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Clear-Com KB-701 1-Channel Flush-Mount Speaker/Mic Station — main product image
Clear-Com

Clear-Com KB-701 1-Channel Flush-Mount Speaker/Mic Station

Flush-mount push-to-talk intercom for broadcast and production facilities where clear, low-noise half-duplex communication needs to disappear into the infrastructure.

$675.00*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 13, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Clear-Com KB-701 is built for the kind of communication infrastructure that disappears into the room — flush-mounted into a production desk or broadcast console, wired into the party-line circuit, and ready to transmit the moment a cue needs to be called. It is a 1-channel half-duplex station, which aligns it with the communication model used in theater stage management, broadcast control rooms, and live event production: discrete, push-to-talk calls on a shared party-line bus where everyone hears clearly and no one's open mic bleeds ambient noise into the circuit. The integrated electret microphone with its onboard limiter is the sonic core of the station — the limiter catches peaks before they hit the bus, so a harried director calling a cue during a noisy scene transition doesn't cause clipping artifacts for every other operator on the line.

Build quality follows Clear-Com's professional standard — the KB-701 is designed for permanent infrastructure deployment, not for portable rigs that get packed and unpacked. The flush-mount chassis integrates into standard production furniture panels, and once installed, the station is robust against the physical demands of daily live production use: repeated button presses, occasional spilled drinks, and the general abuse of an active production environment. Power is drawn from the party-line circuit itself, eliminating the separate PSU dependency that complicates installation. For broadcast studios, theater production consoles, sports commentary positions, and corporate AV control rooms where clean, reliable, permanently-installed intercom communication is a non-negotiable operational requirement, the KB-701 is a well-specified, field-proven choice from the intercom category's most trusted manufacturer.

Key Features

Professional Intercom Solution: Single-channel party-line intercom station designed for seamless half-duplex communication in professional audio environments, enabling clear two-way conversations with push-to-talk functionality

Integrated Audio Components: Features a built-in speaker and flush-mount electret microphone with advanced mic limiter technology to ensure consistent audio levels and prevent distortion during communication

Versatile Mounting Options: Designed for flush-mount installation in V-Box, HelixNet S-Mount, or console configurations, providing flexible integration into existing communication systems and workstation setups

Push-to-Talk Operation: Equipped with a dedicated push-to-talk button for controlled communication, allowing users to transmit only when needed and maintain clear channel discipline in busy production environments

Remote Station Capability: Functions as a remote speaker station that connects directly to party-line intercom channels, ideal for distributed communication setups in broadcast studios, production facilities, and live event venues

Specifications

Model
Clear-Com KB-701
Type
1-Channel Speaker/Mic Intercom Station
Mounting
Flush-Mount
Operation Mode
Half-Duplex
Microphone Type
Flush-Mount Electret with Mic Limiter
Control
Push-to-Talk Button
Speaker
Integrated
Channels
1
Power
Supplied via party-line intercom circuit

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The flush-mount form factor integrates cleanly into production consoles and broadcast desks, eliminating cable clutter and keeping the work surface clear during live operations.
  • The internal mic limiter on the electret capsule prevents transient peaks from clipping the intercom bus, keeping communication intelligible even when ambient noise spikes on a busy production floor.
  • Push-to-talk operation means the speaker is silent when not transmitting — no open-mic noise bleed onto the party-line circuit from ambient room sound.
  • Permanent installation wiring reduces the risk of accidental disconnection during a live show compared to belt-pack or desktop units that can be bumped or knocked free.
  • Clear-Com's party-line ecosystem ensures reliable, low-latency intercom communication that broadcast and theater production environments have standardized on for decades.

👎 Cons

  • Half-duplex PTT operation requires the user to consciously hold the button to transmit — in high-stress live moments, this can interrupt communication flow compared to open or full-duplex alternatives.
  • The flush-mount installation is permanent — repositioning the station after installation requires a new panel cutout, making initial placement decisions critical.
  • Single-channel operation limits the KB-701 to one intercom circuit; multi-channel production environments requiring simultaneous A/B party-line access need additional stations or a different product tier.
  • The electret flush-mount capsule is optimized for close-range speech at a fixed distance — operators who lean back from a console or turn their head while speaking may notice reduced intelligibility versus a gooseneck or boom mic station.
  • No visual call or tally indicator on the KB-701 itself; productions that need visual signaling at the station require additional tally hardware in parallel.

Frequently Asked Questions

The KB-701 is designed to integrate with Clear-Com party-line intercom systems — it connects to a master station or intercom beltpack system via standard party-line wiring. It is not a standalone unit; it requires a host Clear-Com system to supply power and complete the communication circuit. Confirm compatibility with your specific master station model before deployment.
The flush-mount electret microphone on the KB-701 includes an internal mic limiter that prevents loud transients — a director shouting across a busy stage, for instance — from clipping the intercom bus and causing audio distortion for everyone on the circuit. In practice this means the station remains intelligible under pressure without an operator manually managing gain.
In half-duplex mode, the KB-701 transmits when the push-to-talk button is held and receives when it is released — you cannot speak and listen simultaneously. For most production communication scenarios (cue calls, director-to-stage manager, broadcast tally), this is entirely adequate. Full-duplex is preferable only in conversational, back-and-forth workflows where holding a PTT button would interrupt natural dialogue rhythm.
The KB-701 is built for permanent installation into production consoles, commentary desks, broadcast furniture, and control room panels — anywhere a clean, surface-integrated station is preferable to a desktop unit. The flush-mount design eliminates the box on the desk, keeping the work surface uncluttered. Exact panel cutout dimensions are available in the Clear-Com KB-701 installation documentation.
The KB-701 draws its operating power from the party-line intercom circuit itself — no separate power supply or phantom power is required. The intercom belt-pack or master station supplies the circuit voltage that powers the station's speaker, mic, and push-to-talk circuitry.

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