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Reviews For: Shure 444

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : Shure 444
Reviews: 48MSRP: 80.00
Description:
Microphone
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.shure.com/pdf/discontinued/444.pdf
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00484.9
G4VRR Rating: 2019-12-10
Great Microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this mic. around 1980. I used it on a (shh) Cobra 40 channel AM CB and then when I got my ticket it was re-purposed with an FT757GX where it worked flawlessly. I moved on the '757 in 1987 but I kept the 444 and it went into storage. When I bought an Icom IC-7200, out it came again. I had to mod it mechanically because it only had one leaf switch bank, I was persuaded to separate the two (common) microphone grounds on the Icom. (It didn't make sense to me but why ask for advice and then ignore it?) These leaf switches are like those found in pinball machines. They are stupidly expensive over here and seemingly only available from The USA with crucifyingly expensive logistics cost. Eventually I added a second leaf spring (there was even a spare plastic moulded actuator tab on the PTT rocker switch inside!) by dismantling an old switched Bulgin 1/4" TS panel mount jack socket, and incorporated a non-polarised capacitor in the mic. line. Result? On the IC-7200 (and despite the assumed impedance mismatch) it sounds excellent using an FT818nd with headphones as an over the air monitor, although the latency is a little odd ... Certainly it's an improvement over the Chinese HM36. I have always been entirely happy with the 444 and marrying it up with the Icom after all these decades has reaffirmed that confidence. I would replace it if necessary. What other mics are so eminently modifiable?
N5XJT Rating: 2018-08-19
Excellent Older MIc! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Picked up a used one, cleaned it up and wired it for my TS-530. Great audio reports and easy to use with the extendable neck. If you have a tube rig that uses high impedance mic you just can't beat this one. Also own a 444D (the black one) which features switchable impedance. A very good mic but not as good as the plain old 444.
G4MJA Rating: 2016-12-13
Great Classic Mic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a new Shure 444D back in 1980 hooked up to a Yaesu FT200B & received many complimentary unsolicited audio reports.Eventually the radio & 444D were sold together. Years & many radios & microphones later (you know how it goes!) I recently bought a new Yaesu FTdx1200 & wanted a desk mic for it. After advertising on a forum I was fortunate to get a 'like new' 444D in it's original box with the data sheet. The frequency response is 200hz to 6khz with a rise at around 3khz.THe mic has plenty of gain & the audio is clear & full. With a couple of menu adjustments to the FTdx1200 I now have the TX sound I wanted. A highly recommended mic if you can find a good example but they are pretty thin on the ground these days.
G3ZPS Rating: 2016-04-26
Still Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Been a ham for 46 years, I only use Shure 444 and early 450 Mics. I have one modern radio (IC7200) and loads of older rigs..they always sound great. The 450 has a dual impedance element - set it to low, straight into the 7200 with an isolation cap, sounds great. Those guys new about comms quality audio with that rise in the response at 2.5KHz. Still pick them up cheap. Heil??? no thanks. Steve G3ZPS
W8AAZ Rating: 2013-05-19
Buyer alert info! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
THis is still a super mic for radios that accomodate a hi Z microphone. If you have middling impedance modern radio, look to the 450 model that has a low Z setting. These can pick up hum if too close to a power supply. BUYER ALERT- Be wary when buying these used or at hamfests. Unscrew the silver mouthpiece and make sure the element is in there, if you cannot see well thru the grille. People rob the hi-Z elements out of these as they sell 50$++ by themselves, as "harp mics" on ebay. You will eventually encounter these with no elements, for sale. I have taken the elements out of Shure CR mics that are beaters, but I don't try to screw someone with a dead mic later on. A nice empty mic body might be worth a couple bucks if you want to install another element type.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W8AAZ on 2008-05-24

This is hands down the best mike for the FT-101 series radios IMO. Put together you will get real good reports. They bring good money second hand for nice ones too. I don't know if there is a difference between the older ones and the late ones but I think they changed the element slightly. I would choose an older one. The selectable Z Shure 450 might be a viable option if you need low Z but it is not exactly the same element. It does have the 3 Khz. peak in response too. I got one of those and only time will tell how it compares when I ring it out. Pull the top up and no more leaning over to reach a tiny desk mike!
NN2X Rating: 2010-12-16
Great MIC Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the Kenwood 520S, and this MIC works great with this rig..

My Audio reports are always good..

Can't beat the price, and great performance..what more does one need!

Best, NN2X, Tom Wright
KX7P Rating: 2010-12-01
GREAT OLD MIC Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a great old microphone. I have used one on many HF radios over the years. It works very well on my Kenwood TS-520S, Kenwood TS-830S and Rockwell-Collins KWM-380. I still kept several around in my ham shack. I think the older 444 works better then the 444D, but that is my personal opinion. They both work fantastic and are better then many more expensive microphones produced today.

Nothing fancy about this mic, it just works very, very well. Period.
K4SPS Rating: 2009-12-13
I love old microphones Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This was a 'thrown in at no extra charge' microphone from a boat anchor rig I recently bought off of E-bay.

I rewired this vintage mic for my drake TR7 and it is a great electrical/audio match. My last transmission report on the Drake Technical Net - was "crisp and clear." It doesn't get any better than that.

In this modern inflationary age, it is nice to reclaim and reuse old and quality ham equipment. This mentality will come in handy in the near approaching 'Mad Max' era, hi hi. K4SPS
K9FON Rating: 2009-05-31
nice! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got a 444 in a deal with a Drake TR4CW, AC-4 power supply, speaker, and the 444 all for 180.00.
The 444 is all black and has a HRO(Ham Radio Outlet) logo on the bottom. The 444 was made for HRO as a promo in about 1977 or so. I rewired it to my Yaesu FT 101 EE and wow, it sounds great! Granted, it doesn't drive my 101 as hard as my D 104 but it sounds much clearer. I was going to sell the 444 but i dont think i will now.
KT8R Rating: 2009-05-06
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use one(444D) on my TS440SAT and get great audio reports. This is an ancient Mic and if you can get your hands on one, grab it.