[Elecraft] For Sale - Misc From a Station Build

Jim Brown jim at audiosystemsgroup.com
Sun Apr 12 16:49:59 EDT 2026


On 4/12/2026 1:24 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV via Elecraft wrote:
> I can't find response curves for the XM8500 (Behringer's web site
> is down for maintenance) though all the reviews (and sales blurbs)
> say it has a "mid frequency presence rise".  In any case for $19.20
> at Sweetwater one can hardly go wrong compared to Heil or Inrad <G>.
> 
> Put the XM8500 on a short (desk) stand or a boom and go to town -
> the desk stand or boom will cost more than the mic!

As a professional broadcast and music recording engineer, I used to own 
several dozen mics that varied in price from $359 to $2,500 dollars. The 
only ones that would work well for ham radio were a couple of EV mics 
(RE16, R20), but the only good reason for using one is that I didn't 
have something much cheaper.

Almost 20 years ago, W6XU, who is also an audio professional, found the 
Yamaha CM-500 boom mic headset, which was designed for gamers. It cost 
$45 back then, and I've used nothing but since then. Headphones are 
comfy enough to wear for a 48 hour contest weekend, phones and mic both 
sound great. That headset was discontinued several years ago, but 
there's an almost twin Koss-branded product.

73, Jim K9YC


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