Head phones?

[gcollins]

I am hopeing this is the place to ask this question: Is there any sound quality difference between the $29.00 headphones and the $129.00 headphones?
What makes a pair of headphones for detecting diff. from just a pair of head phones?
Thanks Greg

[bbsailor]

Most metal detecting (MD) headphones are designed to block out outside noise, be worn for a long time while being comfortable and may have a switch to accomodate different metal detectors that use only tip and ring (speaker elements in series) or use the tip and ground (speaker elements in parallel).

Some metal detecting headphones use signal limiting diodes to minimize blasts from large surface tragets. Some have switches to accomodate diffrent plug pin arrangements.

Stereo headphones usually have cables longer than necessary for MD use. MD headphones are usually built for outdoor use and are more durable than less expensive stereo headphones. Stereo headphones will work but make your choice based on the environment where you will be hunting and whether the stereo plug will operate on your particular MD.

Passive noise cancelling headphones keep the outside noise out and are primarely mono headphones used in noisy environments like auto race tracks but also work very well on metal detectors. What ever you choose, try them out as you will be wearing them for a while. The MUST be comfortable!!! If you wear glasses, try them on wearing glasses.

I hope ths helps?

bbsailor

[gcollins]

bbsailor,

Thanks for the reply, but this "Some metal detecting headphones use signal limiting diodes to minimize blasts from large surface tragets. Some have switches to accomodate diffrent plug pin arrangements" blow me away, I have no idea what that means! I don't live close to any metal detecting shops, so I can not go try any other types. Thanks for the help
Greg

[Reg]

Hi Greg,

You have asked a very interesting question that really doesn't have a good or consistent answer. In fact, I am not sure the price has anything to do with just how a set of headphones will work on a detector. I have used extremely cheap headphones that have been both loud and clear and had expensive ones that did not work that well. As an example, I had a couple of sets of $10 headphones that had a high impedance that worked great, while I had a couple of sets of expensive 32 ohm units that didn't work that well on my detectors, even though they worked well on other electronic equipment.

The fact is, most detectors are not "tuned" or matched such that one can easily tell how a set of headphones will work without simply trying them.

In many cases, a detector built by a major company will also have a speaker. So, what many manufacturers simply do is, when the heaphones are plugged in, the sound signal no longer goes to the speaker but simply goes through a resistor to the headphones. The resistor is there to limit the current so the audio doesn't blast one's ears. The value of the resistor can vary from company to company and this can change just how a set of headphones will sound.

What I have found is, generally, a higher impedance set of headphones will be louder. The sound quality will simply be a factor of the headphone speakers themselves. So, even a high impedance set may be louder but not sound that well. Some headphones may sound "mellow" while others will sound "tinny", and the change has nothing to do with the cost of the units.

What I have also found is the best way to tell how well a set will work is to simply try a set and see how they sound. As for me, I have several different models that I use. Most of them are Koss brand. Now, as an example, I have some Koss I don't like that well because they are not as loud as others but are more expensive.

I also use some noise canceling units such as the Maxell brand. I have found some of the noise canceling brands work quite well because they provide some amplification while reducing external noise.

Hope this helps.

Reg

[Reg]

Hi Greg,

BBSailor added some very valuable info. I will try to add a little more to what I posted. Hopefully, will all of it, you can decide what will work for you.

Now, when selecting headphones, you should keep in mind just how they are to be used. As an example, if you are going to be hunting in brush, you will probably want a set of headphones that have coiled cords. This will keep the cord from drooping so it doesn't get caught up in the brush.

I personally prefer units with coiled cords all the time. As such, this will reduce the models available.

Ok, lets say you have a set of headphones you do like but wish they were louder. Well, you can always use an simple add-on amp such as the "volume booster" sold by Radio Shack. Now, if you add an external volume control also, then you can adjust the heaphones to fit your needs. The volume control will cost about $7 and the add on volume booster is about $21 plus tax. If you have the desire to build your own, that can be done for just a few bucks also.

Now, BBSailor mentioned that some headphone manufacturers have diode limiting built in. This is something that simply limits the maximum volume level and protects the ears. It is a simple but effective technique. Again, this is something that can be added if one wants such a feature.

Now, one other thing that was mentioned was how the headphones are built. In simple terms, most detector manufacturers build their units to work with stereo headphones. Others will require the headphones be the mono type. Now, one can buy an adapter to switch from stereo to mono, but not I am not sure about switching the other way. Fortunately, most headphones built today are stereo or can be switched.

Reg

[gcollins]

no name

Thanks guys, it helps when people like you guys explain things to dumbies like me, I am not a stereo guy, so headphones have never been a big deal to me, the pair I am using do not have any name on them, just some numbers, they have individual controls on both ears, and a stereo and mono
switch, I quess they work okay, but I don't have a clue wether they are good or not.Lucky for me, there are folks like you to help, and I have made some THers friends that I am going to get to hunt with, and maybe, one of them will have a set of good phones so I can compare mine to there's.
Thanks again Guys
Greg