[Elecraft] K3 Which headphones for stereo cw work?

[Tom W8JI]

Sam,

While popular, the amateur grade headsets are very poor 
quality and a poor value compared to good stereo headsets.

I found two very good headsets for mine. One type is a noise 
cancelling Phillips headset I bought at a local Ace hardware 
for $20, and the very best I have ever had are Sennheiser 
HD280 pro headsets.

Both headsets sound great, block out room noise (even 
without noise cancelling), and are most important very 
comfortable. One feature of the HD280 pro is they have a 
coiled cord that is long. This keeps the cord out of my way 
and off the floor, while still allowing me to move.

For SSB I use a Sennheiser headset with attached electrets 
microphone. It works perfectly with the K3 and reports are 
it sounds excellent.

As for the "phase reversal technology", it only has a useful 
effect in mono. It is just a  phase reversing switch on one 
earpiece. In stereo, it is meaningless because the K3's 
audio phase between channels rotates constantly as frequency 
is changed.

Mine are so much better than the headsets people bring over 
for contests there is no comparison.

73 Tom

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sam Morgan" <k5oai.sam at gmail.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 8:11 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Which headphones for stereo cw work?


>I know there has been a recent thread about headphones,
> but this time I would like to focus on just the receive 
> aspect,
> as I need to buy a set of 'cans' for use 90% use with cw.
>
>
> What I am really confused by is the K3's stereo rx 
> capabilities,
> with *ONLY* the main receiver.
> (Looks like the headphones cost a 1/3 as much, as the 2nd 
> receiver will)
>
> Does the Heil Proset allow for the stereo (separate 
> channels)?
> It doesn't specifically say so.....
> but the Heil Proset Plus does mention stereo
>
> Here is the Heil Proset:
> http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/proset/index.htm
>
> "Besides sealing out noise passively, the Pro Set now 
> includes Heil Sound's
> exclusive phase reversal technology, which allows the user 
> to "move" the
> incoming signal by engaging the phase-reversal switch; 
> this creates a unique
> spatial widening sound that can, in some situations, 
> significantly improve copy
> in a tough DX pile-up."
>
> "The earphone speakers in the Pro Set Series are 
> 200too-Ohm devices, with a -3
> dB point at 8000 Hz. This combination reduces a lot of the 
> hiss found in
> receiver audio stages. These speakers exhibit medium 
> sensitivity, but they are
> easily driven by most rigs if you turn the AF Gain control 
> up to about 2 o'clock."
>
> ==
>
> Here is the Heil ProsetPlus:
> http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/prosetplus/index.htm
>
> "The Pro Set Plus is wired in a stereo configuration, 
> making them easy to
> integrate into your SO2R station, and ideal for rigs like 
> the FT-1000D that have
> a "Balance" control for Main and Sub receiver audio 
> levels."
>
> "Also provided on the Pro Set Plus is Heil Sound's 
> exclusive phase reversal
> technology, which allows the user to "move" the incoming 
> signal by engaging the
> phase-reversal switch; this creates a unique spatial 
> widening sound that can, in
> some situations, significantly improve copy in a tough DX 
> pile-up."
> ===
>
> I don't plan to operate voice, so I really don't need a 
> mic attached,
> but it would seem those 2 headphones are among the best as 
> far as long term
> comfort and ability to do stereo and noise reduction.
>
> Are there any other headphones the group would recommended 
> for cw and taking
> advantage of the K3's stereo capabilities?
>
> I guess if I have to have a mike included I'll just have 
> to deal with it. ;-/
>
> TIA
> -- 
> GB & 73
> K5OAI
> Sam Morgan
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