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| Reviews Summary for Shure 522 Desktop Microphone (Unidirectional) |
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Reviews: 10
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $89.00 (Lowest Price)
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Description: The Model 522 is a dynamic base station microphone designed especially for radio communications, paging, and dispatching systems. Its cardioid (unidirectional) pickup pattern suppresses unwanted background noise -- the type of noise generated by other dispatchers working nearby, by ventilating equipment, or by office machines in the same area.
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More info: http://www.shure.com/microphones/models/522.asp
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write your own review of the Shure 522 Desktop Microphone (Unidirectional).
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KC1UA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 30, 2009 19:11
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Great mic at a great price!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Based on the positive reviews here at eHam, I began searching for one of these mics for my Kenwood TS-480SAT. I was able to find one listed as "new" on eBay. It arrived today, and sure enough was packaged like new and in absolutely mint condition. I used a terminal block for wiring as the mic's wires are too large to fit directly into an RJ45 connector.
The 6 meter band was opening and I started making contacts there. On the very first contact I received an unsolicited report on my great audio with excellent highs and lows.
I'm glad that the neck adjusts up and down, as it needs to be a little taller than its "stock" appearance to work well for me. It seems that with it raised an inch or so and me talking directly into it from about 3" away is where the audio seems to be at its best. Monitoring my signal its unidirectional capabilities are evident, as it is not hearing anything from the side to include a scanner and the Boston Red Sox baseball game.
The price of my new gem? $25.00. I also won an eBay auction for two more of these mics. The cost there was $22.50 for both. They will serve nicely as backups.
I'm certainly very pleased with this mic out of the gate, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality alternative at a low price.
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KS4HY
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 9, 2008 09:17
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Nice microphone with good reports
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I regularly receive unsolicited reports about my Shure 522 on my stock Kenwood ts-850sat ham radio. I do not use any external EQ or processing on the microphone. It is just the radio and the microphone. I have had more than one person ask what I was using without me asking for a report.
The output of the Shure 522 is lower than say a Shure 444d, so you will have to run the mic gain on the radio higher. Nice microphone. I have had zero problems with mine.
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KC2RGW
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 4, 2008 11:28
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Excellent, and a bargain if you find them used
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Built like a tank, the way I like my desk mics.
The audio response is great as it has a full range element. Much better than the usual communications grade narrower elements on many other mics.
The noise reduction of this mic's pattern is phenomenal. I tend to have multiple radios all going at once and sometimes scanners too, all fired up on the same desk. With the 522's people can't hear any of the background cacophony.
They need to be talked about three to four inches from the element and on-center, but a bit of practice using monitoring will show you the sweet spot pretty quickly.
I've had good results on the following radios
Kenwood TS-680S (a bit bass heavy, but nice)
Yaesu FT-1000MP (with edsp engaged, it suits my voice very well)
Yaesu FT-7800R (though it could use a bit more drive on this one for simplex)
I got my pair used at $35/each in like-new condition.
You'll need to open the base and pull the grounds off the PTT switch if you want the mic element 'live' for use with VOX or a seperate PTT switch.
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W2MB
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 2, 2008 17:57
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Works Just Fine
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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No raves, I'm just told that the audio sounds good coming from this Mic interfaced to my Yaesu FT900CAT. The only difficulty was making the connection between the Shure 522's professional grade cable and the dopey RJ45 connector that the transceiver uses for it's Mic input. I ended up usings 2 XLR connectors and a cut off piece of a pre-terminated, stranded conductor RJ45 data cable to make the interconnect.
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VR2XMQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 24, 2008 23:57
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Great Audio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Used daily with my Paragon HF. One reviewer says it sounds like a Heil, it is more likely that a Heil sounds like this Shure!
Steve, VR2XMQ / VR10XMQ
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WU8P
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 4, 2008 08:13
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Very good desk mic.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased the 552 like new on ebay for less than $20 and it performs just as good as a mic costing $100 more.
It is built very well and I have gotten great audio reports using my Kenwood TS 870S.
