Good headset for radio use

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Luis Romoero

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Jun 2, 2025, 10:37:53 PM6/2/25
to TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
FYI, Bill N4WEB suggested I post this note to all of you after listening to me using a new headset on a Zoom call this evening.

A lot of you may remember that several years ago I recommended the Yamaha CM500 headset for use on both PC's and radio SSB/CW. 

Sadly, Yamaha, the OEM of the headset and Koss, who also markets the identical unit under a different brand and model, discontinued the CM500/SB45 headset over a year ago.

After trying many replacement candidates for the above, I have found one worthy of recommendation:

Amazon.com: Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset: 7.1 Surround Sound - 50mm Drivers - Memory Foam Cushion - For PC, PS4, PS5, Switch - 3.5mm Audio Jack - Black : Video Games

The BlackShark Version 2 not only fits your head with ear cups that are exactly the same as the RadioSport headsets at four times the price, but also have the best sounding mic capsule this side of the CM500.  It is well built and solid, designed to survive Teenager videogaming use.  One negative is that the mic is on a flexible boom and does not swivel, so if you like your mic on your right side, you are out of luck. 

Dont worry about the surround sound feature, its downloadable software and you dont need it anyway.

Other than that, it not only sounds great on transmit, but does a very good job of isolating room noise on receive without clamping your head like a vise like the Heil ProSets do.

I got mine on sale for $30.  Its now priced at under $50 depending on Prime and/or the "store" you buy it from. comes with adapters for both TRRS connections for newer PC's and Flex Maestro and Two TRS plugs for separate audio and mic sockets on PC's and stock transceiver use.  Note that the mic capsule is Electret Condenser, so it needs a Bias voltage from the radio and/or PC to use. Most modern radios have this capability in their mic sockets.

Tested to work fine on Flex Maestro, Elecraft K3, Icom 910 and Kenwood TS590 successfully through Heil 8 pin adapters.  Own a Yaesu?  You are on your own :)

Check it out!  If it doesnt work for you, you have 30 days to return it through Amazon!
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Lu Romero - W4LT

John

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Jun 3, 2025, 9:43:57 AM6/3/25
to Luis Romoero, TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Thanks Lu,

I bought the CM500 headset and they are nice

73'
John KB4FB XU7AES HS0ZEG 3W9FB XW4FB
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Lee Boulineau

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Jun 3, 2025, 10:18:48 AM6/3/25
to Luis Romoero, TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, John
If you can find an unused CM500, purchase it. When Lu and I originally ran the TS-590 as a Remote, that was our goto for a headset because it 1) worked very well and 2) didn't cost an arm or leg (much less both). Dave, K2LVY, figured out that the Koss SB45 had the same mic cartridge as the CM500 and gave us a second option. For those of us unwilling to part with gobs of cabbage for a headset, those were gold. 

Lu, I do have a question about the Razer set; how is the bass response on the mic? I remember having a nightmare with the TS-590 and a bassy mic in which any volume would send the ALC into  crisis mode....................

73,

Lee KX4TT



On Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 09:43:58 AM EDT, John <jwor...@gmail.com> wrote:


Thanks Lu,

I bought the CM500 headset and they are nice

73'
John KB4FB XU7AES HS0ZEG 3W9FB XW4FB
On 6/2/2025 22:37, Luis Romero wrote:

Luis Romoero

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Jun 3, 2025, 12:43:49 PM6/3/25
to Ed Caplan, TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, John, Lee Boulineau
This is a "new old stock" Yamaha CM500 and its fine.  Seen some as low as $35.

Again, great headset, and highly recommended. 

But if you cant find them, the Razer is just as good on transmit, and, frankly, better at noise isolation.  The CM500'd dont do much for in room noise isolation. You hear everything around you.

-lu-

Ed Caplan wrote on 6/3/2025 10:28 AM:
From: 'Lee Boulineau' via Tampa Amateur Radio Club (TARC) <ta...@hamclub.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 10:18 AM
To: Luis Romoero <lrom...@tampabay.rr.com>; TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <ta...@hamclub.org>; John <jwor...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [TARC] Good headset for radio use
 
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JACK

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Jun 3, 2025, 1:44:58 PM6/3/25
to TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, Luis Romoero
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Frank Ireland

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Jun 4, 2025, 4:02:03 PM6/4/25
to JACK, TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, Luis Romoero
What is a good headset for the Yaesu FT-710? It has a regular earphone jack (3.5mm) for receive and a modular (looks like an RJ-45) for the microphone.

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From: 'JACK' via Tampa Amateur Radio Club (TARC) <ta...@hamclub.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 1:45:03 PM
To: TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <ta...@hamclub.org>; Luis Romoero <lrom...@tampabay.rr.com>

Subject: Re: [TARC] Good headset for radio use

Luis Romoero

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Jun 4, 2025, 10:25:44 PM6/4/25
to Frank Ireland, JACK, TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Any of the ones we have discussed here.  You can get an adapter for the modular jack from Heil and others.

AD-1-YM Adapter Cable | Heil Ham Radio | Amateur Radio

This will then give you a 1/8 socket for the microphone and a 1/4 inch socket for the PTT footswitch.

Or you can build one from a network cable and some sockets following the mic pinout for the socket that is probably in your radio's manual.

Most "boomsets" now come with a 1/8inch stereo plug, so you just plug the hearing part into the radio's socket and the speaking part into the adaptor, adding the footswitch.  I recently purchased two very nice metal footswitches with cables but no termination from Amazon for $16. Solidly built metal footswitch.

NORJIN 2 Pack Foot Switch, 10A 250VAC Nonslip Momentary Foot Pedal Switch SPDT NO NC with 6.5FT Cable: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

  Add the appropriate 1/4 inch plug for the adapter, and you are good to go.

-lu-

Ed Caplan

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Jun 6, 2025, 8:27:30 AM6/6/25
to Luis Romoero, TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, John, Lee Boulineau
From: 'Lee Boulineau' via Tampa Amateur Radio Club (TARC) <ta...@hamclub.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 10:18 AM
To: Luis Romoero <lrom...@tampabay.rr.com>; TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <ta...@hamclub.org>; John <jwor...@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: [TARC] Good headset for radio use
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