| W5DGM |
Rating:      |
2011-04-27 | |
| My "go to" microphone |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I work in commercial broadcasting, so I wanted a "broadcast grade" mic for my station. I know about the Heil vs E/V comparisons. I just wanted the E/V RE 27 on my HF rig. I purchased my mic through Paul at BSW (800-426-8434) for a great price (not on their payroll), and after connecting it to my chain, I knew I made the right choice. Yes, it is a bit pricey, and maybe a little overkill, compared to other mics, but you can't beat the sound, especially for AM or SSB. |
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| WA4JM |
Rating:     |
2009-08-21 | |
| RE-27 Update |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
All things being relative, in less than a couple of weeks I was forced to downgrade my RE-27 the GOOD catagory. I did a head to head test with the Heil PR-40 using no equalization, comparable levels, fed thru a Mackie Mixer and captured with Adobe Audition. The difference in sound quality was significant. The PR-40 was much warmer and realistic and immune to noise generated by a nearby monitor that the RE-27 managed to pick up.
The Heil is by far a better microphone and is also manufactured in the United States.
If you would like to hear the test, email me at wa4jm@arrl.net, and I will send you the sample wav file. It's about 880KB.
73, me |
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| W8AAZ |
Rating:      |
2009-08-05 | |
| "Rolex" mic for show and go |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Just traded my RE 20 type mic for this one. The 27 is a nicer looking mic with the sort of satin nickel plate finish, with just a hint of color to it. Sounds great to me, I have not had it on the air much but have monitored it with a rec. so I can compare mics and rig settings(OMNI VII) thru some Koss phones. Been mainly using an old EV 654 broadcast omni on a Dazor mic arm. This mic is too heavy for the arm. Also, like all the other broadcast balanced lo-z mics, you got the extra expense of a matching trans. or some outboard processor if you are really an audio freak. The great sound quality is audible, even thru a SSB type bandwidth, and it is certainly the finishing touch to your ham radio "studio" if you got the jack and want a last bit of refinement to your dream rig. It falls into the realm of diminishing returns, but heck, take care of it and it will hold it's value due to rep. and demand. More flexible in adjustments than the RE 20. |
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| N2OGK |
Rating:      |
2008-12-23 | |
| Great Audio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I have had all the Heil mics from the GM 10 to the PR-780. This mic kills them all. Large diaphram and very full sound. Great quality. You can't go wrong with this mic. |
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| NA1A |
Rating:      |
2008-10-09 | |
| Best of the best |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've used numerous mics such as Audix, Shure, Audio Technica, Heil, Marshall, Neumann and of course Electrovoice. I compared the Electrovoice RE-20 and Heil PR-40 against many microphones and believe or not, both the RE-20 and the PR-40 did not sound as good as the Audio Technica AT2010 ($90). This had been my favorite mic for a long time until recently, when I came across an RE27N/D. With a lot of doubt and hesitation that this mic would be better than my Audio Technica AT2010 microphone, I was in for a big surprise...
Not only that the RE27N/D had every bid as good and rich lows like the AT2010, it had much cleaner, more articulate upper mids and highs.
With or without the pop filter, the RE27N/D still able to produce stentorian audio with no pops from breath noises and any background noise leakage.
My two cents: If you want to have the Heil PR40 sound, get the AT2010 by Audio Technica. It's sounds better and only cost $90.
If you want to have the ultimate, then get the Electrovoice RE27N/D. |
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| NV7E |
Rating:      |
2007-02-07 | |
| A great microphone |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have always been a CW man, but recently I have been trying to upgrade the audio side of my station. I am now operating in South Africa where every QSO to the USA or most other parts of the world is long haul. My audio needs to be better than average just to be heard at all 10,000 miles away.
I first got the Heil PR-40 mic, then the W2IHY audio equalizers and finally the Electro-Voice RE-27. The Heil web site compares its PR-40 with the Electro-Voice RE-20. It does NOT compare the PR-40 with the RE-27, probably because the RE-27 is clearly better in some respects.
I read up a lot about the RE-27 on various web sites and it always gets rave reviews. The main difference between the RE-27 and the RE-20 is that the RE-27 has a more powerful magnet and therefore its output is higher. I don't have an RE-20, but the difference between the PR-40 and the RE-27 is noticeable when they are used side by side. I think it is a good idea to let the mic rather than electronic processors lead the audio system. With the RE-27 I can call CQ by just whispering. My next door neighbors won't hear me shouting "CQ contest" through the shack window any more.
The RE-27 will tightly fit into the Heil SM-2 shock mount. To me it looks better than with the Electro-Voice shock mount. I also found the Heil XLR mic connectors and cable to be worth the extra cost. The cheap kind of XLRs tends to get jammed when you try to put them together. The Heilwire cable has excellent shielding
I use the VAC-s3.5 "P-pop" filter found at popfilter.com. It fits the SM-2. It has a flexible gooseneck so it won't break if you bump it hard. I use it mainly to keep my mouth at a proper distance from the mic. Since I got this filter I have seen it and the RE-27 in several TV reports about broadcasters.
If you are using the Heil PR-40, it is probably not worth upgrading to the RE-27, especially if you are using the W2IHY system, which tends to level the playing field for most mics. The PR-40 really is a great mic. Since it is cheaper, the PR-40 is a better value. For me, however, the RE-27 is a better mic. ZS6SIG |
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| KG2FX |
Rating:      |
2006-12-01 | |
| Second to NONE!! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Let me start by saying I have had allot of mics in the shack.
