• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Does anyone use the microphone input on your Hi-Fi?

tcdriver

tcdriver

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
A high impedance microphone input seemed to be pretty common in the early days of Hi-Fi, now, not so much. Does your equipment have this feature? Do you use the microphone input on your Hi-Fi?

Example: Heathkit WA-P2 with MIC (Microphone) input
WA-P2 102 (16).JPG
 
Register to hide this ad
I use the low-gain (as in for a high impedance mic) front-panel mic input on my Marantz 1060 for tape playback.
Works just fine.
 
I have a Sansui A-7 integrated amp with a mic input. Kind of a rare offering. I wonder sometimes if it was a feature added because of the old karaoke craze.
When I use it, it clears the house of all residents. (No Hoyt Axton voice have I.)

"Well I wish I'd never seen me a gun or a bottle
Or the look in the eyes of a woman in love
Oh I may be a loser but I'll go out laughin'
'Bout the fool I've been out...
Beyond These Walls"
 
I have an integrated with one,.never used it though. I had another integrated amp years ago with a mic input and a gain control. I did use that one as an added quick connect source input.
 
I've had a couple units that had microphone inputs but can't remember ever using it. Thing is there was always a tape deck in the system and I'd use it's mic inputs which usually allowed mic line mixing as well even if you weren't recording. Then I put a mixer in the system along with a karaoke mixer in the send/return for key change function of music or singers... key change can produce some interesting effects applied to voice/microphone input. I do karaoke in my house as well as little recording sessions up to six inputs which is fun and sometimes actually useful. A mixer in the system adds much to it's versatility. and ease of hookup.
 
All of my Sansuis have them, a 6060, 9090 and a 881. I have the 881 set up as a mono rig. My son plugs his Line 6 Pod into it and plays his guitar thru it.
 
I sometimes use the 1/4" mic input on my Pioneer SX-727 as an additional input.

I happened to have a 1/4 to dual RCA cable.

I don't think it's stereo, though, but sound comes from both speakers.
 
My G-8000 has one and it is a problem. Shortly after getting my 8000 back from CDFixer many years back, I was treated to a high piercing squeal. I ran to the receiver and started turning knobs and flipping switches and could find nothing to stop the noise until I found the mic knob. It was all the way off and as I started to turn it up the squeal stopped. Perplexed, I left the knob turned up to about 12:00 and walked away. Within a minute or two the squeal was back. I turned it up and it stopped. You can see where I am going with this. Eventually what I ended up having to do is to punch an adapter into the mic jack. With time I found that if the adapter was about 3/4 of the way in the squeal was stopped on a permanent basis. That is how it lives, leaving me puzzled. CDFixer passed away before this appeared so I was unable to get this dealt with; so I live with it.
 
KingBubba said:
My G-8000 has one and it is a problem. Shortly after getting my 8000 back from CDFixer many years back, I was treated to a high piercing squeal. I ran to the receiver and started turning knobs and flipping switches and could find nothing to stop the noise until I found the mic knob. It was all the way off and as I started to turn it up the squeal stopped. Perplexed, I left the knob turned up to about 12:00 and walked away. Within a minute or two the squeal was back. I turned it up and it stopped. You can see where I am going with this. Eventually what I ended up having to do is to punch an adapter into the mic jack. With time I found that if the adapter was about 3/4 of the way in the squeal was stopped on a permanent basis. That is how it lives, leaving me puzzled. CDFixer passed away before this appeared so I was unable to get this dealt with; so I live with it.
Click to expand...
That is a weird problem. I cannot imagine what would cause that squeal.
 
My big Maranz has 1/4" Dubbing IN and an OUT, I never really paid much attention to it or used it. That's the only component piece I've noticed with it but I probably have a few more lying around here with it.

I do have a ton of boomboxes with it, especially the 70's models. Lot's of mid-70's boomboxes were sold as "portable studios" where you could plug a MIC or guitar in and either record or play along with the tape. Most of these had a MIC mixing knob to get the volume where you wanted it. Here's an ad for a cool Sanyo M 2480K from 1975, this would have been so much fun to play with back then.


Sanyo M2480K 1975.png
 
tcdriver said:
A high impedance microphone input seemed to be pretty common in the early days of Hi-Fi, now, not so much. Does your equipment have this feature? Do you use the microphone input on your Hi-Fi?

Example: Heathkit WA-P2 with MIC (Microphone) input
View attachment 2387728
Click to expand...
The Dynaco PAT-4 has a Microphone input that has a flat response. It can be used with a calibrated mike to measure your amps, or speakers. I've got mine wired to the RIAA so it accommodate a second turntable. Have not used the PAT-4 for a long time. If I do, I'd wire the mike input back to the where it was, as a mike.
 
Having mic mixing, (like my Yamaha CA-400 integrated has), is a great feature for headphone listening. You can listen to music somewhat loud and still hear the phone, doorbell, or anything that goes bump in the night. My Focusrite Scarlett handles those duties now.

Edit: I also find that it adds a sense of "air" to headphone listening. Like your headphones are transparent.
 
Last edited:
My first "hifi" amp was a JVC VN300 which had a microphone input on the front. I never understood it's purpose on a domestic hifi amp.
 
KingBubba said:
My G-8000 has one and it is a problem. Shortly after getting my 8000 back from CDFixer many years back, I was treated to a high piercing squeal. I ran to the receiver and started turning knobs and flipping switches and could find nothing to stop the noise until I found the mic knob. It was all the way off and as I started to turn it up the squeal stopped. Perplexed, I left the knob turned up to about 12:00 and walked away. Within a minute or two the squeal was back. I turned it up and it stopped. You can see where I am going with this. Eventually what I ended up having to do is to punch an adapter into the mic jack. With time I found that if the adapter was about 3/4 of the way in the squeal was stopped on a permanent basis. That is how it lives, leaving me puzzled. CDFixer passed away before this appeared so I was unable to get this dealt with; so I live with it.
Click to expand...

I had this same issue on a G-8000. The mic pot is connected to the big tone board with a ribbon cable of 4 or 5 wires. I resoldered the wires where they connect to the big tone board and the noise vanished for me.
 
In the early 80’s I had a Soundesign with dual microphone inputs-R&L. My friend and I used to make mix tapes with commentary like a letter/talk show and exchange them with friends out of state through the mail. They were most appreciated and we had fun doing it!
 
I want to listen to music with my system not make music. My multiple bass's, guitars and amplifiers don't need a mic. I have zero interest in recording anything via a mono mic setup. I had cancer and can't talk anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom