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K3 - How to get more headphone output.

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W0CP

K3 - How to get more headphone output.

I've been disappointed with the audio output from my Heil proset headphones. I've got other headphones around that are more sensitive, but I like boom mic headphones. My external speaker is a Kenwood SP-940, which has a headphone jack on it. I just plugged in the phones and noticed a big increase in level

. It appears that the front headphone jack isn't able to access all the power the af amp can provide.

I read in another post that the headphone output level is potentially programmable, like the line level output, for egs. I'd sure like to see that happen. It would open up the rig to a wider range of acceptable headsets

73, Walt W0CP

Bill W4ZV

Re: K3 - How to get more headphone output.

W0CP wrote

I've been disappointed with the audio output from my Heil proset headphones. I've got other headphones around that are more sensitive, but I like boom mic headphones.

That's very strange. I have two original Heil Pro-Sets (not the Pro-Set Plus) which must be ~20 years old. On both the maximum I ever turn set AF gain to is 9-10 o'clock. I normally leave both Main and Sub AF set there and adjust RF Gain for a comfortable level. I wonder if your Heil headset might be 200 ohms impedance? I think mine are 32 ohms which the K3 is designed for and both work very well, as well as the Extreme Isolation EX-29 (32 ohms also) which is my current favorite for CW.

73, Bill

Barry N1EU

Re: K3 - How to get more headphone output.

My Heil ProSet is 200 ohms and my max AF Gain is also 9-10 o'clock like Bill. Make sure you have the config menu setting for AF Gain set to HI

73,
Barry N1EU

Bill W4ZV wrote

W0CP wrote

I've been disappointed with the audio output from my Heil proset headphones. I've got other headphones around that are more sensitive, but I like boom mic headphones.

That's very strange. I have two original Heil Pro-Sets (not the Pro-Set Plus) which must be ~20 years old. On both the maximum I ever turn set AF gain to is 9-10 o'clock. I normally leave both Main and Sub AF set there and adjust RF Gain for a comfortable level. I wonder if your Heil headset might be 200 ohms impedance? I think mine are 32 ohms which the K3 is designed for and both work very well, as well as the Extreme Isolation EX-29 (32 ohms also) which is my current favorite for CW.

73, Bill

Bill W4ZV

Re: K3 - How to get more headphone output.

Barry N1EU wrote

My Heil ProSet is 200 ohms and my max AF Gain is also 9-10 o'clock like Bill. Make sure you have the config menu setting for AF Gain set to HI

Just FYI my AF GAIN is set to LO, and I still have plenty of gain. I'm not sure about the actual impedance of my Heils but I've never had any problems with a TS-930S, FT-1000MP, Orion or the K3. They were a little weak when used with my K2 however.

73, Bill

Tom Hammond-2

Re: K3 - How to get more headphone output.

Must admit that I've never been completely 'thrilled' with the performance
of my 10+ year old Heil ProSet cans when used with my K2 or my K3.

I've almost always had to crank up the AF Gain higher than that which gave
more than ample AF output to the attached speakers.

I've even gone to the point of considering trying to replace the OEM
headphone elements with some small 8-Ohm speakers... haven't done it (yet)
but it's certainly been on my agenda to research.

73,

Tom Hammond N0SS

At 16:31 11/16/2008, Bill W4ZV wrote:

>Barry N1EU wrote:
> >
> > My Heil ProSet is 200 ohms and my max AF Gain is also 9-10 o'clock like
> > Bill. Make sure you have the config menu setting for AF Gain set to HI
> >
>
>Just FYI my AF GAIN is set to LO, and I still have plenty of gain. I'm not
>sure about the actual impedance of my Heils but I've never had any problems
>with a TS-930S, FT-1000MP, Orion or the K3. They were a little weak when
>used with my K2 however.
>
>73, Bill
>
>--
>View this message in context:
>http://n2.nabble.com/K3---How-to-get-more-headphone-output.-tp1506562p1507314.html
>Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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list1

RE: K3 - How to get more headphone output.

