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Headphone Question

A

Anonymous

Guest
I just received my Gray Ghost NDT's today and tried them out. They are not as loud as the ones that came with the explorer but they are much clearer. I have a set of Jimmy Sierras that also don't seem to be compatable with the XS. I also have a set of whites with dual volume controls which will blast my eardrums out but are not clear sounding. Just wondering if anyone that have these have noticed the lower volume?? I have a Sunray stand with the 1/4 in jack would this be causing any conflict?
 
Larry -
I have the same problem. I have to have the NDT's totally maxed out and I still have to listen pretty intently in order to hear it well. Having a hearing loss sucks...
Here is the rub... I am assuming that you have the NDT's attached to the 1/4" jack on the Sun Ray stand....
Detach the headphones or turn the volume controls on the headset all the way down. Hold an ear up to the control housing and run a coin or something under the search coil. If you can faintly hear sounds coming from the control housing, you have a problem with the Explorer's earphone jack. That sound is some audio that should be heading towards the headset, but instead bleeds into the speakers.
The solution... Send 'er to Minelab USA for warranty repair.
Tim
 
Larry,
I beleive the Explorer has a volume limiter built right into the detector. I use the Timberwolfs myself and found they have the best volume on my Sovereign, but not as loud on the Explorer and even when turning on or off the limiting curcuit on the Timberwolfs it make no difference. I tried a set of Gray Ghost too along with a set of Koss and Optimus 90 with the same results.
I dont beleive the Sunray headphone stand adapter is causing you any problem, it is the Explorer itself with the limiting curcuit built right in.
Rick
 
Since you have the NDT version and are concerned about the Sunray stand, why don't you simply bypass it by using the 1/8 inch plug cord to connect directly to the Explorer? That would tell you whether the 1/4 inch connection on the stand is a problem. Unless, of course, you ordered the NDT with two 1/4 cords instead of one each.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I finally figured it out. The Detector Pro's just aren't campatable with the XS. I found another cheap pair of Calrads I had and the volume is fully adjustable and LOUD. The only problem for me is, none of these phones produce clear sounds and don't block outside noises well enough. I emailed Detector Pro but no response yet. I guess the search goes on for the right headphone for me. If Ralph from Sunray reads this, sorry if I implied your stand might be the problem. You have some mighty fine products:)
 
Mine has done that since I got it,at least not long after I got mine.It is loud also,you don't have to try very hard to hear it through the speaker.I really didn't think it was a big deal so I never questioned it before.I do not have intermittent audio,just the bleed through on the speaker.Makes me wonder now.I had plenty of volume with my old headphones that finally gave out and just bought a set of Gray Ghost originals.Haven't got them yet,now I am twice as skeered. <IMG SRC="/forums/images/frown.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":("> Did you hear this from Minelab?Or is it a problem you experienced?If it is,it doesn't do it now that you had it fixed?
I guess it is time for an oil change. <IMG SRC="/forums/images/frown.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":(">
 
I am currently going through this problem - I am reluctant to send in my detector until it is winter.
I posted a summary of what was happening on the Explorer XS forum. Someone responded and said that they had had the same problem with the earphone jack and was forced to have it repaired.
Even with a broken jack, the Minelab headphone are still very loud.
I bought a pair of NDTs because I actually want the sound limited - bleeding from the ears was getting old. I discovered that I could hear the audio, but it was much weaker than anticipated - I have to listen intensely with the NDT and the Explorer's volumes totally maxed. This is with both the 1/4" and 1/8" NDT cords.
So I tried a pair of older Garrett's via the Sun Ray stand/jack thingie - same problem, muted sounds.
Anyhow, let us know, but I will be suprised it you are happy with the audio quality. I only have a little leak and it is hard to use them.
It takes power to run the speakers. While a passing bird might enjoy it, it serves no useful purpose <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":)">. You should get it fixed for the power loss, if nothing else.
Tim
 
