Got The Headphone Trifecta, Which One Do I Like?

[F350Platinum]

Hey y'all, 

Let me start this by saying the opinions you read in this post are mine.

Now I'll give ya some resumé: 

I've played in rock bands for many years, from 50s and 60s to loud heavy metal, I've even seen Styx twice, had my ears ring for three days after each show, and I still pass hearing tests with flying colors. I've been to 100s of concerts.

I'm no stranger to high end audio and studio quality headphones. Basically I can hear a mouse fart in a coliseum, and no tones are lost to me. 😁 I think my eardrums are probably steel.

Since I got the Manticore, I've used the ML105 headphones, and they're fine, but get in the wind on a cold day and the wind goes right through the earcups, they wheeze and whistle, and you can't hear your targets. They're great for calm days, and with an ocean breeze they aren't too bad when it's hot. They give you situational awareness which I heartily endorse.

They are loud, you even find yourself turning down the volume, they have great dynamic response. They are by far the best sounding headphones for the Manticore that I have.

But...

Get them wet and they're toast. Go out in a high wind and you're toast. 🤔

That's where the Killer B Thresher headphones come in, Thresher was bought out by the Killer B company.

They are waterproof to over 100', they're tough, well made, have a nice long cable and high quality wires and hardware. Somewhere I read that Killer B upgraded the drivers, and while they sound "canny" and thin, they do deliver some pretty decent volume especially because they are compatible with the Manticore "Underwater Volume Boost", which puts you about where the ML105 headphones are with loudness, just a much "thinner" sound. I bought them for water use.

A few days ago I found out that Killer B makes a wireless set for Minelab, even uses their wireless tech so there is no lag, and no additional transmitter is required. 

They pair as quickly as the 105s, you hold the red button in to enter pairing mode, put the Manticore in pairing mode, and a couple seconds later they're connected. I think they are using the same circuit for wireless as Minelab does under license. 

They have real leather covered earcups and headband, they're comfortable, have well made components and they block out about 90% of outside noise. I bought them to use on cold windy days.

The similarity to the ML105 headphones ends, however. Again, these headphones have a thin "canny" sound, their dynamic range doesn't come close to the 105s. If it did these would be perfect, as it is I'll probably only use them for cold windy days after hunting season, and maybe early beach mornings if it's windy. They are also not loud. You have to turn the Manticore volume all the way up. 

Another thing I find a bit trifling is the intense multicolor LED on them, it blinks like a runway beacon. 🫤

Honestly, I think I will keep all three, I like that I don't have to charge the Threshers. Each has its merit and use. 

For most detecting I do I'll probably use the ML105 headphones, they sound great and are extremely comfortable. For the rest of relic season I may use the Killer B's.

I am also looking at a way to use my Creative Jams, they are light and great when it's really hot. I have a solution but again they aren't loud, despite their internal volume and bass boost. Most APTX-LL transmitters don't have inline volume. 🫤

🍀

[Caliche]

Good to know about the Killer B's, was about to order a pair.  Hopefully there's a V2.0 that's better.

[F350Platinum]

7 minutes ago, Caliche said:

Good to know about the Killer B's, was about to order a pair.  Hopefully there's a V2.0 that's better.

If there is I'll jump on it. Structurally the wireless B's are superior to all of them albeit kinda heavy. I really hated to write that but it's the truth from my foxhole. 🫤

The Threshers have sort of crappy audio, but I would expect that from drivers that are totally waterproof. The nice thing is the Manticore's ability to "Pump Up The Jams" with wired headphones.

[Ripcode]

Good to know about the waterproof Thresher headphones. I was thinking of trying them as I have the waterproof Minelab headphones and they hurt my head.  

[F350Platinum]

8 minutes ago, Ripcode said:

Good to know about the waterproof Thresher headphones. I was thinking of trying them as I have the waterproof Minelab headphones and they hurt my head.  

I've read that elsewhere, how is the audio? The Threshers are "acceptable". 🙂 You also have the option of Gray Ghost headphones, but the wireless version requires a transmitter.

I'm working on a solution to use wired bone conduction headphones, that's coming soon good or bad. I will also discuss other wireless options.

I wrote the Killer B folks asking them why the audio on my wireless set is poor. 

[Ripcode]

13 minutes ago, F350Platinum said:

I've read that elsewhere, how is the audio? The Threshers are "acceptable". 🙂 You also have the option of Gray Ghost headphones, but the wireless version requires a transmitter.

I'm working on a solution to use wired bone conduction headphones, that's coming soon good or bad. I will also discuss other wireless options.

I wrote the Killer B folks asking them why the audio on my wireless set is poor. 

The audio on the Minelab headphones are fine.  The unpadded crossbar presses into the top of my head and hurts after a while, even when wearing a hat.  

[1491]

I also use Thresher headphones (X-Terra Elite) and agree with the 'thin' audio (compared to the rich tones on my Gray Ghost paired with ETrac). But the Thresher audio is pretty good, where I don't feel like my signals and dig / no dig decisions are compromised. In high wind, the Threshers also have some resulting whistling and tinny sounds. Part is due to fit, I have a small head (but I assure you, quite smart!). I can remedy that by wearing a Buff or beanie over the Threshers. If conditions permit, I like to go 'Au Naturel' (without headphones, in the style of phrunt).

[GB_Amateur]

17 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

(The Killer B's for the Manticore) ...have a thin "canny" sound, their dynamic range doesn't come close to the 105s.

This is surprising.  I thought Killer B's have a good reputation.  (Pretty sure they are the only brand of headphones Gerry sells.)

Does @Chase Goldman have a set of general use Killer B's that you can try mated with his WM09?  I've been pleased with the performance of my WM09+Sunray-Pro-Golds.  I don't notice any degradation compared to the ML105's, but my ears aren't as discriminating as yours.

[F350Platinum]

1 hour ago, 1491 said:

I also use Thresher headphones (X-Terra Elite) and agree with the 'thin' audio (compared to the rich tones on my Gray Ghost paired with ETrac). But the Thresher audio is pretty good, where I don't feel like my signals and dig / no dig decisions are compromised. In high wind, the Threshers also have some resulting whistling and tinny sounds. Part is due to fit, I have a small head (but I assure you, quite smart!). I can remedy that by wearing a Buff or beanie over the Threshers. If conditions permit, I like to go 'Au Naturel' (without headphones, in the style of phrunt).

Thanks for the corroboration, 1491. 🙂

The Killer B wireless seem to have the same speakers as the Threshers, but don't enjoy the volume boost from the Manticore, which only works with wired headphones. They both sound to me like a cheap speaker in a plastic cup. 😬 That might be a better description than "canny" 🤔

I understand the use in the Threshers as I wrote before, but the same speaker should not be in the more expensive wireless headphones. I have reached out to them, it was a pretty big disappointment. 🥲