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Reviews For: MFJ 382 Amplified Speaker

Category: Speakers for communications

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Review Summary For : MFJ 382 Amplified Speaker
Reviews: 8MSRP: 39.95
Description:
MFJs Deluxe ClearTone is an excellent 1 Watt amplified speaker for QRP, base station HT users, or mobile operation with radios requiring more volume. MFJ-382 gives superb, loud and powerful ClearTone audio. Speaker is 3 inches. Adjustable from barely audible to high volume, this rugged speaker is sturdy and compact. All metal cabinet with rubber feet measures 3 1/2 x 1 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches. On/Off button, uses 9 volt battery (not included) or 110 VAC with optional MFJ-1312D $14.95. Speaker cable included.
Product is in production
More Info: http://mfjenterprises.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0083.6
KM4ASH Rating: 2019-02-06
Great for KX3 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Looked for a speaker which could improve over the small Elecraft KX3 speaker. Many rechargeable versions available - wanted one which would run from same Bioenno Power 12v I run the radio from. This serves the purpose well, pulls so little current I find no reduction in battery run time, lightweight, reasonably compact, sound quality is good, if not excellent. I find none of the negatives noted in the other reviews.
Only negative I experienced was such a long ship time from MFJ, I speculated they had stopped production.

KM4ASH - Craig
WB7VTY Rating: 2018-04-15
Pleasantly Surprised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Before I blast MFJ, I have to say for my application this was 40 bucks well spent. I wanted a small rugged amplified speaker for my Hendricks PFR-3B Kit (which is great), instead of using headphones or in the event other people want to listen in as well at Field Day etc. It works great for that, and actually sounds pretty good. I even tried it on my FT817nD and it is considerably better than the internal speaker on that. I have not noticed issues with the volume control that others seem to complain about. However, it is consistent MFJ lack of quality control, which brings me to my MFJ blast. Some day if our species ever figures out the GUT (grand unified theory) of the universe, somewhere in there will be an inverse quality control constant (1/QC) and it will be called the MFJ constant. I swear, MFJ must have an inverse QC inspector who deliberately opens things up, loosens hardware, unsolders things, takes parts out, etc. It is an unfailing characteristic of MFJ. First problem was after installing the battery, it quit working. That is because once the battery is installed, the battery clip that holds the 9 volt expands in such a way as to contact the speaker wire terminals or pinch a speaker wire when you reassemble the cabinet. And, no I didnt misassemble the cabinet, which can be done. The speaker is square so it could be that MFJ doesnt even consistently install the speakers the same in every one of these, and that the problem therefor doesnt exist in all units. All you have to do is either unbolt the speaker and turn it 90 or 180 degrees so the terminals are away from the battery clip, or reinstall the top half of the cabinet backwards and move the rubber feet to the other side. If you have one, you will know what Im talking about. Also, the cabinet is metal and resonates on some frequencies and rattles / buzzes. Take it apart and just line the edges with some kind of tape... gaffers, duct, electrical, etc. Anything to eliminate metal on metal contact points and keep them from rattling. Aside from those issues (ha ha) it really works well and is a great companion for the PFR3B or any other QRP rig that does not have a speaker. Regardless of the bugs, I dont know of anybody else that builds a gadget as rugged, simple and useful as this that will take a wired connection, and use replaceable batteries. Not perfect but a good value. And, sadly, typical MFJ 1/QC. Oh, and place a piece of nonconductive foam between the battery clip and the PCB. The battery clip is only goobered in with double sided foam tape. Some day it will let go, the battery will roll towards the circuit board, short something out, and kill it. Hears a thought MFJ..... use a screw? Wait that costs an extra penny. Too funny.
AD1ET Rating: 2015-11-25
Safety Alert for MFJ 382 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
There is a design flaw in this unit that MFJ has been made aware of. When operating on an internal 9 volt, connecting external power will cause the 9 volt battery to be overcharged and possibly short internally which will make lots of heat and possibly flames. So, if using external 12v power, remove the internal 9 volt and put some electrical tape over the battery connections since 12 volt power will be present there. If using a battery, do not use external 12 volt power.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by AD1ET on 2015-11-18

Have read all the bad press about this, linear volume pot not working etc. I use this in the PHONE jack of any and all of my radios, Yaesu HT, Icom HT, Icom 706 and Icom 718 and it performs perfectly. Nice clear audio at enough volume to be easily heard. No issues with the audio volume control - works smoothly full range. Nice item for $40 or so in my view. No sign of broadcast interference through speaker on 100 or less transmit. Not meant to be used in the more powerful SPEAKER jack.
K8CKC Rating: 2013-09-14
Nice tactical look but very bad performance Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Purchased at a hamfest so my financial loss is minimal. Poor performer, unit has no volume control, it is either maximum or barely audible. I tested on numerous devices to determine if impedance was an issue and it wasn’t. No audio/logarithmic taper. Appears linear which won’t work for audio. Wouldn’t recommend.
K4TB Rating: 2013-06-23
Works Fine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got one to use on Field Day for visitors to listen remotely to our satellite earth station, via its VR-5000 receiver. Plenty of volume, no noticeable distortion, no RF interference to the MFJ-382 despite it being located about 25 feet from the receiver with a long audio line right under the antenna of our 100w HF CW station. The volume control was easily adjustable and exhibit a smooth audio taper. If earlier units had a problem then MFJ has corrected that for sure. I am completely satisfied with its performance.
K6LCS Rating: 2011-10-11
Portable Sat Station Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Needed more audio while conducting a portable satellite station contact a couple years ago at the Orange County Fair with Gordon West. This little amp mounted quite nicely on the end of my Arrow Antenna's boom. Plugged it in to my Yaesu speaker-mic's audio jack, and was REALLY HEARD WELL! I haven't removed it since - and use it for every demo and presentation. I turn the VOL control on my Yaesu FT-60R about 25-30% ON - and let the '382 do the rest of the work. Great addition for my portable sat station!
KJ6MC Rating: 2008-12-06
More MJF junk Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have not ordered from MFJ for a number of years, having been burned several times by their low quality products. The MFJ-382 certainly lives up to the "Mighty Fine Junk" promise. While producing a suitable "lo-fi" version of audio, the volume control is completely useless. Within the first 1/8th of a turn, the volume level goes from silent to maximum. It was so bad, that I returned it for replacement, thinking that certainly, there must be something wrong. Nope. Just a poorly engineered piece of electronic garbage.
K4ZNC Rating: 2008-08-14
Expected better Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I really wanted this speaker to work for me as my hearing is now slightly impaired, only to worsen with age. Speech clarity is OK, however, the volume control has a very limited range, so I don't get the benefit of varying the level of of a CW or SSB signal by increasing or decreasing the volume. Returned to MFJ via AES (who has always provided me with excellent service).

John K4ZNC