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Post by No Streak on Jan 12, 2015 10:01:11 GMT -5
I have a Turner Super Sidekick very impressed with audio on my GemTronics GTX-2300.My freind said it sounded almost HIFi like!
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 12, 2015 10:23:29 GMT -5
I have a Turner Super Sidekick very impressed with audio on my GemTronics GTX-2300.My freind said it sounded almost HIFi like! The Super Sidekick has a much "bassier" tone quality compared to a D104. I think it brings out the low frequencies much better in some radios. Other radios will sound muddy with that mic. On my HiFi Galaxy, I think the Sidekick comes closest to mimicking the "broadcaster" sound. |
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Post by No Streak on Jan 12, 2015 10:41:05 GMT -5
I find the SideKick has very good audio output. I really like the +3 desk mic but I think the like the Sidekick a little better. A lot of people on my channel that have the newer Astatic D104 desk microphones have a lot of problems with dirty contacts.I think towards the of the run the quality wasn't that good.
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Post by cbrown on Jan 13, 2015 9:42:19 GMT -5
I like both. The Turners are great, but as Sandbagger mentioned they tend to have more bass that the Astatic with the D-104 head. I already have a deep voice, so using a D-104 head works well for me. I also liked the 10-DA head for SSB, and the DN-HZ head on a good tube radio was almost like broadcast quality AM. Also the T-3 was great until all the musicians found out about them and made them scarce and expensive.
On the Turner side, it was tough to pick out any one microphone for a favorite. One that got little love was the Expander 500. It's a great microphone, its just that no one liked the resin stand.
Plus Turner had a great selection of mobile microphones too.
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 13, 2015 11:26:30 GMT -5
I like both. The Turners are great, but as Sandbagger mentioned they tend to have more bass that the Astatic with the D-104 head. I already have a deep voice, so using a D-104 head works well for me. I also liked the 10-DA head for SSB, and the DN-HZ head on a good tube radio was almost like broadcast quality AM. Also the T-3 was great until all the musicians found out about them and made them scarce and expensive. On the Turner side, it was tough to pick out any one microphone for a favorite. One that got little love was the Expander 500. It's a great microphone, its just that no one liked the resin stand. Plus Turner had a great selection of mobile microphones too. The Expander 500 was a great mic in concept. But they never seemed to work all that well. All sorts of issues with RF feedback etc. Plus the plastic construction just felt "Chinsy"...... My favorite Turner mic would have to be the +3. A nice compromise between the bassy response of the SSK, and the crisper response of the +2. |
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Post by No Streak on Jan 13, 2015 11:48:36 GMT -5
I had a Expander 500 myself it was a BIG microphone for one but I never got the results I wanted or maybe it was just the radio I had it on. So I kicked it out.
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Post by No Streak on Jan 14, 2015 7:01:47 GMT -5
But I do have the Turner Expander 500 mobile version. Built real well with the 9 volt battery.
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Post by cbrown on Jan 14, 2015 9:37:39 GMT -5
My favorite Turner mic would have to be the +3. A nice compromise between the bassy response of the SSK, and the crisper response of the +2. I agree, the +3 was probably the best microphone out there. And the mobile version was also very good. |
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Post by cbrown on Jan 14, 2015 9:39:32 GMT -5
I had a Expander 500 myself it was a BIG microphone for one but I never got the results I wanted or maybe it was just the radio I had it on. So I kicked it out. I never had a problem with it. Maybe I got lucky. |
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 14, 2015 9:39:51 GMT -5
My favorite Turner mic would have to be the +3. A nice compromise between the bassy response of the SSK, and the crisper response of the +2. I agree, the +3 was probably the best microphone out there. And the mobile version was also very good. The mobile +3 was my absolute favorite amplified mic back in the day. I like the slide control for volume, and the mic fit in my hand comfortably. And it sounded good on most radios. |
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Post by Afterburner(OT-749) on Jan 14, 2015 18:20:44 GMT -5
I agree, the +3 was probably the best microphone out there. And the mobile version was also very good. The mobile +3 was my absolute favorite amplified mic back in the day. I like the slide control for volume, and the mic fit in my hand comfortably. And it sounded good on most radios. My favorite Turner mobile mike that I always received great results with was the JM+2U. I ran that mic on several mobiles from my Royce (23 channel) that I had many moons ago, to my first 40 channel (Cobra 77X) to at one time running a Cobra 2000 GTL in the mobile. Everyone told me how clean and loud that audio was with that mic. I now run a Aztatic stock mic on a RCI-2950 in the mobile with a Texas Star 500V behind it, and I have been told that the audio with that combination sounds great also. |
