Once I acquired the AnkerWork SR500 Speakerphone proven above, it appeared like a helpful multipurpose workplace accent to make enterprise telephone use and video conferences extra productive. It turned out as little greater than a one-trick machine solely useful in company and SMB convention rooms.
The disconnect on this machine’s goal escaped me at first. It has been some time since my work revolved round convention rooms, and I now hook up with video shows and telephone line-connected interview calls.
Alas, the SR500 is overkill for my well-stocked multi-phone line distant workplace. However my feeble speaker telephone handsets and exterior audio system depart a lot to be desired. So the enterprise telephone instruments hype that surrounds the SR500 seemed like an ideal resolution. However not for me.
This speakerphone generally is a winner for enterprise convention rooms as a souped-up video convention speaker amplifier and voice enhancement instrument. The SR500 could possibly be your new go-to machine to make video convention periods extra audibly nice in each small and extra-large assembly rooms.
No telephones accepted: You’ll want a backup plan for conferencing through landlines fairly than computer systems — and in case you are fascinated by connecting a smartphone or different Bluetooth-enabled machine, assume once more. The SR500 doesn’t at the moment help these, both.
A Case of Nomenclature Overreach
AnkerWork’s product images and advertising blurbs strongly “counsel” {that a} product dubbed a “speakerphone” would have one thing extra related to do with telecommunications. The 2 line ports on the underside of the SR500 added to my false impression.
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Sadly, although, the response was disappointing once I contacted Anker’s tech help workplace about how one can connect this machine to a telephone line. This unit is designed for computer systems and doesn’t help landline telephones.
So despite the fact that the SR500 has LED-lit icons to press for connecting (inexperienced) and disconnecting (pink) a telephone, these two buttons merely unmute and mute the non-phone speaker machine.
Audio-Boosting Options
AnkerWork designed the SR500 to enhance voice supply in noisy environments, whether or not in small or very massive rooms. For big convention tables, customers can daisy chain as much as 5 speakerphones to present all attendees sitting on the desk a transparent shot at being heard with out shouting or straining to listen to what others are saying.
AnkerWork’s Fast Begin Information video exhibits how one can arrange and join a number of SR500 speakerphones:
This convention enhancer picks up voices from 16 toes away, serving to to make sure as much as 45 individuals hunkered round a sequence of convention tables may be heard equally with out having to boost their voice or quantity, in keeping with AnkerWork.
The upgraded VoiceRadar 2.0 expertise integrates complete audio processing with deep studying to isolate voices from the background noise. It could actually differentiate voices in additional than 30,000 totally different room designs and sizes. Solely the first talking voice is filtered to the audio system.
The AnkerWork app makes maintaining with software program updates straightforward. With the maker’s software program, the SR500 is totally appropriate with all main on-line conferencing companies, together with Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, WebEx, and GoTo Assembly.
Sound-Capturing Design
The all-metal black and grey casing is compact, though barely bigger than most desktop speakerphones. It measures 8″ x 4.5″ x 1.5″. That area is required to carry the machine’s eight microphone array across the oblong-shaped case.
The 1.75″ speaker isn’t any light-weight performer, both. Hidden throughout the prime half of the speakerphone’s case, it outputs sound directed upward and sideways, emitting voices across the room.
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I examined the SR500 throughout a piece week of convention requires information briefings and voice-only calls, principally utilizing Zoom, Skype, and Meet. The standard sounded higher than a face-to-face dialog.
The speakerphone makes use of a man-made intelligence algorithmic mannequin primarily based on 280 hours of speech indicators in dozens of simulated and subject coaching checks. This algorithm dynamically acknowledges a variety of language accents and sound sources.
The SR500 helps low (80Hz) to excessive (20KHz) audio frequencies with lower than 3% vocal distortion. The result’s a vibrant sound high quality from any path.
Missed Person Alternative
In comparison with smaller speakerphones I’ve used, the sound high quality from the SR500 is superior. The one disadvantage, and it’s a extreme weak spot, is the shortage of Bluetooth help to pair the speakerphone to different gadgets.
The sound response is so good that I might use this unit to exchange a present speakerphone that does hook up with my smartphone. However with no option to join the 2 gadgets, both wirelessly or through cable, I can’t use my Google Voice telephone quantity via the SR500.
That’s much more daunting as a result of the AnkerWork Speakerphone connects to computer systems through the included Energy over Ethernet (PoE) cables. I can output audio from video conferencing apps via the speakerphone, however the connection doesn’t work with Google’s Voice web telephone platform.
Backside Line
The AnkerWork SR500 Speakerphone sports activities a powerful construct high quality. Plus, its anti-theft safety options, together with device-locking methods, make this a first-rate resolution for organizations with a heavy load of small and enormous group video communications.
Nevertheless, the listing of unsupported connections limits the usefulness of the SR500 speakerphone to enterprise-size organizations. Though it’s a strong performer, at $349.99 for a single unit, it turns into expensive to chain collectively a number of voice extenders — and the shortcoming to be a PC-only instrument makes it a questionable buy for a broader consumer base.
The AnkerWork SR500 Speakerphone is offered at Amazon and the AnkerWork internet retailer.
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