Agreed, the SB-45 is excellent. The electret mic seems to be the same as the one used in the Koss CS-100, which has proved to work very well indeed with the K3/S and a number of other rigs. Once the EQ, Compressor and Noise Gate have been set up correctly, the same mic also suits a wide range of voices and attracts favourable comments for both ragchewing and contesting.
Beyond that, it's merely a personal choice between styles of headphones. I prefer the closed-cup style of the SB-45 while my wife prefers the lightweight on-ear style of the CS-100; but otherwise they are interchangeable. Definitely recommended. 73 from Ian GM3SEK -----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dave Hachadorian Sent: 28 December 2015 23:40 To: Reflector Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 comments on Koss SB45 headsets It's quite a coincidence that you asked about the Koss SB-45, because I just got one for Christmas! Mine is the one with 3.5mm connectors, not the USB version. I also have a CM-500. I was going to post a review here after wearing the SB-45 all next weekend in the RTTY Roundup, but here are my first impressions. The microphone quality is fine. The SB-45 needed about 3 dB more boost in TX EQ #4 to sound like the CM-500. The mic is an electret. Do not confuse this unit with the SB-40, which has a dynamic mic, and apparently doesn’t sound so good. The audio out of the headphones is also fine, just as good and loud and distortion-free as the CM-500, at least for communications use. I haven't tried either headset on music. I wore them for 1.5 hours on a long-winded net this morning, and they were totally comfortable over that time period. I do wear eyeglasses. People on the net said the audio sounded just like the CM-500. I'll give a better long-term comfort report after the RTTY Roundup. The cord is nice and long, and the mic and headphone wires can be separated easily to go to different places, after cutting a little rubber thingie that keeps them together. My mic goes to the back of a computer on the floor, and my headphones go to an SO2R box on the table. The SB45 is around $25 on Amazon, compared to $55 for the CM-500. I think this headset is going to be a keeper, but I’ll give a long term comfort report next week. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -----Original Message----- From: Gary Gregory Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 3:26 PM To: Elecraft List Subject: [Elecraft] K3 comments on Koss SB45 headsets Seasons greetings one and all. Has anyone used/using the Koss SB45 headsets on their K3? I have the CM-500 and I am on my second set but again the padding is starting to deteriorate so before they look too ratty, figured I would get a backup and as the CM500 are not available in VK but the Koss SB45 are, I would appreciate any comments/advice the list may offer. Just to let you all know, I love my Yamaha cm500 BUT, shipping cost from the US is really quite ridiculous these days and the AUD has fallen off a cliff and the parachute failed to open...:-) The Koss SB45 are $69.00 AUD, free shipping. I like free...:-) TIA 73 Gary -- *Gary - VK1ZZ, K3NHLSkype: Gary.VK1ZZhttp://www.qsl.net/vk1zz <http://www.qsl.net/vk1zz>Motorhome Portable* *Miss Behavin'* *Elecraft K3KPA500FT #18KAT500FT #007* ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
