Tier 5

Heil Sound — Bob Heil’s Illinois broadcast specialty

Founded in 1966 by Bob Heil — yes, the same Bob Heil who built the Grateful Dead’s touring sound system in the 1970s — Heil Sound is the broadcast and ham-radio specialty mic brand from Fairview Heights, Illinois. The PR 40 has become a popular budget alternative to the SM7B and RE20.

Founded1966

HQFairview Heights, Illinois

OwnershipHeil family

SpecialtyBroadcast & ham radio

What they make

Broadcast dynamics, headset mics, and ham-radio gear

Heil’s lineup is small — about a dozen mics — but every one is aimed at voice. The PR 40 is the flagship: a large-diaphragm dynamic meant for podcast and broadcast use. The PR 30 is similar at a lower price.

The famous mics

Microphones worth knowing

PR 40 — broadcast dynamic. Often compared to the RE20 at a lower price.
PR 30 / PR 30B — slightly smaller broadcast dynamic. Black version is a popular podcast pick.
PR 20 / PR 20 UT — handheld dynamic, more SM58-territory.
PR 22 — handheld broadcast dynamic.
Fin — large-bodied dynamic with chrome retro look. Often picked by streamers for the look.
Heil HM-i — ham-radio handheld with built-in compression.

Should you buy one?

The short answer

Get one ifYou want a broadcast dynamic that costs less than an SM7B but in the same family of sound. The PR 40 at ~$330 has a real following.

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