[SEDXC] [SECC] Headphone Quest

[Dave]

I have a Yamaha CM500 I use with my Flex 5k, excellent headphones and audio
reports. I also use Sennheiser HD280 headphones only, excellent quality and
sound.

Dave
K4em

-----Original Message-----
From: sedxc-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:sedxc-bounces at contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Mike Greenway
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 4:03 PM
To: Hal Kennedy; 'Rich Arland'; 'North Georgia QRP Group'; 'SECC'; 'South
East DX Club'
Subject: Re: [SEDXC] [SECC] Headphone Quest

I apologize for saying they were noise cancelling.  Some one led me to 
believe they were.  I am only interested in noise cancelling as the shack is

noise with A/C, blowers etc.  So those are out for me..  The QC15 Sony is a 
little too pricey..

-----Original Message----- 
From: Hal Kennedy
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 2:25 PM
To: 'Mike Greenway' ; 'Rich Arland' ; 'North Georgia QRP Group' ; 'SECC' ; 
'South East DX Club'
Subject: RE: [SECC] [SEDXC] Headphone Quest

Just bought a set of CM500s.  Had them about three days.  The earphones
are not noise canceling - there is no battery in the headphone part (I
thought they were...but no luck).  They do cover the entire ear and
reduce background noise pretty well.  They are comfortable.  The
earphone response is very flat - I prefer something that peaks at the
high end where my hearing goes bad.  I have an equalizer in line to get
the response as I prefer it.  When running Bose phones I did not use the
equalizer.  My high end hearing is shot - I tend not to notice hiss.

The electret microphone puts out about twice the amplitude of a Heil,
which I am not too happy about.  I was able to turn the mic gain down on
the radio and take care of that, but the VOX gain needs to be reset and
the computer DVD functions all need to be reset as well and I'd prefer
not to do that.  I may instead, built a two resistor attenuator into the
battery box or a plug/jack to get the microphone gain back to what I
would call "typical."  The microphone has full freq. response.  It
sounds great if you like Hi-Fi audio.  The Heil HC-5 element sounds
pretty bad but is tailored to cut through pile-ups.  Take your pick.
Since I don't ragchew on SSB, I think I like the bad sounding Heil
better for a communications circuit.  Also, the CM500 microphone is omni
directional - which is not too good for a multi-op station or when you
have background noise in the shack.  The Heil only responds toward your
mouth.

Like Rich, I am still searching for a quality, noise canceling set of
phones with a factory installed microphone that's not an electret and
has that "cut through the pile-up" frequency response.  The best I have
had so far was a pair of Bose QC2's with a Heil boom mic. bolted to the
side.  Many folks have gone that route.  If you do, the Bose QC2 can be
bought on eBay, used, for a fraction of the significant brand-new price.

Any suggestions are most appreciated!  I will keep the CM500, but I hope
to relegate it to backup when I find something better.

73,
Hal N4GG


-----Original Message-----
From: secc-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:secc-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Mike Greenway
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 1:58 PM
To: Rich Arland; North Georgia QRP Group; SECC; South East DX Club
Subject: Re: [SECC] [SEDXC] Headphone Quest

You might look at the Yamaha CM500.  Around $54 through Amazon and it
has a
mic also.  If you use the K3 you don't have to use the batteries in the
headset as it will pick up the voltage for the mic from the jack in the
rear
where they plug in directly.  The mic does require a bias so if your rig

does not supply it you will need the batteries.  They are noise
cancelling
which tend to use more.  I don't have a set of these but thinking about
ordering one.  The guys on the K3 Reflector rate them very good.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Rich Arland
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 1:49 PM
To: North Georgia QRP Group ; SECC ; South East DX Club
Subject: [SEDXC] Headphone Quest


Hi Gang:

I am "shotgunning" this query to three of my favorite lists in hopes
that I
can receive some feedback that will help me determine a course of action
to
procure a new, comfortable and useable set of headphones for the shack.

I don't know about y'all but I am about fed up trying to find a pair of
headphones that cover the entire ear (not just sit on top of the ear),
will
work with the wide variety of gear in my shack, be comfortable for long
periods of use, have the proper frequency response to reduce the
listening
fatigue encountered due to the amount of "hissssss" present in the audio

passband, isolate me from the madhouse that normally surrounds my shack,
and
not cost several hundred dollars!

The
best ones I've tried so far and found to meet the majority of the
criteria I have outlined are the Kenwood HS-5 Communications Headphones
which run about $75 at Universal Radio (HRO has them for
$87.95.....their "discount price"???). The reviews at e-ham seem to
conclude
that these headphones are very popular and they get consistently high
review
ratings.



While the price is what I would consider a bit elevated, they certainly
outperform the $10.99 padded full-ear muff earphones normally found on
e-bay, at Wally-World, and at hamfest flea markets.

So, with that criteria in mind, what seems to be the favorite among you
DXers, contesters and QRPers??

Opinions are welcome so enlighten me!!

73
Rich Arland, K7SZ
Bent Dipole Ranch, Dacula, GA
"Cogito Ergo CQ" ("I think therefore I HAM")
Author: "The ARRL's Low Power Communications, the Art and Science of
QRP"
(all 3 editions)
Editor: "QRP POWER", QST Magazine (Jan 2000 to Dec 2003)
Editor: "The Learning Curve", CQ Magazine
Editor: "The Beginner's Column", CQ-VHF Magazine




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