In regard to the several very interesting threads regarding AM Hi-Fi, intelligibility, and audio bandwidth / spectrum efficiency - I have some personal observations, and devices I use in my shack...
It is sometimes quite instructive if a recording of your QSO can be made - especially if adjustments are carried out during the course of the QSO. Several folks on the bands are set up to record and playback over-the-air - and there a few who can render these recordings into a computer file which can be forwarded to you, or which you can can hear on a website. This will go a long way toward helping 'tweak' the audio side of things.
There are multitudes of cheap audio processing devices available - on eBay and elsewhere. Of course a "good" mike is number one, and in that regard you generally get whatcha pay for. Then, it's hard to beat the combo of a small audio equalizer feeding a compressor/limiter of some kind.
The EQ allows you to tailor your audio bandwidth for the task at hand - 'broad' for HiFi work, 'narrow' for DX, or to eliminate some of the (wasted) energy in the bottom octaves when intelligibility is the issue.
The compressor of course allows a maximum of audio energy to be applied to the transmitter for a given modulation percentage - in my case with the Valiant it's a very dramatic increase in signal level and 'punch'.
Generally you can get these two devices for around $100 total - then it's possible that your microphone will need a pre-amp (if it's not already "powered"). I'd certainly consider the Compressor first, though. It's an easy 'fix' that might wake up some signals out there - good audio processing
Just my 200 millidollar... Cheers John KB6SCO
