Electro Voice 638

[Detroit47]

I just picked up an EV 638 mic. I heard that they are supposed to be decent on tube gear. So let's hear some opinions.

Thanks John N8QPC

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Great mike for SSB use. Generally comes wired for Hi-Z. Heathkit also sold it as the Model HDP-21A for all their SSB rigs. The one I had sucked for AM operation and I got rid of it.

[Jim KF2SY]

The 638 was also relabeled for Heathkit.  That's the one I have.  Love the smoooooth respsonse very easy to eq this mic.   Nice, warm, and natural sounding microphone.....in my opinion.  Rugged too.

 

http://www.coutant.org/ev638/index.html

[ke7trp]

The best mic for stock johnson gear.   I run them here on the 500 and valiant.  Great smooth audio.  They match the stock impedance nicely. Lots of lows.

My favorite IF the radio is not modified to run the D104 properly.

Here is the PDF for the 638

C

[Jim/WA2MER]

That's the mic I use with my AM gear.  Works nicely with my Apache and 100V.

[Detroit47]

Thanks for all the input guys. I swept it and the audio response seems ok. So into service it goes.

Thanks John N8QPC

[ka4koe]

I have an EV638 that I had planned to use with my Valiant. I'm glad to hear that the 38 will work just fine.

Philip

[W3RSW]

Thanks for the neat PDF flyer. I've kept mine for years and use it with a TR-7 alter trading off the HW101.

Heath did not re-label  it except for sales purposes with PTT stand in catalogue. The mike label mounted on the mike itself clearly states it's an EV 638.  It has more output than my Shure 58 but sounds about the same.  I did not realize it was omnidirectional but thought it was mildly cardioid .  I guess it didn't matter when using non-fan, somewhat entry level transceivers back then.

I think the EV 663 was the more expensive and desired mike of the era and I see them on eBay at good prices from time to time. The 663 seemed to be the RE 20/27 of its day; everybody wanted one.

[ka4koe]

Mine has the transformer inside the head. Does that make it Hi Z or Lo Z?

P

[ke7trp]

I am not aware of a 663.  Did you mean 633? 

I have a 664.  It was used in Broadcast.  This mic was sold under the Gates name. 

http://www.coutant.org/ev664/index.html

Mine is wired for 150 ohm low impedance.  I ran it to the voice channel one day. Sounded flat.  Decent.  But the Blue spark killed it.. 

I am thinking I might rewire it to HI-Z and then try it with the J500.

C

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I have two light gray and one gold finish 664's. They seem to work well over the years on my Apache, Valiant, Ranger, and SSB rigs. Response is fairly flat almost to the point of being too flat especially if you don't use any audio tailoring. Collins used these in some of their equipment ads. I'm tempted to try one of them with the Flex or the Icom.

[VE3AJM]

The EV 666..yes..and 667 were excellent broadcast mikes back in the day. Still are.

Al VE3AJM

[W3RSW]

Thanks for catch. Meant the 664. It is cardioid and very nice.