Communications gear is a highly talked about piece of kit for any airsoft player looking to take their gameplay to the next level. Whether you join a hardcore, “Milsim” airsoft team or simply take part in some of the larger game events out there, being able to utilize radio communications is an immense tactical advantage over players not using radio communications. It can also be a boon to your own personal safety in case something goes wrong out on the field.
Most traditional communications setups require the use of a radio, push-to-talk (PTT) unit, and a microphone or speaker unit (these are many times part of a headset unit). Code RED Headsets, however, has a very “tacticool” option in their Signal 21-M6 shoulder speaker mic unit that does not rely on a standard headset style. Not only does the Signal 21-M6 plug directly into your radio instead of a PTT unit, but it also has a built-in speaker and microphone. This saves you a lot of hassle in setting your communications up on your plate carrier.
As many of you players already know, there are fields out there that require ear protection both in their public matches as well as organized events. Unfortunately, ear protection can be clumsy unless you are wearing a full face paintball mask or “Army of Two” style airsoft mask. For those of us wearing a helmet, goggles, and mesh half-face mask, things get more complicated. Those little rubber ear flaps being sold at online airsoft retailers simply don’t work well and are distracting with how they flop around when you turn your head.
For my airsoft games, I prefer to wear ear protection that not only keeps errant BBs from entering my ear canals but, also, enhances my normal hearing. I choose to wear a set of Howard Leight Impact Sport headphones. They are made for real shooting environments where they digitally-enhance ambient sound while muffle the high decibel sound of gunfire. Additionally, they have a 3.5mm input jack for your MP3 player or smartphone. Basically, they are just about the best thing since sliced bread. In fact, I use them for when I hit the real steel range as well and they haven’t failed me yet.
More interesting is how the two devices compliment each other. The Code RED Signal 21-M6 has a 3.5mm output jack on it which allows you to redirect sound from the speaker unit to an earpiece, secret service style. But, with the Howard Leight Impact Sport headphones, you can plug the included 3.5mm audio cable from the headphones directly into the Signal 21-M6. This allows you to hear the audio from the speaker unit inside your ear protection while at the same time enhancing the ambient sounds of the environment. Using the two products together is simply amazing and they go together like peas and carrots.
In terms of build quality, the Signal 21-M6 is as solid as a rock – especially when compared to most other airsoft-grade communications gear. In fact, the quality is good enough that I wouldn’t hesitate to take one of these along for my civilian bug out bag. I give Code RED a huge amount of kudos for packing this kind of craftsmanship into an airsoft-grade communications accessory. This thing will hold up to multi-day tournament use in the forest, desert, mud, wherever.
Setting the Signal 21-M6 Shoulder Speaker Mic up is very easy – you just plug it into your handy talkie and it works. If you choose to utilize the 3.5mm audio port, you just plug in there as well. It features a nice, multi-directional clip on its backside so you can attach it to some MOLLE webbing, a lapel, or any other piece of fabric you like. If you have a microphone loop sewn into your uniform or gear, all the better, it will clip onto that as well.
In terms of actual usage, the Signal 21-M6 is easy to operate with a basic push-to-talk button on one side of it. Clipping it to the shoulder strap of my chest rig made it easy to get to and use while playing, and the audio quality of the speaker unit is very good. I simply have no complaints about the unit thus far.
Overall, Code RED Headsets has an amazing piece of kit for your airsoft loadout or civilian prepper’s bug out bag in the Signal 21-M6 Shoulder Speaker Mic. It retails for an extremely reasonable $49 dollars and is available now – both at Code RED’s official website and airsoft retailers like Evike.com. Additionally, while ours was setup for Motorola 1-pin style radios, they offer a plethora of other connectors for those of you with non Motorola 1-pin units.
[easyreview title=”Code Red Signal 21-M6 Shoulder Speaker Mic Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
