[Elecraft] K3 comments on Koss SB45 headsets

[Ian White]

Agreed, the SB-45 is excellent. The electret mic seems to be the same as the one used in the Koss CS-100, which has proved to work very well indeed with the K3/S and a number of other rigs. Once the EQ, Compressor and Noise Gate have been set up correctly, the same mic also suits a wide range of voices and attracts favourable comments for both ragchewing and contesting. 

Beyond that, it's merely a personal choice between styles of headphones. I prefer the closed-cup style of the SB-45 while my wife prefers the lightweight on-ear style of the CS-100; but otherwise they are interchangeable.

Definitely recommended.


73 from Ian GM3SEK

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dave Hachadorian
Sent: 28 December 2015 23:40
To: Reflector Elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 comments on Koss SB45 headsets

It's quite a coincidence that you asked about the Koss SB-45, because I just got one for Christmas!  Mine is the one with 3.5mm connectors, not the USB version.  I also have a CM-500.

I was going to post a review here after wearing the SB-45 all next weekend in the RTTY Roundup, but here are my first impressions.

The microphone quality is fine.  The SB-45 needed about 3 dB more boost in TX EQ #4 to sound like the CM-500.  The mic is an electret.  Do not confuse this unit with the SB-40, which has a dynamic mic, and apparently doesn’t sound so good.

The audio out of the headphones is also fine, just as good and loud and distortion-free as the CM-500, at least for communications use.  I haven't tried either headset on music.

I wore them for 1.5 hours on a long-winded net this morning, and they were totally comfortable over that time period.  I do wear eyeglasses.  People on the net said the audio sounded just like the CM-500.  I'll give a better long-term comfort report after the RTTY Roundup.

The cord is nice and long, and the mic and headphone wires can be separated easily to go to different places, after cutting a little rubber thingie that keeps them together.  My mic goes to the back of a computer on the floor, and my headphones go to an SO2R box on the table.

The SB45 is around $25 on Amazon, compared to $55 for the CM-500.

I think this headset is going to be a keeper, but I’ll give a long term comfort report next week.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, AZ





-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Gregory
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 3:26 PM
To: Elecraft List
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 comments on Koss SB45 headsets 

Seasons greetings one and all.

Has anyone used/using the Koss SB45 headsets on their K3?

I have the CM-500 and I am on my second set but again the padding is starting to deteriorate so before they look too ratty, figured I would get a backup and as the CM500 are not available in VK but the Koss SB45 are, I would appreciate any comments/advice the list may offer.

Just to let you all know, I love my Yamaha cm500 BUT, shipping cost from the US is really quite ridiculous these days and the AUD has fallen off a cliff and the parachute failed to open...:-)

The Koss SB45 are $69.00 AUD, free shipping. I like free...:-)

TIA

73
Gary

-- 



*Gary - VK1ZZ, K3NHLSkype: Gary.VK1ZZhttp://www.qsl.net/vk1zz
<http://www.qsl.net/vk1zz>Motorhome Portable* *Miss Behavin'*


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