The Bottom Line
The Heil PR-20 UT is a unique microphone; it sounds great, is built like a tank, and costs a fraction of what you'd expect.
The PR-20 sounds fantastic on just about anything, especially for the price. With a few exceptions, sound quality is exceptional on most any source you put in front of.
Priced at $99, it's a heavy competitor to many other good microphones. Whether you're a working musician, aspiring recording engineer, Podcaster, or experienced industry pro, the Heil PR-20 UT is a great choice that holds its own against the competition -- some costing many times more.
The PR-20 sounds fantastic on just about anything, especially for the price. With a few exceptions, sound quality is exceptional on most any source you put in front of.
Priced at $99, it's a heavy competitor to many other good microphones. Whether you're a working musician, aspiring recording engineer, Podcaster, or experienced industry pro, the Heil PR-20 UT is a great choice that holds its own against the competition -- some costing many times more.
Pros
- Exceptional sound & build quality
- Great Value Compared To Same-Priced Competition
- Great "utility player" mic -- good for multiple sources
Cons
- High handling noise for handheld use
Description
- Cardioid vocal microphone; 50Hz to 18kHz
- Exceptional vocal microphone; great performance on drums and guitars, as well.
- Neodynium, iron & boron element; great feedback rejection
- Some moderate handling noise; best suited for on-stand applications.
- Available now; $99
Guide Review - Heil PR-20 UT Microphone
Heil Sound has begun offering the PR-20 UT (for "utility"), which is their award-winning PR-20 microphone packaged only with a microphone clip, windscreen, and stand adapter -- specially priced at only $99.
My first impression of the PR-20 UT is the build quality -- and when you're a working musician, that's very important. The PR-20 has no fully-plastic parts, like some similarly-priced competition.
I've tried the PR-20UT on everything from snare drum to acoustic guitar, and it sounds great every time -- even in less-than-ideal acoustic situations. In a live environment, you'll find that the incredible rear rejection helps avoid feedback. If your monitors are very flat, you should have no problems with feedback from these mics. Mixing live with the PR-20 UT, I was able to flatten out the monitor EQ and, with limited adjustments, bring up the mics to a full, balanced sound with nearly no feedback.
Vocals are where the PR-20 UT really shines. Compared to a $99 Shure SM-58, the PR-20 UT showed exceptional midrange articulation, with good detail. It also exhibited less proximity effect, and a much more pleasing low-mids (although, on some preamps, the PR-20 UT sounded a little strong in the 450Hz area).
In the studio? Watch out. This is a great microphone for studio use, especially on voiceovers or spoken word.
My only complaint about the PR-20 UT is the handling noise, especially when not used on a stand. I wouldn't use the PR-20 UT in a studio recording or Podcasting situation without a solid stand and shockmount, both of which are available through Heil Sound directly. While other reviewers have referred to the handling noise as anywhere from "unnoticeable" to "completely unacceptable", I find myself in the middle -- it wasn't an issue that couldn't be overcome with a little creative EQ (and the handling noise problem is eliminated in the PR-20 UT's big brother, the PR-22). Anytime it became an issue, I simply rolled off the low end until the noise went away.
Overall, for the price, the Heil PR-20 UT is a fantastic mic. If you can handle the handling noise, you're fine.
The PR-20 UT is available from Heil Sound directly for $99.
My first impression of the PR-20 UT is the build quality -- and when you're a working musician, that's very important. The PR-20 has no fully-plastic parts, like some similarly-priced competition.
I've tried the PR-20UT on everything from snare drum to acoustic guitar, and it sounds great every time -- even in less-than-ideal acoustic situations. In a live environment, you'll find that the incredible rear rejection helps avoid feedback. If your monitors are very flat, you should have no problems with feedback from these mics. Mixing live with the PR-20 UT, I was able to flatten out the monitor EQ and, with limited adjustments, bring up the mics to a full, balanced sound with nearly no feedback.
Vocals are where the PR-20 UT really shines. Compared to a $99 Shure SM-58, the PR-20 UT showed exceptional midrange articulation, with good detail. It also exhibited less proximity effect, and a much more pleasing low-mids (although, on some preamps, the PR-20 UT sounded a little strong in the 450Hz area).
In the studio? Watch out. This is a great microphone for studio use, especially on voiceovers or spoken word.
My only complaint about the PR-20 UT is the handling noise, especially when not used on a stand. I wouldn't use the PR-20 UT in a studio recording or Podcasting situation without a solid stand and shockmount, both of which are available through Heil Sound directly. While other reviewers have referred to the handling noise as anywhere from "unnoticeable" to "completely unacceptable", I find myself in the middle -- it wasn't an issue that couldn't be overcome with a little creative EQ (and the handling noise problem is eliminated in the PR-20 UT's big brother, the PR-22). Anytime it became an issue, I simply rolled off the low end until the noise went away.
Overall, for the price, the Heil PR-20 UT is a fantastic mic. If you can handle the handling noise, you're fine.
The PR-20 UT is available from Heil Sound directly for $99.
