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Reviews For: Kenwood MC-60A

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Kenwood MC-60A
Reviews: 54MSRP: 145.00
Description:
Desktop Deluxe Microphone
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.rigpix.com/accessories/kenwood_mc60.jpg
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15544.4
ON5HB Rating: 2023-01-21
Excelllent quality build and audio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used this microphone for the last 10 years and it never failed. The audio is beautiful, rich and natural.
If you use this mic on the TS-590/890/990 (no batteries needed!), turn on the amplifier at the bottom and set the mic to 50KOhm.
It will produce a very warm and solid audio. Never got bad reports with it. I even used it (modified) on the Icom7300/7600 and a Yeasu 991A.
On every radio it works it's magic.

As for RF problems, that was with the MC-60, todays version is MC-60A and has no RF-issues.
I use 1200W if needed on all bands from 160 to 6 meters and it never had any RF-feedback. I simply can not fault this great mic, I can't.
YU2SRB Rating: 2022-09-24
Works great always! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This beautiful mic has cult level in ham world like it or not.
It's a rare exemplar of ham equipment that is still in production with same design for 40 years and still looks good and solid. I read reviews of RFI problems, but I never experience that on VHF nor on HF.
I use MC60 with 2m SSB rig Kenwood TR 751E, it works marvelously.
I also use it with TS480SAT connected to mj88 connector and again work perfect.

Reccomended mic!
SP9HZX Rating: 2022-05-15
Decent mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used it for 25 years and never had I a problem.
Very good audio.Everybody praises it.
KI4FQZ Rating: 2022-05-14
Powered desk mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I see SO MANY reviews of people having issues with RF getting into this microphone. And at the same time, I see SO MANY people stating they're putting batteries in the base of this mic when using it with a Kenwood 8 pin radio. If you use the mic with an 8 pin Kenwood radio, you DO NOT put batteries in the base. It gets the power for the amplifier from one of the pins on the radio. If you PUT batteries in the base of the mic when using it with an 8 pin Kenwood radio, you're going to have issues including distortion that resembles RF interference. It's a wonderful mic, and I've used one for MANY years on many different radios, with great audio reports. If you get a brand new one, they are a little pricey, but compared to the high end Heils and so on, you can't go wrong. And they're readily available used at very fair prices, usually under a hundred bucks. I've even spoken to many hams, who were not even aware that you don't use batteries in it with a Kenwood 8 pin radio. Why this is, I have no idea. But even with the amp switched out, if there's batteries in it with an 8 pin Kenwood, you're going to have audio issues. I have 3, they're really nice mics, and I've never had issues on any radio I've ran them on. When all else fails, read the instructions. But I definitely recommend this mic.
SP5MXF Rating: 2019-03-02
Good microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought a TS-940S with a home made microphone, I did not like it so I decided to buy a good and original Kenwood microphone. I bought the MC-60A, the audio reports get very good and I'm happy with this choice, together with the TS-940S they are a beautiful pair, an old and good set.

Thomas
sp5mxf.com
N2MDV Rating: 2017-11-06
Decent mic, but over rated, over priced. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought one 2nd hand. It worked very well on my TS-711A 2M multi-mode rig. However, even though this mic does sound good, with good audio reports, I certainly wouldn't pay full price new for what Kenwood wants for it. There are certainly better choices out there for lower price. Still, if you see one for around $20.00 used and not abused, then it's a good deal. The only adjustment for this mic is Preamp ON / OFF, no output level POT. Still, a usable feature.
SWLCHRIS Rating: 2017-08-03
Good upgrade Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have a Kenwood TS430S and I was using the stock hand mic MC43s. My audio was fair but nothing to get excited at. I got this mic the other day and once hooked up to radio and testing at medium power on a empty frequency I had a ham in Wisconsin answer my call. I was surprised to say the least, but continued the QSO. Closer friends on the bands report good audio and stands out better than the stock hand mic. All of this testing and usage is without the preamp on. I haven't even put batteries in it yet to try the preamp. That's my next test. Overall works great and looks great next to the 430S.
WD5ACP Rating: 2017-03-19
Update to my review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I continue to get great audio reports using this mic with my TS-590 (processor ON, and with a flat Tx Eq)

I found that I still had occasional RF getting into the mic even After I modified the mic to reduce RF issues when I QRO'd with my SB-200. Even if you use the bypass switch on the base to bypass the preamp, it's still susceptible to RF.

The final fix was simply to electrically BYPASS the preamp board (I wasn't using it anyway) - Open up the base and relocate the audio out from the mic element directly to the mic plug.

An alternative is simply plug the microphone directly into the rig without going through the base - works fine (the on-off switch on the mic keys the rig) but the buttons on the base of course aren't used.

So - very good mic, just bypass the preamp board if you're getting RF into it.
WA6PBJ Rating: 2016-12-10
use it right and it works well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Learn to use it right. May need an isolation transformer (possible rf sensitive....dah...its a condenser powered mic!!)
WB7VTY Rating: 2016-04-08
Waste of money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have always liked kenwood stuff so when I bought my TS590SG, which I love, I also picked up a MC60. I had MC50s before and they were great. I assumed the 60 was just an upgrade of the 50. Not so. Totally different. The 60 has a preamp built into the base and requires batteries. Right out of the box I was getting horrible audio reports and it sounded terrible on the TX monitor no matter what I did. The hand mic that came with the 590SG sounded way better. All the horror stories about RF in this mic are true. I refuse to repair a brand new mic that cost over a hundred bucks. Kenwood scores a zero on this one because its a well known issue that has gotten no attention from Kenwood. I should have googled it before buying it instead of assuming. HRO took it back with no fuss and I exchanged it for an MC90 which works beautifully. If you want a kenwood mic, the MC90 is not cheap but its the way to go. No batteries, no preamp, no RF issues, outstanding sound. The MC60 is a complete waste of money and doesn't live up to the Kenwood name. I wouldn't take one if it was free.