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Reviews For: Behringer Ultravoice XM8500

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Behringer Ultravoice XM8500
Reviews: 28MSRP: 23. USD
Description:
Dynamic Cardioid Microphone
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.behringer.com/Categories/Behringer/Microphones/Dynamic/XM8500/p/P0120#googtrans(en|en)
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00284.9
WD5FUN Rating: 2017-07-10
Amazing what 20 bucks will buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought it because of great reviews. Well, the reviews are right. It is of solid construction, and it performs the same as my Heil PR-781. I switched back and forth with both my TS-590s and my Icom IC-7300 and no one could tell the difference. $20 vs $180.
N6BIZ Rating: 2017-05-13
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
$20 shipped to ur home
U can't beat that
AND great reports too with the w2ihy gear
Try one
SQ5TSS Rating: 2017-05-01
Great Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been using the mx8500 on the IC-7600 and they sound GREAT. unreal mic. Great audio and reports. Can't beat a great mic like this.
W8FDX Rating: 2017-02-13
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Better than any Heil and less than 25 bucks
AB4D Rating: 2016-12-17
Super Microphone Value Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Recently, a friend was looking for a studio type microphone to use in his station. I had read the favorable reviews here, and suggested that he should try the Behringer Ultravoice XM8500. I rationalized, Behringer is a well known company with a good reputation, and it was only $20, what did he have to lose?

Right out of the box, the microphone provided excellent results, on both his vintage Kenwood TS-830S, and a new Kenwood TS-2000. Once I heard his over the air, I decided I wanted to try one too.

Previously, I had been using an Electrovoice RE-27 professional microphone for many years. Similar to my friend's experience, I also received favorable reports when using the XM8500. The addition of a W2IHY EQplus, I had also used with the RE-27, made the XM8500 sound that much better.

So far, I haven't found a reason to go back to using the more expensive Electrovoice microphone. Friends that I have known for years, that I ragchew with on 75 meters, tell me the XM8500 seems to sound better with my voice, than when using the RE-27.

IMO, the XM8500 has proven itself to be a great microphone, and an excellent value for the price. The microphone comes packaged in a nice protective hard shell case. In addition to the microphone, it includes a standard thread microphone clip/holder. I believe, it would be difficult to find another microphone that performs as well, at this price point.

73, Jim AB4D
W5WAA Rating: 2016-11-07
Works well with Flex 1500 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Been using this with my Flex 1500 about 4 years. The only mic I have ever owned that I frequently get compliments on. Most people won't believe that the mic cost only $20.
YV3EDO Rating: 2016-08-25
Great! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this mic via Amazon, only US$20, adapted it to Yaesu MD-1 base and rewire 8 pin connector to Kenwood.
Used in my TS-50 and TS-480 with terrific and unsolicited reports!!!!
Even better than my MC-60
I bet that XM-8500 is a really bargain!!
AJ2I Rating: 2015-12-14
Awesome Performance! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I am constantly getting unsolicited compliments about my audio and this mic is one of the reasons! An amazing value and packs a punch
HL1ZIX Rating: 2015-11-21
Best value in Ham radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I dropped my MH31 Yaesu hand mic, and broke it, so I decided to give this a try. I was swayed by the positive reviews on here of people touting this mic over more expensive options. Let me tell you, they are not exaggerating in the least. What a great mic.

I actually have another XLR dynamic mic, the Audio Technica AT818II, which is a cheapee sold in Asia. That mic is about $10, and sounds just OK for Ham, but is muddy, and lacks DX punch that my MH31 handmic had. Although I could EQ a smooth sound with that mic, I could never get the DX punch I wanted with it. So I got this xm8500 to try. How can you go wrong, at this price?

After owning the Behringer xm8500, I now feel as if I have the best of both worlds -- warm and smooth ragchew ability, or solid punchy DX, depending on what I want with my settings.

If I set my Yaesu FT950 to add just a smidge of top end, transmit width at 3-27, and about 15 compression, the mic is wonderful for DX work. What a great deal. Highly recommended.
W1NEJ Rating: 2015-04-03
Great with Flex 6300 running Remote! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was looking for a mic to use with my Flex 6300, which can now be used remotely with the release of SmartSDR 1.4 and found this mic. It had great reports here on eHam, and also on Amazon, so I thought, what the heck, for $20.00 I would give it a try. I'm glad I did!

(To use SmartSDR remotely, it is necessary to use a mic connected to your PC, not directly to the radio. SmartSDR then does its magic and connects the audio through your IP network back to the radio.)

I purchased a cable that has XLR on one end and USB on the other end, plugged it into my Win 7 PC. Win 7 found the drivers and made it work. True plug and play. I mapped the mic in Windows to be the default audio input, and that was it. I am getting very positive reports on my audio from every contact I make.