Headphones
Over the years I have heard just about every reason why you don't need or shouldn't use headphones. And no, I'm not falling for the rattlesnake one. You are waving a loop in front of you every where you walk. After 47 years of detecting, I have yet to be bit by a rattlesnake. I feel that headphones are a required accessory for the detector. I will try to explain my reasons why. I will also touch on what makes a good set of headphones.
Why they are a must
It takes a lot less power to run the small speakers in the headphones. This will give you a lot more batteries life.
It allows you to turn down your background single. This allows you to hear the very faint targets. Most of the gold you find will be a faint target.
A good set of headphones will eliminate most of the background noise (streams, cars, talking). This will increase the very faint targets you will hear.
They will eliminate a lot of the distractions, this will allow you to concentrate on your detecting.
What to look for when buying headphones
Comfort
This is very important, you will be wearing them for hours on end. If they are too small and push against your ears, your ears will be very sore after a few hours. You can't concentrate on your detecting if your in pain.
Rugged
They are going to get abused. They will be stuffed in a pack with sharp tools. They will get hung up on the brush and pulled off your head. You will drop them on the rocks or in the creek. They have to be built well or they won't last long.
Repairable
Headphones that come with a detachable cord are a defiant plus. It seems like the cord is what always breaks. After a few ruined trips because of broken cords, I always carry a spare cord with me now.
Volume Control
A volume control on the headphones allow you to turn the detectors volume up to the loudest it can go, and then turn the headphones down to where you can stand the very large targets. This gives you the most out of the volume available on the very faint targets.
A lot of the new detectors don't come with a volume control.
If your like me and have one ear that hears better than the other, get headphones with separate volume controls. It helps a lot when you can hear equality in both ears.
Different Seasons
I like full solid ear cups in the winter, it helps to keep my ears warm. In the spring and fall as long as it doesn't get to hot, they work fine. During the summer I switch over to the clip on or ear buds. You are unable to hear as well, but they have a couple of advantages. They are much cooler and allow me to wear a large broad brimmed hat if in the full sun.
Impedance
I have noticed over the many different type of headphones I have owned, headphones that have 32 or lower ohms don't have that crisp sound you need for nugget hunting. I feel you need to be in the 100 to 150 range, they just have a sharper sound.
Cord Length
The cord is a pain! To short and you can't set the detector down. Too long and it gets caught on everything. I have found a 6 or 7 foot coiled cord ( 6 or 7 feet pulled straight ) works about the best. I wouldn't go shorter than 5 foot.
Price
With headphones being such a important part of your detector, don't pick up the first thing that comes along or settle for the free set that comes with the detector ( they are fine for back ups). Do the research. Match your headphones to the type of detecting you're going to do. Don't let price be your first concern. Pick the ones that work best for you and your detector, then you can look for the best price. The way I look at it , what it cost for fuel to drive up to where the gold is and back, is about what a good set of headphones cost. Why not maximize your odds of getting gold while up there.
Why they are a must
It takes a lot less power to run the small speakers in the headphones. This will give you a lot more batteries life.
It allows you to turn down your background single. This allows you to hear the very faint targets. Most of the gold you find will be a faint target.
A good set of headphones will eliminate most of the background noise (streams, cars, talking). This will increase the very faint targets you will hear.
They will eliminate a lot of the distractions, this will allow you to concentrate on your detecting.
What to look for when buying headphones
Comfort
This is very important, you will be wearing them for hours on end. If they are too small and push against your ears, your ears will be very sore after a few hours. You can't concentrate on your detecting if your in pain.
Rugged
They are going to get abused. They will be stuffed in a pack with sharp tools. They will get hung up on the brush and pulled off your head. You will drop them on the rocks or in the creek. They have to be built well or they won't last long.
Repairable
Headphones that come with a detachable cord are a defiant plus. It seems like the cord is what always breaks. After a few ruined trips because of broken cords, I always carry a spare cord with me now.
Volume Control
A volume control on the headphones allow you to turn the detectors volume up to the loudest it can go, and then turn the headphones down to where you can stand the very large targets. This gives you the most out of the volume available on the very faint targets.
A lot of the new detectors don't come with a volume control.
If your like me and have one ear that hears better than the other, get headphones with separate volume controls. It helps a lot when you can hear equality in both ears.
Different Seasons
I like full solid ear cups in the winter, it helps to keep my ears warm. In the spring and fall as long as it doesn't get to hot, they work fine. During the summer I switch over to the clip on or ear buds. You are unable to hear as well, but they have a couple of advantages. They are much cooler and allow me to wear a large broad brimmed hat if in the full sun.
Impedance
I have noticed over the many different type of headphones I have owned, headphones that have 32 or lower ohms don't have that crisp sound you need for nugget hunting. I feel you need to be in the 100 to 150 range, they just have a sharper sound.
Cord Length
The cord is a pain! To short and you can't set the detector down. Too long and it gets caught on everything. I have found a 6 or 7 foot coiled cord ( 6 or 7 feet pulled straight ) works about the best. I wouldn't go shorter than 5 foot.
Price
With headphones being such a important part of your detector, don't pick up the first thing that comes along or settle for the free set that comes with the detector ( they are fine for back ups). Do the research. Match your headphones to the type of detecting you're going to do. Don't let price be your first concern. Pick the ones that work best for you and your detector, then you can look for the best price. The way I look at it , what it cost for fuel to drive up to where the gold is and back, is about what a good set of headphones cost. Why not maximize your odds of getting gold while up there.