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Reviews For: Heil Sound PL-2 Mic Boom

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Heil Sound PL-2 Mic Boom
Reviews: 19MSRP: 60.00
Description:
The new HEIL PL-2 is truly the finest professional microphone boom available today. Absolutely silent as it is moved. Perfectly balanced and stays exactly where it is placed. Using a system of perfectly balanced internal springs rather than the unsightly and mechanically unstable outboard springs used on booms of much lesser quality, the Heil PL-2 handles microphones up to 1.5 pounds in weight.

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.heilsound.com/PL-2.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15194.2
G8FXC Rating: 2006-07-14
Nice idea, poor design... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I waited more than a month for a new delivery to make it across the Atlantic and when it finally arrived, it fell apart in less than eight hours!

When I examined the wreckage, I am not surprised - in order to hide the springs and wires inside the boom arms, they cannot fit proper bearings at the joints. At the end of each arm, there is a hole about an eighth on an inch diameter drilled on each side. Each joint consists of two sheet metal disks which have dimples pressed into them to engage with the holes in the boom arms. The arms are sandwiched between two disks which are joined by a pillar in the middle. There are no proper bearing surfaces and no lubrication. The pillars are swaged into the disks, so it is not even possible to reassemble it - or dismantle for lubrication.

I can only assume that other users who have had no problem with it simply don't move it very much - that's not why I bought mine. Do bear in mind also that those arms contain a pair of pretty strong springs which are under a lot of compression and are, in turn, trying to force the "bearings" apart! When mine failed, it was pretty explosive - it took me several minutes to find all the pieces! I had probably only moved it half a dozen times in the course of the day, but the so-called bearings were already showing signs of wear.

I've packaged mine up (what's left of it) and am sending it back for a refund. I've found an alternative from another manufacturer which does not try to hide the springs and hence can have proper bearings at the joints. Pity really - I've always liked Heil, but this is not one of their better designs...

Martin
NN3D Rating: 2006-06-10
Awsome Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great mic stand for the money. I use it with the Heil Heritage Microphone and it works great. Amazing for ragchewing to contesting. Great product for the money.

73 and happy DX!
Chris- KB3MTV
W7LDG Rating: 2006-02-27
Great Boom Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works and looks Great. Got a PR-20 on it and could'nt be better. Another great product by the mic pro's
KD0ZV Rating: 2006-02-25
NOT typical Heil Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I hate to give a Heil product a bad review because over the years all the products I have had from Bob are all "5". This includes several mikes, headphones, EQ units and switches and cables.

Let me say this boom does work and it is mechanically sound. But, it is NOT "absolute silent as it is moved" as stated on the Heil site. I have it mounted to a RS-1 mount and there is no bushing in the mount. I talked to Bob and it sounds like they may have changed this in the new models but it wasn't in the RS-1 I just bought.

We talked about me finding a bushing and drilling it out but I have not got around to that. Just not the Heil quality I am used to. I have a PR780 microphone in it connected to my Pro III. For those of you that have not heard a 780 microphone, I suggest you check them out. Outstanding !!

As soon as I get this squeeky problem fixed, I will be happy :)

Rich
kd0zv
AC0DV Rating: 2006-02-16
Where's the LIGHT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Put one of these on my desk with a Heil iCM.

I love it. I have a computer desk with the shack right under the LCD monitor. (Computer is 5' to the right. No noise.)

Great for ragchews... when I'm listening to on the nets... I do computer stuff. The microphone is right there where it needs to be. (I use a push to talk. many have suggested a foot switch.. but I'm not that coordinated.)

I hated having to stop what I was doing.... look for the hand mike... pick it up.. make sure it was facing my mouth... push the button.. etc etc.

Now I just talk on VOX or push the button.

Only problem: I keep looking for the light... it looks like it would be nice to have a small light mounted on the bottom of it for the desk. Then I'd have a microphone AND a light.

(Don't know about any interference with the microphone cables though. Perhaps I'll drop a line to Heil and ask.)

--Keith -- AC0DV
N4SRT Rating: 2004-05-05
Boom mics - The only way to fly Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've owned my PL-2 boom for about a year now. I wanted to go to a boom-mounted mic because I've had too many crummy desk mics and my Heil BM-10 headset is great, but there's a time when you want to casually ragchew. That's where a boom-mounted mic comes in.

The only mic I've run with the boom so far is my trusty Shure 55S. I originally planned to install a Heil mic element in the Shure, but it works great as is. The boom holds the weight of the Shure just fine; it's easy to readjust where the mic is positioned when you're talking, and it's very quiet. My boom isn't the "topless" version, but the cable ran through this one just fine.

If you can find the older PL-2 boom, you might get it at a cheaper price than than the newer "topless" version. Both are good choices for your shack.
A9KW Rating: 2004-03-28
AWSOME Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I HAVE HAD EVERY OTHER BOOM,THE PL2T IS GREAT QUIET AS A MOUSE AND THEN STAYS PUT WHERE YOU LEAVE IT,AND NO MORE CABLE MESS,GREAT BOOM.
W7RJR Rating: 2003-12-31
Outstanding product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I can only add to the previous review regarding the PL-2 Mic Boom. Very solid construction and straight forward installation. The C clamp mounts just about anywhere you can imagine. Stays exactly where you put it and easy to maneuver. At first it was a bit confusing as to how the cable was routed from the microphone to the boom, but a quick review of the brief manual cleared up the fact that you have to first disassemble the microphone mount, thread the cable through and then reassemble..no big deal.

I highly recommend this boom although I am not certain how universal it will be with other brands of microphones. It uses a threaded mount that may or may not be compatible with other mics.

73, W7RJR
KF4DHE Rating: 2003-01-19
Awsome Product!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This has got to be the best $60 I ever spent. If you're looking for a top quality boom you need to order one of these. Still can't believe this much quality could be so cheap in price. Using mine with the SM-1 shock mount and the Goldline and it is just great. Will adjust to any position you need and stays put. Very solid in construction. No wobble at all. Like the fact that the mic cable can be run inside the boom and out of site also. Top notch product for sure.