[TenTec] 565 Low level audio on headphones

[Wade Staggs]

Are some of the Heil Headsets and Microphones still using Hot Glue to hold
the Elements in place? When I saw this in a rather expensive Headset, I was
amazed that this could be. For the price, a couple of screws and a mounting
ring would be the minimum that I would expect. Some things just make you
say Hmmmm. As for the Impedance Issue, just from my experience ... Higher
Impedance headsets seem to need more voltage to produce the same amount of
volume. I believe that once again Bob/K4TAX is correct in saying that Lower
Impedance Headphones should have greater sensitivity or louder output.
These are my beliefs. Your mileage may vary.

73 from Wade/KJ4WS

On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 11:23 AM, Jim Brown <k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com>wrote:

> On 3/15/2013 8:06 PM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:
>
>> Yet impedance is not related to headphone sensitivity, so two factors
>> must be considered.  Thus headphones of lower impedance should by choice
>> have a higher sensitivity while headphones of higher impedance can have
>> lower sensitivity values.
>>
>
> Right.
>
> ANY resistor that you add to the headphone circuit, whether in series or
> in parallel, will REDUCE the loudness in the headphones.
>
>  This goes to show that one doesn't have to spend a hundred bucks or so
>> for a name-brand headset that works.
>>
>
> Right again.  About 10 years ago, I bought an assortment of about five
> Plantronics headsets designed for use with cell phones and/or computers at
> a hamfest in Milwaukee. Probably a salesman's sample kit. I made connector
> adapters so I could use them with my computer (Skype, etc.) or with my rigs
> (at that time I owned used TS850, Omni V, IC746, and K2).  All of the mics
> sounded very good with all of the rigs, but few of the headsets were even
> slightly comfortable. These things all were sold for less than $30 retail.
>
> About a year ago, I studied the el cheapo crap boom mic headsets at Fry's,
> with the intent of finding  two for use with Skype. I settled on two
> different no-name models for which I paid about $30 total. I've also found
> some in this class at hamfests. I made computer recordings of all of the
> mics, and evaluated the headphones for sound and comfort. ALL of the mics
> sounded OK on the computer, and would likely sound very good with most ham
> rigs. All were very cheaply made, would easily fall apart (one already
> has). As to the headphones -- none sounded very good, and are varying
> degrees of uncomfortable to wear. They're fine for Skype, but I wouldn't
> consider them for a contest.
>
> The things that are different about the Yamaha CM500 and the Koss headset
> that Richards likes are that they are BUILT much better than the cheapies,
> the headphones sound much better, and they are FAR more comfortable.  I
> can't comment on the comfort of ALL Heil headsets, but the ones I've worn
> at contest stations when I've been a guest op  have not been very
> comfortable, and what I've heard on the air is no better than the far less
> expensive boom headsets that Bob and I are talking about. The Heil noise
> cancelling headsets I've used also had serious RFI problems.  The other big
> difference with Heil stuff is advertising propaganda and "mystique."  It's
> the same thing that Bose sells -- "better sound through marketing!"
>  Gullible hams with little technical background believe that hype and are
> willing to pay four times the cost for them.  About ten years ago, I bought
> a used K2, and it came with the Heil hand mic that Elecraft sold in the
> $100 range. For some reason I had to open it up (don't remember why).
> Inside, I found an el-cheapo electret element that probably cost Heil no
> more than a buck, and with a very flaky mounting method.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
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