Elecraft

Headphone jack impedance

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kevinr@coho.net

Headphone jack impedance

I am just starting my search for a good set of ear buds to replace those
I'm using. Is there a standard headphone jack output impedance for the
family of K2, K1, KX1, K3, KX3, and KX2 transceivers? I plan to buy a
set of head phones or ear buds and want them to be the best match. I
know I could find all this data by opening and doing a ctrl-f on all the
manuals but I'm lazy. Or is it more efficient?

Kevin. KD5ONS

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Don Wilhelm

Re: Headphone jack impedance

Kevin,

The impedance does not matter much. What is important with ear buds is
the SPL rating - the higher the number, the more response you will get
from them.

Where impedance matters is only in low impedance speaker connections.
For instance the K2 internal speaker is a 4 ohm impedance. If you
connect an 8 ohm speaker to the EXT SPKR jack, you may have inadequate
audio because the audio amp cannot put enough power into an 8 ohm load.

Headphones OTOH tend to be higher impedance devices, and the voltage
produced by the audio amplifier will be the determining factor. The K2
has limited audio (by design) because the audio amplifier is typically
the culprit for receive current drain. The K2 was designed for QRP
portable operation with low receive current drain.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/21/2018 10:39 PM, kevinr wrote:
> I am just starting my search for a good set of ear buds to replace those
> I'm using. Is there a standard headphone jack output impedance for the
> family of K2, K1, KX1, K3, KX3, and KX2 transceivers? I plan to buy a
> set of head phones or ear buds and want them to be the best match. I
> know I could find all this data by opening and doing a ctrl-f on all the
> manuals but I'm lazy. Or is it more efficient?
>
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k6mrmagnet

Re: Headphone jack impedance

In reply to this post by kevinr@coho.net

Best earbuds bar none: Etymotic. Not cheap. Nothing really good is.

Ken K6MR

________________________________
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of kevinr <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2018 7:39:31 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Headphone jack impedance

I am just starting my search for a good set of ear buds to replace those
I'm using. Is there a standard headphone jack output impedance for the
family of K2, K1, KX1, K3, KX3, and KX2 transceivers? I plan to buy a
set of head phones or ear buds and want them to be the best match. I
know I could find all this data by opening and doing a ctrl-f on all the
manuals but I'm lazy. Or is it more efficient?

Kevin. KD5ONS

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Grant Youngman-2

Re: Headphone jack impedance

In reply to this post by kevinr@coho.net

Earbuds drive me nuts. Great for hifi listening, but unpleasant for ham radio — especially for extended use over several hours.

Impedance isn’t all that important. Most hifi type headsets or earbuds will work.

My personal suggestion — if you want to move up a step from the common CM500 headset (which is ok and inexpensive, flimsy, and does not block out external noise in any useful way), would be to look at the new “portable” headsets from Arlan Communications — the RS10SL (headset only) or RS50SL (headset mic). Neither are expensive relative to “high end” earbuds (which are wasted in the usual ham application anyway). And if the new Arlan’s are even anywhere close to the RS60CF, they’ll be about as good as it gets. I use the RS60CF on both a K3 and KX3 at home and in the field Thinking about adding the 50SL for field use specifically, although the 60CF isn’t really that much to carry and fits in my equipment case. I’ve used very high end Shure earbuds in the past because I had them. They’re compact, and wonderful for a concerto or two, or an hour’s worth of listening. But for several hours of continuous ham radio use, really uncomfortable and bothersome.

Grant NQ5T

> On Jul 21, 2018, at 10:39 PM, kevinr <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I am just starting my search for a good set of ear buds to replace those I'm using. Is there a standard headphone jack output impedance for the family of K2, K1, KX1, K3, KX3, and KX2 transceivers? I plan to buy a set of head phones or ear buds and want them to be the best match. I know I could find all this data by opening and doing a ctrl-f on all the manuals but I'm lazy. Or is it more efficient?
>
> Kevin. KD5ONS
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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k6mrmagnet

Re: Headphone jack impedance

I find just the opposite. I can wear Etymotic ear buds for as long as I need to. Headphones, a few hours max. They stay in my ears and block out external noises more than enough. Although I will admit my operating position is likely much quieter than most. Amps are in the closet away from the desk and the radios don’t make any noise.

Suum cuique!

Ken K6MR

________________________________
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Grant Youngman <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2018 9:55:11 PM
To: kevinr
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Headphone jack impedance

Earbuds drive me nuts. Great for hifi listening, but unpleasant for ham radio — especially for extended use over several hours.

Impedance isn’t all that important. Most hifi type headsets or earbuds will work.

My personal suggestion — if you want to move up a step from the common CM500 headset (which is ok and inexpensive, flimsy, and does not block out external noise in any useful way), would be to look at the new “portable” headsets from Arlan Communications — the RS10SL (headset only) or RS50SL (headset mic). Neither are expensive relative to “high end” earbuds (which are wasted in the usual ham application anyway). And if the new Arlan’s are even anywhere close to the RS60CF, they’ll be about as good as it gets. I use the RS60CF on both a K3 and KX3 at home and in the field Thinking about adding the 50SL for field use specifically, although the 60CF isn’t really that much to carry and fits in my equipment case. I’ve used very high end Shure earbuds in the past because I had them. They’re compact, and wonderful for a concerto or two, or an hour’s worth of listening. But for several hours of continuous ham radio use, really uncomfortable and bothersome.

Grant NQ5T

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k6dgw

Re: Headphone jack impedance

In reply to this post by kevinr@coho.net

Most ear buds are fairly high impedance Kevin, the AF amp will drive
them fine. Being moderately deaf [or worse if you ask my wife], I have
also found that they vary greatly in sound pressure level.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 7/21/2018 7:39 PM, kevinr wrote:
> I am just starting my search for a good set of ear buds to replace
> those I'm using. Is there a standard headphone jack output impedance
> for the family of K2, K1, KX1, K3, KX3, and KX2 transceivers? I plan
> to buy a set of head phones or ear buds and want them to be the best
> match. I know I could find all this data by opening and doing a
> ctrl-f on all the manuals but I'm lazy. Or is it more efficient?
>
> Kevin. KD5ONS

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Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: Headphone jack impedance

In reply to this post by k6mrmagnet

" Best earbuds bar none: Etymotic. Not cheap. Nothing really good is."

Yuengling is good AND cheap.
Chas

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
Behalf Of Ken K6MR
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2018 12:05 AM
To: kevinr <[hidden email]>; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Headphone jack impedance

Best earbuds bar none: Etymotic. Not cheap. Nothing really good is.

Ken K6MR

________________________________
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on
behalf of kevinr <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2018 7:39:31 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Headphone jack impedance

I am just starting my search for a good set of ear buds to replace those I'm
using. Is there a standard headphone jack output impedance for the family
of K2, K1, KX1, K3, KX3, and KX2 transceivers? I plan to buy a set of head
phones or ear buds and want them to be the best match. I know I could find
all this data by opening and doing a ctrl-f on all the manuals but I'm lazy.
Or is it more efficient?

Kevin. KD5ONS

______________________________________________________________
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