Copper Talk » Ask The Tech » Radios BASE » Best Power Mike « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bassbug
Junior Member
Username: Bassbug

Post Number: 45
Registered: 7-2002


Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 6:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What is the best power mike? That is strong on A.M. and good and clean on sideband. That is more like the natural voice.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 2271
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 9:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My choice would be the SuperStar DM-452.

Please Check the Link Below:

http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodE01-06012+

NOTE!

Just BARELY OPEN it not even to the 1st DOT Above MIN and it is the BEST MIC I have ever heard or used on AM and GREAT on SSB.

Just my thought's.

100% SATISFIED DM-452 OWNER's ARE:

Myself, CEF 156 / REDMAN, CEF 159 / HOMEBOY, CEF 164 / 1st SARGANT, CEF 165 / TURTLE, CEF 166 / CORNCOB, CEF 322 / BEERMAN, CEF 136 / LOWPOWERHAL.

We all use them on AM and also on SSB Every SUNDAY on the CEF Net's.

Lon
Tech808
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bassbug
Junior Member
Username: Bassbug

Post Number: 46
Registered: 7-2002


Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 9:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks, Lon Tech 808. Take care.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Pig040
Intermediate Member
Username: Pig040

Post Number: 390
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 10:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bassbug, if you are talking on a mobile I use an Astatic 636L works great on both on my Connex, and Galaxy99
Rich
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Buck
Advanced Member
Username: Buck

Post Number: 881
Registered: 3-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 11:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If you want a desk mic the best you can get is a Kenwood MC-60. They sound awsome
Buck
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee

Post Number: 114
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 2:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

After 41 years on 11 meters I'm still a believer in Astatic Silver Eagles and TUG-8 stands. Just this last month I added a 10-DA head that I use on the Silver Eagle wired for my Grant XL. And the TUG-8 wired for my 858 President Washington. I no longer run AM, which in my corner of the world has gone to the dogs, we are having a real hard time keeping AM traffic off channels 36-40. I've been getting some awesome reports with the Astatic 10DA, People that have talked to me in person are saying the 10DA sounds like my natural voice sounding a lot cleaner and more punch than the D-104 head. Yankee
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Highlander
Intermediate Member
Username: Highlander

Post Number: 491
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 4:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I agree that the 10DA is a great microphone--It sounds alot like the old Turners--very full and natural sounding. I run one on my Galaxy DX2517, and get accused of running an HF rig all the time! It's a real shame that Astatic stopped making those.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Dindin
Intermediate Member
Username: Dindin

Post Number: 106
Registered: 2-2004


Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 8:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have always preferred the Turner line over the Astatic.currently use a Turner SSK.number one choice would be the Expander 500.Not knocking Astatic,just my personal preference.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 224
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 1:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dindin I agree, I know my D-104 sounded pretty good on my Cobra 148 GTL, but when I bought the RCI 2970DX I wired up the D-104 a 1104-C a Silver Eagle with a 10-DA head a Turner +2 SSB and a Turner Super Sidekick. After many radio checks I was told without question the Turner Super Sidekick sounded the best.
This could be because of the radio I don't know but I spent a couple of days and bugging a neighbor to death with audio checks befor I left the Turner on the radio.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Hollowpoint445
Intermediate Member
Username: Hollowpoint445

Post Number: 265
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 3:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Turner compression microphones - the +3 series and the Super Sidekick - are great on SSB and I like them on AM too. They'll make you sound loud and when properly adjusted will minimize bleedover for those of you who must have clipped limiters.

They are my weapon of choice on SSB even when I use an outboard speech processor, and have no performance equal in my experience.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 228
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 9:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hollowpoint445 I always like the push to talk bar, and lock on the Turners anyway. But I was told by a few people the Turner Super Sidekick was a night and day improvement over any of the other mic.'s I had tried.

