Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

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Auldgeek
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Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Auldgeek »

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a decent quality microphone for the shack. A desk microphone is an option, although I generally prefer hand microphones.
I stupidly sold my Astatic teardrop a year or so ago and I had a Magnum 577 ceramic that I also let go. Huge regrets.

I'd like to be able to use these primarily on CB, mainly Uniden 6 pin (President Grant II Premium + Lincoln II+) however, I'd also like the option to use them on some of my Kenwood HF transceivers such as my TS-590S or TS-850S. I know the pinouts are different between the Presidents and Kenwood so, I'd be using a crossover cable.

Anyway, from the pick of the current lot available, I see there's the 878DM desk mic which I beleive has an amplified ceramic element and there's the 636L hand microphone.. Main use for these will be SSB, so I need something that will sound punchy on SSB/AM but also nice and round for FM use.
The small minuteman microphone I've already used and disliked due to its small size.

Has anyone used any of these two microphones and if so, on what equipment and what do you think?

Thanks in advance.
Last edited by Auldgeek on 16 Mar 2018, 19:40, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by ch25 »

Why you want to *** up brilliant Kenwood audio with that garbage?
Get Shure SM58, plug and enjoy audio reports.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by superstar »

Avoid that 878DM they’re crap
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Auldgeek »

superstar wrote: 16 Mar 2018, 20:12 Avoid that 878DM they’re crap
Crap audio quality, build quality or just all round sh1te?
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Auldgeek »

ch25 wrote: 16 Mar 2018, 19:01 Why you want to fuk up brilliant Kenwood audio with that garbage?
Get Shure SM58, plug and enjoy audio reports.
Chris
Mainly for use with the two aforementioned Presidents. Only an option for the Kenwood's.

I currently use a Behinger XM8500 with my TS-590.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by ch25 »

Nice. I run B1 with some rack gear with my radios.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by andymuza »

100% agree with ch25, keep the Astatic mics off the Kenwoods. They will do a ok to great job on CB but doubt they will sound great on the 590 or 850.

Stick to the B1 on the 590/850.

I use a Heil PR20 on my 870 and it sounds amazing, add some outboard processing and it sounds out of this world.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by superstar »

kilimax wrote: 16 Mar 2018, 20:36
superstar wrote: 16 Mar 2018, 20:12 Avoid that 878DM they’re crap
Crap audio quality, build quality or just all round sh1te?
Crap audio, hardly any amplification, poor build quality,
A mate of mine went to the states and brought one back for me as they were cheap out there, it may say astatic on it but it’s made in China, don’t be took in, buy the originals if ya can
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Auldgeek »

superstar wrote: 17 Mar 2018, 06:48
kilimax wrote: 16 Mar 2018, 20:36
superstar wrote: 16 Mar 2018, 20:12 Avoid that 878DM they’re crap
Crap audio quality, build quality or just all round sh1te?
Crap audio, hardly any amplification, poor build quality,
A mate of mine went to the states and brought one back for me as they were cheap out there, it may say astatic on it but it’s made in China, don’t be took in, buy the originals if ya can
Ok, thanks very much for that. :thumbup:
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Mudslinger »

I like the old school stuff like the Silver eagle but wouldn't have a newer one.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by ROTEL240 »

I use the teardrop on my Yaesu ft450d with excellent audio reports and use it on my 11m radios also, the best mic which suits all my radios is the Shure 596 lb mic and they are very well built.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Auldgeek »

Thanks for the opinions and suggestions guys :thumbup:
Looks as though the current Astatics aren't worth trying, so I'll keep looking.

Really just looking for something better than the current 6 pin President mics. For me, they sre too small, feel plasticky and sound a bit naff.

Cheers
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by porky.69 »

i use the silver eagle on my 897d. and the audio is nice and crisp
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Mudslinger »

I love the look of the Silver Eagles I have but I think Audio quality wise they are easy to better.

They are just a basic ceramic element amplified by a pair of transistors which look to have been taken from a cheapo Pama DM-510 power mic.
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Re: Astatic Microphones - Opinions Sought

Post by Bigdave »

Ave a look at the, rf limited cr577 mic it has a ceramic element and tone control.As near to a teardrop as you can get but half the price....................
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