Headphones: a big deal?

[jbow]

I would like some input on the importance or not of using cupped or "good" headphones. I have a set of Sun Ray Pros but I hardly ever use them unless it is really cold and then only to keep my ears warm. I usually use a cheap set of phones that sit on my ears.

The cupped, pro phones make me sweat, are uncomfortable, and after a while make the tips of my ears hurt.

It seem's that I am hearing everything through the cheap phones, I can't imagine that I am missing anything because of them. I cannot run them at full volume. Still, most people seem to think that they need to be using phones with cups, a limiter, and seperate volume controls for each ear.

What do you think about this? Does it matter a lot with the F75? I also use a Tejon and a Cortes.

Is there something that I do not understand?

Julien

 

[jimmyk]

As long as you are hearing all the soft signals I don't think it matters. In the 80's I used lightweight headphones during the Summer time hunting. As I now am older and have some hearing lose, I use those high quality headphones with earcups that cover the ear. I have a set of Sunray Pors and a set of
Gray Ghost headphones. They are comfortable and block out the ambient noise and allow me to hear only what the detector is telling me. I think it's simply personal choice. You aren't missing anything.

keep on diggin'

jimmyk in Missouri

 

[jim tn]

Although I do feel ear phones are important, like with a lot of things, it is a matter of comfort and preference. In my case, though, I did find when going from the cheaper models to better ones (am currently using Timberwolf FMD) tones and clairity seemed to be more crisp. HH jim tn

 

[jbow]

These SR Pros are really hot. I see that the newer SR Gold Pros have leather cups rather than vinyl. I am also looking at the Rat Phones. Another thing is that the cord on the SR phones is too short for the F75. I guess I need to get an extension cord for them.

Thanks,

J

 

[tab-nabit]

I think its personal choice.
I like using headphones. During my earlier gold detecting days, I had a much better chance hearing the faint signals with headphones that I might have missed with the machine speaker alone.
Then I also been to parks where curious kids run up and I would would point to one of the ear cups and say "I can't hear you" and continue on my way.
And in the cold winter days, well thats self explanatory, anything to keep the ears warmer.
During hot weather and around rattlesnakes, I try and keep one cup over an ear and the other offset for better noise detection around me. I'll switch back and forth between left and right ear to let em air out. I been thinking of getting a single cup headphone.
I have several headphones but my main 2 sets are the Ratphones and Sunray Gold Pro.
I have tried several in-ear, clip on ear, lightweight stereo type, but just keep going back to the detecting cups over the ear type.
I know a few who never used headphones - and they seem happy without them. I wonder if they missed targets audio wise.
I like quality detecting headphones. I take an extra set just in case I have a problem with one. I must be able to use them a few hours without any comfort problems. But then again if I hunt longer, I usually take a fair break at least every 2 hours. I don't want to miss my breaks, snack and a drink, and a lunch break. This is important, rain or shine. Like my coffee breaks during the winter cold.
Just from starting out using headphones and using them for years would now make me not feel right going without..... My $000.02 worth.

 

[Streak!]

I couldnt imagine detecting with cheap phones, or no phones at all.
A quality set of phones will enable you to hear 'nuances" you just cant hear with cheaper ones. Thats important when it comes to some digging judgement calls, like IDing iron and so fourth. I use Shadow Pro phones on most everything. They are extra deep (so they stay comfortable all day long) and have very very high quality sound. An added bonus of the Shadow phones is they have no switches for stereo or mono. just plug em in and they work. I also like the killer bee's, but as they are not as deep (ear cup depth) as the shadow Pro phones so they arent quite as comfortable for the long haul. The Bees have a bit of a "different" sound as well, that takes a little bit of getting used to. You WILL dig deeper more subtle targets with a good set of phones. They shut out extraneous sounds, and enable you to hear very faint deep targets. Yup, phones ARE important . BUT, they have to fit well, sound good, and be reliable. Streak!
(I've used Koss (a number of different models), Timberwolfs, Killer Bees, Grey Ghosts and Shadow phones, but prefer the Shadow pros overall..............

 

[jbow]

I agree, I always use phones, just not always the cupped kind, usually the cheap-o "on the ear" phones. Today I used my Sun Rays and while they do sound better, I don't think that I am hearing anything more with them but the sweat running down my jawline and dripping off my chin is not something I like. I use a headband to keep it out of my eyes but I cannot figure out a chin band, laff.

J

 

[jbow]

I guess if I had some good ground to hunt in with the F75 it would matter but most of the ground around here is really noisy. Most places I get multiple blips and chirps and flases on each swing. It's quiet if I swing it in the air but on the ground it is something every foot or so at least, sometimes more. So a faint beep will go unnoticed in any case. I used my SRs today and frankly could not tell a lot of difference, the tone is better but I don't think that I hear any more signals. I can see where it would help in clean ground though.

Thanks,

J

 

[tab-nabit]

When it gets that hot - I don't go. A little sweat is ok - but I do have my limit. So I rarely go during the summer - only during a cool spell. Otherwise it's mostly fall to the following spring.

 

[jbow]

I don't go if it's 95+ degrees and we had about three weeks of 100+ in August. It's down around 90 now and I go most every afternoon, i'm addicted. I went today to a site I have hunted hard for about two years and found another three ringer at about 5" and a tent or poncho rivet. It's dry as powder too. I can't wait until it rains a bit. The F75 should open the place up again.

J