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Reviews For: ICOM SM-30 microphone

Category: Microphones for ham radio

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Review Summary For : ICOM SM-30 microphone
Reviews: 41MSRP: 195
Description:
Compact, lightweight goose-neck style desktop electret microphone with low cut function
Product is in production
More Info: http://icomamerica.com/en/amateur/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15414.8
KB9NGX Rating: 2023-01-07
Easy high-quality Audio for Icom Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In use with a current production Icom Transceiver: Producing effective, clear Audio. From plug-in to adjusting the Rig, it was straightforward and simple. The Mic's practical size gives stability and easy use, without unnecessarily taking desk space.

Pre-amplifier in the Mic's base, provides ample adjustability. With enough Gain available for older Icom products. A well-purposed red LED attending the Mic's 'locked on' position, provides a useful reminder.

However, not supplied by Icom. A foam windscreen benefits this Mic; I cut a larger (on hand) one to fit.

This Mic proves well-qualified in dependably good performance from my Icom rig. As well, circumventing endless adjustments and extra gear.
YU2SRB Rating: 2022-03-04
Superior mic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I do not remember when Icom have good hand mic delivered with radio and they all sounded really muffled and always need to purchase something costly to sound normal.

Option A was to send a mike to Bob Nagy AB5N for mic modification or to simply get something costly.

Bob is thousand of miles away from me and after reading all the reviews here I choose option B and buy SM30 mic.

This was great buy! It deliver superior sound and excellent minimalistic matte black finish design.
At moment I am using it with an IC 706Mkii and have nothing but compliments.
73s de yu2srb


K4BRU Rating: 2021-12-31
Despite its reputation, its base design is poor Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
From the reviews I read here, I have no doubt that this microphone performs quite well on the air. So because of that, and because of the 35 years of great performance I have enjoyed from my SM-8, I decided to buy the SM-30 this past November to use with my new IC-7610.

My brand new in the box SM-30 arrived broken - the gooseneck was loose and swiveled about the base. I looked inside the base, thinking I could simply tighten a clamp nut, but was appalled to find that the gooseneck had been held in place by nothing more than a small pipe clamp tightened around its bottom end and epoxied to the upper housing, and with very little epoxy at that. The epoxy bond had broken, allowing the pipe clamp and gooseneck to swing freely as well as move up and down, its motion impeded only by the cable leading up to the microphone element. I immediately lost interest in owning an SM-30 and returned it to HRO - kudos to them for refunding my money immediately.

My take on the SM-30 is that despite its otherwise reported good performance on the air, its base is badly under-designed for any price point and not intended to last. It's nothing at all like the excellent quality of Icom's other products. As such, I'll be sticking with my SM-8.

My suggestion to anyone considering acquiring an SM-30 is to consider also the Inrad M629 along with an appropriate microphone base and cable wired for your particular rig. It uses a dynamic microphone element with no built-in preamp but Icom's modern rigs don't need microphone preamplification anyway. I use the M629 with the DMS-1 base for one of my other rigs and its performance is excellent.
W8GTX Rating: 2021-02-22
An SM-8 minus the tone control Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great condenser mic for Icom's. Performs the same as my SM-8, minus the tone control the SM-8 has, which on modern rigs is not needed being most include at least treble/bass control. Also, no up/down buttons if that is important
W4IOA Rating: 2020-09-30
Great desk microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've preferred to use desk mics for the past decade finding them helpful while I'm logging contacts. This mic is connected to my IC-7410 and I use an old 2nd hand Elecraft footswitch. Mic gain is set around 30 and Ive never received a complaint.
I like this microphone and have no plans to go back to the OEM handset. I believe that I've had this setup for well over 5 years, time just flies when you're having fun.
W4AEG Rating: 2020-09-30
Great Microphone Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Really like this mike and getting great audio reports with my IC 7300 as well as the supplied hand held mike. Only reason I bought this was the hand mike button was fatiguing. And I find the desk mike more convenient.
KB4NC Rating: 2020-05-18
I am using this on an ICOM ID-4100A Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I get great reports on 2m, 440 and D-STAR. Other hams tell me I have solid quality audio balance with base & treble. It has a small footprint with is perfect for the desk in my shack. The cable is more than long enough to wrap it behind my radio rack and come out in just the right place for using it. I've seen reviews that people wish it was a coiled cable or that it was shorter. Personally I am glad it is straight and long enough for me to be far enough away from my HF desk mike. I had the 2 mikes near each other and pushed the wrong one almost every time! :) I love the lock button! I can push it on/off and be hands free easily through a QSO.
VY1WUD Rating: 2020-05-18
Works great. with Icom 7300 and 7610 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Getting great audio reports!
WC2F Rating: 2020-05-17
Great audio reports along with the ic-7300 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Sm30 great microphone with great design easy to use as well. Love it along with ic7300 both work great.
IU1KAE Rating: 2019-03-28
Great Buy Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Since I bought it I have received many excellent comments - not requested by me - on the quality of my modulation. Used with Icom 7600 without a processor.