Anker PowerConf S500 Speakerphone: features, room size and certifications

The Anker PowerConf S500 is a compact conference speakerphone for small and medium meeting rooms. It connects by USB-C or Bluetooth, takes in voices through four microphones and plays them back through its own speaker. Here is what its main features mean, and what to confirm for your room and software.

Four microphones and clear pickup

A speakerphone is only as useful as its microphones. The S500 has four, with a 32kHz sampling rate, which Anker says transmits voices with clarity and definition. Having several microphones in a ring helps the unit pick up people sitting at different points around a table, rather than just whoever is closest.

VoiceRadar and noise filtering

Anker's VoiceRadar is an acoustic algorithm designed to remove unwanted noise and keep speech clear. Anker says that even if you move around the room, you will still be heard by everyone. Noise processing of this kind typically works on steady sounds, such as fans and air conditioning, better than on sudden ones.

Full duplex audio

The listing says the S500 offers full duplex communication. That means both ends can talk at the same time and still be heard, as in a normal conversation, instead of one side cutting out when the other speaks. It matters in lively meetings where people interrupt each other.

The speaker

An acoustically tuned 1.75-inch speaker handles playback. Anker describes it as Hi-Fi grade sound that goes beyond ordinary speakerphones, for voice and for music or other audio. For meetings, what matters most is that voices come across clearly at a comfortable volume in the room.

Certifications

Anker states that the S500 is certified by Zoom Rooms and Google Meet. Certifications of this kind mean the device has been tested with the platform and is intended to work reliably with it. If your team uses another meeting platform, check the S500's compatibility with it, since the device connects as a standard audio device over USB-C or Bluetooth.

Room size and pairing two units

Anker says a single S500 suits rooms of up to 12 people, and that two units can be paired wirelessly to cover up to 20 people. Room shape, furniture and echo all change how well a speakerphone performs, so treat these numbers as a planning guide.

Size

The unit measures 5.0 x 5.0 x 2.0 inches (about 12.7 x 12.7 x 5 cm) and weighs 0.9 lb (about 0.4 kg), which makes it easy to move between rooms or take to a client's office.

Who it suits

It suits small meeting rooms, huddle spaces, home offices that host group calls and teams that want one device that can be carried between rooms. It is less suited to large boardrooms, where several microphones or a ceiling system are typically used.

What to check before you buy

• Connection: confirm whether your computer has a free USB-C port or, if not, whether you will use an adapter or Bluetooth.
• Software: check compatibility with the meeting apps you use.
• Room: think about table size and layout, and whether the unit can sit in the middle of the table.
• Pairing: if you need coverage for more people, check how two units are set up together.
• Cables and charging: check what's in the box and whether the unit runs from its battery or by cable.
• Echo and noise: hard walls and glass rooms can reduce audio quality for any speakerphone.

The short version

• A USB-C and Bluetooth conference speakerphone for small and medium rooms.
• Four microphones at 32kHz and VoiceRadar noise filtering.
• Full duplex audio and a tuned 1.75-inch speaker.
• Certified for Zoom Rooms and Google Meet, according to Anker.
• Up to 12 people per unit, or up to 20 with two paired.

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