I had the Heil PR40 & the RE20 in the shack at the same time.
Contrary to what you hear on the net...The RE20 blows the Heil away.
Now if you want to disintegrate the PR40...Get the RE27.
I had 1 sold it regretted it & went out a bought another 1.
Look around on TV..When you see people in radio stations look at the Mics they use...That's right EV RE-20's & 27's.
It is a main stay in this shack & will be for a while!!
Pay the extra $$ & get the RE27.
You can find used ones out there in good shape...
I DID!!
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| KE6PID |
Rating:      |
2005-07-08 | |
| Audio Vanity! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The RE-27 N/D mic from Electrovioce is a major improvement over the RE-20. The N/Dym magnet increases the output level over the RE-20. Like the RE-20 this mic also produces a gigantic bottom end, but unlike the RE-20 the midrange is much more articulate, lending itself for use in "vanity" communications applications.
Electrovoice has provided two levels of bass control right in the mic, two switches allow the user to add low frequency roll off, and a third switch drops the higher frequency output by 3 Db. The mic itself exhibits an attractive presence boost starting at 1 KHz and rising 5 Db at 4 KHz, The high frequency response is sort of jagged unless the gentle low pass filter is used. Not that this sounds bad mind you, just an observation.
In the shack this mic had no problem driving my rig, indeed the output seems excessive and the mic gain was turned down some for proper operation. No issues were noted. No comments during QSO's were made, so it must be okay.
Elmer advice: This mic is capable of generating way more everything than most SSB rigs can use. Indeed use of this could be analogous to caviar at a truck stop, or hooking a racehorse to a plow, it would be a waste. After all, most rigs filter the audio band pass something a great deal less than this mic can produce. What would pass through the processing stages would be clean though and the mics frequency response is complementary to what is ultimately being accomplished.
This might be a good choice for the ham that is running a vintage B'cast transmitter and interested in the ultimate in Hi-Fi sound on the air. As always, it's the sound the receiving station hears that counts. Many modern communications receivers can't pass a true high fidelity signal due to intentional band pass limitations placed by the designers, however many of the new "super" rigs now have the ability to "open up" the pass band to enjoy all the transmitting station has to offer.
So, if you want a mic that costs more than an economy rig, and you like loads of bass, this might a good choice for you. |
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| VE7RF |
Rating:      |
2005-04-07 | |
| SUPERB !! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought mine new 4 yrs ago at BSW $449.00. It's only $50.00 more than the RE-20..... and sounds better ! Comes with a satin nickel finish... hum buck coil... 2 x bass roll off switches... one treble roll off switch... 150 ohm Z... and oh yeah... 3.1 mv output.... IE: 6 db "hotter" than a RE-20 (or a PR-40).
The RE-27 has a 5 db rise between 1 khz and 4 khz... which can be knocked down to almost flat by throwing one switch....if needed. I like the rising response.
It's absolutely xtal clear.... superb resonant bottom end... and free of imd, thd etc.
I use mine in the EV-309A shock mount and I also use the VAC-RE-20/27 pop filter (use just one filter in slot #3, closest to your mouth). I also use the OC white 29" Boom... with the 12" riser.
The RE-27 feeds the Behringer MIC-2200 tube/SS hybrid pre-amp, then the Behringer XR-2000 downward expander, Aphex 320-A compressor, Aphex 204 bass processor/aural exciter... then the Behringer DEQ-2496 parametric EQ / graphic EQ... + a 2nd downward expander..... then digital output goes to the digital input of the mating Behringer REV-2496 reverb... then into another Aphex 320-A compressor... then into an Aphex 250 aural exciter.. then into an Aphex 720-2.. "Dominator",(split band limiter/clipper).
The result is awesome !
There is NO proximity effect with the RE-27... and it does not POP. (The PR-40 DOES have proximity and DOES pop).
I use the pop filter screen... simply to physically restrict my getting too close to the mic.... and the main reason is to keep potato chips... spit, etc, out of my expensive RE-27.
This mic is the.... "real deal"... built like a tank.. beautiful satin nickel finish... outstanding audio.... and an industry standard. The 6 db hotter output compared to a RE-20 is a godsend..... my mic pre-amp input is maxed out as is.
later.... nightly on 3840... Jim... VE7RF |
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| W2WX |
Rating:      |
2002-10-09 | |
| A keeper |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Initial impression: in A/B tests comparing my new RE-27 with the RE-20, the RE-27 has a bit more high end, more output, which makes it a better choice for SSB and AM. It is aesthetically beautiful, with three filters, two governing the low end, and one governing the high boost end. Most folks using the mike suggest that you leave the filters wide and make adjustments using external EQ's. I have used it with both the Behringer mixer and the W2IHY EQ unit. The best price I have seen for the mike on the internet is currently $449.00 If you do not wish to make the expenditure, I recommend the Marshall MXL 2001 P, which, for under $100.00, gives great studio sound. Considering the price of Heil mikes, and the high end Yaesu and Icom mikes, it is worth looking at the excellent mikes available from EV, Marhsall, Nady and the like. They are clearly superior to Heil and the major ham vendors offerings and far less expensive. |
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