[CQ-Contest] earbuds?

[Jeff Kinzli N6GQ]

Hey Dennis,

I've been experimenting with some of my higher-end audio headphones and
in-ear monitors for CW use.

Those headphones and in-ear monitors are superb for music, but I'm not
convinced they add a whole lot to the equation when talking about the very
midrange nature of CW, noise, etc.

I have some decent noise-canceling over-ear headphones (Sony WH1000XM3)
that I plan to try as well, just haven't gotten to it. The noise reduction
(both passive and active) on these are superb, so they would probably help
if you have a loud air conditioner in the background, or something like
that.

For the K3, I also use both RX and TX equalization and that makes a HUGE
difference. For SSB contests those equalization settings are a must when
using the CM500, and that turns the CM500+K3 into a pile up busting machine
on SSB. I can't imagine doing an SSB contest without that. Years ago we
used Heil microphone elements in our headsets, now we can get the same or
better punch with the K3 equalizer and CM500 (or probably just about any
other mic element).

The RX equalization will make the K3 sound like "a big radio" - and that,
combined with the AFX (also in K3) make K3 receive audio pretty nice.
Switching off AFX takes you back to "standard" receive audio just like any
other radio and it sounds very flat in comparison. I find that in a CW
contest, the combination of RX EQ and AFX make CW signals "dance" spatially
in front of you and around you and *may* make a difference in pulling
signals out of a pileup or noise.

If anyone's interested I'll post back my feedback of some decent headphones
and how they do in comparison to the CM500 for CW. Like I said,  not sure
there's a big difference in terms of audio to warrant the extra price
(upwards of 20+ times the cost of CM500) but if there is a difference it
seems to me it would be worth considering.

73 de N6GQ

On Mon, Aug 30, 2021 at 11:05 AM <dbmcalpine73 at gmail.com> wrote:

> After reading the article in this weekend's Wall Street Journal about the
> improvement in Active Noise Cancelling earbuds, I am curious if anyone is
> using them for contesting.  If so, I am curious as to which ones you are
> using, how you connect them to your radio (a K3 in my case) and how they
> compare to over-the-ear phones like the CM-500?  Since I normally wear
> hearing aids, I am curious if you can wear them with your ear buds (I
> usually take them off for contests anyway).
>
> Thanks.
>
> 73, Dennis, K2SX
>
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