DO I REALLY NEED TO WEAR HEADPHONES WHILE HUNTING?

[geolover]

I have a White's GMZ, 50 KHz, SILENT SEARCH - no threshhold. It only beeps when I hit a target. When I bought it, I was advised that the headphones were a must. I see instructional vids and they say it's important, but those are units that produce a hum or threshhold sound while the user decipher some small change or zip sound. I only have to hear the one beep, which is more than loud enough. I'm not detecting around other people so I see no need for headphones. Am I missing something?

On a side note, picked up a Garrett Pin-pointer AT today, big time saver. Now I can find bullet casings and shrapnel in record time!

 

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[jamiefind]

Your analysis and conclusion are exactly consistent with my understanding of the need (or no need) for headphones. I have an ACE 350 and never hear any sounds other than a tone (three types) or no tone. Other factors are privacy, courtesy, etc.

And enjoy the PP; it's great.

 

[Loco-Digger]

Batteries last longer when you use headphones in lieu of the speaker on the detector.

 

[Escape]

You won't know until you try it. Then it's your preference.

 

[boogeyman]

Sometimes you'll prefer using only one side, especially in areas where there rattlers, or around construction or vehicles etc. Phones help in noisy environments but the rest of the time it's what works for you!

 

[beerguy]

Headphones allow you to hear a target with more detail. With my Whites machines, the leading and trailing edge of the signal have a lot of detail in them. I also evaluate the quality of the tone. You are listening for the signal to be filtered out or accepted by a circuit. I cannot imagine using the speaker audio.

I have always said that beginning detectorists should get a Tesoro, or other non-display machine, to start with so that you are forced to use your ears instead of looking at a display.

Of course, my first machine was an XLT...

 

[geolover]

There's no distinct tone. Just a beep when I cross a target.

 

[RustyGold]

If you decide to use HP make sure they are designed for metal detectors.

 

[luvsdux]

You may find that there is a "distinct" softer more variables in the tone with headphones; plus headphones, as mentioned, extend battery life and eliminate external, distracitng noise.
luvsdux

 

[bigfoot1]

I only ever wear headphones when I think I may annoy others with noise.dont like em

 

[DigIron2]

you will find stuff without them and feels a little free'r not to have them on, but so much better to have them imo, for target separation,faint sounds,blocks out surrounding sounds,traffic or whatever.

 

[G.I.B.]

Earbuds- no cord to the detector. Very slight tones are audible. I can hear the detector null out iron and then squeak on the side for a valuable target.

It's a personal preference of course. Work a very defined area without, then with. See what the difference is.

 

[Bquamb]

I was hunting without for a while on my ATPro. And that machine has now volume control so i thought i was doing okay for finds, until i put my headphones on. finds from the same area i have been hunting for a year and 2x the finds in the same area. I find its a better way to zone into the hobby. Sometimes i have 1 earbud with music in 1 ear and the other is beepbeep.

 

[Terry Soloman]

If you are not in All Metal with a constant audible threshold, then you don't need them - and you also don't mind leaving deep and small gold behind. You'll always go deeper and see smaller gold with an All Metal threshold, and good headphones.

 

[GA_Boy]

I only ever wear headphones when I think I may annoy others with noise.dont like em

Kool, I wear HP to keep others from annoying me.
Marvin

 

[geolover]

It's all metal, silent search, only goes off when there's a target, only one sound, same volume every time. At 50KHz, I'm digging everything small and big. Pretty simple gold and everything else detector. I would wear my headphones if I were near anyone.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Don't know from Whites. But if it is an alarm rather than an analog signal you may not get much advantage - but as mentioned earlier your batteries will last many times longer. My detectors give faint signals, and the Musketeer has many vowel or consonent sounds that help me determine tabs from nickels, etc. My Fisher uses a seperate set of circutis for the display vs the sound, so comparing both helps.

"eeEEEee" and "eeEEEek" mean different things. The latter is probably not a coin.

 

[geolover]

Don't know from Whites. But if it is an alarm rather than an analog signal you may not get much advantage - but as mentioned earlier your batteries will last many times longer. My detectors give faint signals, and the Musketeer has many vowel or consonent sounds that help me determine tabs from nickels, etc. My Fisher uses a seperate set of circutis for the display vs the sound, so comparing both helps.

"eeEEEee" and "eeEEEek" mean different things. The latter is probably not a coin.

mine just goes beep, same beep every time, same volume every time.

 

[Keppy]

I have been detecting for 40 + years and the only times i ever wear head phones .......is with the excalibur water detector and the reason for that is i have to ..For they are hard wired to the detector .. On land detectors in my 40+ years never used head phones never had the need or fell for the hype that i needed them ... But they know how to sell you things you do not need.. And make you think you need them

 

[boogeyman]

Kool, I wear HP to keep others from annoying me.
Marvin

I just point at my phones and tell the herd of kids in parks I can't hear you. I get the giggles when a little guy'll stand there yelling "Whatcha doin?" at the top of his lungs until he's horse. If they're really persistent I'll tell em I'm electrocuting the worms. Just one of those gotta have fun with it things!