This reviewing format is credited to Stan the Hitman.
Period of
Product Use: Less than a month
Similar
Products Used: Orginal RAP4 Throat mic. Cheap Airsoft throat mics
Recommended
Upgrades: ---
Strengths: Compact, Durable, Easy to adjust, Great sound quality
Weaknesses: Difficult to find the "sweet spot". Will go more in depth
Review: After my hassles with the original throat mic KT sent me the new improved version with a battery in the decoder.
I will break this review down into 5 categories (Looks and cosmetics, Comfort, Ease of use and related, Sound quality, Durability and maintenance) each with a potential of two points to be given or taken away.
<Looks>
I opened my package containing various goodies and my throat mic expecting to see it just thrown in there. Unlike the first throat mic I recieved it was nicely packed in a small box with the RAP4 graphics and name of the throat mic. It was wrapped up well with no tangles in the wiring with an instruction manual at the bottom of the box. The mic looks like any other throat mic, but with the words Tactica Throat Mic on the plastic band. Not much more to it.
2/2
<Comfort>
Being the easily excitable person that I am, I of course put it on write away. There were no sharp edges on any of the plastic pieces, nor were there any loose strands hanging from the elastic band. The elastic band is adjustable, so it can accomodate almost all neck sizes. The standard PTT button is quite ergonomic and fits nicely in your hand.
2/2
<Ease of Use>
Thanks to the included instructions this thing is pretty simple. Explanations on how to adjust it, diagrams on where to place it, and warnings for misuse. Without the instructions though you are pretty in the dark. The original mic came with no instructions, but there were some online instructions that were of no use. Everything on the new throat mic is straight forward and easy to get the hang of.
Switch for VOX and PTT, PTT button, clip for the wire, and magnetic clips to attatch the band to your neck. A child could figure it out. My favorite feature HAS to be the magnetic clips. Much easier than trying to hook the band together, or slip it on over your head. Instead, you just wrap band around your neck and bring the magnets on each end of the band together.
However, the "sweet spot" is a hassle to find. The "sweet spot" I'm reffering to is the optimum distance between your vocal chords and the side of your throat for the best sound clarity and volume. The closer it is to your vocal chords the louder your voice is. The closer it is to the side of your throat the clearer your voice is. It really is a matter of trial and error. Especially if you don't have the instructions.
1/2
<Sound Quality>
The main thing everyone looks for in a good throat mic is obviously the sound quality. Both of your voice and others voices. For people with a raspy voice like myself, you really have to sacrifice the volume of your voice for clarity. The higher your voice, the clearer it will be without having to sarifice any voice volume. If you do place it further away from your throat, the sound quality really is great. No one would even know you have a throat mic on. Definetly worth it for the sound quality alone.
2/2
<Durabilty and Maintenance>
Not really much to this one. Dunk it it water it won't work. The plastic is pretty solid, but it won't survive getting run over or anything of the sort. As far as maintenance goes all you need to do is replace the battery every year. The battery in the decoder will eventually run out, and then you will be left with terrible sound quality. Take the time to replace the battery. It's only 2 bucks for the battery, and four screws to get it out. No problem.
2/2
Conclusion: For the money this is definetly the best throat mic you can buy. Good sound qualty, easy to use, virtually no maintenance, comfortable, and looks shnazzy. Probably won't beat those 200 dollar military throat mics, but unless your life depends on it I would stick with the new RAP4 throat mic.
Pictures to come.
