Heil PR 40
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| Frequency | n/a (microphone; audio response 28 Hz - 18 kHz) |
| Bands | n/a (audio accessory) |
| Power | A passive dynamic microphone - no battery or phantom power needed. For SSB it pairs well with a radio that has an adjustable transmit equalizer/processor. |
| Modes | Microphone (large-diaphragm dynamic, cardioid) |
| Weight | 383 g (13.5 oz) - About 13.5 oz (~383 g) for the microphone body; a shock mount and boom arm are common additions. |
| output | 3-pin XLR (balanced, 600 ohms). For a transceiver you need a Heil adapter cable (e.g. the CC-1 series) wired to your radio's mic connector, plus a PTT switch or footswitch |
| impedance | 600 ohms balanced; output level about -53.9 dB at 1 kHz |
| power req | None (passive dynamic element). No phantom power required. |
A superb-sounding broadcast microphone that gives a full, natural transmit audio prized for SSB rag-chewing and nets. Its wide 28 Hz-18 kHz response, strong rear rejection and high SPL handling are studio-grade, and it doubles as a first-rate podcast/recording mic. Build quality is excellent.
It is an XLR studio mic, so for ham use you must add a Heil adapter cable to your radio's mic jack and a separate PTT switch or footswitch - it does not plug straight into a transceiver. Its wide low end can sound boomy unless you use the radio's transmit EQ/processor, and the mic, shock mount and boom arm together add up in cost.
The Heil PR 40 is a top-tier broadcast dynamic microphone that gives amateur stations studio-quality SSB audio, with a wide response and excellent off-axis rejection. It is ideal for operators who run an adjustable transmit EQ and want standout audio (and a mic that also serves for podcasting); those wanting a simpler plug-and-talk ham mic should look at a desk mic made for the job.
The Heil PR 40 is a large-diaphragm dynamic microphone that has become a favorite both in broadcast and podcast studios and in amateur radio shacks chasing the best possible SSB transmit audio. Its 1.125-inch low-mass aluminum diaphragm and neodymium magnet give a wide, smooth frequency response of 28 Hz to 18 kHz - considerably broader than a typical ham microphone - and a cardioid pattern with unusually strong rear rejection (about 40 dB down at the back), so it picks up your voice and ignores shack noise behind it.
Electrically it is a professional studio mic: a balanced 600-ohm output on a 3-pin XLR connector, a high 148 dB maximum SPL, and a double-layer screen to tame breath blasts. That studio pedigree is also the one catch for ham use - it does not plug straight into a transceiver. You connect it through a Heil adapter cable wired for your radio's microphone connector, and you add a PTT switch or footswitch to key the rig. Many operators mount it in a shock mount on a boom arm.
On the air it delivers a full, natural sound that stands out on SSB, especially when paired with the radio's adjustable transmit equalizer to keep the generous low end from sounding boomy. It costs around $325-345 for the microphone alone, with the adapter cable, shock mount and arm as extras.
It is the broadcast-grade step up from Heil's ham desk mics like the PR 781; operators who prefer a hands-free headset use the Heil Pro Set Elite instead.