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good remote headsets

can someone recommend a good sounding comfortable headset to use with my laptop when I am working remote ? I had a logitech gaming headset it worked well but the build was so flimsy I took them back .  thanks John kb2huk

Answers

  • kg5eiu
    kg5eiu Member ✭✭
    edited December 2018
    My Heil Proset seems to work well - with the right adapter you can even use if via USB (iMic)
    add another adapter and you should be able to use it on your iPad.....
  • Richard McClelland, AA5S
    Richard McClelland, AA5S Member ✭✭
    edited June 2020
    This headset was recommended by someone.  I don't recall who or why but it was on a ham radio message board.  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JXAEGS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2JF4JH72JVD6N&...  ymmv.

  • K9DUR
    K9DUR Member ✭✭
    edited June 2017

    I highly recommend the Yamaha CM-500 headset.  It is made for the music industry & is well constructed.  It comes with 1/8" plugs for both mic & headphones, so it will plug directly into your computer soundcard connectors  Two 1/8" to 1/4" adapters are included so the headphones can plug directly into your radio, also. The microphone has an electret element, but a battery box is supplied to provide the bias voltage.

    The headset is MUCH more comfortable than the Heil.  I can wear it for hours over my glasses with no discomfort.  I can even wear them with my hearing aids in place.

    The best part is the price.  They go for $55-60 on Amazon.com.

    73, Ray, K9DUR

  • Rob Fissel
    Rob Fissel Member
    edited April 2015
    I second this recommendation. This is what I've been using when working remote from my laptop. Good audio reports, and I feel the audio quality when listening is good for a $60 headset. It's a really popular headset among the Elycraft folk. 

    Ray points out that it is an electret element. Many computer sound cards, including the cheap $7 USB sound card I bought, provide this voltage as most of those goose neck computer mics are electret as well. 

    I usethe CM-500 with this sound card with no issues, and no need for the battery box. 

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NMXY2MO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


  • Rob Fissel
    Rob Fissel Member
    edited April 2015
    The microphone will not plug directly in. The headset has an 1/8 in jack for the microphone, and another 1/8 in stereo jack for the headphones. 

    You can plug the headphone side of the headset in to the 6300 with a standard 1/8 to 1/4 inch stereo converter.

    I made (very cheaply) a cable that connects the headset's microphone to the 6300's 8 pin input using the appropriate connectors and some quality UTP cat6. The bias on the 6300 is 5v, which is within the tolerance of the CM-500, so there's no need to incorporate a voltage divider into the homebrew cable. 

    Edit: This was in response to a posting that must have been removed asking if the CM-500 can interface directly with a 6300. I'll leave it up anyway as it's relevant information for those looking to use it with their Flex directly. 
  • John n0snx
    John n0snx Member
    edited April 2015
  • Dave - W6OVP
    Dave - W6OVP Member ✭✭
    edited December 2016
    Thanks Rob, I didn't word that very well so pulled it for a rethink.

    I do have an 8 pin adapter for my Heil Handheld mike, and a stereo converter for PHONE, so just hoped to match them hassle free. And it sounds like the mike is good to go so I should be able to use the CM-500 for either remote or local service.  TNX. -Dave
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited February 2018
    The CM 500 is about the best I think, I have been using for rag chew with a bunch of guys that pick on audio, and they say it sounds really good.
  • Rob Fissel
    Rob Fissel Member
    edited April 2015
  • K9DUR
    K9DUR Member ✭✭
    edited September 2016

    WARNING:  The Heil Yaesu adapter will NOT work directly with the Yamaha CM-500.  The CM-500 microphone connector is a 1/8" stereo plug with the hot side of the mic connected to BOTH tip & ring.  The Heil Yaesu adapter has a 1/8" mono jack for the mic.  Consequently, when you plug the Yamaha mic into the Heil adapter, the ring is shorted to the sleeve, shorting out the mic.

    There are a couple of solutions:

    1. I found some 1/8" stereo to mono adapters on E-Bay for about $2 each.. Plug one of these between the mic & adapter and all is well.