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Post by captbarry on Jan 22, 2015 20:36:30 GMT -5
I too loved the mobile plus 3. I ran the six wire version on my Hy-Gain mobiles that required a six wire cable. I have both a Super Sidekick and a Plus Three. The Sidekick works well on my SBE Console II. I have been using the Plus Three on the Model T and everyone says it sounds great but I think those radios liked a D104 a little better. I have had the Console II and my old Washington on the Roundup. I run a Astatic 575-M6 on the Washington and I have not found a better mic for this radio, keep in mind I run SSB most of the time. These mics also work well on a lot of HF rigs. I had a couple of them but let a friend have one of them. Kinda wish I had an other one of these gems! 73's
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 22, 2015 22:17:48 GMT -5
I too loved the mobile plus 3. I ran the six wire version on my Hy-Gain mobiles that required a six wire cable. I have both a Super Sidekick and a Plus Three. The Sidekick works well on my SBE Console II. I have been using the Plus Three on the Model T and everyone says it sounds great but I think those radios liked a D104 a little better. I have had the Console II and my old Washington on the Roundup. I run a Astatic 575-M6 on the Washington and I have not found a better mic for this radio, keep in mind I run SSB most of the time. These mics also work well on a lot of HF rigs. I had a couple of them but let a friend have one of them. Kinda wish I had an other one of these gems! 73's My Console II seems to like my +3 desk mic best. The Sidekick is a little too bassy, and the D104 a little too bright. The +3 is a nice balance between the two. |
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Post by BBB on Jan 23, 2015 14:51:15 GMT -5
Turner SSB +2 desk mic mates up well with the Stryker SR-955HPC when run as a base station for full rich AU-DEE-OH
It's got a 4.8 rating on eHam...http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3993
I was never impressed with the sound of D104's. Just too tinny, but I realize they were designed that way. For some reason I want a Golden Eagle anyway, anyone want to trade a few Silver Eagles for a Golden Eagle?
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Post by No Streak on Jan 24, 2015 19:14:48 GMT -5
The funny thing about D104's is they don't sound the same. Some sound to bright tone and some sound deeper tone. Turner +3 always sound the same some radio's make them sound different. But I still use D104"s from time to time.
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Post by KneeBiter on Jan 24, 2015 19:30:22 GMT -5
The d104 has a crystal element. And they were made different throughout the run. Also they change from moisture etc. So 10 different heads might sound slightly different.
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Post by cbrown on Jan 26, 2015 9:28:50 GMT -5
You didn't have to use the D-104 element, the 10DA was very popular for guys who worked SSB.
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 26, 2015 9:37:24 GMT -5
You didn't have to use the D-104 element, the 10DA was very popular for guys who worked SSB. The "D104" was widely known and available at every CB dealer and truckstop, and came with the T-UG8 or 9 stand as a package. In fact, most less knowledgeable CB'ers didn't know that the designation "D104" referred only to the head. They assumed it referred to the entire microphone and stand. The 10DA was far lesser known, and usually had to be special ordered, so far fewer people knew about them and ran them. But for those who did, it was a far better sounding mic for SSB. But AM'ers poo-pooed it, preferring the bright, punchy sound of the D104 head. |
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bluebird
Big Bucket Mouth
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Post by bluebird on Jan 26, 2015 11:57:32 GMT -5
I too loved the mobile plus 3. I ran the six wire version on my Hy-Gain mobiles that required a six wire cable. I have both a Super Sidekick and a Plus Three. The Sidekick works well on my SBE Console II. I have been using the Plus Three on the Model T and everyone says it sounds great but I think those radios liked a D104 a little better. I have had the Console II and my old Washington on the Roundup. I run a Astatic 575-M6 on the Washington and I have not found a better mic for this radio, keep in mind I run SSB most of the time. These mics also work well on a lot of HF rigs. I had a couple of them but let a friend have one of them. Kinda wish I had an other one of these gems! 73's My Console II seems to like my +3 desk mic best. The Sidekick is a little too bassy, and the D104 a little too bright. The +3 is a nice balance between the two. I still like the d-104 the best just my opinion |
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Post by bill on Jan 26, 2015 18:15:33 GMT -5
