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Recommended models:
During my time metal detecting, I have used quite a few makes
of detector headphones. Below is my personal opinion on some of
the phones that I have used - this is obviously somewhat subjective
- everyone has different views on what makes a good pair of headphones,
but here goes anyway:
1. SUNRAY PRO GOLD HEADPHONES:
These are an excellent pair of phones - quite
frankly - the best! Quite expensive - the
Pro Gold model is only available in the US - check out DM's
Oustanding Bargain Ebay store (see links page) (The older model
SunRay's are available in the UK for £69.95
, these newer ones will cost about £80 when
import tax and postage are added) - but well made, comfortable and they work well with
both single tone and multi-tone machines.
These phones have a gold plated, right-angled plug
(1/4inch or 6.3mm); separate volume controls on each side with
an excellent 32 increments - great for getting just the right volume;
booted switches for mono/stereo operation and limiter on/off
(these have an uprated limiter that works better on the MXT); strain
relief on the cable mountings and 150 ohm impedance.
Leather ear muffs add extra comfort - no more hot ears! I have personally
used these phones with the following detectors and found them to
be excellent with all: Whites MXT/M6; Minelab Quattro; Garrett Ace
250; Fisher CX-3D, 1225-X, Fisher ID Edge
and F75; Garrett GTP1350; Minelab Xterra 30 & 70; Tesoro
Sidewinder and XP Adventis 2. - Note that the
older model Sunray's do not have the uprated limiter circuit, the
gold plated jack plug or the leather ear muffs.
2. TROY PRO HEADPHONES:
These are a very comfortable, if rather expensive
pair of phones (£79.95 typical in the UK). They feature a
right angled plug with 6.3mm jack; 100 ohm impedance; no switches
- they automatically work with most machines - mono or stereo;
decent cable strain relief; separate volume controls on both sides,
but with a more limited range of notches than the Sunray's.
I have found these to be excellent on the Quattro,
plus several single tone machines. I wasn't too keen with them
on the Fisher CZ-3D - the high tone on this machine (1 kHz) was
too strident through these phones.
Overall, a nice pair of phones on certain machines
- very comfortable.
3. KOSS QZ-5 QUIETZONE HEADPHONES:
These are now my main phones for the Quattro - they
suit the multi-tone machines really well.
They are comfortable to wear, but take a bit of getting
used to with the strange headband arrangement. Have 3.5mm right
angled jackplug (gold plated), plus a 6.3mm adapter; switch for
mono/stereo operation; single sided volume control with a decent
amount of increments; decent strain relief on the coiled cable;
60 ohm impedance.
Not available in the UK, but can be found on the
US Ebay at around $50.00 including shipping (check out - andersonswholesale)
- which works out at £28.00 - very good value.
In conclusion, a really nice pair of headphones at
a great price.
You can also get hold of KOSS QZ-99 headphones from
US Ebay sellers, costing not much more (typically £35) and they
are more like normal headphone design than the QZ-5's. Same great
sound quality though - really are a great pair of headphones for
detecting.
4. DETECTORPRO GREY GHOST HEADPHONES:
Again, a nice pair of headphones at a rather high
price - £79.95 to 89.95 in the UK depending on the version
bought. Work well with most single/multi- tone machines, but I
couldn't get on with them with the Quattro - too limited range
of volume
increments
and rather strident in tone.
Have right angled jack plug; dual volume controls;
good cable strain relief and 150 ohm impedance.
5. OADS HEADPHONES:
These have a nice tone and work well with multi-tone
machines, but the build quality is a little lacking for rough use
with a detector and the straight cable is a nuisance. Decent price
at around £30.00 in the UK.
Overall, a comfortable pair of headphones with good
sound, but I have to question how long they would last in the field.
From the headphones mentioned above, my personal
choice would be the SunRay Pro's if money is no object and the
Koss QZ-5's if you are on a slightly tighter budget.
Gary. WDRH.
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