[Elecraft] KX3 headset recommendation

[Mickey Baker]

Hi, Josh, 

I can't help with your current mic woes, but I use a $50 Yamaha CM500 headset with good results. MIC BIAS on, of course, for the electret mic.

73,

Mickey N4MB

On Oct 20, 2012, at 10:24 PM, Josh Lehan <krellan at krellan.net> wrote:

> Hi there.  Any particular model of headset, to recommend for use with
> the KX3?
> 
> Right now, I'm using a Plantronics ".Audio 500" headset, which is nice
> because it has stereo RX (good for the KX3's audio effects) and it has
> convenient small analog connectors (perfectly compatible with the KX3).
> 
> However, there's 2 drawbacks:
> 
> 1) Not enough gain.  I have the KX3 set to its maximum MIC gain of 40.
> Even with this, I'm not getting full voice modulation, at a comfortable
> speaking voice.  I have to practically swallow the microphone, and then
> yell, in order to put out the full wattage.  I have trouble lighting up
> all 5 bars of the ALC.  Increasing the CMP level helps, but isn't a
> complete solution.  I have CMP set to 20 now, having had it at the
> maximum of 30 before, but backed it down to get a little better sound
> quality.
> 
> I know the headset microphone is sensitive and works well, because when
> used with the computer, it provides full volume at default settings, I
> even have to dial it down a bit to avoid saturation.  I wonder what's
> different about the KX3 than a typical computer sound card, from the
> headset's point of view?  Perhaps the wrong impedance?
> 
> Sidetone is good, though, at level of 10.  RX audio quality is great.  I
> noticed the recent software upgrade increased the maximum allowed
> sidetone volume.  I wonder if it's possible to increase the maximum
> allowed MIC gain similarly in software?  Maybe have an "overdrive"
> feature, that shifts the bits left, so that even when the hardware is
> maxed out, software can still amplify it some more, at the cost of
> fidelity?  Some cellphones have this, and it really helps to be heard.
> 
> I tried both possible settings of MIC BIAS in the menu.  Having "None"
> seemed to help a little, but it didn't make much of an overall difference.
> 
> 2) No PTT button.  I was hoping to use my CW straight key as PTT, but no
> such luck (I just sent another email about this).  If I get another
> headset, I would like to get one with a button in the cord, that would
> be electrically compatible with what the KX3 expects.
> 
> Any suggestions?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Josh
> K6JSH
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