Siver uMax and headphones question

[snoop101]

Silver uMax and headphones question

Hello all
I am very new to detecting. I bought my Silver uMax last fall and never got out. Last week I finally got out and went down to my cousins ranch. I was not expecting anything but junk, but thought I would practice both detecting and digging the correct holes. So my question is because the silver uMax like other Tesoro's dont have a display its all about listening to the sound, how important is it for me to use headphones? I obviously need a lot more practice because I found everything from a tin can to a rusty nail sounded the same through the speakers. Would I be able to narrow down my searches more with headphones?

Just in case anyone is curious I did not find anything other then junk.

Thanks in advance.

 

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[rossman85]

I need to know this as well

 

[TallTom]

I'm pretty new to the Silver uMax in particular and MD in general,
but I've quickly concluded that using headphones lets me hear a
lot more in the signal than using the speaker. I bought the
cheapest Radio Shack headphones I could find that had individual volume
controls on each ear. They were either $25 or $30, and included
the adapter that lets them be used in the uMax's 1/8" socket.
They work fine and the sound quality is excellent.

The sounds vary widely because there are so many variables, such as
the depth of the coin (or other target), its angle in the ground, moisture,
etc. I use discrimination and usually set the dial just under 5c, which is
about 11 o'clock, or between 11 and 12. The main difference between
junk and a good target is that junk usually makes a clipped sound, and usually
is not repeatable if you scan over it repeatedly and from different angles.

A good target is a more solid signal, not clipped at the end, and is repeatable.
There are exceptions to everything, but that's the general rule. And the biggest
problem is that pull tabs and especially screw-top bottle caps often sound like
good signals, although they often have a slightly ragged edge to the sound.
You just have to accept that you're going to dig those, or else move Disc up
higher and you won't dig nickels or most gold, either.

I try to guess what I'm about to dig, based on the sound.
"Possible quarter, but maybe screw-top" is typical. Without the headphones,
I would only have a chance to hear subtle differences if there were no
environmental noises (wind, surf, kids playing, traffic, airplanes, etc.).

The other advantage to wearing headphones is that in crowded places,
such as beaches and parks, they cut down on the number of people who
come over to ask you what you're doing and if you ever find anything.
If they can hear the speaker's beeps, LOTS of people come over to find
out what the sounds are all about, and you will find yourself talking all day,
not MD-ing. If you wear headphones, other people can't hear the beeps,
and it's easier to pretend you can't hear the questions and comments of
those few (or at least fewer) people who still try to talk to you.

Hope this helps. I have a lot to learn, too.

 

[snoop101]

Thanks for the info. I watched a video on youtube and the gentleman had the disc at 11 o'clock as well. Im going to buy a volume control and use the headphones I have right now. See how it is and like you said in the future it would be more peaceful around more crowded areas.