Headphones Revisited

[Anonymous]

I researched the archives and found some good threads on which headphones work best with the Explorer. It seems there was some question as to whether Explorer had a built in limiter and what effect that might have on phones that also had a limiter built in. Which phones, Timberwolves vs Grey Ghosts, etc. Now that you folks have had more time to sort through these features I'm curious how you feel know about the best headphone question and do you have new opinions now that you have used the equipment more. Thanks. Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Tim
I had some problems with the Grey GhostNDT and thought there was maybe a limiter in the Explorer which was conflicting with the Grey Ghost limiter. After contacting Minelab I found out the Explorer DOES NOT have a limiter. I then found out I just had a bad connector on my new cord on the Ghosts. Felt kind of foolish after I discovered that, but who would think a brand new set would have a defective cord. Now getting back to your question, I would recommend Grey Ghost to everyone. I think they have good volume and the clarity is great. I can't speak for the Timberwolves but I couldn't imagine them being any better. I also like the warranty with the Grey Ghost NDT's and being able to change the cord easily when there is a problem

 

[Anonymous]

Larry,
You say the volume is good, but is it less than, equal to, or better than the stock Explorer headphones? I recently tried a pair of the Koss QZ99 headphones on my Explorer XS and was extremely disappointed with their performance. Volume was only about 75% of the stock headphones, and despite excellent isolation from outside noise (I couldn't hear my fingers snapping), I decided I couldn't live with them when I did air testing and found out that dimes/quarters just whimpered at you, whereas they scream out to you with the stock phones. So you say the clarity is great with the Gray Ghost, but do the signals jump at you like they do with the stock headphones?

 

[Anonymous]

Thom
You will definitely get the volume out of the stock phones,and you will get the volume out of the grey ghost. The big difference is the sound is not distorted as with the stock phones. I've tried several brand phones with the explorer and have to say if minelab had some better muffs they would out perform many of the other brands. They aren't a bad headphone but the quality and clarity just isn't there. They don't even come close to the quality of the ghost,but they do have the volume of the ghost and maybe even alittle more. The minelabs do nothing for me as far as blocking outside noises. I feel if a person spends high bucks for a detector they shouldn't try to go cheap on the phones. Its the second best investment you can make after the detector purchase. The next investment is the sunray adapter stand which is great and from there I guess sky is the limit if you got the $$$$.

 

[Anonymous]

Everyone talks about the Sunray adapter. What is it and where can I get one.

 

[Anonymous]

The Sunray adapter is so you can use your headphones with 1/4" plugs.
You can go to the Minelab Explorer Forum and go to Sunray at the top.
Here's a link too.
Rick

 

[Anonymous]

Larry,
This phrase is from your reply: "...but they do have the volume of the ghost and maybe even alittle more." Are you saying the stock Explorer phones are lounder than the Gray Ghost headphones? I don't have any problems with the clarity of the stock phones. I like the way good signals scream out or thunk at you. I find it hard to believe the signals would be clearer or more forceful using other headphones. My major complaint with the stock headphones is that the muffs sit on top my ears instead of surrounding them, so they do tend to get a little uncomfortable after a few hours. Seems the edges of my ears want to tingle. My second complaint is that the Explorer headphones do not isolate you from outside noise. Most days are pretty windy at the Delaware beaches, and coupled with the pounding noise of the surf, it was difficult for me to hear the signals at times. And sometimes it is also quite windy here in Maryland, or maybe there is traffic noise nearby. I want a pair that will insulate me from the outside noise but not at the expense of the barely acceptable volume level that the stock phones produce. The Gray Ghosts are sounding good to me, but after my experience with the Koss, I would definitely have to try them before buying. However, the closest dealer seems to be in Lynchburg (2oo miles away), and emails that I have sent to various dealers asking whether they can be returned if I find them satisfactory go unanswered. So that tells me something. Seems they aren't too confident that people will be happy with the headphones.

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the originals work as good as the NDT works? (save a few bucks...) With the Sunray adaptor you dont need the 1/8" plug anyway. I don't personally have a problem with the volume on the minelab phones, its just that they are uncomfortable and they don't cover my big ears enough and I hear a lot of outside noises. Timberwolves are supposed to be a good headphone too. HH Tim

 

[Anonymous]

I feel the stock phones are louder, however they are not clearer. Its like comparing apples and oranges. The explorer headphones stink as far as fit. I don't think you would be unhappy with the Gray Ghost. I'll bet the Ghost are use more then any other phone with the explorer.

 

[Anonymous]

I would drop Gary Storm an email at Detector Pro or give him a call. He loves to talk about his products.

 

[Anonymous]

They Rock!!! Much better than any others I have used with the Explorer! I got mine used and the limiter in them has been cut out, which I am glad!

 

[Anonymous]

I just remembered after I read your post Ric, when I talked to Gary Storm he told me that if I wanted the Gray Ghost without a limiter that I should order the Nugget Busters. He said they are identical to the Gray Ghost except they don't have the limiter.

 

[Anonymous]

In regards to your questions on headphones. The Gray Ghosts are much more comfortable than the stock. The volume is better and you have control of it at all times. The frequency and clarity are much better, I have a hearing loss and the improvement was dramatic also they cut out the outside noise far better. I can now hunt in far noiser places (beach and near traffic) than before. In fact last week I actually worked within about 25 feet of a back hoe and a truck mounted leaf vacume. I tried the Timberwolfs but the sound was not as good and they were heavyer and tighter on my head. As far as model I have the ultimates but the originals work just as good. The Jolly Rogers are not as good. They have less sound proffing and the speakers are not as good. I went through the problem with no dealer in my area but was lucky enough to find a dealer that would send me both the Timberwolfs and the Gray Ghosts so I got to try them side by side and the Gray Ghosts won.

 

[Anonymous]

Rich,
Can you send me an email with the name of that dealer? I haven't had any luck getting a dealer to send me a pair to try.

 

[Anonymous]

hey guys a lot of talk about the factory headphone being louder than grey ghost or timberwolfs, the reason is the the higher ohms of
impedance, more ohms less signal gets through, but it cleans the signal up, kind of like a filter, gets rid of hiss and pops. kind of like the doby switch for old tape players, the volume is lower but cleaner, I tried cheap head phones with 8 ohms and they almost broke my ear drums.
much better using 32 ohms with better sound, question does everbody have there volume cranked all the way up, I don't, i do run my gain all the way up, because it was hard to hear the deep singals, and the surface signals were blasting my ear drums, well keep probing and swinging until she makes you stop. HH

 

[Anonymous]

Depending upon your needs, you can cover any hunting scenario. As far as how are sales go the Originals, NDT's and Ultimates are top choices. Good hunting, David @ Dixie

 

[Anonymous]

Gray Ghost are the best.