I noticed you have more than a few Turners from your profile. I had two SSK's, but gave one away that wasn't in the best of shape cosmetically to a buddy that was using a Silver Eagle on his RCI 2950, and just as I was told the audio difference is night and day.

What a shame Turner went out of bussiness. I can only imagine what they would be putting out now.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bulldog369
Intermediate Member
Username: Bulldog369

Post Number: 136
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I RUN THE TURNER SS ON BOTH AM AN SSB AN I LOVE IT NICE AN CLEAN ENOUGH PUNCH.. IN THE TRUCK A M6B I AM NOT TO FOND THOSE SO I AM LOOKING FOR A NICE RK56 TO PUT IN
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 229
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 11:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hollowpoint445 by the way how do you like the Expander 500 compared to the SSK?

Thanks
Bob
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Hollowpoint445
Intermediate Member
Username: Hollowpoint445

Post Number: 270
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 12:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Turner was bought by Telex - they aren't out of business exactly, but they don't make desk microphones for communications anymore. Another division of the same company is Electrovoice - a HUGE name is the microphone business. They also don't make communication desk microphones anymore. It's sad really. They both made a superior product and it sold well, just not enought for the megacorp to keep them in the line.

The Expander 500 sounds okay, but the construction is not as good as the other mics they made. It's got a plastic body and the rubbing of the plastic PTT key against the body actually makes enough noise that the person you're talking to can hear the physical sound from keying the mic. I only used it a few times and it sits on the shelf. I don't know the story behind it, but it's not up to the otherwise high quality of their other microphones. I prefer the Super Sidekick.

A friend of mine bought a copy of the Turner Expander 500 and he liked it a lot. It still has the same noise that mine did when keying, but it doesn't bother him.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Sanddiegoduner
Junior Member
Username: Sanddiegoduner

Post Number: 38
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 4:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lon you can add CEF #373 on that list of happy customers for the SS 452. Bob with the price being so low on this mic how could you not buy one just to try out. The other mic of choice for me is an Astatic 575-M6. I have gotten nothing but flowers on my audio qualities on am and ssb.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Hollowpoint445
Intermediate Member
Username: Hollowpoint445

Post Number: 271
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does Workman make a hand mic with compression? I like that the 452 has an electret element - electret elements have a very flat frequency repsonce - but I'd rather have a variable compression control rather than the echo.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cm3885
Advanced Member
Username: Cm3885

Post Number: 566
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 3:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My faves are the plus 3 and the plus 2.. The plus 3 and 2 are awesome on SSB as well as AM..
But to get that loud AM punch the silver and night eagles rock..
In my mobile i use a plus 2 handmike..
yesterday i was at a local Cbers house helping to put up an antenna and he had a recording of what we all sound like on CH 33 AM..
I heard myself on my RCI 2970 DX running a wilson 5000 with that plus 2 handmike i have and ill say this much. Its LOUD!!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 231
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 6:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sanddiegoduner I've heard them, and they do not sound as good as the Turner Super Sidekick. It's all a matter of opinion, but from what I've heard the SSK is pretty hard to beat. Again I understand it's a matter of opinion, and if you have heard the SSK and the DM452 on the same radio and like the DM452 better then I will respect your opinion.

73
Bob
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Patzerozero
Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 52
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

shure 526t superpunch, old turner+2-ssb, and the old original astatics, desh & handheld
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee

Post Number: 225
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 8:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I know you die hard echo mike people don't want to hear this, but any Astatic microphone is #1, I've always been very fond of my Silver Eagle with the D-104 or 10DA head. Echo sounds nasty on sideband anyway.
73, Carl CEF-357
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 3380
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 9:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yankee,

Now that is just Not a NICE thing to say.

After all the times we have talked on AM & SSB on the CEF Nets and thru the week you have never said that Shirley and I sounded NASTY.

We have been using the SuperStar DM-452 Power Hand Echo Mics for the last year or so on EVERY CEF NET and 24/7/365 on Every radio we talk on.

