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Reviews For: Astatic 575-M6 Ceramic Teardrop

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Astatic 575-M6 Ceramic Teardrop
Reviews: 21MSRP: 60 new / 36 Used
Description:
Ceramic hand microphone 575-M6
Product is in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00214.9
MM0XXW Rating: 2020-08-27
Just superb .... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I reiterate the previous review as I have the same mic on the same radio which is a match made in heaven, or Edinburgh in this case!!!!
They are getting extremely hard to find in the UK as once you have one folks just don't want to part with them however I was lucky enough to come across one for sale in Jersey, with a lot of help from Andy-GD1MIP, and snapped it up.
Get one if you can it's a no-brainer!
2E1RDX Rating: 2019-04-21
Stunning Microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use the Astatic teardrop 575 M6 on My FT-1000 MP MK-V Field and get fantastic audio reports, I have used it with the same results on the FTDX-3000, FT950, and TS-590sg wouldn't use anything else gives crisp clean punchy audio love it
M0HDX Rating: 2015-10-10
Great Microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Sounds great on my Kenwood ts-850 with the tone control at zero position and running the proc on the ts-850 at 5db high boost off.

8 pin kenwood wiring for 575-M6

pin 1 white
pin 2 red
pin 7 shield
pin 8 blue

yellow and black wires not connected

If you get the chance buy one.
MM0HRL Rating: 2015-07-29
Best SSB mike I've used, bar none Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used two Astatic fist mikes - the Teardrop and the old Minuteman II. They both give truly excellent audio on SSB, formerly on CB rigs and now I'm using the T'drop on my ham rigs, a TS50 Kenwood and (through a patch lead) to my FT-857d. Yaesu appears unable to make a mike capable of giving its tiny mobile HF radio anything approaching halfway decent audio, although the MH59 improves the utterly hopeless MH31 they foist on you when you buy the radio.
I've assessed the TX audio on both rigs now via one of the SDR record online facilities and can safely report that the Astatic Teardrop can make my 857d sound almost - but not quite - as good as my Kenwood. Regardless of mike setting, similar with rig mike gain and processor level, the Astatic broadens the 857d's transmitted audio well enough for a couple of stations in QSO with me to say my 857d was the best one they'd heard so far.
Unfortunately the Teardrop is now a thing of the past and fetches silly money when appearing on auction sites - so I'll be holding onto mine.
I do agree with comments re build quality, or lack of same. Although the mike feels solid in your hand, the internals give some cause for concern. The PTT switch is a primitive affair that's prone to wear with age, giving switching errors designed to test your patience - and replacements are probably impossible to find these days. My Minuteman II had this issue, but also the switch mounting was only a couple of fragile plastic fingers moulded into the mike casing, which broke very easily. This one's not much better. The battery connector is indeed a thing of low quality, and the battery "compartment" is a folded piece of card. Talk about spoiling the ship for ha'penny worth of tar! Another issue is the casing screws - which happily strip out their threads in their location bosses. Even slightly overtighten these and you have to repair them.
Despite these definite shortcomings, the fact remains that this microphone sounds deep and smooth and rich and I've yet to find a rig that's not improved by plugging in a Teardrop to it.
HA7WX Rating: 2015-05-12
A must have Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
And i have it.
Works great on anything, especially on my TS-870.
If you look for a mobile mike with both the capability to set volume and tone you won't find a lot. These setting possibilities allow you to fit your mike to the radio you want to hook it up to.
A must have, which fits perfectly in one's hand, and care must be given because i am not sure of the durability of some of its inner parts (see one of the reviews downer, however, this mike does not in any way deserve a 3 for that reason alone). For me it's a 4.9 rating.
See the used prices and you'll understand it actually is a great piece of equipment.
ZL1PWR Rating: 2015-05-12
SWEET MIC Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I use mine on my kenwood ts-830 ts-820 ts-520
great audio reports glad I picked this up
shame they are not made now
N2MJH Rating: 2010-06-18
Excellent mic. Not just for CB Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been running this mic on my Kenwood TS-50s, HR2600 and tried it on my Yaesu FT-897D and have been receiving nothing more than excellent audio reports. don't believe that this should be only for 11 meters, just keep the volume control low and let the mic do the work. if you see one for sale on fleabay thats in good shape grab it up. 73's
N3TU Rating: 2010-03-05
Great Mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I get great audio reports with this mic. If you know where I can find another one, look me up on QRZ. It has a nice nice punch through the DX and sounds natural. My audio seems to shine with that mic.
M3SKF Rating: 2009-11-23
HMM ...WELL Time Owned: more than 12 months.
IVE GOT A COUPLE OF THESE MIKES AND I DO AGREE THAT THE AUDIO IS PARTICULLY GOOD.I DO HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE INTERNAL BUILD QUALITY OF THESE MIKES,I HAVE USED THEM ON MANY HF TRANSCEIVERS ALL WITH GOOD RESULTS.THE EXTERNAL FABRICATION IS ONE OF STRONG AND STURDY CONSTRUCTION,SO WHY DIDN'T THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THE ELECTRICAL INTERNALS OF THIS GREAT MIKE?THE ELEMENT HANGS ALMOST FREE IN THE CASING AND THE BATTERY COVER IS MADE FROM A CHEAP PIECE OF CARDBOARD WITH THE WIRED TERMINAL POORLY SOLDERED TO THE BOARD.COMBINE THIS WITH THE POOR PTT SWITCHING MECHANISM AND VERY CHEAP BIRO SPRING AND ITS NOT LOOKING GOOD.WHAT A SHAME THAT ASTAIC END PRODUCTION OF THIS CULT CLASSIC MIKE WITH POOR QUALITY CONTROL AND TACKY INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION.
31DELTA90 Rating: 2009-11-22
Simply The Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The best sounding mobile microphone. I'll give you $100 dollars if you can find me a better sounding mobile microphone.