Koss SB40 and AD-1-Y Connector

N4TTN

I am trying to use my Koss SB40 headset with the AD-1-Y adapter cable on my Flex 6300 and it is not working. I tried turning on Bias in SmartSDR and I get no audio transmitting at all.

Did I get the wrong adapter?

Jay Nation

Oops! 

My first reply was about a different headset.

Your SB-40 should have a dynamic element. don't enable the bias it's not needed.
Make sure you don't have the plug inserted upside down. it's possible to plug it in both ways.

I homebrewed an adapter for the SB-45 but it has an electret element and does need bias turned on.

The pinout for the plug is in the Flex documentation look for the Hardware guide.

73, Jay - NO5J

K9DUR

This may be the same problem as with using the Heil adapter with a Yamaha CM-500. The Yamaha has a stereo mic plug, with the element wired to both the tip & ring. The Heil adapter has a mono mic jack. Therefore, when you plug the mic into the adapter, you short out the mic element. I found a stereo to mono adapter on EBay for about $2. Plug it between the mic & the Heil adapter, & all is well. 73, Ray, K9DUR

Jay Nation

Ray's right. you can probably keep the AD-1-Y, and avoid homebrewing it.

73, Jay - NO5J

K5CG

I homebrewed a jumper for both.
SB40 pin 7 to sleeve, pin 8 to tip. Bias off.
SB45 pin 7 to sleeve, pin 8 to tip and ring (shorted at the jack). Bias on.
If I recall I didn't need the +20db gain on either headset.

N4TTN

All is well in Headset land now. Thanks for the tip on the adapter Ray.

I hated having the mic in my hand.

EA4GLI

Let us know how are the Koss SB40 doing with the Flex. I heard good things about that headset.

Jay Nation

Danny 
Have you got both the SB-40 and the SB-45?
Do you prefer one over the other? If so why?
I've been using PC headsets for a couple years now. The SB-45 seems more comfortable than my last set. I can probably stand to wear them longer. 
I guess what I'm after is If you broke one set would you replace it with the same model, or begin to think about buying a spare of the other.

73, Jay - NO5J 

Lawrence Gray

You need to use a mono adapter on the microphone plug.  I use a Koss SB45, which does require bias with the Heil adapter and it works great.  Just use a mono adapter for the microphone.

K5CG

Hi Jay,

I bought both because I wanted to compare the sound quality of the mics (dynamic vs electret). I settled on the SB-45 based solely on a fellow ham's feedback (Hey Dan! which one sounds more like me?). He was listening in the same room on an IC-718. A very scientific method you see. hihi

They are so close in tonal quality I would have no reservations about using either. Comfort would be a much larger factor.

73 Danny

Jay Nation

Danny

Thanks, to my ears a good electret mic competes quite well with high-end dynamic mics. The may cost less, but they don't sound cheap. I'll stick with my SB-45 until something cheaper and better sounding comes along.

73, Jay - NO5J