Shame on you for saying the 1st Sargant and I sound NASTY!

OHHHHHH, CEF Members, Corncob & Littleone, Redman & Red Lady & Katybug, Homeboy and Turtle also use the DM-452 Power Echo Hand Mics for everything.

Does that mean WE ARE Now Known as THE NASTY BUNCH from CENTRAL ILLINOIS?

Lon
Tech808

Shirley
1st Sargant
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bc910
Member
Username: Bc910

Post Number: 76
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I still like AStatic products. they seem to break a lot! But the sound they produce is so crisp and clean, I love it! Every mic is different on every radio, and every mic is different depending on the tone of your voice and the way you speak, keep that in mind.
BC
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Waverider
Junior Member
Username: Waverider

Post Number: 36
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lon, leader of the "Nasty Bunch"ya gotta love that!!!! Really though I love my Turners but the D104's seem to work well with my tube sets. The SSK's are my first pick for sideband work. My +3's seem to work well on almost everything and I like the compression. I have an Expander 500 but I'm not real wild about it. Although I don't care for echo I am gonna order a DM 452 to try out. For the price I don't know how you can beat it. Glad I don't live in Illinois just in case I like it. I would not want to be part of the "Nasty Bunch". :-))))))))
73's
Barry CEF335
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee

Post Number: 226
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 12:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I should have said some echo mics. sound bad on sideband, sorry about that.
73, Carl CEF-357
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 3381
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 12:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Waverider & Yankee,

HECK I LOVE THE NAME!

NOW I ~ R FAME MOOSE!

THEY EVEN MADE A SONG ABOUT ME ABOUT 30+ YEARS AGO.


Lon
LEADER OF THE PACK
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 236
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 1:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lon do you have a Super Sidekick wired for your RCI radios? Just curious because you said you liked the DM 452 better than just about anything else you have ever tried, and I would appreciate your opinion. If you could do a side by side test that would be great.

Bc910 I think your right about the mic's sounding different on different radios. I really like the Silver Eagle or D-104 Special on my Cobra 148 GTL when I was using it as a base station. But the Turners didn't wire up on the five pin Cobra's so I couldn't compare. But there is no question about the Turner SSK sounding better than any of the Astaic mic's I have on the RCI 2970. In fact people suggested that I try the 576-M6 and I do have one of those and did try it, it was better but an Astatic 1104-C sounded better again but neither as good as the Turner SSK. I have heard the DM 452 on another radio and it didn't sound as good as the SSK.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 3384
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 4:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sorry but NO.

I have found No Mic that outperforms the DM-452 Mic.

I run the DM-452 on the Galaxy Saturn Turbo, RCI 2990, Ranger 2970DX and the Ranger 2995DX with the Mic Adapters from COPPER and Shirley will run her Silver Salute and DM-452 on her Texas Star 696F SSB Base.

For the CEF Nets we ONLY use the DM-452's.

Lon
Tech808
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Hollowpoint445
Intermediate Member
Username: Hollowpoint445

Post Number: 275
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 5:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think you'll find that there are Turner people and Astatic people just the same as there are Ford, Chevy, or Mopar people. They have an emotional attachment to a particular brand and nothing you can say or do will change their mind because it's not a logical decision, it's an emotional one.

I think we all can agree that Astatic D104's are probably the coolest looking microphone mass produced for communications use. That's also why you hear people raving about the Turner Super Sidekick rather than the Turner +3's, the chrome head looks better than the painted one.

I have tried a lot of microphones and hold no emotional attachemnt to any of them. I own both Turners and Astatics. In my opinion Turner compression microphones outperform any Astatic microphone as far as "talkpower" goes. The tone difference is a matter of personal preference and will also divide people.

I switch mics pretty often and find that people prefer Turner compression microphones on both AM and SSB with my voice. They also like the electret microphones I use because the flat frequency responce and good detail makes it sound like we're chatting in the same room. Astatic mics are too high cut and make my otherwise full voice sound thin and tinny.

