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Reviews For: Heil PR 781 Microphone

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Heil PR 781 Microphone
Reviews: 100MSRP: 199.
Description:
Professional quality dynamic cardioid microphone for amateur radio that is specifically designed for use with most makes of Elite transceivers of Kenwood, Yaesu, Ten Tec and iCOM.
Product is in production
More Info: https://heilhamradio.com/products/pr-781-2/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001004.8
WU8P Rating: 2010-04-29
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The 781 works quite well on my Yaesu FT-2000.

73
Phil WU8P
PY2VR Rating: 2010-04-29
Excellent mic for IC-7700 !!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Outstanding mic !!! Perfect match with Icom IC-7700, I always receive excellent reports about audio curve and quality, even better than Yaesu MD-200.
KB3SI Rating: 2010-02-15
Good Sounding Mike Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought the 781 to go with my new Icom 7600 and to replace a Heil HM-10-5 mike that was approaching 20 years old. The finish of the mike is very nice and the SM-3 mount that is included works well with the mike. I received compliments on the sound, although the HM-10-5 is a tough act to follow. All in all I think the price for the 781 is a good value. Make sure you also order the 3 pin XLR connector since the 4 pin XLR connector used with the HM-10-5 won't work with the 781.
W0GI Rating: 2009-12-29
Quality with EQ for Ham Rigs Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm not sure that the PR781 is over priced, it seems resonable to me, as it is designed for use in modern ham rigs. A lot less quantity will be sold as compared to the zillion Shure stage mics sold.

While there are lots of good mics in the pro audio arena, the PR781 has the frequency response taylored for use in ham rigs. Without external EQ, many of the pro audio mics will sound flat and bassy.

I had an EV RE20 for a while, and with external EQ, it sounded great into the Mark-V. It is also a mic where you can move around without changing the audio response. And it doesn't get bassy when you close talk.

But directly into the Mark-V, none of the settings made it sound good. I found that for direct feed, a Shure SM-57 sounded great with your mouth 6" away, but it had the problem of your voice sounding different close-in and to the sides of the mic.

Like the RE20, the PR781 sounds the same up close, back 12" and when talking into the sides of the mic.

The difference is that Bob Heil set the PR781's EQ with the bass rolled off a bit, and some peaks at higher frequencies. So when plugged directly into a ham rig, it sounds a lot better then an RE20.

The PR781 with the correct settings sounds just great plugged directly into the Mark-V.

Expensive? Well the RE20 and DBX audio processor I used cost $800. The PR781 cost $165, and sounds very close to the RE20 with external processing.

There is no doubt that a Neumann U-87 into high end audio processing gear will sound better. But over the air with reasonable bandwidth, how much better? $6,000 better? :>)

But if you just want great sound from a mic plugged directly into your rig, without all the external gear, then the PR781 is probably the best available.

I liked the RE20/DBX combo just fine, but like the HF rig I bought with the money from selling them a lot better.

You are going to need to spend a lot money on a mic and external gear to get audio much better then just using a PR781 directly into a modern high-end rig. It's really a bargain.
KU5Q Rating: 2009-11-16
Okay Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Okay for what it is. Cheap construction for the price. Give some of the Pro Audio mics like the Shure Beta 57 a try. You might be surprised, and you will have a much better quality mic for the dollar. Heils products are overpriced for what you get compared to similar products made for other markets exclusive to ham radio. Don't take my word for it, do a little hands on research and see for yourself.

I like my PR781, and since it's paid for, I'll likely hang onto it for a while. I would not buy another one though. Not because it isn't a good performing mic, because it is. But, because you can get a much better mic for the same money elsewhere if you do some research on other things that are available.

Same thing with the crude clunky and junky, typical ham project hand made W2IHY stuff. If you take this stuff apart, and check out what it's made of, and how it's made, you'll see it's way overpriced.

I don't mind spending the money for good gear, but Heil products are way over priced for what you get.

W2YM Rating: 2009-11-16
Real nice mic Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use this PR-781 mic with my IC-781 radio GREAT combo. I have great audio with these two put together. I give it a (5)... Mark W2YM 73's.
K0MD Rating: 2009-10-20
Superb performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used this mike for 2+ years now. I am updating my review from 2 years ago. I now use it with my Icom 7800. I get unsolicited comments on my audio quality. Reports such as "you sound fantastic, what mike are you using?" and "Your audio sounds wonderful".

This microphone is designed to work with newer HF rigs that allow audio tailoring. It is the best microphone I have used. I think you must use it to appreciate what it will do for your SSB audio.
N5THN Rating: 2009-09-27
Great, with the right rig. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Had this mike just a little over 3 months. It works really well with my rig, Icom 756 Pro III, and my voice, deep. I'm mostly into digital modes, but when I go phone I want nice audio!

I'm not using any outboard EQ or processing at all, just what's built into my transceiver. I've got my settings pretty close to Heil's recommendations, and I consistently get great comments on my audio. What I've recorded of myself sounds full and natural without the boominess my voice has without the EQ, even with the transmit bandwidth set to mid.

With compression on, it seems to work well in a pileup, yet I still get great comments on my audio.

It has plenty of gain, and rejects background noise well. The build quality seems excellent!
K8KAS Rating: 2009-09-11
Great Microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned one for two years, and IMHO has proven to be the best mic's I have owned. I use it on an FT1000D/TS850 and now my Orion with very good reports. Lots of output. What some forget is good audio takes some work, you don't just plug the mic in and go, if you do a little EQ work this mic is one of the best. PS some people have a voice that can't be helped by a mear microphone. 73 Denny
WA2EEW Rating: 2009-09-10
GREAT PRODUCT! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got the 781 with my FT-2000. Have had no problem since day one. Talking with other amateur friends I was told that my voice could be easily identified as being myself.
Breaking pile-ups also no problem. It definately is a keeper.