[Boatanchors] Fw: [AMRadio] Dreaded D-104

Thu Oct 6 10:09:50 EDT 2011

Hi David,
      just to let you know that I use an Electro-Voice 664 microphone on 
my Icom 756Pro III and get good reports.   I've used an Electro-Voice 
664 on many rigs from Viking II's to modern rigs and find that every 
time I ask for opinions and comparisons, the 664 wins out every time.  I 
have Heil boom mikes too, two different models and the 664 is at least 
as good and sometimes I'm told it even sounds better.
I seem to be able to shape and compress it to sound good for DX chasing 
too.  But I go back to wide/comp off for normal contacts.

It works on so many different rigs and sounds great too.   Oh yes, I 
have about four D-104's, with and without preamp.  They are used only to 
check different rigs with now.  I have different plugs on each of them.

Have a good day David.
Bob Hardie
W5UQ

... ... ... and the beat goes onnnnnn!
With or without us.

If you don't think too good,
then don't think too much.
Ted Williams

However, if you don't think enough,
then expect the worst.
Bob Hardie

Non sibi sed patriae.
(abbreviated non sibi)

W5UQ.com
aka: A25UQ, V31UQ, VP2EEU&  ZF2UQ.
QRZ.com is accurate for all calls
see W5UQ on QRZ.com for extra info.

July 2011, Bill, W5SJ, and I
had a blast in the Caymans.
He was ZF2EZ and I was ZF2UQ.

On 10/6/2011 7:16 AM, David Knepper wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Knepper"<collinsradio at comcast.net>
> To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service"
> <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 8:02 AM
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Dreaded D-104
>
>
>> The D-104 is not the best choice for AM or for that matter on SSB.   A
>> better choice in microphones is the Shure 444 or Electro-Voice 664, or a
>> Behringer.
>>
>> Recently, I tested six Astatic D-104 heads and found that over the air
>> comparisions from several stations, revealed that all six had varying
>> degrees of asymmetrics.
>>
>> If you must have a D-104, then, make sure you buy one with the ceramic
>> element and not the "older" crystal element.  There is no way of telling
>> except to take the covers off - the crystal element bears the marking
>> MC-151 and the ceramic element is an MC-127.
>>
>> Now that cooler weather is sweeping across our region, I am thankful that
>> my microphone exhibits that  "warm" sound."
>>
>> David Knepper, W3CRA/W3ST
>> Collins Radio Associaton - Join Today
>> www.collinsra.com
>> Editor of the Collins Journal
>> Secretary of the Collins Radio Association
>> See us on Facebook:  Collins Radio Association
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mark K3MSB"<mark.k3msb at gmail.com>
>> To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service"
>> <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 11:34 PM
>> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Dreaded D-104
>>
>>
>>> I've no problems with my D-104 sounding tinny.
>>>
>>> Mark K3MSB
>>>
>>> On Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 11:29 PM, Rob Atkinson<ranchorobbo at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> they probably sound "tinny" when they are mismatched for the rig's
>>>> audio input stage.
>>>>
>>>> My recommendation is go to hamfests looking for D104s.   But not any
>>>> one.  ignore the ones with coiled cords, preamps in the base, gold
>>>> leaf, "special editions," and "eagles" and look for the oldest
>>>> crustiest ones you can find.  They are pretty easy to take apart and
>>>> clean up.  If they lack PTT that's even better.   At the Indianapolis
>>>> Hamfest last summer there must have been at least 30 of them for sale.
>>>>   It seemed every other table had at least one; many had half a dozen.
>>>> If you find an old one it might go for 20 bucks.  That's probably your
>>>> best bet for finding a ceramic old Astatic high Z element.  Obviously
>>>> you'll have to buy more than one unless you get lucky.
>>>> That's the only way I know of.  I tried buying a vintage 10 meg xtal
>>>> element tape recorder mic and doing a transplant but you get into
>>>> issues trying to get a non-D104 element to fit and it usually doesn't
>>>> work out.  I wound up breaking the cartridge I had trying to get it to
>>>> fit.
>>>>
>>>> Rob
>>>> K5UJ
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