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Reviews For: Heil PR40 Dynamic Microphone

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Heil PR40 Dynamic Microphone
Reviews: 69MSRP: 329/399 USD
Description:
Heil PR 40 microphone boasts the widest frequency range of any dynamic mic in the Heil PR series. The PR 40 incorporates Heil’s phasing plug technology, along with the use of a very large (1?), low mass diaphragm, and custom magnet metals housed in a specially designed microphone body.
The PR 40 is available in black, black with a gold grill, champagne, gold plate, or chrome plate.
  • Output Connection: 3 pin XLR
  • Element Type: Dynamic
  • Frequency Response: 28 Hz – 18 kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Rear Rejection @ 180 degrees off axis: -40 dB
  • Impedance: 600 ohms balanced
  • Output Level: -53.9 dB @ 1 kHz
  • Weight: 13.5 oz
Product is in production
More Info: https://heilhamradio.com/products/pr-40-2/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00694.9
W3OZ Rating: 2006-04-05
You can't get any better Mic than this Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had so many microphones over the years that to be truthful, I can’t remember some of them. I have many here in the shack just sitting in their boxes collecting dust. They range from very inexpensive to way too much for amateur radio. All of them have some good characteristics, but also some bad ones. Actually one of the better ones was less than $60.00 and I used it for a long time. It was a large diaphragm condenser microphone that required phantom power (48 volts).

The problem with large condenser microphones is in most cases, they were never intended for amateur radio. They were meant to be used in recording studios or live presentations, where audio engineers are there to control them. Most amateur radio shacks have a lot of noise generators, like rigs, amps, computers, power supplies etc. Most of the time with these condenser microphones you get all that unintended sound going right along with your voice. Yes I know you have noise gates and downward expanders, but they tend to chop the audio a little. A better solution is a good dynamic microphone. There are plenty of them out there but which is the best?

A good old standard has always been the EV RE-20. I went to Dayton last year specifically, to see if I could find one used and if not to buy one new. While I was looking for the microphone, I wondered by Bob Heil’s booth there in Audio Alley. He was holding court and showing off his wondrous products there in the booth. I went over and saw him demonstrating the PR-40. I had heard good reports about it but had not as yet tried one myself. As luck would have it he had a display of a RE-20 and PR-40 going into a mixer with headphones out so that you could try it yourself. I talked into both microphones and boy was I surprised. The PR-40 has a smoother bottom and it seemed much brighter all around. I bought one right there and have never been happier with a microphone.

There may be better microphones at a greater price than the PR-40, but for amateur radio it is just the best you can get. Get a real quality microphone like the PR-40 so that no matter if you like to run HI-FI type audio or narrow or just about any kind you like this mic will do it. Don’t start your ham setup with a mic that limits your bandpass, by rolling everything off below 350 to 400 HZ. Let the filters and or DSP in your shinny new rig do that where it is more appropriate. The design engineers in most new rigs have gone to quite a bit of trouble to design a radio that has good audio. Don’t destroy their work by putting a restrictive microphone in front of the rig.

This microphone is built like a tank and is made of quality parts. It should last you for many years. You should put it in a good shock mount and boom. Even with an internal Pop filter, I find with my voice I need an external one to get all pops out. The microphone is designed to go into Bob’s shock mount, but he was thoughtful enough to design it so that it will go into the popular ElecctroVoice 309A because of the set screw hole in the base. If you are not using external pre-amplification, you may have to turn up the mic gain a little on most rigs. Don’t worry, as long as the ALC is within range you will sound spectacular. Get a PR-40 and stop fooling with the rest of the stuff out there. You will save money in the long run.
K4DRA Rating: 2006-03-07
Outstanding Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the PR 40 for 2 weeks now and I am sure I will have it forever. What a microphone!
The quality seems to be outstanding. I have been getting some outstanding audio reports. Everyone wants to know what am I using. I have tried several other microphones and none hold a candle to this one. If you want great SSB audio try this microphone. It seems to work well with most of the modern rigs on the market today
FORMER_W4KTX_JC Rating: 2005-12-02
Great Microphone Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a great microphone and it can stand it's own when even compared to Commercial braodcast microphones. It has a very wide frewquency response and clear articulation.

In reviewing this mic., as a HAM, I want to focus on SSB use, which in our hobby, will be the primary use of a microphone on HF. When hooked directly to the rig, I found the PR-40 to be a little bassy for me. This would be expected from a commercial quality bradcast Microphone. But when run through my W2IHY gear, it has become my favorite SSB microphone. Most HAMS purchasing this mic are already interested in high quality audio and already have mic processing equipment. If I want a mic to hook directly to a rig, the PR-780 would be my choice (less bass with higher midrange), but for the best sound via pre-processing, the PR-40 can't be beat. So if you are l;ooking for the best fo the best, this is it.
NA1A Rating: 2005-11-20
Good mic but inadequate pop filtering Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I give it a 4 because when I compare the PR40 side by side to the Electrovoice RE-410, the PR40 just does not have adequate enough internal pop filterings. End result, too much breath noises and puffing sound. If you really want to eliminate breath noises, you'll need to use an external pop filter. However, by doing so, you will loose some of the low frequency response as well.
The Electrovoice RE-410 on the other hand has very much the same richness and clarity as the PR-40 without any poping noise. More over, it has slight "lift" in the mid to high end frequency range, so the voice comes out clearer, more articulate, really sweet. Internal pop filter of the RE-410 is wonderful. Even if you use an additional external pop filter, you won't loose any of the lows either.
Cost wise, the RE-410 is about 1/3 less than the PR-40. It does require 48 volt phantom power. The RE-410 is a studio condensor mic.
I think it is worthwhile to check out the RE-410 by Electrovoice before you plop down for a PR40. I had two PR-40 here at two different times. I compared them both extensively against the RE-410. Both times, the RE-410 came out ahead. To me, the Electrovoice RE-410 has a nicer sound. Best of all, it is cheaper than the PR40.
DG1FHA Rating: 2005-11-20
THE BEST !! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The sound is the best.
This beauty is the BEST. I get unsolicited reports of my great audio and with a little tweaking on my W2IHY EQ Plus. I use the TenTec Orion with the PR-40. In the past I use the RE 20, MD 200, Goldline GM-4, HeilSound Studio One….. I can say nothing tops the PR-40 !!!