I use them and I would bet that at least half a dozen other folks do to.
The switch on the headset has to be toggled correctly in order for them to work. And, you should make sure the volume is cranked the right direction.
Hopefully someone else will chime in and confirm that the NDTs are definately compatible.
Tim
 
Tim, How loud is loud? When I take my headsets of f, I can just make out the different tones. Maybe this has been my problem from the get-go. Well, I will admit to my own degree of hearing loss but it AIN'T that bad. Geesh! I've spent over a year hunting without any great volume at all. So it goes. wmike
 
The factory phones for me sound fine. Lots of ambient noise, though.
The NDT's are muted. So are a pair of Garrett's that I own.
The reason for this, I suspect, is that it takes more power to push the better headsets. Since I am losing power due to a bad phone jack, the NDTs do not sound loud enough.
Regardless, the important thing is that some phones will sound fine, others will be muted. You cannot use a comparison of headphones here; you have to determine the source of the problem. The only explaination is 1) a defective set of NDTs or 2) a defective phonejack. My money is on the latter.
Tim
 
Mike -
I went over a month without noticing the sound coming from my Explorer. The only reason that I noticed it at all was because I was running some air tests indoors. Even then, I had to put my head up to the Explorer to make sure. So, the volume level is very low - hardly noticable.
Maybe someone else with more knowledge about headphone jacks will step in... My guess is that it takes a lot less energy to power the headsets. If the external speaker is making sound, then that is probably a considerable loss of power to the phones.
Once winter gets here, I am going to fix this problem - it will probably reduce fatique while making detecting even more enjoyable next year.
Tim
 
The gray Ghosts are 150 Ohm Impedance and most of my old headphones are 32 Ohm I am pretty sure the Vanco's and the Pyramid's are also 32 ohm.Not sure about the Minelabs.From what I have always known messing with music equipment,the fewer the ohms the louder it is,but the poorer the sound quality.My 4ohm Cerwin Vega Speakers are way louder than my Carver Silver series speakers.But the Silvers sound alot better,but don't get me wrong,the Vegas rock! <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":)">I am pretty sure the Silvers are 16 ohm but they might be 8 ohm.
Anyway,it should be the same with headphones,which is why I would think the Ghosts would be quieter,but when I was talking with someone in the past about it,they said I was wrong.So I really don't know,but I have a pair coming and will find out.
I bet 60% or better use Ghosts.Maybe not that high,but I know quite a few that have them.I know that is what BiLL (IL) and Roy(IL) use,but I haven't had a chance to talk to them about the volume.They both love them though,I know that much.
 
The headphones use less power than the speaker.I have heard it said plenty of times on here that running without headphones runs your battery down alot quicker.Maybe since the headphones use less power is why the sound bleeds over to the speaker.I am going to have to check some other Explorers around here just to see.I never gave it any thought before now.
 
Guess I got a little lucky when I decided to replace my factory earphones. I opted for a comfortable set of JVC stereo headphones. The sound in the new earphones is louder and I think a little clearer than the factory ones. I'm running the Vol. down at 2 or 3 and it is still plenty loud. (And I have a slight hearing loss from many years ago while flying in a chopper near an open door, with no helmet on.)
The JVCs don't have a volume control, and I forget where I heard it but someone advised me not to get a set that had a volume control.
Loudness in your phones would have to do with an impedance match between the audio output circuit, and the phones. The closer the impedances match, the greater the transfer of energy. (Note: Impedance is NOT ohms of DC resistance)
Probably a quick call to Mark Knight (Minelab), and he could tell you what the Impedance of replacement phones should be.
 
