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Reviews For: Shure 55S Unidyne Dynamic Mic

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Shure 55S Unidyne Dynamic Mic
Reviews: 8MSRP: 160
Description:
Elvis style mic.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1585
K1VCT Rating: 2022-12-23
Not really a "radio" mic, but a great mic none the less Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
(update 12-23-22)
I sent my mic out to Chris at Mutant Mics. He confirmed my element was in great shape, no damage, output and response as it ought to be. Just a little plug for him, he is "the man" for 55s series (vintage) mics.

Have played with this one for a good while now. IC-7300 settings - mic gain 50 percent, compression 2, bass -1 to +1, and same for treble, depending on band conditions. If the bands are really quiet a smooth, rich low end can be had with bass at +2 but I usually don't do that.

The vintage 55s (or 55sw mics) are omni directional (mostly) which suits my operation style. I tend to work from side to side a bit when on the air, between settings on the shack, logging and computer use. Not sure if a unidirectional mic would allow that sort of operation without more compression.

(Original post)
I agree with other posts, but will add....

The new 55SH series II is not the same as an older 55S. Just compare the two in weight! The old one is like a "mic-grenade". The old one is one heavy hand full of a mic, the newer one is much lighter. The new one is 600ohms only, while the older one is 200/600/and very high impedance. High works great on tube audio amps by the way.

You'll have to see which impedance setting is best for your radio.

Can't really comment on the audio quality on the air, but into a PA, it holds it own. For radio use (or stage for that matter), it does not suffer as much from bass/proximity effect as most other mics do. That's kind of nice if you tend to move around a bit while on the air.

Heil-Wire strongly suggested to keep the hum/noise out of the audio. You can build a PTT switch for it in a little box if you like. I made my box so it accepts a footswitch as well. Or you can go VOX with it.

And, I used a zip tie under the on/off switch to prevent accidental activation.


W4EAL Rating: 2011-11-20
Best of the best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My 55S is NOS. I would not trade it for any other mic. I also own EV 664's and the 55S is the winner hands down. Came in original packaging with the cover bag, cable, warranty card, spec sheet. Not a scratch on it. I have tried this on several rigs with complements galore. Mine has the H M L selector so will match most inputs. It is mounted on a Luxo boom arm. Has that sitting "next to to you" presence. Not loud but clear. If you get a chance to buy one...just do it.
KC0GSB Rating: 2010-03-27
Wonderful Microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Too good for a radio. Excellent sound and good output. Not to mention how good it looks. This is one of my favorite microphones for live recording. They are inexpensive for what you get. If you can get a working one used for a good price, do it, or just buy it new. You won't regret it. Mine is the 55SH series 2 model.
K1WJ Rating: 2007-06-05
Nice Reports Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

I recenty bought a Shure 55s mic hooked up to my Kenwood TS-940SAT, I used a heil 3pin xlr to 8pin kenwood connctor.
Reports on my audio have been better than average so I'm told. On monitor, this mic sounds fine. The settings for mic gain & processing are higher when compared to lets say a MC-60a kenwood desk mic. This shure mic is about 300ohms so maybe that will explain that.
It does have enough to properly drive my TS-940SAT. With an EQ setup, I'm sure this mic's audio would be that much better.

73, K1WJ
N4LGH Rating: 2006-09-15
Great Ham Mic Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had a bunch of 55S's and other flavors of the '55 over the past few months of collecting and refurbishing. Somewhat erroneously known as the 'Elvis' microphone, this is indeed a very attractive and functional device.

The real issue with the sound, as with all of these mics, is the impedance. Some were low impedance and others were high impedance. Some had a "L M H" switch which is *really* nice for matching to your rig. Like your antenna system, your audio likes to match impedances; radio, line and mic.

I've found my 55S, 55B and others work great with my FT817 and FT857. It is kind of funny to see a station where the mic is bigger than the rig hihi. I had to back the audio setting for FM way down - factory seting is '50' of a possible 100, but mine works best set at about 30. SSB worked great with a lotof punch with the setting at 50.

If you have the chance to pick one up, Id suggest you do so. Even if you have to do some work on it, I'm sure it will become the showpiece of your station.

You can still get these mics NEW from Shure, but you can find vintage units on EBay for under $100 for the most part.

There is a guy that calls himself the Mic Doctor that Shure actually refers people with those older mics to. He has the shock mounts, silks, connectors, logos and rebuild kits for a reasonable price. Google out 'micdoctor' and you'll find him. He also has an EBay store.

73
Tracy N4LGH
N3ZKP Rating: 2005-08-25
Good Sound, agreed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am fortunate to have a pair of them and have had them for 30 years. I've used them for PA, for stage performers and for recording. I must admit I've never put them on a radio, though.

That may change, I'm trying to decide whether to put one on my KWN-2A or go looking for an EV-664, just like in the Collins brochure. :)

Although not designed for SSB, it should sound very good with older tube rigs.
WA0ZZG Rating: 2005-08-25
The OLD AM sound Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Several years ago, I was fortunate to come by an
elderly widow lady that was moving from her house
to an apartment. She was cleaning her attic and
found one of these, new, still in its original
box. I found out that her husband had worked
sales for Sure Brothers many years before. She
was about to toss it. I talked her into giving
it to me in exchange for helping her. What I got
was an original 55S with the original matching
desk stand. Opening it revealed that many years
in a hot attic had paid a toal. I called Sure,
and they recognized her name. They sent me
parts for free. The only part not in stock were
the rubber shock mounts. There's a gentleman
in Florida that hand makes these. Check for him
on ebay. They're easy to rebuild. The original
element(interior) was fine.
These were intended as a public address mic and not even for commercial broadcast. On SSB, they
will not have much punch, but have the smoothest
sounding audio found. Do very little processing.
Otherwise, it will sound muddy. Sit back from
it. It has a lot of low end boost up close. The
early AM DJ's used this to an advantage. The
element is also very directional. Designed to
match a balanced tube input but easy to rewire.
I have the slide switch set up for PTT. A local
station wants me to put it back to original so
they can try it on the air. I'm not yet ready
to part with it.
Dave...
K4JJL Rating: 2002-07-18
Very nice natural sounding audio. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Found it in a trash pile with rotten foam inside. I scraped out the foam and lined it with a black cloth and hooked it to my Yaesu FT-920. No impedence matching required. Have received nothing but complements on the audio. Most say the audio is so natural, it's as if I was in the room talking to them face to face. Not produced since the 60's, but I have heard of replicas being sold at music stores. (Mars Music, etc.) I have seen them at hamfests for around $100. If you see one, get it, even if it is in bad shape. It can be cleaned up. Because of the heavy metal grill, this mic is almost indestructible.