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Reviews For: Clear Speech Noise Reduction Speaker by Am-Com

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : Clear Speech Noise Reduction Speaker by Am-Com
Reviews: 91MSRP: 179.95
Description:
A quality speaker with built-in DSP noise reduction.
NOTE: Will now be produced by Heil Sound:
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.amcominc.com/productdetail.cfm?Prod_ID=16
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00914.4
WA8DVD Rating: 2002-10-23
Worst piece of equipment I ever purchased Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The speaker is a complete rip-off. It takes care of the noise but also distorts the signals in the process. There is a sizzling noise that comes out of the speaker when a signal is not present. This is very distracting. It is grossly over priced and I would not recommmend it to anyone thinking about purchasing one.
N4GLS Rating: 2002-10-23
Not Worth IT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After reading the reviews of the Clear Speech speaker, I recently purchased one of the original models to run mobile on my Icom 706MKIIG. I was very disappointed in the performance. It does reduce some of the noise as advertised, but the sound is severly distorted. Also, at times there is a low frying sound coming from the speaker and you only hear this when there is no traffic on the frequency. Support from the company is poor. The one I purchased is now packed back in the box that it came in and I am back to using an old Motorola external speaker, at least I get clear natural sound.
N2TU Rating: 2002-10-08
Improvements...?? Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I see that the Clear Speech people have taken our input and converted into an improved product. Nice to see that they are responsive. One thing, however, why did the "needed" improvments result in a $20 increase in price for an already overpriced accessory. Everyone needs to make value judgemnts...mine is that this is an overpriced accessory with a poor speaker. Does it cut down on noise?...you bet...but at a $179 price tag! Make your own decisions!
KE6KQV Rating: 2002-10-08
Clear Speech II - Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just installed the Clear Speech II in my car over the weekend and what a tremendous difference it makes. I was hesitant about trying it on 2 meters since most of the review mentions HF use. I would encourage everyone to up grade their mobile systems with this unit. It makes listening while driving a pleasure. The Clear Speech II came with a: power indicator light, a power switch and a headphone jack on the front. I had to shorten the power cord that was about 6 feet long. There are 3 units available. One has no speaker and sells for the same price as the model with a speaker. The Clear Speech II sells for about $20.00 more but seems to address most if not all the concerns that I read about.
K8EAB Rating: 2002-08-11
Very Effective Mobile Noise Reduction Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree the ClearSpeech units need updating - the first thing I did with my second (base only) unit was to open it up and add my own on-off switch ...

The speaker ISN'T the greatest, but here's my solution for that ... I use one of those cassette adapters to take the AUDIO OUT of the ClearSpeech Base Unit and feed it into my Ford Expedition's in-vehicle stereo system's cassette player ... the cassette adapter is mono, so I get audio only from one side of the vehicle's speaker system (the LEFT SIDE, which is where I'm sitting!) ... the Expedition's Mach stereo speakers, combined with the additional volume, bass, and treble controls GREATLY IMPROVE the DSP processed audio coming from the ClearSpeech Base unit ...

I would not operate my IC-706 (Original Edition)mobile without the ClearSpeech DSP capability ...

I have overcome the two most common omplaints ... on-off switch and speaker volume/quality ...

Works for me ... 73 de K8EAB in Georgia ...
K4IA Rating: 2002-07-24
Worth it! Must have for mobile Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used one mobile with both an Alinco DX70 and a Yaesu FT100D. I can say, without reservation, this is a fantastic piece of equipment. It is much more effective than the DSP noise reduction in the Yaesu. It doesn't just supress, it eliminates noise, notches out carriers, and cleans up the hash you get on the road. Turning it on and off is like night and day. Signals lost in the noise pop out at you. Speech becomes understandable and you don't get fatigued straining to hear through the static. It is pure magic. You can listen to an audio clip on the website but the device is much more effective than the clip makes it sound. Every single person who I have demo'd this too, says the same thing, "WOW!"

Now as for those reservations you see posted, mine is wired into the cigar lighter. It goes off when the car is off. I don't need an LED to tell me it is on, I can hear the difference. I don't care about a fuse because the circuit is already fused. If you think the circuit is ove-fused, put in a smaller fuse. If the wire is too short, splice it. 'Nuff said.

This is a "must have" if you work mobile. Mobile is very RF-noisy. My own car is quiet but the car next to me, power lines, and everything else throw off all sorts of hash in addition to the normal band noise. Wind static on the antenna is another problem at 65 mph. The Clearspeech handles it all.

This is not a "must have" for the home station. I don't need it at home because I don't have high noise levels. If you are bothered by noise at home, consider this as a worthwhile solution. It will not work on CW because it interprets the CW note as an offending carrier and notches it out.
AA5CH Rating: 2002-07-23
Is it worth it? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased one of these speakers for use in the shack on my back up rig. As mentioned in an earlier review, the speaker is a great addition to the Alinco DX70 and its notoriously poor noise blanker. I sometimes use the Alinco in the mobile, but have not tried the speaker in a mobile setting yet. Were I to do so, I can imagine that the earlier mentioned concerns regarding the lack of a fused power switch and LED feedback would be an issue for me as well. My speaker rattles at what I consider to be moderate volume levels for base operation, and what would be considered low levels for most mobile applications.

I was able to purchase my speaker at a greatly discounted price, but still question whether it is worth the expense. If the DX70 was my primary rig, or if I did a lot of mobile operation with it or a similar rig, the speaker might be a worthwhile investment...IF it did not rattle. In a base station setting, the Clear Speech Speaker could be a very nice supplement to a non-DSP rig, but frankly, the sound of DSP audio is not something all operators appreciate.

If at all possible, I would recommend that you play with one of these before you purchase. As can be seen in the other reviews, several are very pleased with this speaker; however, there also appear to be several (like myself)who are not quite sure it is worth the expense. In the end, it is up to the individual...like most things.

73,
Brad
AA5CH
K6BF Rating: 2002-07-23
Over price!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree to NC2B,I own base model one for two years now,no problem but the should design it better with the ON/OFF switch and the fuse inline to the DC Lines plus LEDS.

73s
K6BF
NC2B Rating: 2002-07-23
Over Priced Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with w2tu. I have had the unit mobile mostly cw for about a year. Works ok on ssb but comes up a little short on cw. Unit really should include things like fuse and indicator leds.
W3HND Rating: 2002-07-23
works very well, but... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
...recovery time after transmit is much too slow--very annoying.