My Scullies Have Arrived

[fsa46]

Well first let me thank OBN for putting in the time to experiment with headphones in an attempt to improve what already comes with the present day water detectors....in this case the Excalibur. This is something that will benefit all of us and he deserves a big "atta boy" from all of us.

Anyway...The first thing I noticed when I opened the box is the quality of his workmanship. They look like they came from the factory. I put them on and the comfort and fit is absolutely superb, ( for me ). I can tell I will not have a problem wearing these for long hunts. They will keep the outside noise at bay, ( which is a big problem for me on my Excalibur and DFPI ) which neither my Excalibur or DFPI headphones can do.

I plugged them into my GT and can honestly tell you that the sound is as good as the Pro Golds and Killer Bees.

I cannot see anyone not being happy and satisfied with these Scullies. Once again, " Thank You " OBN.

 

[deepdiger60]

That's great to hear Frank OBN does a superb job from what i heard ill be getting my Scullies soon in a week for my Sovereign GT cant wait to try them out and water proof is a plus . Keep me informed on how you do with them. GL Jim

 

[OldBeechnut]

Thanks Frank, the Df is next.....



Tell you the truth, I'm excited about using them this summer myself. Skullies are just a winter project for me, so no big production..just a few sets during the winter.

I got some feed back from my CTX hunter today........GGUW's I hotrodded

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?22,1873016

Night and day difference big time difference. These will be awesome on the beach. I'm going to XXXxxxxx tomorrow and I'm going to take the CTX and try them out I know they work really well.

Also I want to thank all the great guys here for the help in this project, special on my speaker post...Joe

 

[John(Tx)]

thanks....HH

 

[OldBeechnut]

Yes, just trying to keep a low profile, don't want to upset anyone. All are sold, 10 sets.


John, Skullies are Underwater speakered head phones. Been working on them for about a year now. And by accident came up with a design for water proofing speakers mainly for the Excalibur then a few Sovereign/CTX 3030 sets to see how they do with those. They have many advantages over the Koss Yellows and the GGUW's. Better audio was the main goal, along with comfort, and duribility.They come endcap to headphone, that way the new excalibur owner can take his yellows off and replace them with Skullies...Any issues with the machine, just reinstall the yellows and send out to minelabs for the repair. Minelabs wil not work on any machine that is not Factory Stock. If I get good reports on all 10 sets the end of the year I will make a few more next winter when things are slow.....

 

[dewcon4414]

Saaaaweet Joe. They look good my man. I agree with the Attttaa boy for you Joe. Necessity is the mother of invention. FSA..... i use the ProGolds, did the tones change much? I used an Xcal awhile back with Mod headphones that made it sound like another machine. I tell you the Xcals let in a lot of outside noise....but those DF ones are the worst to me. If the wind was blowing they were worthless. The gel cups are NICE. Heres hoping you have a long winter up there Joe until you can get me a set lol. Great update FSA.

Dew

 

[Critterhunter]

Wow, even an end cap so it's a "factory" mode like deal here? Very cool. Are those end caps the ones I think I saw you are getting machines to replicate the stock ones? Might have a few friends interested in getting those for that very reason- To be able to put back stock wise with the stock headphones for any repairs needed when sent to Minelab. Tell me, how do those end caps come off the POD? Just pry them out? Never looked close at my friend's Excals when working on them to see what gives on that.

 

[dewcon4414]

They have allen screws in them Critter.... take a look on free bay under Xcal and you can find some end caps, you can see the screws. Sweet thing is they arent sodered on the inside. Just unplug and do the mod. As Max says..... I LIKE UM.

Dew

 

[fsa46]

Saaaaweet Joe. They look good my man. I agree with the Attttaa boy for you Joe. Necessity is the mother of invention. FSA..... i use the ProGolds, did the tones change much? I used an Xcal awhile back with Mod headphones that made it sound like another machine. I tell you the Xcals let in a lot of outside noise....but those DF ones are the worst to me. If the wind was blowing they were worthless. The gel cups are NICE. Heres hoping you have a long winter up there Joe until you can get me a set lol. Great update FSA.

Dew

Dew,I'm not BSing you when I say, if you like the Pro Golds and Killer Bees you would love the Scullies. They are everything the others are, plus waterproof.
The comfort is AAA+ and the noise elimination with the gel cups is out of sight.