It is a 5 +++
KC8FWD Rating: 2005-11-14
AWESOME Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I use my Heil PR-40 with a W2IHY box into my Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark 5 I love it this is a great combo.
KC9BGT Rating: 2005-08-27
Fantastic… Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received the Heil Pr40 the other day and hooked it up to my Digitube… Wow, I have had dynamic microphones before but this one is so smooth, flat and ear pleasing. I had to buy the Electrovoice 309A shock mount to enhance the look of my shack. (Quick tip… a SO 239 double female fits quite well between the two if you don’t have the screw) fit’s perfect. You could do a lot worse for a lot more but why?
W2BRI Rating: 2005-08-07
An Excellent Performer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am not a friend of Bob's. Actually, I've only met him once at an ICOM day at HRO Burbank. I compared this mic against many others. Studio mics, ham mics, a very good sampling. The PR40 tops them all while still doing backflips. I am not just blown-away, I am cooly and seriously impressed by this microphone. If you are looking for top sound without spending top dollar, get the PR40. This is now the only mic for me. The other mics are going to others on Ebay. My usual nature is to be critical about a product, but I am a convert. I have had this for some time now, maybe three months. Email me if you have questions
K2WO Rating: 2005-07-12
The BEST! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am not particularly a ham radio "audiophile", but I do insist on good audio. After reading all the reviews here and having had several conversations with Bob Heil, I made the "plunge" and picked up a PR-40.......I was VERY pleased.

This beauty is the BEST. I get unsolicited reports of my great audio and with a little tweaking on my W2IHY EQplus(another great product from Julius Jones) I have made my audio even better. I got some good insight from Jim, N0JSN on setting up the Orion to work with this mike and I am happier still. The mike itself looks GREAT and it looks and feels like a precision instrument. The sound is the best. It sounds fabulous by itself, without any front-end audio gear, but if you add some(like the W2IHY stuff), it really "glows" and can be adjusted for DXing, Ragchewing or whatever strikes your fancy.

In closing, Bob has surpassed all of his past creations with this mike, which is really saying something. If you want great audio, get a Heil PR-40. If your not even into this "audio stuff", get a PR-40. For the money, you will be MUCH better off than you will be with any of the expensive I-K or Y products. Thanks Bob for another GREAT product!
WV4R Rating: 2005-07-12
Amazing Quality & Performance for hammy radio! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
PR-40

The Awesome PR-40

When I first met Bob at Dayton in 1984, I had no idea our friendship would extend for over 21 years. I remember it like yesterday. Bob was demonstrating his “HC-3” element on a bank of radios. First he demonstrated the factory microphones and then the HeilSound element. Once I heard the difference, I was sold. I purchased my first HC-3 from Bob. From 1984-1999 I added the HC-4 and HC-5 to my arsenal of microphones. I was a Heil user for Fifteen Years! However, in 1999 I turned off on the road less frequently traveled and began experimenting with DSP transceivers and Studio audio equipment. Bob kept adding products but I was following a different path of the hammy radio hobby.

On 01June2005 I had a massive heart attack during the weekend of HamComm in Dallas and found myself in the Dallas V.A. Hospital. I was visited by a number of ham friends. W2IHY/Julius came over from HamComm on Sunday. W5DRH/Don and his ham wife Julie were there all weekend.

Sunday, Don arrived with a big goodie bag from HamComm filled with all kinds of surprises. Don said he had attended the ‘Audio Workshop’ and Bob had asked about me. When Don said I was in I.C.U. from a massive heart attack, Bob grabbed his PR-40 microphone, a black felt-marker and created his first “Signature Series” PR-40 microphone for me. It reads: “Murf, Enjoy Life! Bob”. Don took pix of me hamming it up on my hospital bed with the new PR-40. I cannot tell you how much that special personalized gift meant to me during this stressful time. It gave me such a boost to recover and get out of that bed!

Once home, I installed the PR-40 onto the Main Operating Console. After I got strong enough to ham it up, I got On-Air for comparative reports from all the guys who knew my signal so well. The vote was Unanimous in favor of the PR-40… Natural sound- Clear, clean, articulate top end-Full yet tight bottom end-Minimal background noises… did I mention it looks like a million bucks too?

Totally disregarding the fact that Bob Heil is a personal friend and totally disregarding that his “Signature Series” helped get me out of the hospital in record time, it is simply as good as it gets compared to microphones costing much more.

So… for these reasons the new HeilSound PR-40 gets the wv4r FIVE Star rating. 73 es God bless, murf.