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KC9JYW
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 10, 2007 09:01
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Excellent
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have tried several mics on my 757gx yaesu including the MD-1 line mics. Everyone of my audio reports were extremely good. On a side by side comparison with the MD-1c8, the 522 audio sounded better and that was at arms length with the mic gain on the radio turned up to half mark and the processor on. Both mics sounded good, dont get me wrong, but if you can do without the up/down buttons on the MD-1's, save yourself some money and pick up a shure 522. Im glad I did and everyone seems to like the studio quality audio..
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NL7W
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 11, 2005 19:37
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Shure 522 Desktop Mic = Superior Performance!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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For a %5.00 microphone from eBay, this like-new microphone performs better than every mic I've had in the shack. My 850Sat has never sounded better. See the other reviews for the technical details.
Snatch one up from eBay when they're available.
73.
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VU2TTP
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 29, 2005 00:53
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Great performer
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I picked up an used Shure 522 on ebay for less than 25$. It was in a pretty good shape for a second hand unit.
I have been using it along with my favourite TS830S and the duo has been performing too well.
Most of the stations I work on 40M have appreciated the warm and punchy audio.
Working weak DX so far has been pretty easy with this Mic and I intend buying atleast two more of these wonderful microphones.
Lastly, I want to hook up an EQ to this combo and see if I can trim the 400Hz component.
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KC8VWM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 8, 2003 23:26
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Sounds like a Heil
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After I was looking at a Heil Goldline Pro microphone, I was interested to see if there were other comparable mics on the market that offered a similar sound but without the price.
I am now sharing this research with users here on Eham.
First the price - $89.00 can be picked up brand new in the box here:
http://www.thecrazycuban.com/shure522.html
The amazing part about this microphone is the incredible frequency range it offers.
As many "audiophiles" know, a microphones frequency range is going to be the first observation when it comes to how a microphone is going to sound.
Generally speaking, the frequency low end results in a deeper and richer sound. The high end results in more "crispness."
Heil Goldline Pro = 40 to 18,000 Hz
Shure 450 Series II = 200Hz to 5,000 Hz.
Kenwood MC-60A = 150 Hz to 10,000 Hz
Shure 522 = 40Hz to 10,000 Hz.
I was surprised to see that most amateur mics only have a typical frequency range from only 200 - 5,000 Hz.
While they may still sound good, They are only able to reproduce your audio to a "carbon copy" reproduction of your voice.
The Shure 522 mic reproduces your audio "in full color" Similar to broadcast or "Hi Fi" quality.
While looking and comparing frequency charts I thought it was rather curious to note that the 522 was very close in specifications to the Heil Goldline Pro in the graphs below.
This first graph (Shure 450) is a typical ham microphone frequency range for comparison.
Shure 450 Series II Frequency Curve:
http://www.shure.com/images/response/f450series2_large.gif
(looks like it drops off at 8,000 HZ)
Heil Goldline Pro Frequency Curve:
http://www.heilsound.com/Images/Heil-Mic-Frequency-response.jpg
(Heil claims A +4dB peak @2kHz gives the Goldline microphone excellent voice articulation. They dub it "Hi Fi" quality for SSB. You will also notice that the curve drops sharply just after 10,000 - 12,000 HZ.)
Now for the Shure 522 Frequency Curve:
http://www.shure.com/images/response/f522_large.gif
(The frequency curve also rises above +4 and even better db@2khz. The mic is rated at 10,000Hz, however if you notice it actually doesn't drop off until 12,000hz. Notice the low end reaches well into the 40hz range.
Conclusion:
The specifications of the Shure 522 are almost identical to the Heil Goldline Pro. In fact the Shure 522 outperforms the Heil model HC 5, and HC 4 right out of the ballpark!
The fact that this is a unidirectional mic will also "boost" the forward sensitivity range of the microphone. This means you do not require any forward amplification. It will definetly outperform a handheld mic for "loudness." Yet it will sound rich and have a unique full bodied sound. Wont sound like a "carbon copy" of your voice.
Also because it is unidirectional, it should eliminate radio fan and other background noises at your station. I am convinced this mic will provide you with studio quality sound.
I just bought the 522 on ebay brand new in the box from an audiophile - non ham radio person for a grand total of $10.00! It was actually listed under the "audio" section along with EQ's amps and other music production equipment.
I guess no hams bid on this item because it wasn't listed in the usual ham radio equipment section.
73
Charles Bushell
KC8VWM
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