    2. W2ENY sells adapters for the Yamaha CM-500 on E-Bay for about $30.  (Or, I will make one for you for $15).

    73, Ray, K9DUR

  • Dave - W6OVP
    Dave - W6OVP Member ✭✭
    edited December 2016
    TNX Ray. I noticed that. Where do I send the $15? xxW6OVP@arrl.netXX
  • David Decoons, wo2x
    David Decoons, wo2x Member, Super Elmer Moderator
    edited June 2020

    I bought the Heil Proset Elite with the IC element. I've also bought the Pro Set Plus replacement earpads. The Elite earpads are round and a little small to fully go over the ear. For the additional $9 the Pro Set Plus earpads are oval and more comfortable.

    The laptop I am using is the Acer Nitro Black Edition. The sound card has a combo mic/earphone 4 pin 3.5 mm connection. I bought an audio splitter cable from Micro Center http://www.microcenter.com/product/437911/6inch_35mm_Speaker-Microphone_Jack_Splitter

    The laptop supplies the voltage for the IC element.

    here's my settings for rag chew operation when running remote

    • 63  +4
    • 125  +2
    • 250  -1
    • 500  0
    • 1k  +1
    • 2k  +2
    • 4k  +3
    • 8k  +3

    Processor on and level of normal. Transmit bandwidth for rag chew of 50 - 3500


    Dave, wo2x



  • Rod Lane
    Rod Lane Member
    edited April 2015
    Here's one I found on Woot some time back.  I've spent hundreds of hours wearing David Clark H series headsets, and this one compares pretty well.  It's a lot more comfortable, and sound much better. My wife even uses one at her desktop.  She finds it that comfortable.

     I can use it with our without the mic boom.  It disconnects easily and it comes with a cover plug for where the boom disconnects. 

    It's a little "artsy" with all of the Battlefield 4 graphics, but that doesn't bother me much.  Nice thing also, the headset terminates in a TRRS 1/8th plug that fits my Galaxy 4 phone perfectly.  Now it's dual-duty.  It comes with a "Y" cable to break out for computer use.  Not bad for the price.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/301437547803?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

    73, N1FNE


  • John Molenda
    John Molenda Member
    edited April 2015
    Thanks for the info guys .  I like the look of the razer headset and I have other people compliment the products from this company Razer. thanks again  John kb2huk 
  • John Molenda
    John Molenda Member
    edited April 2015
    Still open to other ideas .   Question what is the advantage of usb connection over the two mini connectors for phones and mic if any ?  thanks  John Molenda kb2huk 
  • Gary F
    Gary F Member ✭✭
    edited April 2015
    I use the Heil ProSet Media with excellent results.  The cost is around $125.
  • David Decoons, wo2x
    David Decoons, wo2x Member, Super Elmer Moderator
    edited June 2020

    The USB connection will create a new sound card device. I found better results running the internal sound card on the new Acer Nitro laptop. I did try the Razer headset but returned it. For whatever reason I had issues under Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 with the USB headset not being able to put out enough audio level.

    For the on board Realtek audio I turned off all effects and have the record device level slider set to about 60 and get excellent reports.

    Dave



  • Norm - W7CK
    Norm - W7CK Member ✭✭
    edited December 2016
    Bill,  Can you post your eq and bandwidth settings when using the CM 500?
  • Richard McClelland, AA5S
    Richard McClelland, AA5S Member ✭✭
    edited June 2020
    I don't want to beat this one to death but this product announcement might be interesting to some:  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/audio/news/nab-2015-schoeps-hsc-4vxp-headset  I have a pair of the Ultrasonne headsets and they are excellent. 

    One thing to note about the Ultrasonnes is that they are very sensitive.  They pick up a fair amount of hiss if plugged directly into a Flex 1500.  I alleviated this issue by using a separate headphone amplifier (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002I9S12/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and adjusted down the gain to reduce hiss.  Another solution is to use a pair of Bose headphones instead as these have a switch for hi/lo gain.


  • Steve K9ZW
    Steve K9ZW Member ✭✭✭
    edited March 2017

    I'm currently using a USB adaptor and my favorite set of David-Clarks - I think that set is a 10-30 - for remote and a RadioSport carbon at the rig. 

    The DC's are not light and unless you find a used set they are an investment, but they are also life-time gear that you wouldn't destroy if you wore them everyday extensively.  Ditto with the RadioSport sets.

    73

    Steve K9ZW

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