littlehugger
Full Member
- Nov 23, 2005
- 231
- 108
You know, this is one topic I have never seen discussed, but is basic to your success and enjoyment.
When I first started detecting many years ago, I liked the idea of headphones, as I had often used them with my stereo, and they are superior to even very expensive speakers.
But, back in the day, headphones were large, clunky and expensive. Meant to be used indoors.
Metal detector manufacturers seem to be an old fashioned lot, and I often think that few, if any of them, actually detect.
One of my first detectors came with a set of headphones, Koss UR30 I believe. Big, heavy and uncomfortable.
I used them once. They were uncomfortable to wear, heavy, hot and kept sliding off my head. Their black color, weight, vinyl construction and insulative qualities made them very hot. They also isolated me too much from the outside world. I would often find myself pulling one ear cup aside, as I really do not like not being aware of my surroundings. It feels very unsafe and uncomfortable. And they were very uncomfortable like that, and kept falling off.
Thus began my search for the "Best" headphones.
Sony had come out with their Turbo series, a tiny, dime size driver that was attached to a thin, curved metal band. The drivers were sideways so they actually fit in your ear to hold them on. They weigh less than an ounce, are cheap and commonly available, and even come in a "Sport" model, which is waterproof.
Another problem is, I wear a hat outdoors, usually a baseball cap. It is a habit, almost a trademark with me. It serves as a sweatband, sun visor, warmth in the cold and sunshade in the sun, to prevent sunburn on my poor balding head..
So, the Turbo style had a lot to recommend it. Very light weight, cheap, easily available, waterproof. efficient, and they even fit under my hat, which helped to keep it from shifting and falling off.
In addition, there are herds of very cheap, non name brand clones of this very popular style available.
Nice, huh?
Unfortunately, they had their limitations too.
They are quite fragile, as they are intended to be ultra lightweight, at under an ounce. Also, most electronics manufacturers nowadays do not build an antenna into their little, portable radios. The cord of the headphones serves as the antenna. It is 31 and a fraction inches long for best reception, and thats not long enough!
The thin wire would often get caught somewhere on the detector, and rip the headphones off when I set the detector down. Often, breaking the connection.
I finally found a pair of Jensens. They loop behind the head, not over it, with small loops to go behind the ears. They are waterproof, have a built in volume control, and have a coiled cord, that gives me the length I need without snagging. They are very light, and cool to wear. They are loud, clear and efficient. They do not isolate me from my surroundings. and they fit under my hate. And only cost $20.
When I page through the various detector magazines, I often see full page ads for headphones, very expensive ones at that. And they are all the big, clunky ones.
Personally, I feel they have their niche, but where is the variety and innovation in this hobby?
I am very uncomfortable wearing the big, circumnaural style headphones, as they isolate me, and that makes me feel unsafe. Whats weird here is, its not necessary. There is something called the precedence effect, where your ear "prefers" the close sound of the headphones to the surrounding noise. Your ears natural tendencies give you what you need without dangerously isolating you.
I believe the industry standard style of headphones has its uses, but not the universal usage it gets.
Another thing manufacturers could do, is put the headphone plug in the best, most ergonomical place, not hither and yon. With some, its like they deliberately designed it to be irritating and cumbersome.
Why not a small fiberglass whip on the back, rear of the detector, with a pigtail on the end, to hold the cord out and away from snagging, and right next to your ear as you kneel on the ground?
Like I said, I swear the people who design them never use them!
What are your thoughts folks?
Hugger
When I first started detecting many years ago, I liked the idea of headphones, as I had often used them with my stereo, and they are superior to even very expensive speakers.
But, back in the day, headphones were large, clunky and expensive. Meant to be used indoors.
Metal detector manufacturers seem to be an old fashioned lot, and I often think that few, if any of them, actually detect.
One of my first detectors came with a set of headphones, Koss UR30 I believe. Big, heavy and uncomfortable.
I used them once. They were uncomfortable to wear, heavy, hot and kept sliding off my head. Their black color, weight, vinyl construction and insulative qualities made them very hot. They also isolated me too much from the outside world. I would often find myself pulling one ear cup aside, as I really do not like not being aware of my surroundings. It feels very unsafe and uncomfortable. And they were very uncomfortable like that, and kept falling off.
Thus began my search for the "Best" headphones.
Sony had come out with their Turbo series, a tiny, dime size driver that was attached to a thin, curved metal band. The drivers were sideways so they actually fit in your ear to hold them on. They weigh less than an ounce, are cheap and commonly available, and even come in a "Sport" model, which is waterproof.
Another problem is, I wear a hat outdoors, usually a baseball cap. It is a habit, almost a trademark with me. It serves as a sweatband, sun visor, warmth in the cold and sunshade in the sun, to prevent sunburn on my poor balding head..
So, the Turbo style had a lot to recommend it. Very light weight, cheap, easily available, waterproof. efficient, and they even fit under my hat, which helped to keep it from shifting and falling off.
In addition, there are herds of very cheap, non name brand clones of this very popular style available.
Nice, huh?
Unfortunately, they had their limitations too.
They are quite fragile, as they are intended to be ultra lightweight, at under an ounce. Also, most electronics manufacturers nowadays do not build an antenna into their little, portable radios. The cord of the headphones serves as the antenna. It is 31 and a fraction inches long for best reception, and thats not long enough!
The thin wire would often get caught somewhere on the detector, and rip the headphones off when I set the detector down. Often, breaking the connection.
I finally found a pair of Jensens. They loop behind the head, not over it, with small loops to go behind the ears. They are waterproof, have a built in volume control, and have a coiled cord, that gives me the length I need without snagging. They are very light, and cool to wear. They are loud, clear and efficient. They do not isolate me from my surroundings. and they fit under my hate. And only cost $20.
When I page through the various detector magazines, I often see full page ads for headphones, very expensive ones at that. And they are all the big, clunky ones.
Personally, I feel they have their niche, but where is the variety and innovation in this hobby?
I am very uncomfortable wearing the big, circumnaural style headphones, as they isolate me, and that makes me feel unsafe. Whats weird here is, its not necessary. There is something called the precedence effect, where your ear "prefers" the close sound of the headphones to the surrounding noise. Your ears natural tendencies give you what you need without dangerously isolating you.
I believe the industry standard style of headphones has its uses, but not the universal usage it gets.
Another thing manufacturers could do, is put the headphone plug in the best, most ergonomical place, not hither and yon. With some, its like they deliberately designed it to be irritating and cumbersome.
Why not a small fiberglass whip on the back, rear of the detector, with a pigtail on the end, to hold the cord out and away from snagging, and right next to your ear as you kneel on the ground?
Like I said, I swear the people who design them never use them!
What are your thoughts folks?
Hugger
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