ClearStream MAX-V HDTV Antenna review

Our Verdict

A very capable antenna that delivers more stations than many other antennas, even models costing much more.

For

Skilful reception
Works indoors or out

Confronting

An eyesore in living rooms
Necessary cable not included

Tom'southward Guide Verdict

A very capable antenna that delivers more stations than many other antennas, even models costing much more than.

Pros

+
Expert reception
+
Works indoors or out

Cons

-
An eyesore in living rooms
-
Necessary cable not included

CLEARSTREAM MAX-V: SPECS

Range: 60 Miles
Channels Received: 51
Amplified: No
1080p Reception: Yep
Cablevision Length: N/A
Size: 17.25 x 27.5 10 three.5 inches

The ClearStream MAX-V isn't just another pretty antenna face. In fact, it isn't pretty at all. But if you want to improve over-the-air TV reception with ane of the all-time Television receiver antennas nosotros've reviewed, it's a very bonny option, indeed.

Rated to capture stations equally far abroad equally 60 miles, the ClearStream MAX-V from Antennas Direct will work indoors or out and is competitively priced. It doesn't use an amplifier simply it yet did very well in our tests. For instance, it pulled in 15 more channels than we saw in our Mohu Arc Pro Indoor HDTV Antenna review, a similarly priced amplified model. And while it didn't do equally well in testing equally some outdoor models, like Antop AT-800SBS Hard disk drive Smart Console Antenna, the ClearStream MAX-Five is roughly half the price of such antennas.

ClearStream MAX-V review: Design

Shaped similar a big figure eight with a horizontal antenna bar, the ClearStream MAX-5 may not suit the decor of many living rooms. It can't be concealed like a flat indoor-only antenna or tucked behind a bookcase. The MAX-V could be hidden backside a table-top situated Boob tube, merely to get the best reception information technology'southward better to attach it to a wall (with the supplied mounting plate) about the exterior of your abode, which many may regard as akin to sticking a behemothic black insect on the wall.

ClearStream MAX-V HDTV Antenna review — (Epitome credit: ClearStream)

Alternatively, the MAX-V tin can be placed outdoors on a pole or on the roof or side of your house for a clearer reception path. Manufacturer Antennas Directly also recommends placing the antenna in an attic for ameliorate reception while still keeping the MAX-5 out of sight.

ClearStream MAX-5 review: Setup

Out of the box, the ClearStream MAX-5 includes a cross bar component, which screws together and and so snaps easily into place, as well every bit a bracket for pole mounting and a wall plate should you install it inside or on an outside wall. Antennas Direct doesn't include the necessary coaxial cabling to connect the antenna to your TV'southward tuner, all the same. A 20-human foot cable costs betwixt $10 and $20. And if you want to stand it upright inside, the company offers a curved base stand for $5.99.

Before deciding on an indoor or outdoor installation, we recommend checking on what'southward available over the air in your neighborhood. Sites such as Antennaweb.org can show y'all a list of channels and a map with the location of local broadcast towers based on your cipher code. It may be, for case, that in that location's enough nearby stations to permit you to forego the hassle of placing the antenna outside.

ClearStream MAX-Five review: Performance

From our standard New York City test location, the ClearStream MAX-V located 60 channels in an initial serial of scans. In testing the reception of each station we plant the antenna revealed some impressive skills, such as pulling in the elusive CBS affiliate in 1080i, which is now a claiming to tune in since the FCC moved stations around. The antenna also captured other local affiliates that some indoor flat antennas, such as the $90 Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro and popular models similar the $thirty 1byone Amplified HDTV Antenna, missed.

However, the ClearStream MAX-Five's reception wasn't perfect, and we found that 9 of the stations listed were not watchable due to moving picture and sound dropouts. That still left an impressive 51 free over-the-air stations to savour, putting the MAX-5 amidst the meliorate Boob tube antennas nosotros've tested. Indeed, what was missing from the initial scan included the local PBS affiliates and the local Fox outlet, which was too distorted to sentry. Unfortunately, the latter meant we couldn't watch an onetime episode of the Modernistic Team. Also missing in action were some retro stations in the upper midrange of the dial. Those included the likes of MeTV with some pixellated Gilligan'southward Island episodes.

Not merely did it practise better than many of the aforementioned models, the Max-5 besides bested the comparably priced $80 Mohu Arc Pro, which captured 34 stations in our tests, and fifty-fifty Antenna Straight's ain more expensive $100 ClearStream 2Max antenna, which pulled in 44 stations.

The ClearChannel MAX-V didn't capture every bit many stations as, for example, the $100 Winegard Aristocracy 7550 (73 stations) or the $150 Antop AT-800SBS HD Smart Panel Antenna (68 stations) merely it is much less expensive. And it did much better than some comparably priced models, such as the $fourscore Mohu Arc Pro Indoor HDTV Antenna that only pulled in 34 stations in our testing.

ClearStream MAX-Five review: Verdict

While its aesthetics may leave something to be desired, there's no incertitude that the ClearStream MAX-V is a very capable TV antenna. Not only did it exercise better than many of our favorite indoor antennas, including the Mohu Arc Pro, it also matched some of the best outdoor antennas, like the ClearStream 2MAX HDTV Antenna, though paying for a more expensive model will often get yous better performance thanks to amplifiers and better tuning capabilities. If you lot're looking to become more over-the-air stations in your area, the ClearStream MAX-V is a solid choice. Just don't forget to get the necessary cabling when you lot society it.

John R. Quain has been reviewing and testing video and audio equipment for more than 20 years. For Tom's Guide, he has reviewed televisions, HDTV antennas, electric bikes, electric cars, as well every bit other outdoor equipment. He is currently a contributor to The New York Times and the CBS News television program.