All: Im a "punch" guy and not a "hi-fi" guy. I do hi fi at work. I own a couple of Heils (a BM-10 and a ProSet) with the "DX Element" which are good for contesting but often sound a little too "in your face" for non contest work.
I considered the Yamaha, but I find that it is sometimes difficult to "interchange" phantom powered electrets when traveling to other stations for contests. I have found a very good alternative to both in the Koss SB-40. It is stereo, has a 1/8 stereo plug and has all the features of the CM500, but uses a dynamic mic. The cord is incredibly long, but a RipTie fixes that. It is also a full ear cup model with huge transducers, and fits my head more comfortably that the ProSets do especially because I wear glasses. The ProSet's earcups are much harder than the SB-40's and leave a gap. The Koss seals around the glasses perfectly, keeping sound out, without pushing the glasses into my temples. Worst thing is that it doesnt have a single outlet for the cords on one earcup, but I consider this minor. Admittedly, the SB-40 headphone is really "bassy". Guess Gamers like those big explosions to rock their heads around (listen to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon with these, you will see!). This bass effect is easily fixed with some RX EQ, but then K3 doesnt have much bass response, except when using V3.25 firmware. Wonder when that promised bass will make its return! Soon I hope! :) The mic is very flat in response but shifts towards the bassy side with a marked proximity effect, but TX equalization takes care of that. After processing, I can acheive a similar sound to the DX Element but with less harshness and a very nice bass undertone around 150-200Hz when close-talked which, in my opinion, may add to intelegibility on the low bands. The K3's EQ capabilities can make this mic sound any way you want to sound, from DX punch to ESSB. I still like the "penetration" of a well EQ'd DX Element in a contest, but these are smooth and broad and seem to complement my particular K3. They are EXTREMELY comfortable, more so than the ProSet, and very ruggedly constructed, too! They cost around $30 at Full Compass. I will probably use them for CQ-WW-SSB. -lu-W4LT- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:11:17 -0700 From: "Jim Brown" <j...@audiosystemsgroup.com> Subject: [Elecraft] Yamahs CM500 Headset To: "Elecraft List" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Message-ID: <20090915161121.80bcd57...@gw1.nlenet.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On Sun, 6 Sep 2009 18:42:31 -0700, Dick Dievendorff wrote: >I just tried out my new Yamaha CM500 as well. Several of the guys in our contest club have bought these headsets and fired them up with their K3s. One of them, W6XU, brought one to our meeting last night, and I tried it on. It is quite comfortable, and well built. The headphones are of the "big closed" type that provide some isolation from noise in the shack. They are NOT active, noise-cancelling type. The mic is a cardioid electret. Another of the guys, K6TD, had me listen to his on the air. It sounded very good with no tweaking of the K3, and with tweaking, produced very competitive audio. The tweaking consisted of using maximum cut on the three lowest filters, 6dB boost at 2.4 kHz, and 10 dB boost at 3.2 kHz. I also had him kick in about 10dB of processing. This eq is consistent with most mics designed for SSB communications use (like the Shure and Heil products). The difference is that this headset sells for only $45 online at Sam Ash with free shipping, a bit more at other vendors. For those who don't know, Yamaha is a well respected audio company. 73, Jim Brown K9YC ______________________________________________________________ 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
