K3 and Heil Microphones

[Gary Gregory-3]

Hello All,

I would caution all who listen to the advice from Heil. My experience with
them has been less than satisfactory to date.

Recently I spoke with them and discussed several options and I was advised
to purchase the Goldline dual element mic, holder, adapter and base. I
repeatedly asked would this meet my requirements and I was given an
assurance that they would.

Well, the items arrived and the short answer is that they did not listen to
what I required at all, but instead, shipped the items with no regard for
what I requested. I also sent them an e-mail with the request for a latching
PTT button fitted to the base.

Heil shipped a Goldline with dual elements fitted and their rather cheap
plastic mic holder attached to a poorly made, overweighted base with a
momentary push button and two cables to be connected between the base and
the pig tail off the adapter for the connection to the K3.

It is messy to say the least, the cables are so long that they get in the
way and l have difficulty trying to conceal the excess cable.

I contacted Heil after they arrived and asked why the button on the base was
momentary, not latching, and I was told that the FCC discourage the use of
this type of setup for the fear we may leave the room with the transceiver
"keyed".

I have run audio tests with other stations and interestingly, with a Spec An
and to my surprise all reports appear to favour the Turner +2 for natural
sound. As the K3 has an inbuilt equaliser for TX audio, no amount of
adjustment is able to make the Heil Mic produce that same natural timbre to
my voice. (Yeah, my voice is pretty ordinary, but it is not adjustable Hi
Hi)

I do not question Heil Sounds quality in microphones, but I do question the
quality of audio produced from the Goldline Mics when connected to the K3.I
did try both elements of course. Perhaps they have a better mic for use with
the K3..?????

I would be interested to know if anyone has tried other Heil mics and
discovered a better match for the K3.

Speakers are always subjective of course, but to date I have tried several
different speakers I have here and not yet settled on one. I looked at the
Palstar (ugly speaker) and the Sounds Sweet also (even more ugly?) but no
availability here in Australia so my search continues.

Cheers,
Gary S/N 679 K3/100
--
Stokers...we get ya goin'
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[Jim Brown-10]

On Thu, 7 Aug 2008 07:26:06 +1000, Gary Gregory wrote:

>I would be interested to know if anyone has tried other Heil mics and
>discovered a better match for the K3.

The K3 is extremely versatile when it comes to microphones. Virtually
any good dynamic mic or unbalanced electret mic will work VERY well
with a K3. Virtually any pro mic wired for use with wireless mics will
work fine with a K3. Shure, AKG, and Crown all make very nice head-worn
mics like this. The only mics that won't work are professional,
balanced electret mics. Heil products are WILDLY overpriced (by a
factor of at least 10:1) for what they are.

One of the "features" of certain Heil mics is highly equalized audio to
cut through QRM and QRN (but doesn't sound very nice). All the
equalization and signal processing you could possibly need is built
into the K3, is easy to adjust, and it works VERY well.

see http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf

73,

Jim Brown K9YC


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[Julian, G4ILO]

Gary Gregory-3 wrote

Hello All,

I would caution all who listen to the advice from Heil. My experience with
them has been less than satisfactory to date.

Recently I spoke with them and discussed several options and I was advised
to purchase the Goldline dual element mic, holder, adapter and base. I
repeatedly asked would this meet my requirements and I was given an
assurance that they would.

Well, the items arrived and the short answer is that they did not listen to
what I required at all, but instead, shipped the items with no regard for
what I requested. I also sent them an e-mail with the request for a latching
PTT button fitted to the base.

Heil shipped a Goldline with dual elements fitted and their rather cheap
plastic mic holder attached to a poorly made, overweighted base with a
momentary push button and two cables to be connected between the base and
the pig tail off the adapter for the connection to the K3.

It is messy to say the least, the cables are so long that they get in the
way and l have difficulty trying to conceal the excess cable.

[snip]

It looks like you have the exact same mic that I bought. Just goes to show you can't please all the people all the time. Yes, the cables are long and the separate PTT cable is a nuisance since I have no desire to use a foot switch, but I have screwdrivers and a soldering iron so I shortened the cable and rewired the PTT jack so it goes in the back of the mic socket, and then via the screened cable to get to the radio.

