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You can
write your own review of the Heil Classic.
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KB4QLZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 16, 2004 08:03
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Sweet........
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently purchased the Heil Classic with the HC-5 element. This is fantastic microphone! The mic is connected to a Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark-V, and sounds sweet! I have the mic mounted on the Heil Boom. The DSP settings are key factor. Set it up the way Bob says, and then do some on-air test with folks who know what you sound like in person. Do not rely on the monitored audio from your transceiver. Tweak the settings as needed.
I’ve got many Heil products, and they all work GREAT!
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KA4KOE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 13, 2004 14:02
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Better than ICOM stuff
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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After pricing an SM-20 desk mike (expensive) and seeing what you get, I purchased a Classic and boom mounted it on my desk last January for my ICOM 756PRO. The Classic is only a few dollars more.
Sounds really great on the PRO if you set it up the way Bob Heil recommends.
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K9KJM
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Rating: 5/5
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May 3, 2004 01:07
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The Best!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought the Heil Classic for it's old time collector looks. Since I have several other Heil
microphones and have had good luck with audio quality, I expected high quality from this one also.
The first thing you notice when you remove the Classic from it's box is it's weight! This is no Toy! It looks AND feels like it was made in 1930 or so.
I had trouble getting the vanity callsign plate
put together. An email to Bob Heil quickly resolved the matter when he called me on a weekend and quickly sent the parts at no charge.
This microphone makes any hamshack look much
more professional!
I was very surprised to get audio quality reports stating "Much better" than the Heil Goldline I was comparing it to! (And the Goldline got great reports) I had expected most to say "not much difference".........
I used an ice pick to align the parts to re install the callsign plate, Which worked great.
The only thing I would ask to be changed about this product would be to also include a sheet of
"tips" on how to install the screws in the callsign plate using a pick or something, and tips on how to install the call letters. (Dont try it when they are cold, And be careful trying to heat them up!)
This is a microphone you will be very proud to own!
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K7FD
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 13, 2004 02:42
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The Wolfman would have loved it...
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The screws that hold the vanity plate were stripped from the factory, so I can relate to the other post about the screws. Made it a real joy to unfasten! Nonetheless, I like the mic. It looks very cool...especially with XERB emblazoned across the top. The Wolfman would be proud!!
I use mine w/ a Classic Drake B Line and it sounds like a million bucks...
73 John K7FD
http://w3.bllvwa.cablespeed.com/~n7sg/
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KA4KOE
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 13, 2004 01:23
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Screw problems
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Tried to remove the flag head. The screws were in so tight I rounded one off. Did manage to get it apart. Seems the threads may have had a burr on them. Emailed Bob and he sent me some new screws to reassemble this thing. Otherwise my experience has been good.
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WB6MYL
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Rating: 1/5
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Jan 12, 2004 23:48
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Sorry but no
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I really did want to like this mic;(1) my girl friend gave me one for my birthday after I made a comment of how "great" it looked in the radio room of the Queen Mary; (2) I had it mounted upside down on my Heil boom and it looks very professional; and (3)I e-mailed Bob on Sunday 1/4/04 at 7:30 pm PST and I received an e-mail response that night (thank you). However that was not enough to keep this thing at $219 (plus $24 for the Icom cable).
I got a "Classic Ic" to match my Icom 775DSP which I run transceive with an R-9000 receiver; the mic was very distorted and distortion only went away when audio was very low; it took a lot of gain to move the alc even 5% when the SM-8 had no problems at all;
Next I tried it on my Icom 970 H on both 2m FM and USB; several contacts gave similar reports of mid range freqs missing and sounding very unnatural.
I soft ptt on the back of the mic is a nice idea but I noticed that there was a sweet spot that the mic would "unkey" if I did not keep my finger right on that spot. Very fatigueing even for the short time I was on the air.
These problems may be idiosyncratic to my particular model or that particular mic; I do not know, but I will be taking it back (with my girl friend's blessing) this week to HRO for an SM20.
Lastly, this is my second experience with a Heil mic; I bought a "goldline" to use with my 775, 1000D and my S/lines and every time I went back to the OEM mic. Fodder for thought, but this will be my last attempt with Heil Products.
Respectfully,
Phillip W. Harris, PhD.J.D.P.C.
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K4KAL
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 27, 2003 08:10
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Some Weakening in QC
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased my first Classic Microphone at Dayton Hamvention, and was very satisfied with my purcahse. You can tell right down from the packaging of the unit that you were getting something of Quality. I later purchased a new Icom 756PROII, and also added my second Classic Microphone, quality similar to before. Today I received my 3rd Classic for my Kenwood TS870, and it was not the same as the other two. The unit out of the box was sealed in plastic just as normal, but I found the screws on the flag heads almost worn off from possibly a electric screwdriver assembly. The Flag was loose, and you could flip it from front to back. I wrote Bob Heil, and his comments were that they have a process that they follow for assembly and invited me to his website to see. I needed to fill out a form to get resolution. I was a little frustrated with Bob because it would have been just as easy for me him mail me a few screws and get a satisifed customer. I remember back in the old days when Bob was selling mike elements at hamfests he would go the extra mile. I guess fame has changed the old ways of doing business.
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WB5HKO
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 29, 2003 11:15
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Best of both - looks AND performance.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm an old broadcaster and a veteran ham to whom transmit audio quality is paramount. So, a few weeks ago I called the guru of amateur radio audio, Bob Heil, to ask him how I could marry a vintage studio microphone I own with my Collins KWM-2. He patiently explained the process, but predicted I'd be unhappy with the results. "Your old radio station mike," he said, "will sound soft and muddy." He then suggested I purchase a Classic 5 mike from him. After a rundown of the features and benefits of his product, I pulled my credit card from my wallet and ordered one right then and there.
Now, one of the reasons Bob's so successful is that he's a good salesman (as evidenced by my quick purchase). Another reason Bob's "the man" in his field is that he and his crew build fantastic products. The Classic 5 is an example of his best. The craftmanship is superb, the easy equal of the 1930's RCA Junior Velocity microphone it emulates. And its performance -- in a recording studio, yet -- SURPASSES the legendary classic. This superb studio performance translates perfectly into amateur radio use. The best testament to the performance of this microphone is the fact that since I've plugged it into my KWM-2, not ONE SSB contact has failed to compliment me on the smoothness and intelligibility of my transmitted audio. Most of my fellow hams give credit to Art Collins. But I know the accolades are really earned by Bob Heil!
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N5OHL
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 4, 2003 11:15
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Heil Classic 5 mic
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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For Christmas my wife surprised me completely with a Heil Classic 5 desk microphone. This is the absolute best item I have added to my station since I put up a HF beam antenna. Bob Heil has a real winner here. Well-made to look just like a classic 1930 broadcast microphone, inside it has two modern Heil mic elements. I enjoy the studio-quality mic on nets and ragchewing, then flip the switch on the back to the HC5 element when chasing DX or contesting. I like the soft-touch push-to-talk button on the back. I have been getting nothing but excellent unsolicited audio reports. When I worked one DX pile-up the operator stopped to say “hey, nice audio – what are you running there?”
But that’s not all, the Heil Classic is also a dual impedance mic that can be used on both modern rigs and the older tube classics that need a high impedance setting. Now I can run this mic on my Heathkit SB-101. Get one yourself and start enjoying some great audio reports.
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N3XPD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 19, 2003 20:49
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Works great on my Drakes
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I'm running a Heil Classic high impedance model on my Drake C line twins and I love it. Have recieved nothing but great reports as to audio quality and the smooth sound. Also this micrphone is very well made and looks great. Another super job by Bob and all of the good people at Heil.
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