Give this little guy a 9-volt battery and you're set for a full day of on-the-set situations, with surprising fidelity. The Speak Easy is small enough to be easily hidden, and can be packed in a case with the rest of your gear. The Speak Easy v2 is a refined replacement of the popular original Speak Easy.

Typical uses:

• Use them on your cart to listen without headphones
• It is an ideal Video assist speaker
• Plug them into your notebook computer for remote editing
• Plant it in an antique radio prop so the actors have something to react to
• Plant it in a car during a tow scene and the director can talk to the actors (interfaces with the Remote Audio push-to-talk BoomBox)
• Plant it inside a piano with a wireless receiver for realistic track playback
• After wrap, back in your room, a stereo RCA cable turns a pair of Speak Easys into a great personal iPod system

The REMOTE AUDIO Speak Easy v2 will operate on a single 9V battery for a full day of typical intermittent use. It will also operate from external 9vdc-15vdc on its 2.1mm coaxial power connector (center pin positive). The internal battery is switched out of circuit when plugging in external power so there is no need to remove the battery when using external power. Both the battery and external circuits are protected against reverse polarity.

The Speak Easy v2 has three inputs (including the optional mic input) and a front master volume control/power switch. Its drivers are magnetically shielded, allowing operation near video monitors without distorting the picture.

Line level inputs: Because the Speak Easy is designed to get the most from a small 9 volt battery, it is important that attention be given to the line input levels. The balanced XLR line level input is for signals of +4dB. The unbalanced RCA input is for line level signals of -10dB. With a proper strength signal on either line level input, the Speak Easy's maximum loudness before clipping is achieved with the volume control almost fully clockwise. NOTE: Some devices with RCA outputs are hotter than -10dB. In this case, to prevent input clipping, the RCA output cable should be adapted to XLR, and the Speak Easy’s XLR line input should be used.

Mic level input: The XLR mic level input will accept a common mic level signal, and will directly accommodate a dynamic microphone (powering for condenser mics is not available). One use for this input would be for a small push-to-talk cueing system. The microphone input has its own gain control that also turns the microphone preamp on or off to conserve battery power. The front volume control/power switch also turns off the microphone preamp.

All three inputs are isolated from each other by about 5k ohms, and therefore may all be used at the same time. For example, a line level input can be used for music playback while the mic input is used for cuing.

When used as an accessory with our BoomBox talkback system, the Speak Easy is ideal for communication between the director and actors. For example, during car towing scenes, the Director can wear the BoomBox belt pack and the Speak Easy is hidden in the picture car with the actors. When the director presses the PTT button, he is heard in the car. In this case, program monitoring for the director can be fed in the same way it normally is to the boom operator.

Actual battery life will depend on how much and how loud the Speak Easy is being used, and whether or not the optional mic pre is used, but typical intermittent use will yield a full production day. During the NAB trade show in Las Vegas, the Speak Easy was demonstrated at the Remote Audio booth for four 8-hour days on a single 9V battery. When no signal is present, current draw is less than 6mA.

Price: $239.00

Specs:

• XLR input #1 for balanced +4dB signals
• XLR input #2 (optional) for mic level signals (-45dB, nominal)
• RCA input for unbalanced -10dB signals
• Battery life: More than a full day of typical intermittent use
• Internal Power: 9V battery
• External Power: 10VDC-15VDC on 2.1mm jack (center positive)
• Loudness: Louder than you'd think from a 9V battery. Adequate for designed use.
• Fidelity (freq response, noise, distortion) Better than you'd think. More than adequate for intended use.
• Idle power drain: ~6mA (mic pre OFF) ~12mA (mic pre ON).
• Dimensions: 4.6x4.5x7.3 inches.
• Weight: 4.4 pounds.