay.

(an absolutely EXCELLENT dealer, by the way!!)

I recieved them today and did a bunch of A / B testing. I have dozens of speakers here in my shack, it's kind of a 'sub-hobby'..... I am always looking for the ultimate radio-human interface. Yes, I have LOTS of headphones, too!

At first, I connected one to my R7000 tuned to a local FM Rock station. It didn't sound as good as the RS speaker I was using there. (a Catalog # 21-549B). I next tried it with my Icom 761 tuned to some 20M SSB. It was great! I did an A / B comparison to the 761's normal speaker, an Icom SP-20. The little MFJ sounded great. Punchy, crisp, slightly more volume, and less Bass.
I had my girlfriend listen and she picked the 281 also!

Obviously it's not a Hi-Fi speaker and it's not intended to be.
I added some small foam rubber feet to the bottom to prevent microphonics.
The construction is very nice and the fit-finish is exceptional for this speaker's price point.

Also, for an amazing LITTLE speaker, try an SH2P4 (Mfg unknown). I got one at a hamfest a couple of years ago. (see the reviews here). Next time I come across them, I'm going to buy a 1/2 dozen. They ARE that good!

ron

N4UE