I rebuilt an old Proset last year. When I called Heil the woman who
answered was very helpful. I believe that some of the earlier Prosets
should have their speaker elements replaced with newer more efficient
elements. Call Heil; the parts are very inexpensive.

Steve, W2MY

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Ken Kopp-3

OT: Older Heil earpiece elements

I also can confirm that older Heil earpiece elements -do-
deliver low audio. This was a problem with my FT-1000D
and Heil had higher output replacements available. I don't
recall if they were free of charge or not.

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
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w7aqk

Re: K3 - How to get more headphone output.

In reply to this post by Tom Hammond-2

Tom and All,

I have had much the same experience with my ProSet. I made a post quite
similar to yours some time back, and got lots of replies to the contrary.
All this leads me to believe there are some inconsistencies in the
production of these headsets. The more recent series of posts only
strengthens my belief that differences do exist. That shouldn't be the
case, but it seems to be so. Heil has never owned up to it though, at least
when I asked about it at Dayton. I'd sure like to do an "A/B" test with a
newer set. Mine are several years old.

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Hammond" <[hidden email]>
To: "Bill W4ZV" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 5:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - How to get more headphone output.

> Must admit that I've never been completely 'thrilled' with the performance
> of my 10+ year old Heil ProSet cans when used with my K2 or my K3.
>
> I've almost always had to crank up the AF Gain higher than that which gave
> more than ample AF output to the attached speakers.
>
> I've even gone to the point of considering trying to replace the OEM
> headphone elements with some small 8-Ohm speakers... haven't done it (yet)
> but it's certainly been on my agenda to research.
>
> 73,
>
> Tom Hammond N0SS
>
>
> At 16:31 11/16/2008, Bill W4ZV wrote:
>
>
>
>>Barry N1EU wrote:
>> >
>> > My Heil ProSet is 200 ohms and my max AF Gain is also 9-10 o'clock like
>> > Bill. Make sure you have the config menu setting for AF Gain set to HI
>> >
>>
>>Just FYI my AF GAIN is set to LO, and I still have plenty of gain. I'm
>>not
>>sure about the actual impedance of my Heils but I've never had any
>>problems
>>with a TS-930S, FT-1000MP, Orion or the K3. They were a little weak when
>>used with my K2 however.
>>
>>73, Bill
>>
>>--
>>View this message in context:
>>http://n2.nabble.com/K3---How-to-get-more-headphone-output.-tp1506562p1507314.html
>>Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Elecraft mailing list
>>Post to: [hidden email]
>>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>
>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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>

Joe Subich, W4TV-3

RE: OT: Older Heil earpiece elements

In reply to this post by Ken Kopp-3

The original ProSet elements had an impedance of 400 Ohms
(I have a pair of the transducers in my junk box). The
replacement elements are 200 Ohms (I opened the ProSet to
confirm).

The replacement was not free but the "ProSet Speaker" is
$4 each from Heil (check the Parts page at www.heilsound.com).

73,

... Joe, W4TV

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ken Kopp
> Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 1:19 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Older Heil earpiece elements
>
>
> I also can confirm that older Heil earpiece elements -do-
> deliver low audio. This was a problem with my FT-1000D and
> Heil had higher output replacements available. I don't
> recall if they were free of charge or not.
>
> 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
> [hidden email]
>

W0CP

Re: K3 - How to get more headphone output.

In reply to this post by W0CP

Update: I found a spare proset in the basement and, yes, the first one has lower output. So, my work around is to use the speaker jack on an external speaker for the low output types. I guess I'll order some new headphone elements from Heil. tnx for the tip...

Walt W0CP wrote

I've been disappointed with the audio output from my Heil proset headphones. I've got other headphones around that are more sensitive, but I like boom mic headphones. My external speaker is a Kenwood SP-940, which has a headphone jack on it. I just plugged in the phones and noticed a big increase in level . It appears that the front headphone jack isn't able to access all the power the af amp can provide.

I read in another post that the headphone output level is potentially programmable, like the line level output, for egs. I'd sure like to see that happen. It would open up the rig to a wider range of acceptable headsets

73, Walt W0CP