Why Great Headphones?

[crazy4coins]

Hey guys,
I'm just wondering, why do most people around here say that a good set of headphones is a must, like Killer b's or Grey ghosts? I know that it is important to hear slight changes in threshold etc. but won't any pair of headphones do that? I have a pair of cheap headphones that came with my f2, and although it doesn't have a threshold in "all metal mode" it seems that they perform really well. Every signal comes through loud and clear and I can't see why they wouldn't do the same for a higher end machine with a true all metal mode.
Thanks in advance,
C4C

 

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[airscapes]

Like all hobbies, there are levels of quality and then there are thing for people to spend money on. Ever look at golf clubs, fishing gear, hunting equipment, running shoes, biking gear.. It is all about budget and fiscal common sense.
If what you have are comfortable and work for your needs, then you have what you need. I am real new to this particular hobby and got a cheap pair of Head Phones with my Coinmaster GT. I can't wear over ears without discomfort from my glasses being sandwiched between the head and ear. I use a home made in line volume control that works better than what i bought and some higher end, in ear, isolation ear buds. The other day I bought some cheap in ears at the Dollar store as I figured I did not want to destroy my $100 ear buds. The difference was night and day, I prefer the accurate tone of the $100 Eytomtics over the muffled sound of the cheapos. Also prefer the outside world sound isolation provided by the Eytomics. I don't think a set of head phones will make you any better at metal detecting as long as you hear the sound and know what that sound means. I think the better MD Head phones provide better isolation allowing the user to concentrate on the tones and not what is going on around them. This is good and bad, depending on where you are... Again, no expert MD, but do know a little about audio and I prefer higher quality at a lower volume at my age.
Hope that helps a little..

 

[TNGUNS]

The biggest thing I notice is clarity. Really helps tell you on falsing iron. I tried a cheap set that I got in a detector trade about a year ago. Comparing them to my Killer B's the difference isn't subtle. In many hobbies it costs a lot to gain a little, but not so true on headphones. I still say that a good set of headphones is among the best investment you can make. I think anyone will tell you when in doubt on a target dig, but there is a line there for everyone. Simply put the line is clearer with good phones. That smooth subtle sound of a deep target sounds like a deep target. I tried them both in my test garden, and really tried to be objective and give them a chance. Don't mind telling anyone that the cheaper Treasure Wise headphones don't hold a candle to the good ones (at least the ones I tried). I can't tell much difference in any of the premium phones. They all sound very similar to me. Comfort, price, and build quality will vary but all sounded very similar. Just my 2 cents.

 

[crazy4coins]

Thanks guys!

 

[MinnesotaStateUniversity]

$100 sounds like a lot of money for a magnet & a coil of wire

 

[airscapes]

$100 sounds like a lot of money for a magnet & a coil of wire

The operative word is Sounds! Ever look at the display on the gas pump after you fill you car or truck? Don't get much there either!

 

[Jason in Enid]

$100 sounds like a lot of money for a magnet & a coil of wire

Cheap speakers use cheap, paper cones and are typically 8 ohm (or less!) resistance. This means that they make sounds, but certainly not a clear one. Paper cones warp from moisture and distort sounds even more.

If you are using a cheap, single tone detector it may not matter to you. But if you have a multi-tone like a Minelab, those sounds are information. The better you can hear it, the more information you have about your target. 100 ohm speakers use WAAAAY less energy than 8 ohn so they make your batteries last longer. Polycarb cones last longer, don't warp, and give better sound quality than paper.

It's like the car analogy; An AMC Pacer will get you from A to B, but may not fast, comfortable, or efficient in how it does it.

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

..I dont even wear headphones..

 

[airscapes]

It's like the car analogy; An AMC Pacer will get you from A to B, but may not fast, comfortable, or efficient in how it does it.

Man you are dating yourself.. Not many people under 40 would even know what a Pacer is.. I almost wish I had never seen one! Hated when Mr Smith brought that hunk of crap in for work!

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Man you are dating yourself.. Not many people under 40 would even know what a Pacer is.. I almost wish I had never seen one! Hated when Mr Smith brought that hunk of crap in for work!

Haha...I never understood the attraction to the Pacer....My Dad loved them damn things

 

[MinnesotaStateUniversity]

Cheap speakers use cheap, paper cones and are typically 8 ohm (or less!) resistance. This means that they make sounds, but certainly not a clear one. Paper cones warp from moisture and distort sounds even more.

If you are using a cheap, single tone detector it may not matter to you. But if you have a multi-tone like a Minelab, those sounds are information. The better you can hear it, the more information you have about your target. 100 ohm speakers use WAAAAY less energy than 8 ohn so they make your batteries last longer. Polycarb cones last longer, don't warp, and give better sound quality than paper.

