All: I have the Koss headset that Joe W4TV illustrates from New Egg. It cost me $23 last year from Full Compass (Yet another headset? But it was on Sale! I couldn't resist!). Mine is labeled "SB-40". Its absolutely and EXACTLY IDENTICAL to my CM-500, in every detail, except for one important thing. The mic capsule. The mic capsule on this headset is dynamic and is absolute and pure junk.
However. A Heil capsule and holder from the BM series of headsets fits PERFECTLY on the end of this headset's flexible boom. I have several old BM-5 and BM-10 headsets in my junk box. I love them. Light and comfortable, you can forget you're wearing a headset. But they are notorious for breaking the little plastic clip that holds the metal boom on the headset, and the open air design, while extremely comfortable, doesn't lend itself to noisy SSB multi op environments... So in search of a solution, I took a close look at the Koss headset and found that its a simple matter to remove two screws from the mic holder on the end of the boom and it comes right off, leaving the capsule dangling on two wires! Unsolder the Koss mic capsule. Place it right in the garbage can... Unscrew the pop screen, unsolder the capsule and then remove the capsule holder from the metal tube boom of an old Heil BM-5/10 headset by gently twisting it off of the tube. With a Dremmel tool, widen the BM-5/10 mic holder's boom hole a little bit so it fits snugly on the Koss boom (add some epoxy if you feel safer with gluing it on, I don't, what if it cracks?). Then, slide a 1/2 inch of shrink tube on to the Koss boom and install the Heil holder, thread the wires through, and heat the shrink tube to hold the Heil capsule holder onto the flexible boom (and make it replaceable by cutting the shrink tube off with a xacto knife if you need to later). Finally, solder your choice of Heil capsule (in my case, a DX-4) onto the wires. Replace the pop filter by screwing it back on. PRESTO! A very comfortable, rugged, closed ear headset that seals sound out, suitable for use in multi op environments! Yamaha CM-500 comfort for use on TenTec Orions when I travel to NQ4I, where my CM500 does not work! Solved my problem! -Lu-w4lt- K3 # 3182 --------------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:00:19 -0500 From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <li...@subich.com> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Yamaha CM500 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: <4ce585d3.80...@subich.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826193029 That item is actually showing at $6.99 today (with $4.99 domestic shipping). If one is looking for an equivalent to the CM-500, this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826263020 even looks like the CM-500 for about 2/3 the B&H Photo price. I also see other "name brand" Koss and Senheiser headsets for less than $50 that are known for decent comfort/performance while some of the "off brand" stuff looks like "plain box" versions of the name product. 73, ... Joe, W4TV No virus found in this outgoing message Checked by PC Tools AntiVirus (6.1.0.25 - 6.14880). http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
