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Reviews For: Apex 880 Microphone

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Apex 880 Microphone
Reviews: 1MSRP: 29.95
Description:
Inexpensice dynamic microphone with hyper cardioid pattern.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0014
W2NJU Rating: 2013-12-13
Good performanc at a low price point. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Recently, I staged a "shoot out" between 3 microphones: My Heil HM-12, Shure SM-58 and a 'cheapo" Chinese import, the Apex 880. Being a bit of a microphone snob, I was surprised when the 880 (the cheapest of the trio) won, hands down, in a test on SSB. The judge on the receiving was a good friend and fellow ham who is quite critical on performance. The radio used was a Kenwood TS-570 using 3 transmit EQ settings: flat, high boost, conventional. No compression, mic setting at "50" which is the default. Transmit bandwidth 2.4 kHz. The 880 just sounded more "like me" I was told. There is a very nice vocal bass boost from proximity effect in you are within 2 inches of the mic which closely resembles the Shure SM-58. The mic had enough drive to push the ALC about 2/3 of the way into the scale. The mic is solidly built but has no internal capsule isolation so it is sensitive to bumping noises. I was shocked that it was perceived as sounding slightly better than my Heil HM-12 which was about 3 times the price. I won't be tossing my Heil any time soon, but this was an eye opener.