Cheap Microphones

[N7ZM]

Bought a cheap $37.00 radio shack RS-33-3043 XLR microphone. Using it will my Heil Balanced XLR cable and Heil PTT desktop base on my FTdx-5000D. After several nights of setting up all the built in EQ's in rig and testing it with several hams listening and reporting back it now sound super. My other expensive mics are now in storage for spares. This is one time cheap is as good as expensive with the same or better results. Getting all excellent reports and everyone thinks I am on an expensive Heil or another higher priced brand.
Ron N7ZM

[WB2WIK]

Should post this under the mikes category.

Problem with RS products is they can be made by "anybody" (RS doesn't manufacture anything anymore), so what's great today might not be as good tomorrow or next year; but glad you had good luck with the mike!

I tried a couple RS "studio" mikes over the past few years and they were okay but none sounded like my PR-40s do. The difference is mostly noise immunity and resistance to popping, not necessarily fidelity. I can have a 70 dB(a) vacuum cleaner running behind the PR-40 and nobody would know that, as the mike rejects it entirely.

[KJ4VTH]

RS doesn't manufacture anything anymore

Did they ever? I always thought they rebadged everything.

And why are you vacuuming during QSOs?

[WW7F]

Did they ever? I always thought they rebadged everything.

Yep, It is SOOO bad, SO bad they are rebadging RS products AS RS products! 73,Michelle

[KC8VWM]

lol..

I once heard someone about a year ago with great sounding audio. I recall how I was compelled to ask him what kind of mic he was using. He told me it was a cheap RS studio mic. I remember during the QSO how he explained he paid only $29.00 for it, although I forget the model number he was using exactly. So, I guess my point to all this, is the idea that this isn't the first time I heard about RS mics getting good audio reports.

[W8ZNX]

Ahoy Radio Boys

cheap mic

often duds

now and then

one

turns out to be

wonderful

only twice have i ever spent

more that 100 bucks for a microphone

one of those turned out to be a dud

im a lumberjack and im ok
i sleep all night and work all day

mac dit dit

[WB2WIK]

Did they ever? I always thought they rebadged everything.

And why are you vacuuming during QSOs?

1. I think they actually did, many years ago. At least, I think they did. I remember visiting their "Corporate" facilities in the Dallas area back in the 1970s and it wasn't just offices: They had a large engineering lab and a big building which I think was a factory. They may have contracted out the actual production runs, but it was pretty clear they were designing products.

2. Re vacuuming during QSOs, some just aren't very interesting.

[N0AZZ]

I've ran cheap mic's in the past also and for the most they sound cheap period! It is not what they add it's what they don't for my FTDX-5000 I'll stick with my Heil PR-40 and the 781, if I want to use a desk mic I will use my Yaesu MD-200 in a pinch.

[KY5U]

Mike specs will root out the bad ones. Dynamic mikes should have at least a 50-80hz bottom end. High end should be above 15000hz. With 3khz ham radio bandwidth this will easily exceed the radio specs. Most condenser mikes are 20-20K hz. If you can keep RF out of them, they sound great. Ribbon mikes will need some preamp and boosted hi fcy voice to sound different.

Of course, pay attention to the hi or lo impedance rating on your mike to ensure you match it to your rig. Most new rigs use low impedance(z) mikes.

Remember, some folks just want quality so they buy the higher dollar mikes. More power to them!! And no mike can make Don Knotts (Barny Fife) sound like Arson Wells.

[KL7AJ]

Bought a cheap $37.00 radio shack RS-33-3043 XLR microphone. Using it will my Heil Balanced XLR cable and Heil PTT desktop base on my FTdx-5000D. After several nights of setting up all the built in EQ's in rig and testing it with several hams listening and reporting back it now sound super. My other expensive mics are now in storage for spares. This is one time cheap is as good as expensive with the same or better results. Getting all excellent reports and everyone thinks I am on an expensive Heil or another higher priced brand.
Ron N7ZM

I've had the same experience. Actually, what with all the nifty rare earth magnets available, it's really hard to build a BAD mic. As long as we can still get a supply chain from China for the stuff!

Eric