I recieved my, self modified Explorer XS today, this the one that I have totally detatched the control box from the arm rest.
I sent it back because the amplifying circuit was dead and possibly due to my error. I figured it was this part of the circuit, but chose to let Minelab fix it for me, just in case.
I asked them to disable the standard headphone out and diverted the speaker out to my 6mm headphone female jack. The detector has come back three days after I sent it.
Thankyou Minelab for the prompt return and my now working Explorer XS.
BOY, IS THAT AN AUDIO BOOST OR WHAT?
I have never needed the internal speaker and I can honestly say that my audio out to my headphones is about twice to three times LOUDER.
I have a pair of Sienheiser stereo headphones with on board volume control for each side and it works a treat. I can also use the stock headphones and control volume on board.
David Di
 
you can simply wedge open the armrest end of the Explorer XS by removing the for visible screws back from the grip to the cup. Remove cup and pry open slightly the two plastic halves. Ther are three wires. Yellow, blue and red. Two of these wires are the switching wires and one is the common.When you plug your headphones in , the action of the female jack cuts the audio power to your onboard internal speaker and directs the sound to your headphones circuit. The mod i have has the new wires comming directly from the two speaker wires out to the back of my detector.
May I suggest that if you ever need to repairs to this part of the Explorer XS and do away with that Sh!ty 3.5mm female jack, which is a little too flimsey, just get two or the three wires to extend to come out so as you can either hardwire headpones in or get an external female 6mm jack soldered on. So far the Sunray stand idea is the best system for you non techos.
David Di
 
You say you had the wires that connect to your speaker run back to the headphone jack, arent they the same wires that run the headphone jack to begin with other than when you pug in the headphones it disables the speaker.If this made yours louder with the headphones, I am interested in doing it.
I like may others need more volume as we are hard of hearing and find the audio output not that loud on the Explorer when using headphones.
Rick
 
I originally "bridged" the speaker pins, when I removed the speaker, it as it seems that when you jacked in the headphones that two of the three wires, are supposed engage speaker mode at the jack end and this may have simply completed a serial circuit. This is where I may have made the mistake and caused the problem that eventually caused the audio out to fail. I tried to trace what the wires back and decide what they may have been connected to and what was happening, when you pull the headphone jack out and I had presumed, quite logically I thought, that all that was happening was that the female jack mechanism inside the Explorer was simply completing a "serial" connection when you paulled the male or headphone jack end out.
Maybe instead it was complete and to connect a "speaker on" switch for what might be separated audio circuit.
So I thought just in case my interpretation had caused the problem it was best that the safest way to go, was maybe to wire the speaker wires out and even the Minelab Tec
 
Hi Tim
I can only put the toggle one way cause the other way I hear nothing at all. I called Minelab today and they recommend Gray Ghost. I told them my problem and they said its a matter of personal choice on the volume part. I've been using the Sierra's which look identical to the NDT's except color which are also Detector Pros. I've been stuggling with the volume on these to hear those deep signals, thats why I thought I would get the NDT's, but the sound and volume are the same. I figured something is not compatible between the Ghost and the XS. It would appear this way cause like I said before the ones that came with the xs and a couple of other pairs I have will blast my ears. Only problem is these let the outside noises come in. I called Superphone 2001 today they said theirs work great with the Explorer and said to try them for 14 days. This might be the way for me to go but I like that lifetime warranty most companies offer. Their's is only a year. I have to admit I am rough on the phones and get into some nasty stuff on these old farmsteads I hunt. Depth Master(superphone) also said most phones won't work well with the xs cause its wired in mono. I'm not sure about this though and will contact Minelab on Monday and ask them. I'll probably send the NDT's back cause I can't notice a difference between them and the Sierra's. I'll probably give the Koss a try as the search continues:)
 
Larry,
With the Gray Ghost or the Timberwolfs the toggle switch should only work one way as one way is stereo and the other mono. This way these headphone will work with any detector.
Tonite I had to try several differnt pair as I want to see if a pair with less impedence would make a difference on my Explorer. The Gray Ghost, the Koss, the Calrad and the Optimus 90 all have the same volume while the Timberwolfs have just a little more volume, but still not as much as i would like. I had tried a set of the Superphones that had a battery to turn on the amp cucuit when I had my XLT and it wasnt much better than a cheapie set, infact a set of Koss I had had better volume.
Rick
 
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