[HCDX]: Re: hard-core-dx V4 #1267

["Guy Atkins" <dxing@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick,

I've used a lot of headphones for DXing (like many of us), and my current 
favorite is the Sennheiser HD-545. It's been recently discontinued, and they 
show up as factory refurbished models on eBay occasionally. New, they had a 
list price of around $125, but good deals can be had on them for $50-60.

The HD-545 is an over-the-ear (enclosed) model, but it has an "open" back 
for a more spacious sound. It's the most comfortable headphones I've used in 
the last 20 years. The earpads are extremely comfortable.

The #1 reason I like Sennheisers is their clear, detailed sound. Not only is 
that desireable from a hi-fi perspective, but for DXing as well. I find I am 
able to hear nuances of speech a tad bit better than other quality 
headphones. I prefer the HD-545 over JRC's communications headphones by a 
large margin.

At a Graylands DXpedition last summer, those who compared the Sennheiser 
against the Heil model thought that the Sennheiser came out on top for DX 
intelligibility. The margin was slim, but noticeable.

Full frequency range, low distortion headphones like the Sennheisers work 
best, IMHO, with receivers having very good audio (such as your R8). If you 
can couple such a receiver & headphone combination with a DSP-based audio 
filter like the Timewave or JPS units, so much the better. Then you'll have 
a precise way to vary the freq response for those times when static or QRM 
is annoying. Other times, enjoy the clarity of the hi-fi type headphones 
alone, for speech or music.

It's my opinion that limited, voice-frequency range *communications* 
headphones are better suited to radios known for tiring audio (ICOM R70/71a, 
NRD-515/525, etc.) when it comes to digging out those elusive IDs.

When I owned an R8, I used the JRC headphones (600 ohm) and hi-fi types 
(typically 8 ohm) without volume being a problem. Perhaps your headphones 
have a bad connection?

Guy Atkins
Bonney Lake, WA USA
JRC NRD-535G (Gilfer) w/full Kiwa mods
Wellbrook K9AY

------------------------------Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 23:04:07 -0700
From: Patrick <pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [HCDX]: UNID - 11634v + DX Headphone recommendation
At 0530* I am hearing a Latin staiton on 11634-11635 fluctuating badly. I
cant make out the ID because my headphones basically suck. I have the volume
totally cranked on the R8 and the level is so low I can barely make out
anything. Any recommendation on some good DX headphones for the R8, the
manual doesnt give the headphone ohm output. Im not interested in music
quality, just digging out the DX.
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