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Reviews For: ICOM SM-20 microphone

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : ICOM SM-20 microphone
Reviews: 63MSRP: 259
Description:
Unidirectional, electret microphone w/up/down switches
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00634.7
N1EE Rating: 2011-04-05
The Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been admiring my fellow rag chewers mics. The best sounding mics have been the Icom's. Most have SM-8's and a few have SM-20's. I thought the SM-20 sounded a little better, and I found the styling to be the nicest looking.

I tried a Kenwood desk mic, it was attractive but sounded horrible. It was easy to do the ICOM mod to make all the buttons work, but I still did not like it.

The SM-20 Mic is not detachable, but I have a little stand to put it at the right height and distance. It would be nice to put it on a boom. I may modify it for that at some point. I like the lock button, so I can relax and rag chew without touching the mic. A few times I hit the down button by mistake, but learned quickly to be careful to avoid it.

I had been using an Icom 706 for my base rig, and the hand mic was a piece of crap. I upgraded that, but at the same time bought this mic. I've been very pleased with it. While the hand mic drew lots of negative comments, no one has found fault with my SM-20. When I'm a distance from the mic, it does pay to turn up the mic gain. I turned off the low cut and it did not seem to make much of a difference.

Of course you never hear yourself, mic reports come from other people, however, even my fussy friends found no fault with this mic.

I bought this used for $130, and was hoping to get it for less. These mic's are extremely popular, they don't sell cheap and if you pick one up used, you will be able to get your money back out of it.

The one problem I found was the UP button was not working. I disassembled the mic--10 phillups screws and found one of the momentary switches was unreliable. I'll be taking it apart and spraying it with contact cleaner. If that doesn't work, it looks like a very easy solder job to replace the switch.

Overall I rate this mic excellent. I would not consider any other mic except possibly the new SM-50--priced at $300--it is more than I'm wiling to pay.

If you see an SM-20 for under $130 grab it, you won't regret it, and if you by some miracle do regret it, you will get your money back in seconds reselling it.

I would not part with this microphone ever. When I am a silent key this will passed on, not until then.
MM3XXW Rating: 2011-03-27
Excellent ....... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Tried one or several mics on my IC-756 before I came to settle on the SM-20.

To say it's a 'perfect match' is maybe a bit strong however it's as near as dammit so I'm a happy bunny!
Looks good, feels good, add a 'pop' filter and u're good to go!
It's been mentioned already about the "plasticy" look & feel to the UP/DOWN/LOCK/PTT buttons and for the most part I agree but it doesn't take away from the performance of the mic itself so I'm happy enough to oversee that little mistake on the part of Icom.

Decent mic that you simply cannot be disappointed with.
NA9DH Rating: 2010-10-08
Fantastic mic Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bought this mic with an IC 7200. Get many unsolicited reports of fb audio. I did turn the low cut switch on the bottom to "ON". After playing with the mic gain pot on the mic and rig a bit I was ready to go. GREAT mic
VK3HOT Rating: 2010-09-15
Great Mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two SM-20 mics one on my Icom 718 with W2IHY 8 band and EQ plus and always get great audio reports. The other is on a mint IC 735 which I mostly use on 10m FM but occasionally on SSB, the mic works great on this old rig as well.

I also have an SM -6 which I have used on both rigs and on an IC 208H V/UHF rig at various times and find it's twin lead and switching ability a bonus. I would recommend the SM 20, I added a foam microphone windscreen to both the 20's (paid about $5.00 for a pack of 6) with no degredation to sound quality.
KD8MJR Rating: 2010-09-15
It's Just about Perfect/ Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Tried a few Mic's and this one is the Best for My Icom Pro3. People go out of their way to ask me what kind of Mic Im using, all Audio reports are great and the real Bonus with this Mic is that changing setting in the Icom Radio with this Mic attached actualy do make a serious difference!

How many time does a guy say Ok I am changing this, how do I sound? Most Hams try to pickup either the very slight difference or just cringe because the Audio goes from a less than optimum tone to another less than perfect tone.

With The SM-20 almost any Bass, Treble or Mic Gain setting sounds good and each is distinctly different from the next. You can go from sounding High pitched to nice and bassy while always sounding clean and crisp. Of course this is a SM-20 hooked to an IC-756 or another Icom Radio, so Icom to Icom this Mic is a 100% no Brainer.

Mic looks great, it's small and sleek, well built and very expensive! If you can afford one, get one, you will never want to use another Mic on your Icom.
KR4J Rating: 2010-08-12
Great Reports Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the SM-20 last week, in like new condition to use with my IC - 718. All signal reports have been great with comments on how nice my audio sounds. Reports when compared with the hand mike that came with the radio are like night and day. No more tinny sound. I run it at about mid-range mike gain with no real change from the hand mike setting. Great item and at less than 50% cost of the retail. So far, I am very satisfied.
KH6DC Rating: 2010-06-27
14+ Years and Counting Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well, I got this mic back in 1996 and I always get great audio like a professional studio type microphone. I usally switch back and forth between my Heil Pro-Set Plus because of the headset and built in mic but I may just use a good 'ol headphones and keep the SM-20 permanently on my 756 Pro II.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KH6DC on 2001-07-01

THIS IS AN AWESOME MICROPHONE. IT REPLACED A HEIL PROSET WHICH FELL APART AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (WITH MY GOOD LUCK) AND GOT EXCELLENT SOUND QUALITY REPORTS FROM SEVERAL TEST STATIONS STATESIDE. THEY ALL AGREED THE SPEECH WAS CLEARER, BASSIER AND MORE LEGIBLE THAN WHAT WAS COMING FROM THE HEIL'S.

THE ONLY NITPICKING THING IS THE CORD IS TOO SHORT - ABOUT 6 FT WOULD BE GOOD THAN IT'S REAL ARM CHAIR OPERATION. WONDER IF ICOM IS DESIGNING A BOOM MIC HEADSET WITH SIMILAR COMPONENTS IN THE SM-20, E.G., ELECTRET CONDENSOR MICROPHONE.

73, AH6OK
N8DRC Rating: 2010-05-29
Great Mic Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bought the mic new, haven't had any problems and get great audio reports with it..Use is with a Icom-718 rig not regrets here..
KC9FSH Rating: 2010-01-08
Excellent Mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this mic about two or three years ago to use on my IC-706mkiig. I always got excellent audio reports and a few stations couldn't believe that I was using a 706.
Well I just picked up a IC-756ProII and instantly hooked up the SM20 to it. Every station that I have worked commented on how great the audio sounded.

Overall I am very happy with the microphone however I wish that the mic was positioned a bit higher but that is a minor complaint.

I picked up my SM20 for $80 used.
W1JUS Rating: 2009-09-02
Fantastic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The wonderful SM-20 works super on my fabulous IC -
7700 (tried the FTdx 9000 - didn't come close !) & the do it all IC- 7000 . Great audio reports with
both ! FYI on both rigs I set trans up as follows:
Wide - 100 - 2900
Mid - 200- 2900
Narrow - 300 - 2900
Why would one want to chop off the highs ?
73 Ray