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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
W1ZE Rating: 2002-04-27
A must for the Alinco DX-70th Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you want a up-scale DSP but a Timewave, but if you want an very effective add-on for mobile HF radios with limited or poor noise blanking, this speaker is for you. I use one with my Alinco DX-70 mobile. Alinco builds a very nice transceiver with lots of features but the markets worst noise blanker. The speakers DSP takes the noise and hetrodynes out making my DX-70 a very good mobile HF transceiver. 73, W1ZE
N2DY Rating: 2002-04-14
N2TU is right on target Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Read the review from N2TU. It is a fair and objective review of the speaker. I rate it a notch higher than he does because, despite the shortcomings he noted, it can really pull a signal out of the noise. I use it mainly on HF from the mobile with an Icom 706 MKIIG.

I agree that the cost is a bit high for what you get and there are some simple conveniences that should have been added. The most annoying thing is the fact that the unit is never off. If you wire it up to a direct line to the battery, you could run the battery down if you are not careful. No excuse for that, especially at $150. That being said, it is a useful accessory without any real competition.
PA3DUV Rating: 2002-04-12
Amazing Performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This review is an update on an earlier one. I now use the ClearSpeech speaker for approx, one year in my car. The little magic box has done 70 000 km on European roads so far. Won't leave home without it. The unit is mounted on the sun visor at the drvers seat. Recently I saw another way to mount the ClearSpeech unit: under the headrest. I might try that as well. Since every good product is improved constantly I would like to see some improvements on the ClearSpeech speaker:
1. interfacebillity with the 706. How about connecting the ClearSpeech unit to the 706 RJ45 mike connector and connecting the mike or the Heil HS706 to the ClearSpeech box. For the few FT100 users (hi) a similar solution.
2. Get rid of that short tail power cord, instead put a proper DC bulkhead connector on the box.
3. Change the algoritm so there is no blast out of the speaker when the rig switches back to RX.
To see my set-up check
http://home.planet.nl/~pa3duv
Happy Mobiling, Dick PA3DUV

PS: I would not be able to get so much good audio signals out of the ClearSpeech without the Stealth II mobile HF vertical.
http://www.hiqantennas.com
VE6XX Rating: 2002-04-11
second review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Greetings All: This is my second review of the "Clearspeech", & I am compelled to point out that the speaker itself can most charitably be described as "unfortunate".
I run a commercial Radio speaker on all three of my units & they are excellent.
I could not operate HF mobile ever again without the "clearspeech". I am amazed at the folks who complain about the audio. Either they are the victims of the "poor speaker syndrome"
or they simply don't understand that manipulation of the audio bitstream to remove noise, by its very nature alters the audio. Hi fidelity it ain't! Communications audio it is! I run mobile with an Icom 706MkII & MkIIG & I shut the radio DSP off & use only the "Clearspeech". The blanker in the 706 is a joke.....why doesn't Icom simply buy the blanker cctry from an FT-100? TeeHee!
The power cord is too short IMHO, & the actual speaker itself is very poor. The DSP is the best I have ever seen. The single best accessory for HF radio I have ever used. Well done Amcom.
Cheers! Brian, VE6XX
N0GV Rating: 2002-04-11
Good product at a great price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've now updated to an FT-1000 and the clearspeech speaker has migrated to that rig as well. The residual hiss gets knocked back by about 10-12dB and output level is increased by about 6 dB. Heterodynes disappear after about 10 seconds and the noise floor is about 10 dB lower. For $150 this has to be the best improvement you can purchase for you rig.

Sure you can reduce the noise by 10 dB with a Yagi antenna, sure you can -- the accessories for the Yagi will eat you alive for price -- $350 for an antenna, $1500 for a tower, $500 for a rotor, $300 for a base, $50 in building permits, $150 in engineering fees (a Licensed Engineer's signature on the plans is usually required to get a permit) and lets not forget the extra $100 in Coax. Hmm $2,950 vs $150....

What, can't put up a tower and have to live with a vertical or in-the-attic aluminum solution? Oh well, that 12 dB looks pretty nice to me....

