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Reviews For: Heil Sounds, Parametric Receive Audio System

Category: Receive Accessories

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Review Summary For : Heil Sounds, Parametric Receive Audio System
Reviews: 27MSRP: 499.99
Description:
The PRAS is a complete audio system which by passes the poor response of internal audio systems of amateur radio, shortwave, commercial and CB receivers. The PRAS allows the operator to improve signals using the unique mid parametric equalizer to dial the all important mid range speech articulation of frequencies from 400 to 4 kHz. The bass and treble, plus or minus 15 db controls set the outside frequency gates to 160 Hz and 6 kHz. The HPS-5 speaker system uses a Heil 5" woofer in a tuned cavity and a 3.5" titanium tweeter driven by the internal Heil amplifier which delivers 25 watts at .1% distortion. The PRAS is a major factor to help those with hearing impairments. Left and Right headphone amplifiers for balance or can be used for operator and logger. A line level record output is located on the front panel.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.heilsound.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
22.5273.9
N5RV Rating: 2020-04-10
Not good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
UPDATE: I have returned the PRAS to the place of purchase for a refund/credit on 4/10/20.

The 12vdc power supplies shipped with both units are hash generators across 40m and below. If I run the units off 12vdc coming from my Astron RS-35A, my voice comes though the speaker when I transmit. The strange part is that my voice doesn't come through the speakers on transmit when the supplied 12vdc power supplies are used. So it's either have S9+ hash on 40m and below, or hear myself come through the speaker. I do have some other 12vdc power supplies coming to see if changing them out to a different maker helps. It is very frustrating to spend this much money on something that exudes CHEAP CHINESE made. I emailed Heil Sound to ask for help and the only response I received was that their response to emails will be delayed due to the coronovirus. I do not recommend this product.
M7AJB Rating: 2020-01-05
Great Sound Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a great system, best I have seen and heard, Its not cheap but then you get what you pay for. A must if your hearing is not great like me. I have wired mine up to a sound mixer and all my radio's are connected when needed. I can record and listern with headphones (two outlets if required).
WA7LAD Rating: 2019-12-26
Good - but not for everyone Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I think this unit has had a lot of bad press by people not really understanding what it is for. If you have good hearing it may do nothing for you. Where it shines is when you are an older person like me with hearing loss. It takes a little getting used to adjusting but then the ability to understand goes way up. If you can hear the audio but not understand it then this unit is for you. One caveat - lots of complaints on the RF pickup on this unit. That is valid. I have a 50 amp power supply driving my unit so it has lots of extra. I just hooked up both the speaker and the Pras to the same supply as the transceiver and the RF problem was solved even at high power (hey guys - also the ground tabs on both speaker and pras are there for a reason - - and dont daisy chain them.) This is a GREAT unit - if you need it!
NY4DX Rating: 2019-11-03
Seems to be made by MFJ. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The unit is an RF magnet. Upon transmit the RF is unreal. This is supposed to the ham radio equipment and for the price, it should be better engineered.

PRAS is the only piece of equipment among all my shack and home electronics that RF cannot be filtered out.
I have more ferrite chokes and coils on this unit when added together could double its original weight.

My calls to Heil went unanswered regarding repair or fixing the RF condition. All audio cable lengths were changed. The unit moved almost 20 feet away from the transmitter, it doesn't matter.

Heil technical services said no one is qualified to work on this unit. Three calls into Heil. No return calls!

Bob Heil was to return my call himself but he failed to do so.

Sorry, the unit appears to be made by MFJ. I guess Heil has made too much money and has now let both customer service and technical support go to "Heil".

In addition, the Heil web sites had not been updated regarding this unit (and some others) such as the addition of front headphone jacks. This feature was used by Customer Service to identify if my unit ws the "latest" release.

Customer service said "we don't know who to call on updating the web site information" or which technician can answer questions on the PRAS or can fix the unit.

My last call Tech support told me to return the unit.

I did.

Heil product and customer service quality appears to equal MFJ quality now.

