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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FifmkhfLRIrL0S3Brlk9A1Lyr3jHOWpJjpRZbq5D2tPjCxufmwvYlrYndRUbEfTf
 qFDMYcBhA3+R5VBxvZcEEA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000725897-04-000001.txt : 20040227
<SEC-HEADER>0000725897-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040227094633
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000725897-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040225
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040227

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZENI PHILLIP T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194649

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11353
		FILM NUMBER:		04632733

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2522 W GENEVA DRIVE
		CITY:			TEMPE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85282
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6024380888

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CIRCUIT RESEARCH LABS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000725897
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				860344671
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AZ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1302 W DRIVERS WAY
		CITY:			TEMPE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85284
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6024380888

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1302 W DRIVERS WAY
		CITY:			TEMPE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85284
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000725897</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIRCUIT RESEARCH LABS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRLI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194649</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZENI PHILLIP T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9368</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.7185</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>652153</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Per the Reporting Person's employment agreement with the Issuer, effective
October 1, 2002, the Reporting Person's compensation consists of cash and
restricted stock.  Under the employment agreement, the restricted stock is
granted on a monthly basis at an issue price equal to the average of the daily
closing price of the Issuer's common stock during the month preceding the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 50,000 shares of common stock subject to exercisable options and
previously reported on a Form 4 filed by the Reporting Person on February 11,
2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 200,000 shares of common stock subject to exercisable options and
previously reported on a Form 4 and Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Person on October 22, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Phillip T. Zeni, Sr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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