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headphones for k3 / kx1

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Gary Lee-2

headphones for k3 / kx1

Been reading with interest the discussion on phones for the kx1. I would
like a good set, but not in ear types. Never been able to find a set of
earbuds that will stay in and be comfortable. So, any suggestions of non
earbuds would be helpful.
Thanks for the help.

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Brett Howard

Re: headphones for k3 / kx1

A fairly decent pair of cans that can be had for a quite inexpensive
price is the Sennheiser HD 201. For slightly more the HD205 will
produce a set of cans with better low frequency response. The 205

The HD201's are rated at 108dB/V where as the HD205 is 112. However the
impedance of the HD205's is higher.

These are two decent choices that are fairly inexpensive. Many of the
higher quality full sized headphones a quite inefficient and are
probably not going to provide satisfactory volume levels when coupled
with the KX1.

However being that you mention the K3 you'll want to either ensure you
use higher impedance headphones or ensure that you change the series
caps in the headphone circuit from 10uF to 100uF. This change makes a
lot of difference in low end response of the K3. It was VERY noticable
when I made the change to my rig. I have the Mouser part number of the
cap that I used which fits directly onto the pads on the Main DSP board.
However note that it is quite difficult to get the original parts off
cleanly.

~Brett

On Sun, 2009-08-23 at 20:43 -0400, Gary Lee wrote:

> Been reading with interest the discussion on phones for the kx1. I would
> like a good set, but not in ear types. Never been able to find a set of
> earbuds that will stay in and be comfortable. So, any suggestions of non
> earbuds would be helpful.
> Thanks for the help.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> 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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P.B. Christensen

Re: headphones for k3 / kx1

> However being that you mention the K3 you'll want to either ensure you
> use higher impedance headphones or ensure that you change the series
> caps in the headphone circuit from 10uF to 100uF.

Not too many high-end headphones will be available with an average Z of more
than 100 ohms across the audio spectrum. With the stock 10uF caps in the
K3, one would need to find a set in the area of 200-ohms or so to extract
decent low-end response. When you get up in that Z range, the available
headphone options quickly diminish.

Several SMD replacement caps exist for the K3's headphone coupling caps at
C9, and C13, but Mouser P/N 647-UUD1A101MCL (made by Nichicon) is a good
choice at only 65-cents each.

Paul, W9AC

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K7TV

Re: headphones for k3 / kx1

In reply to this post by Gary Lee-2

Gary,

The ones I just bought (see previous post) enter the outer cavity of the ear
but I wouldn't call them earbuds because they they hang on they outer ear
like reading glasses. As such they don't press on the wall of the outer ear
cavity and are therefore very comfortable to me. They also don't at all
prevent ambient sounds from entering the ear.

73,
Erik K7TV

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Lee" <[hidden email]>
To: "elecraft list" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 5:43 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] headphones for k3 / kx1

> Been reading with interest the discussion on phones for the kx1. I would
> like a good set, but not in ear types. Never been able to find a set of
> earbuds that will stay in and be comfortable. So, any suggestions of non
> earbuds would be helpful.
> Thanks for the help.
>

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Brett Howard

Re: headphones for k3 / kx1

In reply to this post by P.B. Christensen

Agreed its VERY tough to find a set of headphones that meets the K3
requirements.

This last field day I'd not yet changed my caps out and so I brought
along a headphone amplifier that had an input impedance of 18Kohms and
used that to drive my headphones.

For another point of reference the caps that I installed in my K3 are
Mouser part number: 871-B41112A3107M000. The only annoyance is that
they start shipping the Mouser catalog. I thought it was annoying
enough getting them at work.... But now I get them at home too. ;)

~Brett

On Sun, 2009-08-23 at 22:23 -0400, Paul Christensen wrote:

> > However being that you mention the K3 you'll want to either ensure you
> > use higher impedance headphones or ensure that you change the series
> > caps in the headphone circuit from 10uF to 100uF.
>
> Not too many high-end headphones will be available with an average Z of more
> than 100 ohms across the audio spectrum. With the stock 10uF caps in the
> K3, one would need to find a set in the area of 200-ohms or so to extract
> decent low-end response. When you get up in that Z range, the available
> headphone options quickly diminish.
>
> Several SMD replacement caps exist for the K3's headphone coupling caps at
> C9, and C13, but Mouser P/N 647-UUD1A101MCL (made by Nichicon) is a good
> choice at only 65-cents each.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
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.k8dd.-2

Re: headphones for k3 / kx1

In reply to this post by P.B. Christensen

I've been real happy with Sennheiser PC350 headset/boom mike.
Features
* Noise isolationg earcups
* Noise cancelling microphone
* E.A.R. system for critical location of audio cues
* Replaceable earpads
* Connects to PC soundcard via dual 3.5mm jacks

Technical Data
Cable length 9.8 ft. (3 m)
Connector Two 1/8�?� / 3.5 mm plug
Distortion < 0.1%
Frequency response 10 Hz �?? 26,000 Hz
Frequency response 50 Hz . 16,000 Hz
Headphone Around-the-ear, closed
Impedance 150 Ω
Pick-up Pattern Noise cancelling
Sensitivity 108 dBSPL
Sensitivity -38 dBV at 94 dBSPL
Speaker data Dynamic, 38 mm, Nd magnet

Not exactly the 200 or so that I guess the K3 wants to see, but close
and they are very much more comfortable than the Proset's or JBL's,
even after 4 or 7 hours in front of the K3.
MSRP is over $200 but with some looking and searching you can find them
for around $150.

73 Hank K8DD

Paul Christensen wrote: