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Reviews For: Heil HandiMic Series (new for 2004)

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Heil HandiMic Series (new for 2004)
Reviews: 35MSRP: 80+cable
Description:
Only 4" tall - a new standard for hand mics!
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/handi_mic.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00354.4
K0CWO Rating: 2005-07-31
Trust Bob's recommendation Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned the Heil Goldline GM-5 for about a year now and use it with my Icom 756ProII. I am very happy with its performance and was looking to replace the stock hand microphone I use with my Kenwood TS-2000. I wrote Bob Heil not knowing which Handimic to buy. He recommended the HM-5. I have used it for two weeks now and I have received a lot of compliments on my audio. The microphone is very comfortable to use and has plenty of drive for the TS-2000. Another high quality product from Bob!
N0JSN Rating: 2005-06-22
LITTLE MICROPHONE BIG AUDIO Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
GREAT PUNCH FOR THE MOBILE. I FIRST RUN THE HANDI MIC ON MY VACATION OUT TO GRAND CANYON,ONE OF MY FRIENDS AB0RJ RECORDED ME WHILE I WAS SITTING AT THE AIRPORT AT GRAND CANYON TALKING BACK TO ST.LOUIS, DIDN'T REALIZE HOW GOOD THE AUDIO WAS UNTIL I HEARD IT FROM THE RECEIVING END VERY PUNCHY AUDIO YET VERY EASY TO LISTEN TO. BIG IMPROVMENT ON WHAT I SEEN THE WATT METER DOING ALSO! MADE BIG USE OF MY 100 WATTS IT GAVE AN ALL NEW MEANING TO PEP POWER. NOW I HAVE PURCHASED ONE OF THE KENWOOD 480 HX 200 WATT MOBILES, EVERYBODY I TALK TOO SAYS WHAT GREAT AUDIO I HAVE, AND THE SAME THING GOES WITH THE OLD WATT METER BUT NOW WITH 200 WATTS PEP. WHERE DOES BOB COME UP WITH ALL THESE GREAT SOUNDING MICS? I'VE TOLD BOB BEFORE, "JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOUR DOING BECAUSE YOUR DOING IT RIGHT!" CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE COMES UP WITH NEXT.
K9NYO Rating: 2005-05-27
Every day I like this mic more Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First of all, Bob has always been very gracious and helpful when I've talked to him at Dayton through the years. Though he probably talks to thousands of hams, he has always replied promptly and thoughtfully to any e-mails I've sent with questions.

I am very discriminating when it comes to audio and microphones, having built my first mic out at the age of 8 out of conduit, an old shower head, an element from my dad's (WA9NYO) junk drawer and some perf board (hi hi). I later worked as an announcer in broadcast radio for nearly 10 years, and I got used to high quality mics and high quality headbags. I've been really pleased with all of Heilsound's products.

So after a demo and trying out the mic myself at Dayton, I ordered one from R&L Electronics (fine folks) and had it within 2 days. I hooked it up--it's the HM-4 DX element--in the mobile and worked Liechtenstein through a pile-up within 10 minutes. I've received excellent reports on the audio since.

The microphone has a really nice feel to it, and I've found I can work the PTT with my thumb (as one might traditionally hold a mic) as well as with my index or middle finger when holding the mic as one might hold and operate a typical hand mic. For these reasons, the size and shape of the mic were very transparent in their use.

I would highly recommend this as well as other Heil products for their sound, construction and class...yes, they're really classy looking and that's important, too.
N2DY Rating: 2005-04-20
Great Improvement over Stock Mic Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I received the HandiMic as part of the free promotion when I purchased my Kenwood TS-480HX HF+6M mobile. Initially I had trouble with the cable that was received. Apparently, Heil had received a bad batch of cables from a supplier. Kenwood had me contact Heil directly for a replacement. Bob Heil responded quickly and shipped off a new cable right away.

There have been no problems with the new cable. Audio reports indicate a big improvement over the Kenwood stock mic. Everyone says that it sounds a lot more natural and not hollow sounding like the stock mic. The TS-480HX has plenty of audio (after upgrading to the latest firmware) and so the HandiMic has plenty of punch to get through even when I operate 75 Meter mobile.

The mic has a good high quality feel to it. The replacement cable seems to be nice and heavy. It does seem a bit weird to be using what looks like a small studio mic in the mobile, but it works quite well. The small size helps. Think of it as a shrunken Goldline.

I recommend this mic for the TS-480 in particular since it provides a significant improvement over the stock mic.
K7FD Rating: 2005-04-19
Weak Audio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got one for my Kenwood 2m rig. Half the audio output of the stock mic. Looks pretty though.

John K7FD
KF8RX Rating: 2005-04-19
Nice mic Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got one of these for free as a Kenwood promo when I bought my TS-480.

It took a little getting used to as it's different from most hand mics. However it's got the hc-5 element. What more do I need to say.

Eric
PA1AP Rating: 2005-04-10
Highly over rated Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Using the HM-PRO;

Audio sensitivity is low on the mic and one has to be very close to it before audio level arrives into the acceptable outputs. Running TS-2000 with all audio gain set to high to get some sound out of it. I could of course start shouting into the mic to get some output, but that's not the right way in my humble opinion.

I am now using a Behringer mic amplifier to compensate for this and also to put in some coloring at the right spot (at an extra $120 that is).

With the high price of the mic combined with the requirement for an amplifier, it would have been smarter and more cost efficient to go for a studio mic and amplifier from behringer to start with. Would have been a lot cheaper with at least the same results if not better.

The behringer ultravoice XM8500 mic sells at $25 and is a very good mic as well. Combine this with the Behringer VX2496 mic amplifier/equalizer ($120) and you have very powerfull combination.

Onno, pa1ap
WB6MYL Rating: 2005-03-11
Good, with a caveat! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
As you may or may not know, I have been a critic of non-oem mics for many years; after reading such reviews on several of his products, Bob Heil sent me two mics to audition; the "handi-mic" is a stage-type to use in place of an oem hand mic; nice idea, good weight, and well constructed; the rubber-tipped ptt has a nice feel and the mic is a pleasure to use; despite the ptt on the mic, Heil included a jack for a remote ptt (read my review on his very fine HS-2)which is good as I have it mounted on a shock mount and boom; I applaud the Heil group for an innovative concept in hand mics and similar comments about the nifty mic holder for wall or dash mounting. That withstanding, the mic is rated a 4 as it received mixed comments (solicited and unsolicited) about abrupt cut-offs of both high and low freq. especially compared to an SM-8, SM-20 and even the HM-36. $100 is a lot for a "hand mic" and one needs to make sure the mic is returnable to a jobber if it is not satisfactory or even (subjectively) better than the oem mic that comes with most equipment. Thank you for reading.
MW0DCT Rating: 2005-03-11
Very Good Mic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi All,

I'd like to review the handi Mic with the 5 insert and the service from Heil.

Before buying the Mic I read the reviews here and the Heil website before making my decision.

The website is very good and tells you all you need to know.

The service from Heil is excellent. I mail via the website from the UK and had a reply from Bob himself the same day.
So the personal service is fast...accurate and excellent.

the mic was also excellent in build quality but more imprtantly in sound quality.
Personally I prefere sound to looks but having a nice looking Mic is a bonus.

So overall the service, Mic and sound quality is excellent.
Bob even replied on a saturday....does he have a day of?? Hi Hi

I hope my personal experience with Heil and the Mic is of use to you

Regards

Paul
KR3DX Rating: 2005-01-17
HEIL QUALITY Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The following are my personal observations/opinions: I got the HandiMic to replace my HM-10. The sound from the HM-10 is great, but the HandiMic has less "proximity effect", that is, you don't have to be quite so close to the mike to achieve the desired drive level. Both mics have the HC-5 cartridge, so I'm comparing apples to apples. It's nice when a great product is made even better. The smaller size of the HandiMic fits on the desk much better than the old HM-10 did. The push-to-talk switch has a nice "snap" to it, a much more positive feel than the "squishy" button on the HM-10. I like the included mic holder, it has a much more secure grip on the mic than the old spring clip style did. I also prefer the matte finish on the HandiMic, it looks much more like Ham gear than the shiny, "slick" look of some of Heil's other mics. Those offerings always seemed like they would look more at home with DJ equipment or in the hands of a night club entertainer than in a Ham shack. Thank you, Bob Heil, for not making the HandiMic with a purple body and gold windscreen!

73,
Denny