I just purchased "ebay" a new d104m6b and waiting for it's arrival for a President HR2510 and have found a lot of negative posts on this mic. I was under the impression this was a good mic and was surprised when I Googled this mic and seen many posts about everything that could be wrong with a mic. Well I'm hoping I get a good one. How has your d104m6b been for you?
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D104M6B some bad reports.
- Thread starter hammer0630
- Start date
The one I have is at least 10 years old and sounds good. They may have started using cheaper elements or other components. I always thought mine sounded a little tinny. There is a mod out there about changing a resistor to lower the tone a little.
I have one from about 2001 and it still sounds good. I only use it on a radio that needs more modulation to help it get out before I have time to open the audio up some. if you use one on a radio that does not need more modulation you will have to turn the mic gain down or it will sound bad. most people want to turn the mic gain on the mic and radio both all the way up and they will sound bad then. my opinion on it from what I have.
Good point. My mic has always been ran at 2-3. I can't imagine needing much more than that.
Main problem with D104M6B I purchased in May of 2011 is the switch getting scratchy. I have found some silicone spray lubricant that really helps, but I still have to lubricate the switch every 3 to 4 months depending on how much I use the mic. I wish there was a better quality switch available, but so far I have had no luck finding one. As far as the sound of the mic, I always get compliments on the way it sounds. I run the mic gain on my radio at about 75% and the gain on the mic between 1 and 2.
Got six of them. People don't know how to use them right, get frustrated and give them away. Get xlnt reports with mine - all of the time. They don't listen to me, they give me their mic because they doubt what I said, and then I do a mod to it and set it right and then they are amazed. Laugh every time.
The first 'trick' is to not let it over-modulate; which is what 90% of people end up doing. Very common mistake. Set the mic gain on the mic to 1/2 the way up, and not one ounce more. No matter what. Yes; you can do a little less (1/3 open); but not more than 1/2. Next, turn the mic gain on the radio between the twelve o'clock to one-thirty position; and not an ounce more. Talk 1 ft away in a normal voice; as this will also makes a huge difference.
The next trick is to put the AM Limiter back in the radio if it had been taken out. That mod almost always works lousy, because people turn up the gain on their mic and radio until the radio is into full distortion. Stupid. Waste of time/resources to remove the limiter, regardless of what make/model it is. Then they wonder why the mic sounds like crap. Small wonder; eh?
The last trick is to clip the top of the 270k resistor lead in the mic. Just one little >snick<. It is right next to the mic cable plug on the mic board. This particular resistor has a red-violet-yellow-gold bands on it; in that order. This will widen up the freq response of the mic (more bass and better highs; not muddy or tinny sounding in the least bit). The resistor will limit the audio response if it is left in mic's circuit; the stock mic sounds 'tinny'. You don't have to remove it at all; just clip the resistor lead on top or the side, as this resistor is mounted vertically on the board. In case you don't like it, all you have to do is solder the clipped joint. But rest assured, if you have done everything correctly above, it will sound nearly as nice as a wide-banded Silver Eagle - if not better. Most people think that is what I use, and then I explain it briefly to them and they are surprised.
Nice mic; nice choice . . .
The first 'trick' is to not let it over-modulate; which is what 90% of people end up doing. Very common mistake. Set the mic gain on the mic to 1/2 the way up, and not one ounce more. No matter what. Yes; you can do a little less (1/3 open); but not more than 1/2. Next, turn the mic gain on the radio between the twelve o'clock to one-thirty position; and not an ounce more. Talk 1 ft away in a normal voice; as this will also makes a huge difference.
The next trick is to put the AM Limiter back in the radio if it had been taken out. That mod almost always works lousy, because people turn up the gain on their mic and radio until the radio is into full distortion. Stupid. Waste of time/resources to remove the limiter, regardless of what make/model it is. Then they wonder why the mic sounds like crap. Small wonder; eh?
The last trick is to clip the top of the 270k resistor lead in the mic. Just one little >snick<. It is right next to the mic cable plug on the mic board. This particular resistor has a red-violet-yellow-gold bands on it; in that order. This will widen up the freq response of the mic (more bass and better highs; not muddy or tinny sounding in the least bit). The resistor will limit the audio response if it is left in mic's circuit; the stock mic sounds 'tinny'. You don't have to remove it at all; just clip the resistor lead on top or the side, as this resistor is mounted vertically on the board. In case you don't like it, all you have to do is solder the clipped joint. But rest assured, if you have done everything correctly above, it will sound nearly as nice as a wide-banded Silver Eagle - if not better. Most people think that is what I use, and then I explain it briefly to them and they are surprised.
Nice mic; nice choice . . .
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I toyed with different resistor values but ended up just leaving it disconnected....a friend of mine left his out first and it sounded good.
Some very good info ROBB and good posts. When I receive my mic I will re-read your post ROBB and try your mod because they are on the tinny side. Their were a few posts that their were audio problems with the new ones but the switch was mentioned a lot from falling apart to very scratchy right out of the box. Thanks again ROBB for the mod on the mic! NOTE: These reports of problems with the D104M6B where only on the new one's I wasn't aware that these hand held Mic's have been around so long.
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I have the same problem with the Astatic Road Devil mic.
Is there a special silicone lubricant for electronics? I can't remember the details but I ruined a mic once using a lubricant that said safe for electronics.
Afternoon Hammer0630
I use WD40 Specialist Water Resistance Silicone Spray. It doesn't take much and works better and last longer than anything else I have tried and I have tried an aray of cleaner and lubricants. The Grainger part number is 19L521.
You can also find it on Amazon.com.
I'm going to take a wild guess and say if you need to talk a foot away from the mic, you're too hot.
The ceramic element in these mics are far too sensitive and have far too much voltage output to have them up close to your mouth. Don't think so? Check it with a voltmeter the next time you change out the battery. Understanding that gives one insight on how to use that idea to your advantage. It will sound very clean, clear, and give reasonably decent freq response when 6 in - 1 ft away; but if up close it will overload the mic's preamp and the finer points of the mic are lost. If you are looking for a mic that you have to shove in close to your mouth; then you just might consider getting a noise-cancelling mic instead . . .
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