[Elecraft] Microphone suggestions for K3

[Fred Jensen]

"Yes, and with some mics, how close it is to our mouth. Directional 
mics, called a "cardioid" because of the shape of their pattern, 
emphasize bass when very close to the source. Virtually mics for live 
musical performance have this characteristic."

That was true in spades for the RCA "velocity" [ribbon] mic at an FM 
station I worked at when starting college.  I forget the model number, 
it was sort of prismatic in shape, maybe 7-8 in tall, and fairly heavy.  
I had to open the station and sign on 3 days a week, I was 17 and my 
voice sounded like it.  I discovered via one of the Ampex tape recorders 
that if I got up real close to that mic for the sign-on announcement, my 
voice sounded a whole lot deeper [and older and wiser 😉]


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

> Jim Brown <mailto:jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Wednesday, June 25, 2025 12:03 PM
> On 6/25/2025 9:34 AM, Fred Jensen wrote:
>> Very interesting discussion.  I'm not a SSB op but I do listen some 
>> and occasionally chat with friends.  On my P3 with a fairly narrow 
>> span, I notice that a lot of signals [like most] seem to have most of 
>> their power concentrated close to the suppressed carrier frequency. 
>
> Yes, and that power close to the suppressed carrier is all wasted 
> low-frequency transmitter power. About 3 dB!
> From the
>> discussion here, I get the impression that the microphone is the 
>> primary driver of the transmit audio spectrum. 
>
> Yes, and with some mics, how close it is to our mouth. Directional 
> mics, called a "cardioid" because of the shape of their pattern, 
> emphasize bass when very close to the source. Virtually mics for live 
> musical performance have this characteristic.
>
>> I use a K3 with a Yamaha CM500 and have the TX EQ set to K9YC specs 
>> and my spectrum is fairly flat, maybe a little weakish in the lows. 
>
> Yep.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
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> Joe Subich, W4TV <mailto:lists at subich.com>
> Tuesday, June 24, 2025 6:04 PM
>
> On 2025-06-24 5:44 PM, bill kipping via Elecraft wrote:
> > but the best is the choice is the  Shure 450, dual impedance with a
> > wider frequency response
>
> No, the best choice is the 444D.  You *DON'T WANT* a "wide frequency
> response" mic for communications.  The 444/444D response is tailored
> specifically for SSB communications and paging purposes - i.e., maximum
> voice "punch".
>
> 73,
>
>    ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
>
>
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> bill kipping via Elecraft <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Tuesday, June 24, 2025 2:44 PM
> The 444 is HiZ, the 444D is dual Z, high and low. The mobile versions 
> 404C is HiZ the 404B is LowZ, but the best is the choice is the Shure 
> 450, dual impedance with a wider frequency response
> BillKE7KK
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> Jim Brown <mailto:jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:33 AM
>
>
> Lo-Z.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
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> Steve Lawrence <mailto:slawresh at gmail.com>
> Tuesday, June 24, 2025 8:36 AM
> There appears to be a LowZ and HiZ variations of the Shure 444 
> available in addition to the handheld version 404 and the 414. Which 
> is appropriate for the K3 (KX3, KX2)?
>
> Otherwise, I like the idea of a “communications specific” microphone 
> tailored for a good voice intelligibility on SSB and new ones appear 
> to be rare, specifically with published response curves. So many are 
> mystery microphones with unstated acoustic/electric details.
>
> Steve
> AA8AF
>
>
>
>
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