It's like the car analogy; An AMC Pacer will get you from A to B, but may not fast, comfortable, or efficient in how it does it.

The only time cone material matters is when the speaker is used outside of its piston range.

I disagree with you. Disregarding impedance, the efficiency of a woofer comes from the strength of the motor and the mass of the cone. Paper rules ...maybe not for metal detecting, but in general. Just thought id point that out since were focusing on cone material

Btw, i cant stand the peakiness of a metallic cone:-)

I was just messing with you guys.

-audiophile

 

[TheRingFinder]

I have really good hearing, I have never notice any advantage to the "upgraded" headphones. Maybe in the future if and when my hearing deteriorates i will hear and see things differently.

And - MINNESOTA STATE U - your youtube video link is no good.

 

[Jason in Enid]

I was just messing with you guys.

-audiophile

This is called "trolling" and it's not appreciated in any forums.

 

[MinnesotaStateUniversity]

This is called "trolling" and it's not appreciated in any forums.

Youre teaching bad science. Im not gonna let that happen.

 

[OBN]

There is a old saying many of the oldtimers use to say.... "The detector still sees the small deep target-you just don't hear it" there is a great advantage if your machine is setup with the correct set of headphones for the type of hunting your doing. Beach hunting has become very completive, being able to jump in behind another hunter and use his dig trail to dig targets he miss because he could not hear them is a great advantage.

 

[OBN]

Here is a perfect example of targets not heard with a normal set of stock headphone, then being able to hear the target pulled from the threshold with a Audio Amp...And you think your hearing them all? Not only is it about good hearing but it's targets that are there, you just don't hear them because they are covered by the just audible threshold.

1....Just audible threshold
2....Amp turned on and the once just audible threshold is now blaring
3....Then Amped threshold is Lowered to just audible
4....Targets that were once covered by the threshold are now uncovered. And this is the Minelab Excalibur

 

[Alan Applegate]

I take a more pragmatic approach. Anyone over about 40 years of age, can't hear subtleties much over about 10 kHz. Even if they can, the responses from modern metal detectors are in the hundreds of Hertz, not thousands! Probably the best attribute, are headphones which seal out as much of the ambient noise as possible. This allows the user to hear subtle changes more easily.

I further suspect that most modern metal detectors have enough audio power for 90% of the users. If you need more, you probably need a hearing aid!

 

[OBN]

Probably the best attribute, are headphones which seal out as much of the ambient noise as possible. This allows the user to hear subtle changes more easily.

So you take the Best speakers made for a metal detector, Audiosears2463 (Sunray Pro Golds, Gray Ghost, Jolly Rodgers, Black Widows, etc.) or Kobitone 25CE500 (Ratphones)
then you add the Very Best ambient noise blocking set of earmuffs Peltor 105's w/Gel Pads (30db/33db) and you have
Skullies.

 

[TheSleeper]

Over the years I have tried many different brands of headphones, and yes I can hear a difference between them, and just so you know I am 58 years old have tinnunitus(sp) and hearing loss from years of racing.
Headphones contrary to popular belief should be tried until you find the set that perfectly match your hearing and your hunting conditions. Some phones I have tried sounded very tinny, others nice and mellow, but outside noise drowned out the weak signals(ambient noise). The best compromise, phones that lower the ambient noise level and match you. Thats what is important, matching you as no two humans hear or can hear sounds exactly alike.

It is a known fact the better you seal out the ambient noise the easier it is for you to hear those faint deep targets. Now with that said if you are running your threashold wide open you will never tell any difference, but if you have learned and set your threashold barely audible, then my friends you can tell the difference between headphones.

My personel choice for the SE, Pro Golds, for my excal I did the peltor 105 W/gel pads years ago, but both of these suit me maybe not you.

We are not clones, we each are individuals and as such each of us need to find the phones that best suit us.

OBN, hope you don't mind me quoting you, as it needs quoting:
There is a old saying many of the oldtimers use to say.... "The detector still sees the small deep target-you just don't hear it".

I want to give an example here, last hunt incoming tide, working the wet line. Faint signal broken(I only run the excal in pinpoint) signal intrigued me, so, two scoops down I got the target out of the hole. Spread that scoop on the hard pact then kept lossing it as it fell threw scoop holes. Hand fed detector till object was found, turned out to be a 1/4 inch long piece of rusted round(not flat) bobbie pin, so rusted it crumbled in my fingers.
If I hadn't modded my headphones to suit me and the conditions I hunt, AND had the threasehold up high I would not have heard this target, sure it was trash, humm but think if it was a stud earring that deep.

 

[huntindog1]

Koss QZ-99 nasatom uses them and they can be found for $38