Classroom

Review: Lightspeed Redcat’s Audio System Delivers High-Quality Sound in the Classroom

Teachers no longer need to strain their voices to be heard in noisy classrooms.

Buzz Garwood, the technology teacher at Home Gardens Academy in Corona, Calif., blogs and produces videos for EdTech magazine. Follow him at @buzzgarwood and check out his blog.

Students who struggle academically may also have trouble hearing their teachers. After all, classrooms are noisy! Whenever I address my students, I am competing with a cacophony of sounds: the noise of 34 desktop PC fans, the air-conditioning unit, sidebar conversations and, at times, up to a dozen 3D printers whirring away.

The Redcat Audio System with Flexmike, an all-in-one classroom audio solution by Lightspeed, cuts through the noise. It increases the volume and intelligibility of the teacher’s voice and simultaneously creates a more relaxed learning environment, leaving the teacher less fatigued at the end of the day.

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Easy Setup Makes for Instant Availability

The Flexmike itself is a lightweight, wearable microphone that comes automatically paired to the speaker. Before I tested the system, the only assembly required was to charge the Flexmike overnight in its dedicated docking station, powered by an AC-to-USB Type C connector. Then I slid two plastic supports into place at the bottom of the speaker to position it upright. (It also comes with screws and a template for a more permanent wall-mounted installation option.)

Traditionally, audio speakers tend to be heavy, so I was immediately curious how the all-in-one speaker and amplifier could be so lightweight yet produce such a clear and powerful sound. It’s due to a technology known as audio exciters, which are loudspeaker components that lack the frame and cone of traditional speakers and function in a unique way by vibrating a rigid surface to create sound. This technology is perfect for permanent or portable applications. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised when the speaker easily fit inside my backpack with room to spare for a laptop and other small items.

Coming in Loud and Clear

During testing, I set the speaker on a rolling computer cart in the back of my classroom, plugged it into an AC power source and then turned on my Flexmike. I secured the Flexmike around my neck with the included lanyard, which fastened together with magnets. I then pressed the mute/talk button located on the top of the Flexmike, and I could immediately hear myself loud and clear. It was really that easy.

All six periods of my middle school technology classes were delighted with my increased volume and improved clarity. To elicit more student feedback, I said a few sentences with the Flexmike muted, and then I switched back to unmuted. I did this for several minutes, and the results were always the same. Every group preferred the Flexmike unmuted.

As for battery life, the system performed much better than the promised eight hours. In fact, after my normal eight-hour workday, I stayed for another three-plus hours for an after-school program. The Flexmike was still going strong after more than 11 hours.

SPECIFICATIONS

PRODUCT TYPE: All-in-one audio system with integrated receiver, amplifier and speaker
DIMENSIONS: 16x1.75x9.5 inches
WEIGHT: 2.9 pounds
POWER OUTPUT: 20W
AUDIO IN: 3.5mm port
AUDIO OUT: 3.5mm port
INSTALLATION: Tabletop or wall-mounted

Supplemental Audio System for Other Audiovisual Tech

For teachers who may not already have an audio system in their classrooms, the Lightspeed Redcat Audio System with Flexmike would make a great solution. In addition to improving the volume and clarity of the teacher’s voice, the speaker’s integrated power amplifier also has a 3.5-millimeter analog audio input and output ports.

During testing, I sent audio from my computer to the Redcat and played a music video via the input jack. The music filled the room with beautiful sound. Being a relative newcomer to audio exciter technology, I was impressed at the rich depth of sound emanating from the speaker. I then spoke into the Flexmike, and my speech blended with the music from the video with no need to adjust volume. It was as if I were playing a voice-over narration that had already been mixed.

In addition to the analog input port, the Redcat’s analog output port can be an invaluable tool for learners with significant hearing impairments. With the student sitting close to the Redcat, the teacher simply connects a set of wired headphones to the output jack, and all audio coming into the Redcat is output to the headphones as well. I tried this with a random set of headphones, and the mix was perfectly balanced. The student can easily adjust the output tone and volume to his or her liking without affecting the overall mix going out to the classroom. It’s a brilliant setup.

EXPLORE: How school districts are using upgraded audiovisual tools to improve learning.

I have a few colleagues commonly referred to as traveling teachers who offer art and music instruction to multiple schools across our district. It’s not uncommon for one teacher to visit as many as five schools per week — not to mention multiple classrooms at each school — with potentially unique audio setups at each site. For this reason, having a portable, flexible, all-in-one piece of gear like the Redcat is compelling. For example, one week, the art teacher visited my classroom for our weekly art lesson. I asked her to try teaching with the Flexmike. A mere two minutes into her lesson, she asked me for details about the system and told me how much she would love to have something like this.

Most teachers abuse their voice, whether they travel from school to school or work out of their own classroom. Some develop vocal nodules and experience hoarseness every day. With a Lightspeed Redcat Audio System with Flexmike, teachers can use their regular speaking voice, which means less vocal strain.