AnkerWork SR500 Speakerphone | Review

After I obtained the AnkerWork SR500 Speakerphone proven above, it appeared like a helpful multipurpose workplace accent to make enterprise cellphone use and video conferences extra productive. It turned out as little greater than a one-trick system solely useful in company and SMB convention rooms.

The disconnect on this system’s objective escaped me at first. It has been some time since my work revolved round convention rooms, and I now hook up with video displays and cellphone line-connected interview calls.

Alas, the SR500 is overkill for my well-stocked multi-phone line distant workplace. However my feeble speaker cellphone handsets and exterior audio system depart a lot to be desired. So the enterprise cellphone 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 device. The SR500 may very well be your new go-to system to make video convention classes extra audibly nice in each small and extra-large assembly rooms.

No telephones accepted: You’ll want a backup plan for conferencing by way of landlines slightly than computer systems — and in case you are eager about connecting a smartphone or different Bluetooth-enabled system, assume once more. The SR500 doesn’t presently help these, both.

A Case of Nomenclature Overreach

AnkerWork’s product images and advertising blurbs strongly “recommend” {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.

Sadly, although, the response was disappointing after I contacted Anker’s tech help workplace about find out how to connect this system to a cellphone 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 (purple) a cellphone, these two buttons merely unmute and mute the non-phone speaker system.

Audio-Boosting Options

AnkerWork designed the SR500 to enhance voice supply in noisy environments, whether or not in small or very giant rooms. For giant 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 reveals find out how to 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 will be heard equally with out having to boost their voice or quantity, in response to AnkerWork.

The upgraded VoiceRadar 2.0 know-how integrates complete audio processing with deep studying to isolate voices from the background noise. It might 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 absolutely appropriate with all main on-line conferencing providers, 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 system’s eight microphone array across the oblong-shaped case.

The 1.75″ speaker isn’t any light-weight performer, both. Hidden inside the high half of the speakerphone’s case, it outputs sound directed upward and sideways, emitting voices across the room.

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 based mostly on 280 hours of speech indicators in dozens of simulated and discipline coaching assessments. 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 route.

Missed Consumer 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 dearth of Bluetooth help to pair the speakerphone to different units.

The sound response is so good that I’d use this unit to exchange a present speakerphone that does hook up with my smartphone. However with no method to join the 2 units, both wirelessly or by way of cable, I can not use my Google Voice cellphone quantity by way of the SR500.

That’s much more daunting as a result of the AnkerWork Speakerphone connects to computer systems by way of the included Energy over Ethernet (PoE) cables. I can output audio from video conferencing apps by way of the speakerphone, however the connection doesn’t work with Google’s Voice web cellphone platform.

Backside Line

The AnkerWork SR500 Speakerphone sports activities a formidable construct high quality. Plus, its anti-theft safety options, together with device-locking techniques, make this a primary resolution for organizations with a heavy load of small and enormous group video communications.

Nevertheless, the checklist of unsupported connections limits the usefulness of the SR500 speakerphone to enterprise-size organizations. Though it’s a stable performer, at $349.99 for a single unit, it turns into dear to chain collectively a number of voice extenders — and the shortcoming to be a PC-only device 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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