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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
WA1RKT Rating: 2007-11-09
Works OK, very expensive for what you get Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use my IC-735 mostly for base station work and so I decided I needed a desk mic to replace the hand mic. I asked Icom if the SM-20 would work (since the IC-735 was not on the approved list of compatible radios), and the answer was that while it SHOULD work, it was not guaranteed since the IC-735 predated the SM-20 and the two were never tested together.
So, I bought one from HRO and as it turns out it works fine. But, it is VERY expensive for what you get. Sitting on the table next to my Kenwood MC-60A and my Yaesu MD-1, the SM-20 looks and feels like a cheap toy, even though it costs more money by a significant margin than either of the other two.
Other things I don't like about it are: (1) the mic isn't removeable from the stand, and (2) it sits way too low on the desk and isn't adjustable up-and-down (it does tilt)... I have to set it on top of a small cardboard box about 3 inches high to get it up to comfortable talking level.
I'm keeping it because it works, but if I had it to do over again I'd look for something else like a Heil. I may sell this one on ebay (people on ebay pay almost full retail for this mic for some reason) and get a Heil anyway.
N0YXE Rating: 2007-09-03
First Rate Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After my Icom 7000 arrived I had some time before setting things up. I did not like the looks of the hand mic that came with the radio and since the unit was being used as a base station, I decided on the SM-20. It has been flawless and the on-air reports are great. When I mention the radio, I have had comments about how good the audio is.
K7UA Rating: 2007-06-05
Fine mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own two SM20s. I use one on my IC775DSP and the other one on my IC7000 at my base station. Both have worked out very well.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K7UA on 2007-04-02

I have two of these mics. One on my IC775DSP and another on my IC7000. No problems and they work great on both rigs.
K8ELR Rating: 2007-04-02
Very Good reports Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently bought a used SM-20 for use on either my IC 718 OR my IC 746PRO. I hooked it up to the 746 and got great reports for my audio. I did crank up the gain setting on the mic. (the small screw underneath). I think I'll leave it hooked up to the 746. I'll try the Heil mic that I have on the 718. Why mess with a good thing?
73!
Jim K8ELR






0
OE1SOW Rating: 2007-01-03
nice, but not perfect... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
You read it all...price is high, performance (NF) is good. That's all true !
And...yes !...I use those up and down push-buttons with my IC-910H and my IC-821 to walk through the memories. But you have to clean the contacts once a year, otherwise the buttons will not work after a while...I think they used a cheap material for the contacts.
A little too sensitive to the surrounding...background-noise is too loud (ventilators,...)
On my IC-756 Pro II I'm now using a cheap stabo optimike desk 3000, which I bought used for 5,- Euro (!) at a fleemarket and it really sounds better. (Try to find a used SM-20 for 5,- Euro, hi...). That stabo mike has also 4 buttons on the top, perfect for the voice/keyer-memory.

W6SLB Rating: 2006-12-16
A No Brainer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Is this the best looking desk mic out there? NO. Is the build worthy of the retail asking price? Depends on how you look at it. Is the physical design perfect? NO. How does this mic sound on Icom rigs? FANTASTIC! These mics do what they were designed to do ... sound very nice on Icom equipment. When i buy a mic, my main concern is how it sounds on the air. If the other things mentioned above are obtained then that just extra icing on the cake.
Around $200 for a mic that sounds good in comparison to some mics that cost more and still have buy a cable to fit your rig is not too shabby at all! So when you look at it that way its not a bad deal money wise. Sure its still alot of money for a mic but hey you could spend more and get less in my opinion. If your running an Icom rig and have been looking at the SM-20, Go for it. "Its a no brainer!"
OH2BF Rating: 2006-09-24
Best so far Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works very well with Icom 756Pro3. I have gone through the Heils (wish I hadn't - expensive). Only Icom mics seem to work well with Icoms...
Also did the K6HJM memory button mod (thanks for the idea!).
Maybe Icom some day makes also a headset. I get claustrofobia using the big and heavy Proset Plus ;-)
The most natural and crisp sound comes from SM-20, although the Icom hand mics are almost as good.
K6HJM Rating: 2005-10-10
Convert to "keypad" Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Using the SM-20 with a 756 ProII prompted me to try to fabricate a "keypad" to select and play pre-recorded messages (CQ DX, etc.) The 756 manual shows the simple circuit with just resistors and normally open momentary switches. I had hoped to use the up and down push buttons on the mike, but found they were firmly soldered to the circuit board inside the SM-20.
So...I purchased 4 small switches from Radio Shack, drilled 4 holes in a horizontal row just above the up/down switches, and wired it up. The blue wire on the 6 pin connector inside the mike is mike pin #3 and the grey is mike pin #7. Cut the blue wire to gain access to pin #3 but do NOT cut the grey wire (it provides a ground for the mike)...use a solder pad on the circuit board for access to mike pin #7.
The result is fantastic: can just push the proper button to transmit 1 of 4 pre-recorded messages. Also, the stupid up/down push buttons on the mike no longer work (who uses them?).
VK2HSV Rating: 2005-05-29
Awsome Desk Microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
What can i say, But Icom got it right with this one.

It rocks with every radio I put it on,My IC-706MKIIG,IC-208H,IC-251A or even my IC-120.
VE2DC Rating: 2005-03-13
Like it. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've compared the SM20/SM8/SM6 and Heil mics side by side. The SM20 and Heil mics are equally good, but I like the unidirectionality of the SM20... it's better than the others for VOX operation. Don't talk closer than about 3 inches though... typical of cardoid mics, it getts "boomy" and picks up a lot of breath noise if you close-talk it. BTW, the SM8 is good too and I don't like the SM6... it's a little muffled.



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Earlier 5-star review posted by VE2DC on 2001-08-09

Cardoid (unidirectional) mic, so it works much better for VOX operation. Don't get too close though, or it will get boomy. This is typical of these type of mikes. With my IC781, I get excellent reports, slightly better than my SM8 which also sounds good. I use a Heil Proset with HC5 for contesting.