Heil don't do a locking PTT as far as I know which is a bit of a bind, so they did slip up if they gave you the idea they did. It would be nice to have an option on the K3 to configure the PTT as a toggle - one press for on, another for off.

I had a Nissei desk mic that worked quite well with my K2 but I felt that the best radio deserved the best mic. Try as I might I couldn't get the audio to sound how I wanted with the TX EQ, though to be fair there have been a lot of firmware revisions and audio improvements since then so perhaps it would be easier now. Anyway I'm pleased with the Heil mic and the ability to just flip a switch to get the DX setting is easier than going into menus.

[Ian Maude]

Gary Gregory wrote:
>
> I do not question Heil Sounds quality in microphones, but I do question the
> quality of audio produced from the Goldline Mics when connected to the K3.I
> did try both elements of course. Perhaps they have a better mic for use with
> the K3..?????
>  
You have a completely different experience to me Gary.  I use a Goldline
with Studio and HC-5 inserts and it rocks.  I have little EQ in at all
and I get consistently good reports from it.  For PTT I use a small
plastic box with 2 switches, one latching, the other momentary.  It fits
in my hand nicely and cost me a couple of pounds to make.  I have my mic
on a boom out of personal preference which hides the cable somewhat.

73 Ian

--

Ian J Maude, G0VGS
SysOp GB7MBC DX Cluster
Member RSGB, GQRP
K2 #4044 |K3 #455

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[N4LQ-2]

I've always though the entire Heil thing was bunk They use the same little
element in all mics and the shape-size of the case gives them a little
different sound. They paint them gold and install them in large, empty metal
cases to help our ego.
I am now using a cheap computer headset and with the new ESSB mode, I'm
getting glowing audio reports without asking. The change to ESSB was
instantly noticed by locals and drew rave comments. Any decent mic. with a
flat response and a wind shield can be made to sound equal or better than a
Heil by adjusting the EQ. The 1/8" inputs on the back of the K3 are a
Godsend. A PTT mic. would be nice but I just use a foot switch plugged into
the PTT jack on the back (another cool feature). Sometimes I put the foot
switch on the desktop and it becomes a pound-to-talk button.

Steve Ellington
[hidden email]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian Maude" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Heil Microphones

> Gary Gregory wrote:
>>
>> I do not question Heil Sounds quality in microphones, but I do question
>> the
>> quality of audio produced from the Goldline Mics when connected to the
>> K3.I
>> did try both elements of course. Perhaps they have a better mic for use
>> with
>> the K3..?????
>>
> You have a completely different experience to me Gary.  I use a Goldline
> with Studio and HC-5 inserts and it rocks.  I have little EQ in at all and
> I get consistently good reports from it.  For PTT I use a small plastic
> box with 2 switches, one latching, the other momentary.  It fits in my
> hand nicely and cost me a couple of pounds to make.  I have my mic on a
> boom out of personal preference which hides the cable somewhat.
>
> 73 Ian
>
> --
>
> Ian J Maude, G0VGS
> SysOp GB7MBC DX Cluster
> Member RSGB, GQRP
> K2 #4044 |K3 #455
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>

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[Bruce McLaughlin-2]

Hmmm, I understand my Heil PR 40, which is a balance output mike, will work
with the K3 if you get the proper cable for it.  It works fine with my Orion
II but since the Orion uses the Yaesu wiring convention I need another cable
with the Kenwood wiring on one end and the three pin XLR connector on the
other and which will convert it from balance to unbalanced as the PR 40 to
Orion cable does.  After I do get the needed cable I'm going to give that
mike a try.  The K3 also works quite well with a Heil Gold line.

I tend to agree with you about some Heil pricing but I think the PR 40 is an
exception.  Its price is reasonable when compared to other professional
level mikes such as the EV RE 20.

Bruce - W8FU

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 6:04 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Heil Microphones

On Thu, 7 Aug 2008 07:26:06 +1000, Gary Gregory wrote:

>I would be interested to know if anyone has tried other Heil mics and
>discovered a better match for the K3.

