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Reviews For: Heil ICM

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Heil ICM
Reviews: 85MSRP: 89.99
Description:
New high performance electret mike for ICOM older transceivers
Product is in production
More Info: http://info@heilsound.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
34.7854.6
W8WLC Rating: 2006-03-17
like it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First of all I don't use SSB much but I wanted a nice looking microphone for the shack and no dissappointment here. I did notice a couple of things the stock microphone that came with the 718 requires a much lower gain setting for full ALC action than the icm. However the audio quality from the icm is much better as I have been told. I didn't have a lot of time to browse for accessories so ended up getting some microphone fittings and hardware from rat shack and a adjustable boom type work light from Lowes and home brewed a boom for the microphone. I would say if you are using an Icom rig give this a try and see.
AC0DV Rating: 2006-02-16
Works great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works great with my ICOM IC-718.

Also got the boom for hands free out of the way use.

It has a "richer" sounding mid-range... giving you more "presence".

(I've been told when A/B'ing the two microphones.)

NOTE: You should turn the MIC GAIN down a little from default... otherwise you will probably splatter a little... and people will call you names they can't say on the radio.

Keith -- AC0DV
RADIOBOB92121 Rating: 2005-09-15
Works good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Not too costly, and better than the stock mic that came with my 718. It's a keeper.....

Bob
VE3IOS Rating: 2005-07-03
A perfect match Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have used mine on the IC 718, 765 and the now the 751A. All worked well with great audio reports. I don't even use the compressor anymore.
W8RCA Rating: 2005-05-21
BEST BUY FOR THE MONEY Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Buy far one of the best buys in Amateur Radio...much better than the "matching" mics from Icom, I've owned them all SM-5, SM-6, SM-8, SM-20, and this mic is BY FAR better for 1/2 the price. The "soft switch" noise is there if you listen, or it would be darn near perfect. I've used it on an IC-725, IC-737, IC-756, and my IC-756 ProII with equal results. With an outboard EQ it performs as well as a very expensive studio mic for 5 times the price. Use the remote switching to get rid of the noise and you'll be very happy. Enjoy.......
WA4NUN Rating: 2005-01-30
Good Stuff I think Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I finally set up some switching so I could go from rig to rig, in my case a very nice condition Kenwood TS 820 with a Shure 444 mic and an Icom 718 with the ICM mic. Always got that distinctive good audio report for the Kenwood, but when I made the rigs interchangeable on the switch, votes went to the Icom with the compressor set at about 50%. Told it gets the job done a bit better even with less power output. I have not, however, performed the mod board add on for the 820 when using a Shure mike.

I will get to a contest point later when I can fiddle with a mod for the 820, but let's carry on with the review.

I picked mine up at a hamfest new for just over $70, a great price. The stand adaptor was included. The mike also has a built in push to talk switch, and a jack for a foot switch. Buy foot switch at Rat Shack for $4.95, but make sure you have needed adaptors. (The web page says included, but it is not in the box. Print out the web site info and take it to the Rat Shack Company Store, not Franchise, and you will get the adaptor free!) It is also pre-cabled for Icom and is total plug and play. When you can take a mike out of the box, use the stand adaptor, take an SO-239 which fits a stand adaptor, use an old swing arm lamp that was going in the trash to make a nice boom, (with a few no cost mods to reinforce the springs) makes for a good utility mike for me. With the 718 no changes are needed to go from Vox to PTT to foot switch within the same transmission. THAT IS THE CAPABILITY I NEED FROM A MICROPHONE. Thanks, Bob
W8DP Rating: 2005-01-29
Great Audio Reports Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently acquired an IC-746 in a trade and it had the 60 m mod. I talked to a station in my state on 60 m runningthe same rig but his audio was awesome. When I got out of the mobile and got on the 746 at home his audio sounded even better. He informed me that he was using the ICM. I got mine from WB0W and have been tolld by all the hams who know me that I sound the same as I do in person. When using my desk mic stand, which I already had, with a spring-clip mic holder the soft touch button works just fine. Spring-clip mic holders are available at most music stores and do work a little better with the ICM on a stand than the supplied clip does. I also found the that with the supplied windscreen ICM is particularly friendly to using VOX. When working with this mic it is very important to find the sweet spot at somewhere between 2 and 3 inches from the mic head. Too close and you will overdrive the element, too far and your VOX of course will not work properly. BTW it is a handsome peice of gear with the platinum finish that just beams with quality appearance befitting its performance. As the price of mics go it is a bargain.
AA5CH Rating: 2005-01-14
Works well on the Pros Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased an Icom 7800 and was trying to find a acceptable alternative to studio type condenser mics and external audio equalization. At the suggestion of a friend who had tried the ICM on his 746Pro,756ProII and III, I borrowed his ICM for a test "drive."

Running the bass at -2 or -1 and the treble at +5 with no compression produces some very nice audio on the 7800 with the mic gain running at 1-2 o'clock. My friend reported similar results with his later model Icom equipment. This suggests to me that the ICM is an appropriate match for the newer Icom rigs, regardless of it being marketed as a mic for the "pre- Pro" Icoms.

I'm placing an order for one tonight and plan to make it my primary mic on the 7800.

73,

Brad
AA5CH
W3ULS Rating: 2004-12-02
Works with newer rigs, too Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Against Heil's advice, I am using an iCM with my 746PRO. IMHO it sounds much better than the standard Heil HM-10, and it also has some punch for DX and contests.
KG5I Rating: 2004-12-01
Great mic for ICOM rigs Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought my iCM the same time I purchased my IC-746 back in July. According to the hams in my circle, I sound great. There are several other hams running the exact same gear and they are always the loudest ones on the air. I hope mine does sound that good....I am extremly happy with this mic. I even contacted Heil Sound before I bought this one to make sure it was the correct mic for my rig. Mr. Heil replied himself telling me this was the one....Boy, he was sure right.