Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Shure 444

Category: Microphones for ham radio

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
MI3LVZ Rating: 2009-05-06
You wont be dissapointed Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have two Shure triple 4's and one is the D model. I bought them second hand and both required a spot of TLC to make them presentable. Simply superb audio reports from this usually over looked and commonly mistaken for a CB type mic. I have one on my Drake TR7 and the other on a TS520SE, both mics drive the radio's fantastically. See one grab it...
K9AUB Rating: 2008-03-07
Best Communications Microphone Ever! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you are looking for a rugged "communications" quality microphone that will slice through the pileups better than any other mic, then you want the Shure 444. This is the one that cuts through the QRM and gets you through when others won't. It's communications quality, not Hi-Fi, and concentrates all your power into the speech range where it needs to be to make you heard. For the most part, these mics come in tan cases, but there are some all-black specimens out there as well. Electrically, they are all the same. Mic head can be pulled up to adjust for your particular height requirements. Has PTT switch on the base, but you can use them with VOX with the flip of a switch on the bottom. The 444D has a high-low impedance switch on the bottom. Discontinued now, but still readily available for reasonable prices on ebay and on the used shelf at CB stores. An excellent microphone at any price.
WB4CZR Rating: 2008-03-01
My first mic and still is Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was given my Shure 444 for Christmas of 1965. All audio reports that I've received were of superb audio not just good. If you look around, you'll see the 444 everywhere from PA systems to police base stations. Someone likes these critters.
VR2XMQ Rating: 2008-02-24
Great Old Timer! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had mine for over 20 years and still get consistant over the air comments on the good audio quality.

Steve, VR2XMQ / VR10XMQ
K2JAG Rating: 2006-08-28
Great Mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use it with a Ts-2000 and love it. I did put a high to low impedence transformer in line because the Ts-2000 operates between 250 and 600 ohm and the mic is high. I have been getting very good reports.
N7EKX Rating: 2005-10-10
Great Audio Reports Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was lucky enough to find a new model of these listed on eBay, although the mike was originally sold in 1988 (and unused by the original purchaser). It was immediately hooked up to my Heathkit SB-104A, using the high impedance mode, and the audio reports have been outstanding... it seems like this is the perfect mike for older, vintage rigs like mine. Heathkit supplied a 2-pin Amphenol connector for microphone hookups on their older rigs, and the Shure 444 easily connects in the 2-pin arrangement. In fact, Heathkit actually sold the Shure 444 in their later catalogs as the "HDP-444" (the black-color model I got from eBay). It's a lot of fun to hear that your 25-year old radio sounds as good as anything on the air! So if you have a vintage radio and have a shot at getting one of these, go for it-- you won't be disappointed.
W9NET Rating: 2005-09-17
Not bad at 41 yrs Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got the mike along with a Drake TR-3. Still have and use both. The PTT switch has occasionally gotten dirty, so I have had to remove the base plate and clean the contacts. The screws screw into tubular tubes and two of them have broken-off at their bases. I used Radio Shack double-stick tape to hold the base plate on, successfully. No complaints about the audio, except with a KWM-380--when talking to "audio heads" they complain it makes their ears bleed. Communications audio is just fine with me. Regards, JL
KS4HY Rating: 2005-04-18
Great mic. Very reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my first Shure 444d since the summer of 1986, and I have not had one problem out of it. I liked it so much I bought two more for my other rigs, and I regularly get compliments on the audio. Great sounding problem free microphone. Save yourself some money, and forget about the Heil mics with the out board EQ. The Shure 444d is the keeper.

-Michael
KS4HY
N2OUV Rating: 2004-12-12
Rugged and Good Audio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked up my 444 on ebay for 22 bucks, unfortunatly it was typical ebay fodder and not as described. Mic was previoiusly owned by Nick O'tine and appears Nick played radio after dinner without washing his hands.
I was disgusted with its appearence but on the air testing revealed excellent audio reports.
Rather than scrapping it I stripped it down and washed the body but couldnt remove the smoke and fading. I decided to repaint the 444 and I used the new Krylon fusion for plastic and had excellent results plus now its a color I actually like. Good mic easily restorable and rugged.
WA2GHH Rating: 2004-08-30
Natural Sounding Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I too owned a butt-ugly 444 and loved it! I'm still kicking myself for including it with a TS-820 I sold in 1986. I sure (pun intended) would like an e-mail from anyone who has tried using the 444 as a computer mic. The nice and big PTT would be handy with Yahoo's VOX. Thanks-steveinbolton@yahoo.com