Of course you "could" put up the tower and antenna and add a Clearspeech unit too... nahhh that's too easy....

Bottom line is that extra 12dB S/N ratio increases my service probability from Miami to Perth on a sample propogation (4/9/02 figures used) simulation (ICEPAC) from 29.4% to 40.2%; this means that I can communicate with the far end of the planet 37% more often using this product! Testing bears out this number.... Impressive!

Grover Larkins
N0GV
N0TW Rating: 2002-04-11
You've got to hear it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Why spend all the time trying to get rid of mobile ignition noise when Clear Speach does it for you? All of my friends who use this agree that it makes mobile operation enjoyable. You will hear and work signals not otherwise possible.
The DSP works better than the DSP in my Icom 775.
The product has worked perfectly for 2 years with no problems at all. This is the best $ I've ever spent to improve signal to noise ratios.
GOODGUY Rating: 2002-04-11
Amazing . . . . Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This review concerns the "BASE" version:

I was skeptical [like others here] about this unit. But, being a gadget nut [like others here] I couldn't resist seeing if it could 'stand up' to its claims.

Well . . . I am impressed! I'm testing it on a 756PROII. It actually works as well, if not better, than the built-in NR in the 756. There are times, with certain 'buzzing' noises, that the addition of the 756's NB helps clean things up. But for most listening situations, the 'ClearSpeech' by itself is sufficient. And it is a no-brainer: hook it up, turn it on and let it do its thing [no adjustment available nor needed].

Nice job Am-Com!
N4VNV Rating: 2002-03-09
Great Product! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Which example should I relate? The time I was working a QRP station from England, he was running 2 watts on SSB. With my "ClearSpeech" turned off I could not hear him at all. But with it on he was perfect copy. Did I mention I was in my mobile? Or the time I was working 2M FM simplex on 146.52, and lost copy when I pulled up to a red light due to power line noise. Switched on the "ClearSpeech" and got perfect copy again. Or the difference with or without the "ClearSpeech" while listening to the phone net on 80M. After these and other events, I purchased a second "ClearSpeech". The speaker did not work. A plugged in external speaker worked fine. There was nothing wrong with the DSP circuitry. So, I called the Company, got a return authorization number and sent it back. Within three weeks it was returned and everything worked properly. If anyone out there has one of these units in pristeen condition but you don't like it, please contact me via email at: kd4zd@juno.com and I will purchase it if we can agree on price. I need one more for my SWL receiver.
SWL1 Rating: 2002-03-08
Not so hot! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Let me start by warning you that I am an avid audiophile and, tend to be somewhat picky :)

I was over at a friends house who just purchased the latest Yaesu HF rig, the mark five or, whatever.
He had the Clear speach speaker hooked up and, I found it's effect VERY annoying!
Yes, it DID get rid of the back groung noise, no doubt about it however, in it's wake it left a VERY annoying "comb filter" / flanging effect that was impossable to elimate!

For me I would rather deal with a higher back ground noise then listen to that terrible digital effect!

I am sure if it was used in a mobile application where there is alot of man made noise the effect I complain about would take back seat and, the product WOULD be most effective.

At least from my point of view I for one wouldn't spend almost $200 for a glorified
"comb filter"/digital filter / amplified speaker to be used in a quite home envioument :)

Different strokes for different folks I guess hi,hi.

For those who like it great but, take a critical listen and, you'll see what I am talking about:)

Best of 73!
DE:Bob.
N3CAL Rating: 2002-03-08
Excellent Speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received my speaker and I must say it works really well. I can pull out stations out of the noise level now I otherwise could never hear before! I can't say it's 95 percent like they claim but it is a noticable improvement. I'm using it in my Ford Ranger with Icom-706MKIIG. The speakers Noise Filters works well and I don't really need to use the radio DSP. I've got the speaker power leads going to the radio's ACC jack (13.5 VDC) so power is only applied while the radio is turned on.

CONS:
1. The speaker requires a fused & switched power source.
2. The supplied bracket is plastic and very flexiable. Will replace with metal one.