Im looking to buy a power mic for my galaxy dx 949 base set up. I was thinking im going with the hand held d104 m6 for about 25$ shipped new minus the 4 pin connector. I have read the desk top versions have better sound, better audio... Will there be a major difference between a tug8 or 9 vs. the hand held? ( found a few in decent shape )The radio has the modulatio opened to 100% also if that makes any difference. Any advice is appreciated.
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D104 m6 vs d 104 desk tops
- Thread starter cjruger
- Start date
If it was me, I wouldn't buy a power mic if the modulation is already at 100%. If you buy a power mic, the first thing you'll do is back off the mic gain on the radio so what's the point? I'd only buy a power mic if the radio wasn't capable of 100% modulation.
You could use a power mic, but you'll need to run the mod on the radio turned down as well as the mic. I'm personally a fan of the d-104 desk mic, used them on cb and ham radios. Never turned up that high and am always aware of the modulation levels.
What about when on ssb? It seems like i could swing more than i am. I can hit100 watts witha whistle but when talking needle is swinging eradically around 20-50 watts. Unless i turn output power up closer to 4 watts on radio then the watts go up on meter, but im worried im pushing the linear to hard
In comparison to the d-104 desk mic, the handheld mic element is completely different.
The desk mic version is very sensitive and will pick up everything from your voice to the crickets chirping outside to the baby crying or any other conversation three rooms away. If it makes a sound it will be picked up.
The hand mic version tends to reject a lot more of the surrounding noise. It was intended for mobile use, where wind noise is common.
They are both good mics, and I have used both with radios that already have a mic-gain. A stock microphone with a mic-gain on the radio is no replacement for a good noise canceling mic.
Also the mics in question sound different, and they both sound different from a stock mic.
The DB
The desk mic version is very sensitive and will pick up everything from your voice to the crickets chirping outside to the baby crying or any other conversation three rooms away. If it makes a sound it will be picked up.
The hand mic version tends to reject a lot more of the surrounding noise. It was intended for mobile use, where wind noise is common.
They are both good mics, and I have used both with radios that already have a mic-gain. A stock microphone with a mic-gain on the radio is no replacement for a good noise canceling mic.
Also the mics in question sound different, and they both sound different from a stock mic.
The DB
I always use noise canceling mics (one exception is an expensive Astatic omnidirectional PA mic with a ceramic element that I wired for CB but that one is AM only) SSB is one of those things that it is easy to over do it with too much gain. The signal is much easier to distort than on AM. Its all about sounding good and clean. If you do get a power mic, I would back the volume way down while on SSB.
Even on AM I would back power mics way back. A lot of people try and turn them up so they sound louder, but even on AM that can distort your audio. It doesn't matter how loud you are, if I can't understand you you may as well be static.
The DB
Absolutely. It is just worse on SSB. My word, today I had so much crap coming out of my radio. I swear that everyone I heard today was sounding like they were screaming with a wet sock in their mouth. I am getting 8s and 9s on the S meter and I can't even understand most of what they're saying. And the other guy will say "YO SOUND'N GOOOOD UP ON MY RADIO!" It got to be too much and I just turned off my radio. And I never turn off my radio.
D104M6B is what I use. I am very happy with the performance. I am using a Galaxy DX-949 and I run the mic gain at 3 o'clock and the gain on the mic itself on 2. I mainly talk SSB, these setting seem to sound the best from what I have been told.
Different mics and different radios
I have tried many mics on many radios, some sound better than others. I like the hand held D104 and the desk mic also, I just bought for 15.oo delivered a superstar DM-452 set the echo slide between the first and second notch and it adds a nice fullness to the radio,more of a light reverb, if I told people it was a fifty dollar mice they would it sounds great...The RK-56 another great mic real clean audio reports. got to talk with your lip on the mic. Astatic ast-878DM looks nice never tried it also the workman DM-502B maby somebody can comment on these.
I have tried many mics on many radios, some sound better than others. I like the hand held D104 and the desk mic also, I just bought for 15.oo delivered a superstar DM-452 set the echo slide between the first and second notch and it adds a nice fullness to the radio,more of a light reverb, if I told people it was a fifty dollar mice they would it sounds great...The RK-56 another great mic real clean audio reports. got to talk with your lip on the mic. Astatic ast-878DM looks nice never tried it also the workman DM-502B maby somebody can comment on these.