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Reviews For: West Mountain Radio ClearSpeech CLRspkr

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : West Mountain Radio ClearSpeech CLRspkr
Reviews: 24MSRP: 229
Description:
ClearSpeech (DSP) enabled speaker with adjustable DSP and On/Off DSP and power switch.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.westmountainradio.com/CLRspkr.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00244.3
WL7CLA Rating: 2009-03-21
Audio issue fixed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First off I want to thank AES. They worked with me on the issue, and even swapped out the speaker unit for the CLRdsp brick.

I figured out the noise issue. The ClearSpeach DSP has a high impedance input and a fair amount of gain, the CLRspkr and CLRdsp have it *hardwired* to MAX. Of course there is hiss, the audio amp is set to peak gain. So, it is usable in a noisy environment, but low noise shacks, or headphone use is not fun. The audio noise generated rivals the audio from the radio.

In the CLRdsp unit there are obvious provisions for a standard 2k audio pot to handle volume control. But, no pot, just a 2k resistor from audio in to gnd, and a hard jumper to the amp in.

The simple fix is to remove the 2k resistor and jumper, drill a hole in the front of the case and install a 2k audio volume control pot.

I wired one in, and wow, at anything less than 90% volume on speaker, no hiss. Setting the radio to a reasonable volume (about 50%) and using headphones with the pot (linear pot BTW) at about 30%, perfect clarity and good volume, no hiss.

Since the only audio pot I had was old stereo sized, and nobody in town the correct unit (inline terminals, small, short shaft) I ended up rigging up a switch and fixes resistors. Switch down is about 90% volume, switch up reduces to 40%.

Rigged like this I can use with shack speaker switch down, and good headphones switch up. I may swap out for actual volume control pot if I remember to get one next time I make a parts order.


Now, all that being said, the DSP function is something I am happy with.

So, all in all I will go to a 3, just be aware that if you use headphones or have a very quiet shack and good ears the noise is bothersome. If WMR would add a volume control instead of hardwiring it to max I would give it a 4.5 -> 5.
W6RCW Rating: 2008-01-18
Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I say good because it is, but for me to give it a 5, it needs more. Following is a list I emailed West Mountain Radio.
"Following are my thoughts on my new CLRspkr."
1- needs jack on front of unit with stereo output for use with stereo headphones.
2- needs switch on front of unit to switch between speaker and headphones.
3- needs small rubber feet for mounting on top of radio.
4- needs tone control.
5- power led WAY too bright.
6- carrier notching seems too slow (about 5 seconds or more), and only notches out about 95% of carrier.
Thanks, RC w6rcw
K3DLB Rating: 2007-09-10
Works Perfect. Great Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought this product two days ago at a local hamfest and I'm glad I did. I live near power lines and needed something to help with the noise. I'm extremely pleased with the performance of the CLRspkr. It removes all the power line noise. No more hum, hiss, whistles and static.

A special thanks to John, N1OLO, at HamSource.com, for demonstrating the product to me at the hamfest. I plan to buy another one for the car.
KS4Z Rating: 2007-07-01
Great DSP/Speaker Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As the owner of the Am-Com ClearSpeech Speaker, I was looking for another DSP enabled speaker for my shack. The West Mountain rig nicely fits the bill. In comparing the two, the Am-Com produces the same filtering at about the Mid level on the West Mountain CLRspkr. The CLRspkr has 4 levels of DSP plus a DSP Off switch. The amp is controlable with the power switch. I normally leave the filter on Hi on 20 meters SSB. The speaker appears to be the same as contained in the Am-Com unit. It is of very good quality but does not compare to the Motorola speaker (HSN4031A) used in my shack. This is the same speaker as used in police cars. I built a speaker/headphones switchbox and plugged it into the rear output jack of the CLRspkr. Using this configuration, the CLRspkr blows my JPS NIR-12 out of the water (except for the Notch Filter).