Re good headphones for GT

[JimmyCT]

When I turn on my GT, the volume is at minimum and I have my volume control all the way up on my headphones but it is too loud. As I turn down the volume control on my headphones it changes the tone (almost muffling the tone) of the targets. For instance, I place a quarter on the ground and turn down the volume so it doesn't blow out my ear drums (which practically does this now) and as I do, it now sounds like muffled mid-tone (almost like a nickel) Question: what is a good headphone to use that has volume control and won't change the tone of the targets? Once again, I thank you for your help.

 

[Neil]

I use the Black Widows and Sunray Golds, neither changes the tones when the volume gets turned down.
What kind are you using that it changes the tones at a lower volume?

 

[bootyhoundpa]

you may want to watch the review of the gt by des dunne...... in the video he explains that the volume dial on the gt is more of a depth control than an actual volume control.... he also explains that minelab recommends headphone with a 32ohm resistance rating....if your headphones have individual ear controls try regulating the volume with them ...... i ussually run my volume somewhere between half and full depending on the amout of trash in the area im hunting...just google soveriegn gt reveiw by des dunne..... its a long video but it is informative....

 

[Rick(ND)]

It is recommended to run the detector at full volume and set the headphones to a comfortable volume. The volume control on the detector is a target volume as you may have notice as the threshold sounds the same at Minn volume or max volume, but run a coin by it and you will hear the difference.
Myself I use a set of the Timberwolfs as they are what I need to get some good volume as I am hard of hearing and these i can hear those very weak signals most headphones cant hear and the tones don't change with the volume, but sure can tell when I don't have the detector volume cranked up by the first Target it see.. These are 150 ohms and sound better and better volume than the 32 ohm set I tried.

Rick

 

[JimmyCT]

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I am using Koss QZ99 headphones. All that I know is that if I turn the volume all the way up (on GT) then turn the audio control down on the headset it becomes extremely distorted at any level. With the volume on the GT set at minimum and the volume all the way up on the headset is crystal clear - BUT it is extremely LOUD and clear. Soon as I turn it down a few notches it starts to change the tone of the beep. Thanks for the suggestions in headphones I will look into them.

My other question is this - am I missing targets because the audio control is really a depth control and having mine at minimum, I am missing out on deeper targets?


Headphones Type Headphones - binaural
Headphones Form Factor Ear-cup
Headphones Technology Dynamic
Connectivity Technology Wired
Sound Output Mode Hi-Fi stereo
Response Bandwidth 40 - 20000 Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.3%
Sensitivity 102 dB
Impedance 60 Ohm
In-Cord Volume Control Yes

 

[Neil]

Rick and bootyhoundpa are correct about having the sov volume turned all the way up as its a target volume. Does it matter? next time your hunting try adjusting it over a deep target, meaning have it set fully clockwise when you hunt and then on a weak signal turn it down and see if you loose the signal and you will have your answer.
sorry I thought you were turning up the sov volume after turning it on. Have you read your manual on the Sov yet?

 

[Rick(ND)]

Try a different set of Headphones as I tried a set of Koss QZ or QR 99 as I remember it was something 99 and not sure of the first letters, but they were not good at all and gave them to my grandson to use on his stereo. I tried many different set of many different headphone trying to find the ones that gave me the best tones and volume (very hard of hearing) for my Sovereigns and Explorer/ E-trac and found on the Sovereign for me the Timberwolfs work the best while on my Explorer/E-Trac it was the Troy Pros, but found a set that will work on them both with the volume and tones I like called the Bushmaster made by Detector Pro for one of their dealers. The Sun Ray Pro gold plus many others that are made for detectors work good too, but the 99 were not made for detectors use.

 

[JimmyCT]

I will answer your last question first, Yes, I have read the manual several times through. However, The volume on my headphones is overwhelming loud (hurts my ears) I already have high pitch hearing loss & 24 / 7 tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Even at the lowest volume on the GT and cranked all the way up on my Koss headphones, I come home with my ears hurting. I do not want to cause any further damage thenwhat is already done that is for sure. I understand from the manual that it is the target's signal volume and minelab recommends this position for most circumstances. However, my circumstances I can not do this. As it continues in the manual, "However, users should be aware that when using headphones, IF a large target is detected close to the surface, the resulting loud signal may cause some hearing discomfort, in areas like this a lower volume should be selected."

This statement is very true from minelab. After listening to bottlecaps, pultabs and coins close to the surface, my ears want to bleed. The Koss headphones I bought stated they were made for metal detectors.

Believe me, I want the most out of my finds and want to use the machine to its max, at the same time, I am trying to protect my hearing that I havev left. I guess I have to look into these other headphones that have been mentioned and see if they can give me what I need in a headphone set. Thanks for "chiming in" I appreciate the input.

