whats with the headphones?

heavymetal · Mar 2, 2012

I need one myself!

I was at a local park with lots of activities. Went to a spot with the least people. Then I got two kids following asking a few questions from time to time, it was all good.

Next thing I knew I was surrounded by kids, like 10 of them! Worst part is they got so noisy I can't hear my X-terra anymore :BangHead

Had to leave before wack them with my detector :tongue3:

gleaner1 · Mar 2, 2012

When you wear headphones, you can exploit the fact that many a half-witted passerby probably thinks that in fact there is a good chance that you cannot hear him, or her. And they move along so to speak, forever wishing that they had in fact worked up the courage and asked "Hey dude, is that a gieger counter or somethin??". This phenomenon eliminates 99.9% of the annoyances caused by said passerby, simply because he (or she) will leave you alone. Kids...whole different ball game. Anyway, your machine's constant and if not devilishly annoying BEEP BEEP BEEEEEP BEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP DIDDLY BEEP BEEP, if not squelched by the headphones, would surely push the nice neighbors next to the tot lot, or the friendly folks at the park, over the edge of sanity, or at least elicit some dirty look(s).

Dug1898 · Mar 3, 2012

My Fisher 1236X2 came with a set, then a wire broke inside the cable. I replaced them with a new set from eBay I got for under $30 plus shipping. They are better than the 1st pair. They have volumn controls on each ear and they're padded, comfortable and have a coil cable, nice pair for the money, they sound great. (Just search: Metal Detector Headphones) There are headphones that cost over $100+. I don't know what they would do differently than mine...and I'm not one to buy the most expensive items for my hobbies. These phones work great for me. I don't need the best, just something that works well. I just had to replace the male plug (today) on the end when a wire broke inside the cable (again) where it goes into the plug...it was cheap at Radio Shack $4 or so plus tax. I soldered the connections and it's good to go...It's just one of the things that happens with headphones, at least with me anyways; but I wouldn't be without them. Everything everyone said is true about sound, more clarity, missed signals, waves and outside noise etc. and warmth. Get a pair, you won't be sorry. :thumbsup:

(Besides, I'm sure you'll cover the cost in extra coins found)

kawika · Mar 3, 2012

YES YES, I have been to some beach parks in the boonies where I see not alot of people , but they are there, I have a bounty hunter witch my friend had bought for me after I told her about a missing ring that I been looking for, with no luck, going off the deep end, I think I know my metal detector quite well, being so def and trying to keep my composer to the limits, i think I am going coo-coo! at least the general public think so,I did once use the ear muffs and they are great to use, but mines don`t come with a pair, so I`m really really gone coo cooz, it don`t bother me though ... Ugh !

cheese · Mar 3, 2012

I have to use headphones, my detector was made without an external speaker.

liftloop · Mar 3, 2012

testing123 said:
Headphones allow you to hear soft tones and the subtle changes in the threshold (threshhold?) which could indicate deep targets. With a gentle breeze, they could be lost without headphones. Plus they help keep the ears warm on cold days and keep the bugs away during summer.

...testing 123 your right on the money.

Frankn · Mar 3, 2012

disslike headphones! They get in the way when I go to retreve my target. I only wear them at the beach when I use my Surfmaster PI because it has no speaker and the surf and wind cancel out target sounds. My 2 Box has a good speaker, a good meter and a red light that light when it hits the cache. I guess it all depends on your method of operation.

VWandSTUDEBAKER · Mar 3, 2012

Wireless headphones....such a beautiful thing :sign13:

Frankn · Mar 4, 2012

VW, the surfmaster comes with attached waterproof headphones!

VWandSTUDEBAKER · Mar 4, 2012

Frankn, I have a Surfmaster and a BHID, plus a V3i with wireless headphones. I love them :blob7:

Charlie P. (NY) · Mar 5, 2012

And when there are 15 kids hovering around you can choose to ignore them, bore them by ignoring hits (and go back later), or at least silence them out (Black Widows null out most ambient background noise).