The K3 is extremely versatile when it comes to microphones. Virtually
any good dynamic mic or unbalanced electret mic will work VERY well
with a K3. Virtually any pro mic wired for use with wireless mics will
work fine with a K3. Shure, AKG, and Crown all make very nice head-worn
mics like this. The only mics that won't work are professional,
balanced electret mics. Heil products are WILDLY overpriced (by a
factor of at least 10:1) for what they are.

One of the "features" of certain Heil mics is highly equalized audio to
cut through QRM and QRN (but doesn't sound very nice). All the
equalization and signal processing you could possibly need is built
into the K3, is easy to adjust, and it works VERY well.

see http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf

73,

Jim Brown K9YC


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6:59 PM

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[Bruce McLaughlin-2]

I suppose it is very subjective but I have so far used both a Heil Proset and a Gold line with my K3.  I have consistently received good audio reports with both.  Both also sound very good in the monitor.  I use no transmit EQ.  I also have a Heil PR 40 which I plan to try with the K3 after I obtain the required cable.  That mike sounds great on my Orion II which uses a balanced to unbalanced Yaesu cable.  The K3 will need a balanced to unbalanced Kenwood cable.  I will say that the "narrow" mode on the Goldline sounds awful on almost any radio and I never use it.  But the wide position is quite decent.

Of course, if you have found the Turner mike does it for you than that is the one to use.  Another option might be to use an external equalizer which might have greater adjustability than the inbuilt K3 equalizer.

Bruce - W8FU

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Gary Gregory
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 5:26 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 and Heil Microphones

Hello All,

I would caution all who listen to the advice from Heil. My experience with
them has been less than satisfactory to date.

Recently I spoke with them and discussed several options and I was advised
to purchase the Goldline dual element mic, holder, adapter and base. I
repeatedly asked would this meet my requirements and I was given an
assurance that they would.

Well, the items arrived and the short answer is that they did not listen to
what I required at all, but instead, shipped the items with no regard for
what I requested. I also sent them an e-mail with the request for a latching
PTT button fitted to the base.

Heil shipped a Goldline with dual elements fitted and their rather cheap
plastic mic holder attached to a poorly made, overweighted base with a
momentary push button and two cables to be connected between the base and
the pig tail off the adapter for the connection to the K3.

It is messy to say the least, the cables are so long that they get in the
way and l have difficulty trying to conceal the excess cable.

I contacted Heil after they arrived and asked why the button on the base was
momentary, not latching, and I was told that the FCC discourage the use of
this type of setup for the fear we may leave the room with the transceiver
"keyed".

I have run audio tests with other stations and interestingly, with a Spec An
and to my surprise all reports appear to favour the Turner +2 for natural
sound. As the K3 has an inbuilt equaliser for TX audio, no amount of
adjustment is able to make the Heil Mic produce that same natural timbre to
my voice. (Yeah, my voice is pretty ordinary, but it is not adjustable Hi
Hi)

I do not question Heil Sounds quality in microphones, but I do question the
quality of audio produced from the Goldline Mics when connected to the K3.I
did try both elements of course. Perhaps they have a better mic for use with
the K3..?????

I would be interested to know if anyone has tried other Heil mics and
discovered a better match for the K3.

Speakers are always subjective of course, but to date I have tried several
different speakers I have here and not yet settled on one. I looked at the
Palstar (ugly speaker) and the Sounds Sweet also (even more ugly?) but no
availability here in Australia so my search continues.

Cheers,
Gary S/N 679 K3/100
--
Stokers...we get ya goin'
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[Paul-285]

Gary Gregory wrote:
>I would be interested to know if anyone has tried other Heil mics and
>discovered a better match for the K3.

I have the Elecraft/Heil desk mic and have received good audio reports.

I don't believe it's sold anymore, but you might find it used.

Model is Elecraft MD2.

Frequency Response:
http://www.elecraft.com/MD2/Frequency-Response-MD2.jpg

Plugs into the front and has a jack for a PTT foot switch.  Plus a
PTT button on the mic.

Appearance is the same as the Heil iCM.

Paul N4LCD

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[AC7AC]

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