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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
AA8YE Rating: 2003-05-20
Bought this beauty at Dayton Hamfest 2003 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wired this mic to my Icom 735 and have had excellent audio reports. It's to bad Heil has to charge so much for a microphone that sounds almost as good! I am a Musician/Sound tech. and listen carefully to audio on HF. I guess what really interests me is how audio from one station to the next isn't that much different, unless you get into Broadcast quality equipment.
M3BBP Rating: 2003-05-20
suprising quality Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
My Shure 444 mic was thrown in with a recently purchased second hand Kenwood TS-830S. I didn't like the look of the Shure. It looked ugly and clunky! However over time I experimented with my audio and just for fun I compared it to my standard Kenwood MC-50 desk mic and was completely surprised when the Shure 444 out performed the manufacturers recommended mic.

Hence, the Kenwood MC-50 mic is now connected to my standby radio (a TS-530S) and the Shure has remained attached to my main radio. After my months of constant use, the appearance of the Shure is starting to grow on me ;-)

The moral of the story is... it may look a tad out of place in my Kenwood line up, but it sure packs one hell of a punch. If you come across one of these mics try it, you may be very surprised of the quality of its audio like I was.
VE3YES Rating: 2003-05-02
I'm pining for another 444D... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I sold my 444D years ago and now that I've got back into HF I'm on the hunt for another one. The microphone worked perfectly, had great audio and looked pretty good in black. Lots of output to drive any radio.
KC8HXO Rating: 2003-03-11
OUTSTANDING audio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well, folks, in his "Science of Audio" series, one of the leading scholars on microphones suggests a microphone with an increase in response around 2000-3000 Hz. Well, guess what.... that's just what the old "triple-four", and it's modern counterpart, the 450, have! Great intelligibility, along with what I have found to be undeniable quality. Top of the pack for communications grade audio.
K9FE Rating: 2002-03-16
Fantastic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Was given a 444T at our hamfest 3 years ago, the vendor was tired of packing it up week after week. The simple amp in it howled. It sat in my garage for 2 years. Bored one day I bypassed the amp circuit and connected the mics output directly to the input of my Yaesu. WOW! What sound. I did a little checking and the mic is from the 60's. It sounds better than any mic I have tried on the Yaesu. I guess for the price (nothing) it is great. Heck, for $50 it would be a great deal. The full 1" plus cartridge sure sounds a lot fuller than the little electret mics I have tried.

I was using a full sized cartridge AKG D-700 variable roll-off Lo-Z mic, but the Shure takes the prize. The sound is pretty close to a full range Heil at a much lower cost.

The old stuff still works!
VK2ATN Rating: 2001-10-03
First impressions of the Shure 450. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
G'day fellow amateurs,
I have recently purchased a new/old stock Shure 450 desk mic and although I have not connected it to my FT-100D as yet due to complicated wiring and I do not want to damage my new radio, I find the 450 to be a very attractive and I can see the internals and the PTT leaf contacts will last a very long time.
I experimented with the 450 and connected it to my stereo system and I found the resulting audio with the switch switched to HI impeadence to be like a FM broadcast station. I know a lot of die hard contesters/DX's will find this type of audio not really suitable for contesting which I have to agree and for local/DX ragchewing this mic would have to be in the 1 of the best class. But I know alot of people do use the 444/450 for contests and are 100% happy with it's audio.
If you are in the hunt for a new desk mic, just listen around on the bands and when you come across a station with nice sounding audio, break in and ask what type of equipment he/she is using. As well if you do not know, the 444/450's series mic's do not have a pre-amp, so the end result is a natural smooth sounding audio without the amplified voice and back ground noise.
I will update this review as soon as I have it wired for my radio, and although the 444/D's are not available anymore, you can still buy the 450 new from Shure which is pretty much the same as the 444.
73's VK2NEW Anthony. vk2new@dingoblue.net.au

ps, if any body has wired a 450/444/D to a FT-100D, can you please drop me an email.
K9SQG Rating: 2001-10-03
Excellent workhorse. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Mic can be used with tube-type and solid state rigs alike. Excellent fidelity and high output level. Adjustable height is very useful depending on user's size, desk height, etc. Close tie with a D-104. Although I use just one 444D, I have several new in the box, "just in case". Guess you could say I like the mic!

73s,

Evan, K9SQG
KE4MOB Rating: 2001-06-08
Excellent mic! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked mine up out of a box of old commerical equipment that had been sitting out in the weather at a local junk store. Got it for $5!! Brought it home, and cleaned it up--works like a charm with my TS450S. Never had any problems.
PY2VR Rating: 2001-01-23
Great for TS-850 / TS-870 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Excellent transmission when working with Kenwood TS-850 or TS-870. Put High Impedance, turn ON High Boost on 850 or TX-EQ (High on Menu)on 870.
I have a 444D connected on TS-870. Wonderfull TX.
73,
Eduardo
WB5QDR Rating: 2001-01-23
Great Mike Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my Shure 444 since 1979. It was given to me as a christmas present right after I bought my FT-101-ZD. I still use both, and I still get compliments on my audio quality. It's a Great Mike.