Rick and bootyhoundpa are correct about having the sov volume turned all the way up as its a target volume. Does it matter? next time your hunting try adjusting it over a deep target, meaning have it set fully clockwise when you hunt and then on a weak signal turn it down and see if you loose the signal and you will have your answer.
sorry I thought you were turning up the sov volume after turning it on. Have you read your manual on the Sov yet?

 

[JimmyCT]

Thanks Rick,

I will look into the Timberwolfs and Bushmasters you are recommending. I am hard of hearing too in the upper frequency range. ( children, women (hey that can be a good thing right? lol) birds etc.

Try a different set of Headphones as I tried a set of Koss QZ or QR 99 as I remember it was something 99 and not sure of the first letters, but they were not good at all and gave them to my grandson to use on his stereo. I tried many different set of many different headphone trying to find the ones that gave me the best tones and volume (very hard of hearing) for my Sovereigns and Explorer/ E-trac and found on the Sovereign for me the Timberwolfs work the best while on my Explorer/E-Trac it was the Troy Pros, but found a set that will work on them both with the volume and tones I like called the Bushmaster made by Detector Pro for one of their dealers. The Sun Ray Pro gold plus many others that are made for detectors work good too, but the 99 were not made for detectors use.

 

[Neil]

I will answer your last question first, Yes, I have read the manual several times through. However, The volume on my headphones is overwhelming loud (hurts my ears) I already have high pitch hearing loss & 24 / 7 tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Even at the lowest volume on the GT and cranked all the way up on my Koss headphones, I come home with my ears hurting. I do not want to cause any further damage thenwhat is already done that is for sure. I understand from the manual that it is the target's signal volume and minelab recommends this position for most circumstances. However, my circumstances I can not do this. As it continues in the manual, "However, users should be aware that when using headphones, IF a large target is detected close to the surface, the resulting loud signal may cause some hearing discomfort, in areas like this a lower volume should be selected."

This statement is very true from minelab. After listening to bottlecaps, pultabs and coins close to the surface, my ears want to bleed. The Koss headphones I bought stated they were made for metal detectors.

Believe me, I want the most out of my finds and want to use the machine to its max, at the same time, I am trying to protect my hearing that I havev left. I guess I have to look into these other headphones that have been mentioned and see if they can give me what I need in a headphone set. Thanks for "chiming in" I appreciate the input.

Rick and bootyhoundpa are correct about having the sov volume turned all the way up as its a target volume. Does it matter? next time your hunting try adjusting it over a deep target, meaning have it set fully clockwise when you hunt and then on a weak signal turn it down and see if you loose the signal and you will have your answer.
sorry I thought you were turning up the sov volume after turning it on. Have you read your manual on the Sov yet?

A buddy of mine has hearing problems also, he used to work chainsaws day in and out for work and rarely used hearing protection. He uses the black widows also but we both beach hunt and those are specifically good for blocking outside noise like ocean waves. Plus they sound great.

I mentioned if youve read the manual because you asked if turning down the sov volume knob was causing you to miss targets and Im pretty sure thats in the manual. sometimes answers are as simple as reading the manual.

Hope you find some headphones that suit your hearing/enable you to turn up the volume control/and arent hurting your ears. going through headphones can be a real merry go round to find what suits you. One of the most comfortable sets Ive ever used were the Rats but they have to much a bass tone to work well with sovs or explorers. and the koss ones, I really like those but they slip off my head when I bend over. good luck!

 

[Jiminsandiego]

I use the sun ray pro golds with my gt. They have volume controls on each ear so I can turn up the volume to full on the gt and adjust the volume on the head set. They also have a limiter switch that keeps them from blasting my ears, however this changes the sound. I find that I like the limiter switch on which also allows the threshold sound to be equal in volume to the signal noise.
Jim

 

[Critterhunter]

Many seem to like the Sun Ray Golds. One of these days I'll get a pair because I need a limiter, unless I build one. I'm currently using the Sony Studio Phones ($20 at Walmart...search this forum for the model # of them) and they are giving me the best audio I've heard on any machine using any headphones. Only problem is they are too loud with the GT volume all the way up, so I keep the volume on the GT at it's lowest and it's comfortable there. The headphones don't have a volume control on them. I've been planning on making a limit circuit for these so I can crank the GT volume all the way. When it is the normal targets at depth aren't too loud, it's just when I hit something right at the surface that I get an ear blast.

Minelab says the GT's volume should be at full blast for max depth detection. Thus far I haven't seen that myself. Pretty much if the GT responds to a target at fringe depth I can easily hear it even though my volume is all the way down. Still, I wonder if it's hurting me.

 

[Rick(ND)]

For me the volume makes a difference on the deeper targets, tried a few real deep targets (10-12 inches deep) before I dug and with the volume half way down I lost the signal completely.If I dont have it set at max I can tell the first target i get as it just dont sound right, so I can tell right away so I never hunt with it less than max.