At the end of it all the purchase of a new Heil Proset with the HC6 element
came out reasonably well. The story follows. I?d like to hear from those of
you who use the Heil HC7 element what you think.
I?ve owned and used many Heil microphones over the last thirty years and
did not expect the new Proset with the HC6 element to sound horrible. But
it did. As I wrote Bob Heil, ?It isn't a personal preference kind of thing.
The audio is almost unintelligible because it is so muffled, bassy and
lacking in high frequency content.? Even after following the advice on his
web page to use the Transmit Equalizer on my TS590G in the HB2 (High Boost
2) position it didn?t sound very good. I had to push the high frequency
sliders on my outboard W2IHY equalizer to maximum and also reduce the bass
before the audio sounded good for contesting. I wouldn?t use the HC6
without that additional outboard equalization. Looking at the situation I
thought maybe I had a bad element. No, apparently I don?t. That is how it
is supposed to be. Some, like me, need plenty of equalization to make the
HC6 work for contest audio. I did not know that or would not have bought
the HC6.
Don?t get me wrong. I truly like the sound of the HC6 once I was able to
apply enough equalization. But I won?t be able to use it if I take the
headset to the field for ARES work, or to our hospital or county emergency
control centers. No outboard equalizers there. Nor am I likely to be able
to provide enough equalization when I go to another?s shack or a Field Day
site either. So, my new Proset with the HC6 will be for fixed station use
at home.
Bob wrote back saying ?Yes, [Kevan], it is a new direction. It answers the
many requests to take advantage of the great audio systems in the new
direction of transceivers?? He had previously discussed how he had been
approached by transceiver manufacturers to help design TX EQ?s for use in
their rigs and had also implied many Hams had asked for an HC6 type element
to go in those radios. The HC6 meets their need so definitely has its place
in his product line.
Bob suggested I look at the HC7 which he said is an improved HC5. I
listened to an audio clip he sent of audio straight from the microphone and
it sounds like it might do pretty good for a DX or contest operation. I?m
interested in the opinions of those who have been using or listening to it.
Do you think it is comparable to the old HC4 and 5 elements? Would you buy
another HC7 equipped microphone?
Thought I?d share my experience with the group so others aren?t caught as
unprepared as I was for the sound. Thanks to Bob Heil's personal customer
support, after what started as a bad purchase I am still a Heil customer.
Kevan
N4XL
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