Why shouldn't I (or anyone) buy a Microphone at Radio Shack?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Big Wheel
  • Start date Start date
Because those aren't really mics they're selling! (just glorified Wal-Mart video cam mic rejects, repackaged to look like the real thing)

Bruce
Blue Bear Sound
 
Actually, I was going thru some old boxes and came across a pair of Radio Shack mics I bought back in my sound-on-sound recording days (you know, cassette-deck to cassette-deck, 1 track at a time!). Hell, that's almost 20 year ago now!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways, just for fun I plugged 'em into the console.... HELLLLLLOOOOOO - HIGH-END.... are you out there????????
Yikes :eek: - utter GARBAGE.... not even good enough for use as a talkback mic!!!!!!!!!

And scary part is that people still buy them - completely blissful in their ignorance!

Bruce
 
Agreed, the PZM is THE exception (but only if modified to run on a higher voltage).

The pair of mics I was talking about had a Realistic/Shure nameplate........... yuck...

Bruce
 
Most of what RS sells is over priced and lacking in quality. I usually only go there to buy garden variety stuff because they are right around the corner. Stuff like phone jack splitters, zip ties or weird cable adaptors are sometimes not worth driving the extra distance. I did once buy a dynamic mic at RS that was apparently made by Shure. It was $30 and actually works pretty well plugged into my portable mini disk recorder. However, that was a fluke and I wouldn't normally buy mics or much else at RS.
 
Id love to hear an entire album made with radio shack mics..anyone up for the challenge? I think it would be interesting to hear! I cansee it already "The BUILD a MIX from bottom to top with RS Mics"

Just an idea.
 
You wouldn't need to - grab ANY CD, run it thru a lo-pass filter with the cut-off somewhere between 2-3K, with a -18db/octave slope, and there you have it!

:D

Bruce
 
I gave my top of the line RS condensor mic to the kid across the street for Christmas.

I pray that he doesn't bring it back, it's just that good.
 
OK, I've got to be the guy who says SOMETHING good about Radioshack. I've been gone for a couple of weeks doing the Army's bidness, but before I left I did a quick A/B of some tom mics. The recording train: mic to presonus blue tube to Korg d16. The mics: sm57, shure 545sd (looks like 57 but is silver), samson S11 vocal mic, and the senheiser evolution look-alike from Radioshack (with integral clip).

IMHO the Radioshack tom mic did as good of a job as the 57 or the 545SD on toms (by the way, I couldn't tell any difference between the 57 and the 545SD). But, the shure mics did noticeably better on snare. Caught more of the snap.

So - being very tired as I am of other drummers whacking my 57s when they use my kit to record, I just might buy a couple more of the Radioshack tom mics and see if they are any tougher (they certainly are cheaper).
 
Well.... if you can get past the laughter of any knowledgeable musicians or engineers at your studio while you're setting up for a session and they see you pull out the RS mics!

;)

Bruce
 
bvaleria said:
Well.... if you can get past the laughter of any knowledgeable musicians or engineers at your studio while you're setting up for a session and they see you pull out the RS mics!

;)

Bruce
Click to expand...


Hi Bruce,

Not to knock drummers (being one myself) but most of them couldn't tell the difference....hell most of them can't even Tune a damned kit! Hahaha

That mic just looks like a ripoff of the Sennheisers to me, hell take the sticker of and most Pro soundmen wouldn't know what it is, since the market's being flooded with Psitol grip mic's.

Now Carvin's got some out-and all it is is a set of Nady Tom mic's marked up $10.(Catrvin's going for $10 more than Nady from MF)


Tim
 
Radio shack's ace in the hole is their location in relation to you. I'm surprised they make money,if they do.I have always gone there exclusely for nickel and dime stuff
 
Yeah... but they charge DOLLARS for the nickel and dime stuff!

$8.00 for a freakin' hardwire Y-adaptor worth about 50 cents... gimme a break!!!!!!

Bruce
 
Radio Whack mics are suitable for just 1 purpose...
In karaoke machines at your local bar!
 
Hey MQQ...

Is that why they (karaoke singers) always sound SOOO bad - I always thought it was lack of talent, now I discover it was the Radio Shack mics that are used 99.9% of the time, all along!!!

Gee, I guess no one ever stops learning, eh??

:D :D :D

Bruce
 
The Radio Shack name obviously has a stigma attached to it. But honestly, a couple of their 'higher-end' mics ARE made by Shure. That said, I don't know what RS is charging for mics these days, but you could likely do better buying the low-end offering from a respected mic manufacturer.

I'd like to plug the CAD22 from CAD (obviously). You can get them for $30 a piece (sometimes less) if you buy more than one. I have 4, and use them in many applications. They sound good on toms, and make decent live mics for vox (perhaps not lead vox) and instrument miking. They're far from amazing, but they're rugged and cheap and very usable. I bought 2 when I first started recording (the only real mics I had at the time), and still use them today.
 
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