Jump to content
Website Rollback - Latest Updates ×

Minelab Wireless Headphone Poll - Equinox, Vanquish Pro Pack, & GPX 6000 Owners


Minelab Wireless Headphone Poll  

84 members have voted

  1. 1. If you own a Minelab Equinox, Vanquish Pro Pack, or GPX 6000, please choose the one response below that most accurately describes your headphone usage while detecting. Not all the ways you employ audio, simply what you use most of the time.

    • I use the Minelab ML80 or ML100 headphones wirelessly
      34
    • I use the ML80 or ML100 headphones connected to the detector via a cable
      1
    • I use the Minelab WM08 High Speed Wireless Module with attached headphones or speaker(s)
      9
    • I use the built in speaker
      10
    • I use third party APTX-LL Low latency wireless headphones
      12
    • I use third party regular Bluetooth wireless headphones, not worried about APTX-LL
      1
    • I use a third party wireless speaker or speakers (do not include WM08 options here)
      4
    • I use some other Minelab wired headphones (not ML80 or ML100)
      1
    • I use third party wired headphones
      12


Recommended Posts

I use the WM08 module exclusively.  It gives the widest range of headset choice and has the lowest latency of any wireless option.  I take advantage of both of these features.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


On 9/29/2021 at 8:35 AM, Steve Herschbach said:

These poll results will be seen at Minelab, in hope of guiding future product development.

 

I bit the hook and answered the poll...but as I circle the bait once again my inquiring mind wants to know why minelab cares? are they actually considering making better quality head phones/wireless devices for their machines or are they considering doing away with the included wireless headphones entirely with their metal detectors and making them an accessory option from now on? ....after all  they are a business and want low cost with max profit ratios and if they find that enough users wont even bother to  use the provided wireless head phones why include them? They have already seen how much money they can save by not including an owners manual with their machines...Just a thought...what are they thinking now? ? 

strick 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, strick said:

I bit the hook and answered the poll...but as I circle the bait once again my inquiring mind wants to know why minelab cares? are they actually considering making better quality head phones/wireless devices for their machines or are they considering doing away with the included wireless headphones entirely with their metal detectors and making them an accessory option from now on? ....after all  they are a business and want low cost with max profit ratios and if they find that enough users wont even bother to  use the provided wireless head phones why include them? They have already seen how much money they can save by not including an owners manual with their machines...Just a thought...what are they thinking now? ? 

strick 

If they are smart, they are considering all options, driven by customer feedback. If nobody uses included headphones, why include them? If lots of people do, then invest in making them better. They better care either way… delivering customer “wants”, in the long run, divides the winner from the losers in business.

Some people do want a detector to include good headphones. Personally, I use and appreciate both the ML80 and ML100. My other headphones have effectively been retired. Others say they are no good, and a waste of development time and money best used on the detectors themselves.

Personally, while I think the general audio market is moving to an aftermarket headphone standard (think Apple phone no longer including anything), there is something to be said for being able to buy a detector in a box with everything you need. I was out park detecting yesterday, and grabbed my four year old prototype ML80s, getting pretty beat up, but still working fine for me. I prefer the ML100 for nugget detecting, but am vain enough to not want to look like Mickey Mouse in a park, so go the ML80 for a lower profile look.

I’m weird on audio I guess. I insist on running full tones and hot for max audio feedback, but I’m not terribly picky on how the audio gets to my ear. A poster mentioned how people using the external speaker are missing 20% of finds. I disagree. If I can hear the threshold, I can hear it, whether it’s via headphone or speaker. When I’m in a quiet location, I more and more am using the built in speaker, and with GPX 6000 it gets used a lot. My main complaint is when I get on ground waving scoop over coil, now the speaker is well behind me, so harder to hear. And it does reduce battery run time. But while detecting my ear is as fixed on that threshold either way, headphone or external speaker, and I’m confident I’m not losing 20% of my gold by using the external speaker. That’s just a made up number with zero evidence to back it up. Then again, I’d agree headphones is the superior way to go as a general rule, and will never argue with somebody insisting on using headphones all the time. Just be careful about getting all superior about it. :smile:

Park detecting, it’s as much about keeping others from not hearing my detector, as it is about me hearing it. I always use headphones even in a quiet park location for that very reason. Overall I still employ headphones most of the time, but the 6000 did change my past insistence on always using headphones. I know JP hates the external speaker, and much gets made of how it causes EMI issues, etc. For some reason I’m happily using mine sans headphones, and quite enjoying it. Go figure. I think the 6000 for me became freedom, freedom from harness, bungees, power cords, covers, and yes, even headphones. Just grab and go…. I love it!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As for the poll, I like the Minelab headphones that came with my 800, and since I use it slightly more on land than in the water, I just answered the poll reflecting that use. I also use some Tony Eisenhower waterproof headphones when I'm in the water, and like those very much too. That use, and with the Excalibur is the only time I use wired headphones these days.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use two from external brands and those from Minelab, and the ones that take the longest to connect are the original Minelab ones, I really don't know why.  With the other two, it is to turn it on and they connect instantly and with the original I have had to reset the detector several times to be able to connect it

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would love to see Minelab make a real nice pair of wireless earbuds. That would be my go to all the time over the headphones. They are to hot normally

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, cudamark said:

As for the poll, I like the Minelab headphones that came with my 800, and since I use it slightly more on land than in the water, I just answered the poll reflecting that use. I also use some Tony Eisenhower waterproof headphones when I'm in the water, and like those very much too. That use, and with the Excalibur is the only time I use wired headphones these days.

I was not even thinking about underwater use, and the fact that requires wired headphones. Like you, I have Tony's and like them a lot. Guess that could have made for another answer, but instead i guess it will get lumped in with the wired option. I don't think that was really what they were aiming for in this particular question anyway. More about above water and what people are doing there.

It's not like Minelab spends a lot of development time on headphones in most cases. The ML80s were just a branded third party item. Not sure about the ML100. It's those proprietary high speed modules where they are actually putting some money into making a product, and I can't see that lasting, as Bluetooth will eventually be so fast nobody cares anymore. Many uses do not worry about lag, like music listening, but there are other markets where it is a big deal, like gaming.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would really like to have a headphone and a wm12 with the jbl external speaker. I would have the ability to hear the threshold well enough with the jbl speaker when working alone and have headphones when working around others. The headphone I’d prefer could allow only one side to work or both sides so I could hear the wildlife ?.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I prefer good quality headphones. The original Nox 800 wireless headphones still work fine and I think they are good quality. I’m using a new pair now and keep the originals as back up. For the water I have Tony’s as well.  Using  the supplied headphones for the 6000 this weekend they seem to let a lot of external noise in from rubbing and scraping the coil on the ground and brush...having headphones that completely go over the ears would eliminate that.  Nugget hunting is different then coin and jewelry hunting and for me I’d rather just concentrate on the humming of the threshold without external noise disturbances...it’s impossible to make everyone happy as people are very picky with their hearing preferences.. I prefer to go wireless if possible 

 

strick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...