Where to Buy Rat Headphones....

Lowbatts

Gold Member
Jul 1, 2003
6,573
67
Elgin
Detector(s) used
Fishers 1235X-8" CZ-20/21-8" F-70-11"DD GC1023
Hey Scott give Ron Shore a call or PM him. He may be able to get you a set or at least know the current status and he's probably got some good other options.
 

makton

Sr. Member
Mar 5, 2008
403
20
New Lenox, Il
Detector(s) used
Explorer II with 10x12 SEF
Soupie, The guy that makes them still does a limied supply from time to time. He made a couple of dozen last year and they were gone pretty quick. Google it...his name is Rick something and you can send him a message. He will get in contact with you when he makes more as he did with me last year. He has a Facebook page. Good luck. Todd
 

Treasure_Hunter

Administrator
Staff member
Jul 27, 2006
48,252
54,327
Florida
Detector(s) used
Minelab_Equinox_ 800 Minelab_CTX-3030 Minelab_Excal_1000 Minelab_Sovereign_GT Minelab_Safari Minelab_ETrac Whites_Beach_Hunter_ID Fisher_1235_X
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Soup,

Did you check the classifieds here, Satlwater Max had a new pair for sale that he posted on March 3.....?
 

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soupie

Bronze Member
Jun 9, 2006
1,008
19
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Thanks for the info all...

I called Ron @ windy city and he was out,said he would call when and if he gets some...

I will try to contact Rick...

Soup
 

Lookn4Seated

Bronze Member
Mar 20, 2008
1,939
14
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Deep Silver Seeker 3000
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Soupie said:
Thanks for the info all...

I called Ron @ windy city and he was out,said he would call when and if he gets some...

I will try to contact Rick...

Soup

I looked into getting Rat Phones last year, but then after realizing how hard it was to find a pair... how would you get them fixed or exchanged if something were to happen with them. That's when I opted to get the sunray gold ones instead. has a limiter switch on them as well. It looks like the guts of both of them are the same.

Good luck and hope you can find yourself a pair. :thumbsup:
 

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soupie

Bronze Member
Jun 9, 2006
1,008
19
Primary Interest:
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I have a set of Sunrays and Killer Bees (they need a new end) I used a set of rats once and holy cow....there was no comparison....but it could just be my ears...I am about half deaf ....
 

Lowbatts

Gold Member
Jul 1, 2003
6,573
67
Elgin
Detector(s) used
Fishers 1235X-8" CZ-20/21-8" F-70-11"DD GC1023
Lookn4seated said:
Soupie said:
Thanks for the info all...

I called Ron @ windy city and he was out,said he would call when and if he gets some...

I will try to contact Rick...

Soup

I looked into getting Rat Phones last year, but then after realizing how hard it was to find a pair... how would you get them fixed or exchanged if something were to happen with them. That's when I opted to get the sunray gold ones instead. has a limiter switch on them as well. It looks like the guts of both of them are the same.

Good luck and hope you can find yourself a pair. :thumbsup:

Audio range is the key to the sound quality, a limiter is one half of a compander. It only affects the input audio RMS V above a certain level. Several makers have used both in-cup and in-line companders in the past.

I shy away from them because I want the faint signals to sound faint, so I know I'm looking at something deep or different. A faint target that goes through a compander can end up sounding like a deep beer can, something you don't want it to sound like.

I think the Minelab folk have onboard audio down to an art by way of comparison to the other makers because the faint targets can still sound very good if they are good. That's opposed to other rigs where the faint targets will very often change target id dramatically dependent on depth.
 

d-dub

Hero Member
Apr 15, 2009
916
0
Chicago, Il
Detector(s) used
Minelab Etrac & Minelab Excal II
Lookn4seated said:
Soupie said:
Thanks for the info all...

I called Ron @ windy city and he was out,said he would call when and if he gets some...

I will try to contact Rick...

Soup

I looked into getting Rat Phones last year, but then after realizing how hard it was to find a pair... how would you get them fixed or exchanged if something were to happen with them. That's when I opted to get the sunray gold ones instead. has a limiter switch on them as well. It looks like the guts of both of them are the same.

Good luck and hope you can find yourself a pair. :thumbsup:

I have the same headphones and found the limiter switch worked wonders on my F-75. It allowed me to crank the volume so I could hear the faint signals while at the same time cutting the volume of the surface targets(cans). On the E-Trac, I found the limiter had no effect on the signal volume and actually have since rewired the connections in the cups to go straight to the speakers. Like Lowbatts said, the E-Trac does a good job at this internally and has those features accessible in the menus. I.E. volume limit/volume gain. I set the volume gain a little lower than the max limit so deeper targets "sound" more faint than surface targets. This gives me a way to process the signals based on depth without having to constantly look at the screen. The volume is always cranked up as the max volume is not overbearing like it was on the F-75 eliminating the need for a limiter and if I choose to have those deep targets "sound" as good as shallower targets, I can just crank the volume gain to the max.
 

dirtyJohn

Hero Member
Nov 30, 2007
643
47
Whiskey Junction, IL
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75 LTD2, Tesoro Tiger Shark, DetectorPro Uniprobe, DetectorPro Pistol Probe
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Sounds like a set of Black Widows might suit your hearing needs. http://www.detectorpro.com/blackwidow.htm
I built a pair without the limiter and I can only turn them up a 1/3 of the way without having my ears start to bleed ;D.
HH
John
P.S. You can save about $20 or $30 if you buy them on ebay.
 

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soupie

Bronze Member
Jun 9, 2006
1,008
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Primary Interest:
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I shot off a email to Rick and on standby for a reply
I also Pm'd Salwater Max as well as emailed on the used pair...I have dealt with him in the past and has always treated me well....hopin for the best...
Thanks for the info folks,....

Soup Out
 

Gimmie The Loot

Bronze Member
May 11, 2010
1,241
45
Driftwood, TX
Detector(s) used
etrac, ACE 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Put away the minelab and get the Ace back out... only 2 sounds there so no fancy headphones needed :laughing7:
 

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soupie

Bronze Member
Jun 9, 2006
1,008
19
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Bring that Yellow beast down here and I will show ya how to use it Grasshopper... :laughing7:
 

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