[Elecraft] Mic headset for K3

[David Bunte]

Hank -

As primarily a CW operator I am also a "mic dufus", but I did make almost 2
dozen SSB QSOs with my K3 in the past three years and got excellent
reports. I used to use a CM500 with excellent results, but when I got
hearing aids I found that an "on the ear" style rather than an "over the
ear style" was better for me. I found a $6 gaming headset that was great.
However, I ran over the cord once too often with my chair and got an
intermittent in the cord. Rather than try to fix it I decided to replace it
and got an INSIGNIA gaming style headset from BEST BUY for about $24 as I
recall. The EQ settings I used with the CM500 worked very well with the
first cheap headset and I have not changed then for this one.


Locals, who know me well enough say that I sound very natural with good
clean audio. One person said that they thought I should crank up the gain
and compression to assure pileup busting... but that was not a priority so
I left it alone. I was VERY happy with the CM500 but am even happier with
what I have now.

There may be technical differences between an electret and a condenser but
as a "mid dufus" I will yield to others in that regard. I think that "some"
condenser mics may require higher bias than the K3 supplies, but again I
must yield to others, who clearly know more about such matters than do I.

Very 73 es gl de Dave - K9FN

On Mon, Feb 22, 2021 at 10:03 AM Hank Garretson <w6sx at arrl.net> wrote:

> I like theYamaha CM500. Unfortunately I'm now on my fourth set. They are
> too fragile for me. Either headphones or mic fails.
>
> I plug CM500 mic into K3 rear MIC jack with BIAS selected and it works. I
> plug CM500 into my computer sound-card MIC jack and it works.
>
> I'm looking for CM500 alternative. I've seen various Koss models.
>
> But I'm confused about electret versus condenser and which is which and
> which does what.
>
> Specs for the Koss models are ambiguous and in various places contradict
> themselves.
>
> My question: What Koss model or some other brand can I plug and play into
> both my K3 mic jack (with Bias on) and into my computer mic jack?
>
> I'm a mic duffus. Help please.
>
> 73,
>
> Hank, W6SX
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