[Elecraft] Headphones

[Stuart Rohre]

Hank and the group,
One of the worst feeling headphone arrangements is any of the old hard
phones from military or 1950's ham days without cushions.  The rubber
cushions that completely covered those types of phones used to be sold by
Allied Radio, and made by Trimm or one of the other headphone outfits for
the high impedance, (sensitive) phones of the day.

However, now that the rubber foam covers are gone, I found a comfortable
conversion for the hard case phones (and possibly uncomfortable modern
phones):   Go to Walgreens and get a two pack of foam makeup sponges from
the cosmetics department.  These are flat round discs just right to fit the
Trimm etc. phones discs.   Cut a hole in middle of each sponge to form a
"donut".  Put double sided Scotch tape on the side you stick to the phone
diaphragm cover such that the sound holes are centered in your donut "hole".
You can trim the circle for smaller diameter phones if needed, with
scissors.  You can mark the area to cut out with ball point pen or marker.

You will find these converted phones now can be worn for hours, and the
white foam conforms well to the ear area.  It reduces extraneous sounds
quite well.  The foam seems to endure well, as mine have not discolored for
several years.  If they ever do, you can find replacement sponges at low
cost at a drug store.  These cosmetic sponges have small, fine hollow spaces
so do not look like cleaning sponges at all.

-Stuart
K5KVH