My Tram D201A had a Astatic D104 Unamplified Mic with a Key Bar in it's Base in the box when I bought it... Been running the same Mic since 1978 on the same Radio... I had picked up a Browning R27 / S23 and it had an Astatic D104 with it.... I later picked up another Astatic D104 Amplified Mic with with a Switch for Relay or Electronic Switching... The Tram did not like that Mic and was prone to squealing with it, even turned way down  I just considered it as a Spare Head, if ever needed... I picked up a Browning MK IVA and it came with a Browning 776 with the Orange Striped Label... It also came with a 776 with Brown Stripes on the Label, but those are for the MK III... I believe the Browning 776 Mics were built by Turner, but not sure which Turner Model they may have been I doubt they were Specifically Designed and Produced for Browning, but rather just relabeled... I may wire one of the Browning 776 Mics and give it a try on the Tram D201A... I'll need to Record the Audio to do any comparison Test... I am just hoping to Reproduce my Natural Voice, not alter it with Processing through an Equalizer... No, I do not have a " Golden Voice " such as that of a Television Narrator, but still want my Voice Natural, as I know it... I have another D201A and plan to use someone's " Audio Tailoring Mods " found on the Internet and then compare the 2 D201A's... I know Nomad or 2600's " 100,000 Mile Tune-up " or " Scorched Earth " D201A Restoration Article that was posted here Years Ago, had a Capacitor Replacement Suggestion related to whether one had a " Bassy " or Rumbling Voice, or not... A Minor Audio Tailoring Mod as compared to another Tech's Suggestions... I considered an Astatic 10 DA Head, but at the time not many were showing up on Ebay... The ones that did show up, I thought they went for Big $$$... I had seen many Photos of Older Stations and the 10 DA Heads were common it seemed... I think I remember that the 10 Da Heads were sought after by Harmonica Players, the reason the Higher EBay Prices for them... Now you Guys have me thinking that after all these Years, I have to start Experimenting with Different Mics |
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 26, 2015 19:35:22 GMT -5
My Tram D201A had a Astatic D104 Unamplified Mic with a Key Bar in it's Base in the box when I bought it... Been running the same Mic since 1978 on the same Radio... I had picked up a Browning R27 / S23 and it had an Astatic D104 with it.... I later picked up another Astatic D104 Amplified Mic with with a Switch for Relay or Electronic Switching... The Tram did not like that Mic and was prone to squealing with it, even turned way down I just considered it as a Spare Head, if ever needed... I picked up a Browning MK IVA and it came with a Browning 776 with the Orange Striped Label... It also came with a 776 with Brown Stripes on the Label, but those are for the MK III... I believe the Browning 776 Mics were built by Turner, but not sure which Turner Model they may have been I doubt they were Specifically Designed and Produced for Browning, but rather just relabeled... I may wire one of the Browning 776 Mics and give it a try on the Tram D201A... I'll need to Record the Audio to do any comparison Test... I am just hoping to Reproduce my Natural Voice, not alter it with Processing through an Equalizer... No, I do not have a " Golden Voice " such as that of a Television Narrator, but still want my Voice Natural, as I know it... I have another D201A and plan to use someone's " Audio Tailoring Mods " found on the Internet and then compare the 2 D201A's... I know Nomad or 2600's " 100,000 Mile Tune-up " or " Scorched Earth " D201A Restoration Article that was posted here Years Ago, had a Capacitor Replacement Suggestion related to whether one had a " Bassy " or Rumbling Voice, or not... A Minor Audio Tailoring Mod as compared to another Tech's Suggestions... I considered an Astatic 10 DA Head, but at the time not many were showing up on Ebay... The ones that did show up, I thought they went for Big $$$... I had seen many Photos of Older Stations and the 10 DA Heads were common it seemed... I think I remember that the 10 Da Heads were sought after by Harmonica Players, the reason the Higher EBay Prices for them... Now you Guys have me thinking that after all these Years, I have to start Experimenting with Different Mics The Browning 776 mic is pretty much modeled after a Turner +3 (with a different element). It is an amplified mic which is powered by the radio, and the modulation level is adjusted by taking the bottom cover off of the mic. For it to work on a MK III or a Tram, you will have to figure out how to provide 5V to power the mic preamp circuit. Experimenting with mics is interesting and fun. There's no such thing as a one size fits all microphone. With all the different combinations of mics and radios that I have mixed and matched, there are radios which like one particular mic over others. You have to try them to find out which do work best. |
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Post by No Streak on Jan 27, 2015 5:55:04 GMT -5
I thought the Browning 776 microphone used the same element as the Turner +3 or possibly the Turner Super Sidekick.
