Amazon.com Review
Sleek modern styling, good sound quality, and intuitive design combine smoothly in the Spracht Voice Center Conference Phone.
Out of the box, the unit connected easily to our analog phone system. (An optional adapter is necessary for digital systems.) Phone and power cords connected through an analog interface, which included a spot for our standard phone for conducting private conversations. This interface required an extra moment of installation, but the procedure was quite simple and clearly outlined in the user manual. You'll know you're set once you hear the silly jingle--that's the sign that the system's self-test is being completed.
The phone has three built-in microphones and a central speaker. There are jacks for two additional external microphones (not included), which may be needed if your room is larger than the suggested size or has an unusual shape. In our tests, both internal and external microphones performed well, supplying clear sound as long as we maintained our distance and kept our voices fairly well modulated. Leaning too close caused some annoying echoes, but the optimal distance will be slightly different for each person. We heard our callers loudly and clearly, experiencing no problems with choppy sentences (clipping) or one-way communication.
The keypad includes redial, mute, and flash buttons. Volume buttons control both ringer and voice, and offer a wide range of comfortable adjustments. With analog systems, the keypad dials outside lines directly, but with digital systems, you must use the keypad on a connected digital phone.
While the overall clarity was not exceptional, the Voice Center offers an excellent value for budget-conscious teleconferencers. --Jill Lightner
Pros:
- Affordable option for teleconferencing
- Well-designed user's manual makes setup and operation straightforward
Cons:
- Requires adapter to work with digital phone systems
- Cords a bit awkward
From the Manufacturer
The Spracht Voice Center's full duplex operation and digital speech processing chip allow simultaneous two-way communications. This eliminates clipped sentences and awkward one-way conversations, enabling smooth and natural discussion. An automatic gain control lets you move about the room without compromising sound reception.
The CP-2010 has the versatility to function with virtually all phone systems--analog and, with optional digital adapter, multiline and even digital PBX systems.
The Voice Center provides 360-degree coverage, thanks to three built-in microphones, so all participants can be heard clearly from anywhere in the room. It's expandable, with input jacks for two external microphones that allow extended conference phone coverage for larger rooms and irregular layouts. An RCA output jack allows conference calls to be recorded, and you can connect a separate desk phone to the conference phone for private conversations.
The keypad provides control keys for volume, mute, redial, and flash (which enables three-way conference calls). LEDs indicate call status and mute operation. The Voice Center automatically adjusts for room acoustics with no user tuning required, so setup is a simple matter of making connections with the included cords. The system is backed by a one-year warranty; an optional three-year warranty is available.