Heil Sound PR28 Cardioid Dynamic Drum and Percussion Microphone

Heil Sound PR28: A Compact Dynamic Built for Drums

The Heil Sound PR28 is a small form-factor cardioid dynamic microphone engineered to capture toms and drums with accuracy. Its purpose is to reinforce the natural frequency spectrum of a drum without adding unwanted noise or vibration to the signal. The compact body and focused pattern make it a specialist rather than a generalist. For the drummer or live engineer who wants each drum captured cleanly and individually, it is purpose-built for the job.

Dual Suspension Rejects Shell Vibration

Isolation is the whole point of the PR28's dual suspension element, a two-stage internal mounting that isolates the capsule from the microphone body. When a drum is struck, the shell and hardware vibrate intensely, and on a poorly isolated mic that mechanical energy leaks into the signal as rumble and noise. By suspending the element twice over, the PR28 lets the diaphragm respond only to the drum's acoustic sound. Drummers hear the true attack and tone of each drum instead of a muddied thump.

Focused Isolation for a Full Kit

A cardioid polar pattern gives the PR28 the tight directional focus a busy drum kit demands. Rejecting roughly 35 dB of sound from the rear, it locks onto the target drum while turning away bleed from adjacent toms and cymbals. That isolation keeps each drum on its own clean channel, which makes mixing and gating far easier. Live engineers and studio drummers rely on that separation to build a punchy, controlled drum sound.

Headroom for the Hardest Hitters

Rated to a maximum sound-pressure level of 142 dB, the PR28 stays clean no matter how aggressively a drummer plays. Close-miked drums produce enormous transient peaks, and a microphone without this headroom would distort on every strike. The PR28's high SPL tolerance captures the full dynamic snap of a rimshot or a tom fill without breakup. That reliability lets hard-hitting players dig in with full confidence.

A Body That Fits Where Others Cannot

Its small form-factor housing lets the PR28 slip into positions a larger microphone simply cannot reach. Toms crowd together, cymbals hang low, and space around a snare is precious, so a compact profile is a real advantage on a full kit. The PR28 mounts close to the head for maximum isolation without getting in the drummer's way. That practical sizing is why it earns a place on tightly packed stages and studio sessions alike.

Flexible Mounting Options

The PR28 includes built-in threading that attaches directly to a standard-thread microphone boom for simple stand placement. For metal-hooped drums, it is designed to pair with the optional Heil HH-1 drum mount, which clamps to the rim and positions the microphone precisely. This flexibility means it can be rigged fast during a hurried stage changeover. Engineers working on tight schedules value mounting that just works.

Beyond the Drum Kit

Although it is optimized for toms and drums, the PR28 is equally at home on a wide range of hand percussion. Its accurate, isolated capture suits bongos, congas, timbales, and djembe, where the same shell-vibration and bleed challenges apply. Because it is a passive dynamic with a standard XLR output, no phantom power is needed to put it to work. Percussionists gain one dependable microphone that covers much of their setup.