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 27, 2015 8:48:38 GMT -5
I thought the Browning 776 microphone used the same element as the Turner +3 or possibly the Turner Super Sidekick. Not sure which element it used. The head has a different design though. |
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Post by No Streak on Jan 27, 2015 8:51:07 GMT -5
Well the head on it just has a screen that pulls off and it's just like a +3 desk microphone.
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Post by cbrown on Jan 27, 2015 10:19:42 GMT -5
The "D104" was widely known and available at every CB dealer and truckstop, and came with the T-UG8 or 9 stand as a package. In fact, most less knowledgeable CB'ers didn't know that the designation "D104" referred only to the head. They assumed it referred to the entire microphone and stand. The 10DA was far lesser known, and usually had to be special ordered, so far fewer people knew about them and ran them. But for those who did, it was a far better sounding mic for SSB. But AM'ers poo-pooed it, preferring the bright, punchy sound of the D104 head. I guess I was lucky living in this area, the local stereo store was also the local CB store so they had other Astatic microphone heads available. They also sold Turner. |
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Post by cbrown on Jan 27, 2015 10:22:05 GMT -5
I think I remember that the 10 Da Heads were sought after by Harmonica Players Astatic T-3 heads are the ones you are thinking about. And they also work great on the air. |
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Post by cbrown on Jan 27, 2015 10:26:12 GMT -5
]The Browning 776 mic is pretty much modeled after a Turner +3 (with a different element). It is an amplified mic which is powered by the radio, and the modulation level is adjusted by taking the bottom cover off of the mic. For it to work on a MK III or a Tram, you will have to figure out how to provide 5V to power the mic preamp circuit. I was under the impression that the 776 wouldn't work on a Mark III too, until I found out that the voltage in the Mark III for keying the relay was also enough to power the 776. |
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Post by No Streak on Jan 27, 2015 11:16:27 GMT -5
I have a MkIII 776 but never checked to see if it was amplified. Like the MkIV 776 model. Now I got to check that out. I mostly use the Electra voice Banana microphone on Browning MkIII and older, great microphone.
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 27, 2015 12:36:04 GMT -5
]The Browning 776 mic is pretty much modeled after a Turner +3 (with a different element). It is an amplified mic which is powered by the radio, and the modulation level is adjusted by taking the bottom cover off of the mic. For it to work on a MK III or a Tram, you will have to figure out how to provide 5V to power the mic preamp circuit. I was under the impression that the 776 wouldn't work on a Mark III too, until I found out that the voltage in the Mark III for keying the relay was also enough to power the 776. This is a head scratcher for me. The relay in the MKIII is connected to the 260V B+ voltage rail. I don't see a safe way to utilize this voltage without using a bunch of high wattage dropping resistors to bring it down to 5V. I would be afraid of spikes when the relay keys and unkeys. I would be more comfortable rectifying the filament voltage and running it through a 7805 on a dedicated lead. But people have reportedly done this so...... |
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 27, 2015 12:38:09 GMT -5
The "D104" was widely known and available at every CB dealer and truckstop, and came with the T-UG8 or 9 stand as a package. In fact, most less knowledgeable CB'ers didn't know that the designation "D104" referred only to the head. They assumed it referred to the entire microphone and stand. The 10DA was far lesser known, and usually had to be special ordered, so far fewer people knew about them and ran them. But for those who did, it was a far better sounding mic for SSB. But AM'ers poo-pooed it, preferring the bright, punchy sound of the D104 head. I guess I was lucky living in this area, the local stereo store was also the local CB store so they had other Astatic microphone heads available. They also sold Turner. When Lafayette was still in business, they carried the 10DA head and several other microphones. But they've been out of the picture for nearly 35 years now...... |
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I just considered it as a Spare Head, if ever needed... I picked up a Browning MK IVA and it came with a Browning 776 with the Orange Striped Label... It also came with a 776 with Brown Stripes on the Label, but those are for the MK III...