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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
IW2CZG Rating: 2005-03-03
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi !
I'm coming from the IC-SM6 and I'm using this mike on Icom IC-7400. Great improvement ... I've to say ! Now everybody says spontaneously to me that I've a killer tone.

I like:
- Quality of modulation
- "Low cut" switch
- Mike directionality & sensitivity
- RF immunity

I don't like:
- Quality of the plastic buttons
- Mike gain trimpot (why not a knob on the top ?)
- Price

Best 73 de IW2CZG - Luca
K7PEH Rating: 2005-02-06
One Minor Complaint, OK, Two Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use the SM-20 with an Icom 756 (non-pro) and it works great. No complaints on audio in the normal mode of operation.

But, I have these two minor complaints...

(1) I hate those stupid little UP/DOWN buttons. I have never used them to actually change frequency on purpose but on a number of occasions I have accidentally hit one or the other to shift my frequency. I usually do not even know this happens until someone says I shifted up or down on my last exchange.

Does anyone actually use these little buttons?

(2) If the mike is on my desk and I am sitting there right in front of it speaking a few inches away -- performance is perfect. But, if I slightly turn my head (say, looking at something) or move around every so slightly the signal level drops off measurably. This mike is way too directional I think.
SP2XF Rating: 2004-09-13
Let's say that OK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Running SM 20 with IC 736. The audio is really strong and no distortions even if I put high level of compression and full mic gain. But very often they're telling me that almost there are no low tones.. Only a lot of sopranos...
WB6MYL Rating: 2004-06-13
No more Heils!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Although boatanchors proliferate my shack and are fun to use, my main rig consists of an Icom R-9000/775DSP running in transceive mode; love the rigs; Good ol' Dale @ HRO Anaheim tried to talk me out of the Heil Classic and stay with the Icom mic for my equipment, but the Heil looked so good at the end of boom; well I tried the Heil on the 775, 761, and even my 970 and results were bad; I got the goldline because "it came with the rig" (like a lot of other hams) and the results were a little better but nothing like the SM-20 (on all three rigs); mics are very idiosyncratic with the equipment being used; try to borrow a desired mic before plunking down the money, it will save you some buyer's remorse.
Parenthetically, my opinion is that mics should be reviewed without the mitigating addition of equalizing and processing equipment which can in some cases make up for deficiencies in some/many/most microphones. Thank you for reading. Phillip W. Harris, PhD.P.C.
M5TAW Rating: 2004-06-13
Very good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought an IC7400 and the SM20 came free. I received many unsolicited comments on the quality of my audio - clearly a good combination.
I sold the 7400 and other radios to rationalise my shack. I now have a Yaesu 897 which I have wired up the SM20 to work with. Another outstanding combination! Again unsolicited great audio reports. I sold my Yaesu MD100 mic which sounded good but did not have the amplification of the SM20. No plans to sell this one!
NT9E Rating: 2004-04-06
Excellent audio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own 2 SM-20's. One for my IC-910H and one for IC-756PROII. I get excellent audio reports on both radios.
IW0HEX Rating: 2004-01-05
Great microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Perfect. Good sound. A great microphone by Icom. I use with great satisfaction with my IC746 and also with FT100D.
73s Pasquale IW0HEX
DF1AS Rating: 2003-07-10
* * * * - Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It seems to sound great as I get the best reports with it compared to all other mics I'm using. There are of course some minor disadvantages as already mentioned by previous reviewers. I personally like gooseneck versions better (e.g. the SM-8). Also, the SM-8 has two cables, the SM-20 has just one. If you have more than one ICOM-transceiver the SM-8 approach is fine. Unfortunately the SM-8 does not sound as good as the SM-20. I guess that all ICOM desk and hand microphones use identical electret capsules and just have different circuit boards (at least all capsules look similar). The up/down button (yes, it's a single plastic bar!) is unhandy. The bottom plate of the mic is made of a simple and unpainted sheet metal, which is extremely vulnerable to perspiration.
KB0ETC Rating: 2003-07-09
Maybe Better Construction/Face Lift. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Okay, maybe I have been spoiled with Yaesu gear a little too long. The microphone is great as everyone says, but is very expensive for what you are getting.

I ordered this microphone to fully equip the new IC-756PROII that is in the shack now replacing all the Yaesu gear.

I had both the Yaesu MD-100A8X and the MD-200A8X. The SM-20 is built like a "Tonka" toy compared to the Yaesu microphones.

Also this microphone does not have a detachable head, so DX'ing will be an awkward position now. You can only turn the head a few degrees each way. So mine sits kinda awkard on the desk to make it more comfortable to use.

"Cheesy" plastic buttons, that look like they were machined with sandpaper!... UP/DOWN Scan buttons feel cheap.

Would I buy another... Out to lunch on that. It does sound great with the 756PROII, but for the $175.00 (NEW) that I paid for it; I think I'd look at other options before buying another.

Also, I think the microphone could be streamlined so it will look more fluid with the new radios, instead of something from the 80's.

It cannot be used with non-Icom transceivers since the power is supplied from the connected transceiver. So don't buy one thinking you'll later put in on another Non-Icom rig!

I see something constructed like this for maybe $100-120. Not $175.00+
WB2DEX Rating: 2003-02-28
It Works And Its Pretty Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have this thing about buying things. 1) When I take it out of the box I want it to work. The days of having to fix some shoddy manufactures problems are long over. 2) Good looks do count! 3) I don't mind paying more so long as it meets my expectations. After two years of using the hand mike supplied with my then brand new Icom 746 I just got tired of holding it when speaking. Now I can just stare into space and rag chew away. As far as performance, the other reviews speak for it.