I made the mistake once of showing a little girl how it worked without headphones and giving her the quarter. I then had five more helpers instantly and several Mom's who thought I was luring kids to their doom with cash. I barely escaped a stroller beating and arrest by showing all the metal bits I had tucked in my trash pouch - which that day included a rusty single edged razor blade - Mom's hate razor blades almost as much loitering miscreants.

Born2Dtect · Mar 5, 2012

Head phones, always. Why? Can hear subtle sounds for my Etrac. Less people talk to me. If they do I can ignore them if I don,t make eye contact. When at the beach or in loud environment. On windy days I can hear and they keep my hat on. When it is cold they keep my ears warm. Saves battery life.

Just about to wear out my favorite pair, "Rat Phones", I don,t think they are made any more.

The final and most important reason "As a courtesy when around other detectorist, park & beach goers or anyone in general."

Ed D.

underdogger · Mar 5, 2012

You can Ignore people and kids who ask what are you finding :BangHead:

. Or like now I am down and Florida and I wish I had a Spanish Coin For every person that asked if I found any. The blue hairs are the worst.

Daedalus · Mar 5, 2012

You can see how the Headphones help , but when I got the pinpointer that is what made my digging a lot faster and I got a whole lot more done . Did I need the pinpointer ? No , you can work without them but it cut my time in hole to less than half on the average , so you might think about trying one of those !
You might borrow a pinpointer if you can and see. With the headphones and pinpointer you will find that hunting is a lot more fun and productive .

crankyolman22 · Mar 5, 2012

Daedalus said:
You can see how the Headphones help , but when I got the pinpointer that is what made my digging a lot faster and I got a whole lot more done . Did I need the pinpointer ? No , you can work without them but it cut my time in hole to less than half on the average , so you might think about trying one of those !
You might borrow a pinpointer if you can and see. With the headphones and pinpointer you will find that hunting is a lot more fun and productive .

Absolutely correct. I've actually started using both my pinpointers together. The pro-pointer gets me close then the f-point gets it right on. I had one of the Harbor Freight pinpointers (they call it a hand held metal detector) but I got salt water in it and killed it. If you want to try a pinpointer the HF one is cheap and works real good for a temporary solution.

gleaner1 · Mar 5, 2012

There are two number one reasons to wear headphones. Number one, you can hear the crap better, about a hundred times better. Number one, it silences the absolutely tormenting beep beep beep beeep bip bip swauak bip beep beep bip beep beep bit skwauawk grunt grunt blat grunt beep beep beep beep bp bp blip blip BEEP BEEEP BEEP blip beep beep BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP (I think I got a good one) BEEP BEEP. Okay pinpointing wwwEEEEEEeeee WEEEEEE eeeeeeeee eeeeeeeee Weeeee Weeeee Weeeeeeee Weeeeeee. Nobody wants to hear this crap.

Viddy · Mar 5, 2012

headphones do a few things...
#1 block out background distraction noise like traffic, wind, or anything else...
#2 keep nosey people away. beeping attracts attention.
#3 lets you hear faint tones of deep items you'd miss without them

I am running a rechargable wireless set on my Etrac and I couldn't live with out them. Especially for under $100. Just got them a few weeks ago. no lag, great sound, and great battery life!

Nevada Coyote · Mar 6, 2012

If yer like me, hard of hearing, they help. Yes, sometimes I wear them and sometimes I don't. Your choice.
Nevada Coyote

Silver Slayer · Mar 8, 2012

Viddy said:
headphones do a few things...
#1 block out background distraction noise like traffic, wind, or anything else...
#2 keep nosey people away. beeping attracts attention.
#3 lets you hear faint tones of deep items you'd miss without them

I am running a rechargable wireless set on my Etrac and I couldn't live with out them. Especially for under $100. Just got them a few weeks ago. no lag, great sound, and great battery life!

Viddy
What brand wireless headphones are you using there? I like the fact that there is no delay

Newfiehunter · Mar 8, 2012

For all of the above reasons...Get headphones! I have many sets and sometimes you can get a set at a garage sale for a reasonable price. I purchased a set of headphones that was used at a recording studio at a yard sale for 5 bucks! The musician was selling everything off! They are awesome! The sound quality is excellent and it seems like it picks up every signal from the detector! Great set of headphones and no other set has ever compared to them!