I can almost always tell when someone is using an Astatic mic to chat with me. Same with a Turner compression mic. I prefer listening to the Turners because the high cut of the Astatics is tedious when listening for long periods of time. Let's not forget the tendency for folks with Astatics to turn the amplification way up and talk at arm's length rather than close talk the microphone. You hear the kids, TV, wife, dog, and the paint drying as loud or louder than the person talking to you.
------------------------


Excellent. I couldn't agree more.

Most D-104's have been bought for their looks alone rather than for audio quality. Personally, I have never favored high pitched, tinny sounding microphones of any kind....especially when they are used for SSB communications.

Jeff
Tech548
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 240
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 6:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Lon I thought if there was anyone who might have both it would be you. I know how you feel about the DM-452 Mic, but would like to find someone who has both and an RCI to get their opinion.

Thanks for the reply
Bob
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee

Post Number: 229
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 7:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bob P, wiring for Turner to 5 pin Cobra and Uniden.
pin-1, white audio
pin-2, shield
pin-3, red receive
pin-4, no connection
pin-5, black transmit
On Astatic 4 wire microphones the red and black wires are the other way around black is receive and red is transmit.
I have a Turner + three wired for my Uniden Grant XL, which is a 5 wire radio.
73, Carl CEF-357
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 243
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 8:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Yankee I appreciate the wiring diagram but the Cobra 148 GTL is no longer. I bought a Dosy meter that was feeding back power into the radio and it quit transmitting. It receives just fine, but when you key the TX indicator lights up, but no swing. No dead key on AM either. So right now I am using the RCI 2970DX as a base radio and have a Radio Shack TR465 SSB for back up. Would really like to get that Cobra fixed up though.

Hope to catch ya Echo-Link
Bob
--------------------

Bob. Since your Cobra-148 was sent into a very high SWR, chances are that the finals may be blown. That's nothing serious and easily repairable.

Jeff
Tech548
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee

Post Number: 232
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 12:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bob P, I agree with Jeff, sounds like a burnt final, if I was changing the final , I would change the driver along with it. Plus I would go to the heavier driver and final. NEC-1306 driver and NEC-1307 final, if you can find them today. Because of vision and loosing part of the use of my right hand I can no longer do it. But back in the days of the first President Washington and Cobra 139 XLR. I was a bench technician in a Cobra Dealership Store.
73, Carl CEF-357
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p

Post Number: 249
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 1:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks guys. I hope to get it to a repair shop before too long. I really liked the Cobra amd it being made Philapines from what I understand makes it a more sought after model. I do know that the local radio shop has a $100 charge for going through fixing all minor problems and doing realignment. But the thought of spending a $100. right after getting all the new equipment would kill my wife.

Thanks again
Bob
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Sparkyscb
New member
Username: Sparkyscb

Post Number: 3
Registered: 5-2003
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 3:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I must agree with Tech808 regarding the DM-452 Microphones. I personally run them on every radio I own including 2 HR-2510's, Galaxy 66, SomerKamp, and a few others. Try wiring one up to an old Cybernet 02A chassis. There is an old boy here in town that bought one from me a year or so ago, and I wired it up to an old Midland 77-882. The runs this as a base rig with a Comet 3 element beam and a little 200 watt RM amplifier. I am here to tell you, for what he has inveted in the entire station, people (including me) are amazed how it talks. Bottome line is..for the $$$$ this mic is imposible to beat. 73's to all.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Gonzo
Junior Member
Username: Gonzo

Post Number: 21
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 8:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Turner SSK on SSB and Turner Plus 3B were the best desk mics made. Look at the specs. The most natural sounding and loudest mics you could have bought.

Hey D104's are great, they look like a lollipop and lots of hams used them. They still could not be compared to Turner +3 with amplification & speech compression.

see what the hams say: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2714

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action: