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Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.

Created by Mike WA4D on 2021-03-08

More than a Microphone. The Yaesu M1 Reference Mic

Back in the 80’s the MC-50 mic with Kenwood Rigs was considered about as good as it gets for SSB audio. Word got around that sliding a toilet paper tube over the MC-50 mic altered the frequency response (obviously) and enhanced the tonal quality of the mic. I tried it and never took it off for several years. Yaesu has brought it back! (well– in a more sophisticated method.) As a design feature of the M-1 Reference Mic. They call it “Treble Boost Cowling”!

 MC-50 and Yaesu M-1

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This article has multiple images and was already posted in full.  Yes I'm being lazy by not creating it again here. Thank you.

K5JX2021-04-28
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
I used a toilet paper tube baffle along with a ceramic capacitor (don't remember the value) in series with the mic. Got great reports with my trusty TS-520.
KF6JS2021-04-08
Re: Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
The problem with using the TP Roll is that people are using an "empty" roll. It works SO Much better with a "full" roll! LOL!!.....TRY IT!
Reply to a comment by : KG4RUL on 2021-03-08

I never heard of this before. Now, I have to remember to save the next toilet roll tube and give it a try.
K3ZE2021-04-07
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
In '83, I had a complete Kenwood TS-830S Station: Xcvr, Spkr, External VFO, Station Monitor, ATU, two weighted VFO knobs, headphones and, of course, the MC-50. The rig was a "Goldline" model, if I remember correctly. I always received good reports on my audio.

Of course back in the day, before Heil mics, equalizers, audio processors and all the paraphernalia available today, Kenwood audio was the benchmark against which all other transceivers were compared. I tried the toilet paper roll trick, but over-the-air reports showed very little difference. Besides, I always thought that a toilet paper roll on the MC-50 in front of that beautiful matching gear was like putting a paper bag over "The Spirit of Ecstasy" hood ornament on a Rolls-Royce.

Good Luck & Good DX, Al
K4JPN2021-03-31
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
20 years ago I bought a MC50 for use with my Elecraft K2, but I kept getting complaints on audio. I talked to Bob Heil and he recommended I buy a HC5 element take out the element that came with the MC50 and install a HC5 element. It was a excellent recommendation and I get excellent audio reports and very pleased with my audio when I monitor it.
VE7KKQ2021-03-29
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
There was at one time a similar "audio enhancement" with the toilet roll and a bunch of different length drinking straws inside the tube, if I remember correctly the straws added some directional characteristics to the mic.

Stay safe.

John
KG4RUL2021-03-19
Re: Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
W7LDG writes:

"ok, what does it do?"

It boosts the treble response of the microphone. I tried it on my MC-50 microphone with my TS2000 using the Transmit Monitor function, the Transmit Equalizer set Flat, and it does make a difference. Of course, the TS2000 Transmit Equalizer can do the same thing without the tube.
Reply to a comment by : W7LDG on 2021-03-19

ok, what does it do?
W7LDG2021-03-19
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
ok, what does it do?
KC3EWA2021-03-15
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
I never heard of the toilet paper tube trick, I'm going to try it with my MC-60.
VE3CUI2021-03-14
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
I can recall a similar such trick being performed on the Yaesu MD-1 microphone that came with my FT-980 transceiver back in the day --- a formed roll of cardboard was simply slipped inside of the mic housing, the design of which was ideal for this.

I was amazed at the improvement in audio quality...!
AE5SB2021-03-11
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
Remember it very well and it worked.
Used it on the TS 520 to work a lot of DX that way
K4PIH2021-03-10
Re: Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
Here's kind of the same thing in reverse. This radio has no external speaker capability and the internal speaker is not very good.
Reply to a comment by : KG4RUL on 2021-03-08

I never heard of this before. Now, I have to remember to save the next toilet roll tube and give it a try.
KG4RUL2021-03-08
Remember the Kenwood MC-50 Mic Toilet Paper Roll Baffle? It's Back! Sorta.
I never heard of this before. Now, I have to remember to save the next toilet roll tube and give it a try.