AB5VJ Rating: 2019-08-24
Follow-up Review Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I am writing this review to up the score for this PRAS system. Initially, I was a little upset because I was so impressed with the change in the audio quality produced that when I tried to transmit and got that obnoxious buzz sound it dampened my joy at hearing rich, clear articulation and the ability to tweak up any harsh sounding audio that happens when some operators over drive, run alc too high, compression, gain or just don’t have a clean signal without or with power for whatever reason. I had to spend some more green backs to remedy the situation but felt it worth it as I realized that this addition to my radio station I could not be without. It really does reduce fatigue of listening for long hours open in the room via the Heil tuned speaker or with headphones plugged in. I bought a couple of RFI kits and choked down all the audio lines into and out from the system with toroids and snap-on ferrite beads. This cleared up that buzzing noise, etc. and all was good. I especially like the option to have headphones on and separately control the output control to headphones, room or both, at different levels and there are two headphone jacks independently controlled. For us hams with hearing issues or just as we get older, and hear differently, this is an excellent addition to your ham shack that you will not want to be without! 73, Dan
WV1Q Rating: 2019-07-03
One Happy Veteran and Ham Operator Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Heil PRAS EQ works magic for these old Hearing ailments! Thanks Bob K9EID for the consultation and emails!I am running the audio thru my Samson StudioDock speaker with no problems. De WV1Q
W9OWO Rating: 2019-06-18
Give everyone a "great audio" report! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
You feel really good hearing "great audio."

Many modern transceivers have parametric equalizers for their transmit audio but the receive audio is pretty much "what you hear is what you get."

The PRAS lets you take that mediocre audio "out of the mud" and make it 5X5.

It is truly amazing what can be done when YOU control the audio qualities of the human voice– roll off that unnecessary bass, level out the mid-range and accent the highs to get crisp, clear articulation.

When you send that good, clear audio through a 24 watt powered speaker, it's just like magic! And, no distortion.

This system should be your next purchase!
N4LCH Rating: 2019-06-04
The PRAS is all it is cracked up to be Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bob used the PRAS in a presentation he made to the Huntsville Amatuer Radio Club back in late March. The room where the presentation was made was large enough to hold 100+ people and included a full PA and 3 screen video system. However, Bob used only the PRAS with its 25 watt speaker system throughout his talk. His voice was extremely clear throughout the room and quite easily understandable. I'm deaf and wear hearing aids and had trouble understanding everything over the PA system of the room but could clearly understand Bob throughout his talk. This convinced me to get the system for use with my FTdx-1200. I was not disappointed when I hooked it up. I was able to clean up the audio, even on some weak signals, well enough that I could easily understand the QSO. Prior to putting the PRAS in place I sometimes had to strain to understand what the person on the other end of a QSO was saying. By adjusting the the audio passband levels and frequencies on the PRAS I could get the signal just right rather easily and quickly. Prior to that I had to play with the receiver tuning and IF passband to try and make the audio as understandable as possible to complete the QSO. That effort quite often ended up in disappointment.
W3DDF Rating: 2019-06-04
Excellent Sound System Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had my PRAS system about 3 months and it works great. I use it on both my Flex 6400 and Icom 7700. I always purchase the external speakers when I buy a new rig and I packed the Icom SP-34 back in the box because the PRAS is so much better. No RF issues at all even when using my amplifier at full legal limit. The default settings of the PRAS work perfectly for me. Highly recommend!
AC9SF Rating: 2019-06-03
Great With or Without My Hearing Aids! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Went to Dayton and had already decided beforehand that I was going to buy this system My hearing varies greatly from day to day and even sometimes from hour to hour.Speech on the phone or on SSB is often very difficult for me to understand. Talked to Bob at the show and he explained what flexibility I could have by making adjustments to the parametric EQ. Intall was 5 minutes and very easy. The way you can make speech jump out and separate itself from the background noise is uncanny. I find that now I don't even need to use my hearing aids much of the time, which adds to my comfort level. With SSB on my Icom 7610, I leave BW at 3000 and make the audio adjustments on the PRAS. Both my Kenwood and Sony headphones sound great with the system.