If/when I have these on my DF, I'll think I died and went to heaven. That is the only weak link on the DF ( for me ) and it is a killer. The frequency hurts my ears after hunting awhile and outside noise is overwhelming when the wind is blowing, and that means missing the faint targets, which relates to missing gold.

I can't say enough about these headphones other than why haven't the makers of water machines "woke up and smelled the coffee."

 

[dewcon4414]

I almost posted that same thing..... wake up and smell the coffee. I use the gel cups on mine now so i know what you mean about the noise reduction. Im looking forward to seeing the difference on weak signals and what kind of depth they produce out of it. GL out there keep us posted.... they sound like winners.

Dew

 

[dewcon4414]

One more thing.... Joe i talked to Brian at ML CS. Heres the 411 on a modified Xcal. with GG headphones, PP button, and Sov coil swap.

Hi Dew, the coil is not an issue. We can

 

[OldBeechnut]

Are those end caps the ones I think I saw you are getting machines to replicate the stock ones?

No these endcaps are a joint venture between OTLewis and OBN, OT cast some for me, and I bought a lathe and make my own or for who ever.

 

[OldBeechnut]

Thanks Dew on the 411

Even though the pressure test of the GGUW's might fail for them, the numbers sure don't look good for the durability of the Koss.

 

[dewcon4414]

You get what you pay for some times Joe. What do you think less than $30 to make the Koss because they are mass produced? My hunting partner said ML would replace his Blue with the new yellows for $225, alledgedly without labor...shut the front door.....Get outa here. With the Sov being out we have to hope our coil options dont dry up as well... because thats over $350 to have done. With out people like you Joe doing vedios the Xcal would be one expensive MOFO. Im just one of the guys who gets the use out of my detector so if its going to break mine will in the first year of use. Im looking forward to these headphones Joe. If they are like my ProGolds..... baby im on board.

Dew

 

[Critterhunter]

Cool, so you are machining end caps on your own then? Great, because obviously Minelab won't sell that part to people I would guess. Never heard of it anyway.

So these Skullies come with the end cap which just is set in place and the stock nut holds/seals them along with the O-ring then? And, no soldering involved? I can solder easily but am thinking of one of three friends who's Excal is still under warranty. Without solder work not only can anybody out there throw it on, but also can be returned to stock for warranty work. If so then you've hit a home run. Never knew the stock headphones weren't soldered to the board like the Coil is soldered. Always figured both were hardwired and have seen threads where I know the coil is. I've done some work messing around on a few friend's Excals but haven't needing to open the control pod for anything as of yet, so I was in the dark on all that.

One or two of them might be having me solder them up a remote PP switch. By the sound of the above post from Dewcon Minelab don't mind working on out of warranty machines that have a remote PP switch or aftermarket coils/headphones on them then? If so, that's very cool. Always figured they'd say "got to sell you a new control box since people have messed around in there"? If they are willing to work on units with remote PP that should put a few friend's minds at ease and they'll let me mod their out of warranty Excals. Also, puts my mind at ease because if my GT ever goes south on me and I can't find the problem myself I was wondering if they'd say "won't touch it" because I've installed a remote PP jack on the control box. Looks like no big deal these days to them then by the sound of it. Opinions?

 

[OldBeechnut]

So these Skullies come with the end cap which just is set in place and the stock nut holds/seals them along with the O-ring then? And, no soldering involved?

Yes Sir, Just pull the little white plug and reinstall ....

All ten sets have been sold, to a good variety of hunters with different styles and places. From here I want to get some time under there belts before I do anymore, and that's next Jan to Feb )...From the reports of the ones who have used them I will adjust there design as need to better them. Plus I'm going to do a video on how to make your own.......So others can share in the fun..thanks critter......joe

Joe. What do you think less than $30 to make the Koss because they are mass produced?

Dew, Minelabs owns the molds for the headphones...my guess, less the 15 dollars a set. Skullies cost me about 70..plus shipping which runs about 12..So I can do better hunting then making...but it's my Hobby, I learn from modifing, ..to get the most from my machine..and that pays in Silver And Gold

 

[OldBeechnut]

Jim, yours will be there Monday,,DD

 

[deepdiger60]

Jim, yours will be there Monday,,DD

Thanks Joe rain or shine