[SEDXC] [SECC] Yamaha CM-500 Headphones: My Story

[Gregg W6IZT]

In general the large PC gaming market has enabled manufacturers to produce
high quality headphone/microphone combinations in high volume and lower
cost. The Yamaha CM-500 seems to be the most widely accepted by the ham
radio market.(there are many to chose from). As others have noted the mic
response of the CM-500 is flat and they work best with a TX with an
equalizer to shape the audio response. I use a pair with my K3 when
operating SSB. For CW I prefer my Sony noise cancelling headsets.

73
Gregg 

-----Original Message-----
From: secc-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:secc-bounces at contesting.com] On
Behalf Of scottstraw at mindspring.com
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2011 11:11 AM
To: Bob Wilson; Hal Kennedy; 'Mike Greenway'; 'Rich Arland'; South East
Contest Club; 'South East DX Club'
Subject: [SECC] Yamaha CM-500 Headphones: My Story

My personal quest for "contesting" headsets for my Kenwood TS-450S lead me
to the Yamaha CM-500 unit as well. I located a set at the Guitar Center in
Marietta.
When I arrived, the said item could not be located. Eventually, the store
manager produced two CM-500s, but they were w/o box and "papers". He offered
them at half-price so I bought them both.
Only when I got home did I discover that they lacked "the battery box" (I
didn't know to ask for it at the store, mea culpa). 
After a conversation with my favorite oracle and guru, Mack W4AX, I bought
an 8-pin connector and some 10K resistors at Radio Shack.  I wired the mic
power line with the resistor into the connector to tap the 8V pin on the
radio mic input (Thanks Kenwood!).  It works well and I have gotten great
reports on my audio.  As an aside, I also wired up a 1/4" jack to the
connector and bought a generic sustain piano for an electronic keyboard to
use as a foot switch. My first major effort with this set up will be NAQP
SSB.  If you hear me, I'd appreciate signal reports (after the event of
course).

Scott, KB4KBS
 
Postscript: I've discovered a chap in New England who makes my type
interface (but much prettier)and sells them on e-Bay. He can be Googled
easily enough.


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