What are whisper signals and how can I hear them?

[Jason in Enid]

The main thing you are looking for with headphones is that they have 100ohm or higher speaker impedance. This gives a much better quality sound. For example, cheap speaker have an impedance of 8 ohms.

As for the "whisper" targets..... either you were talking to a VERY old time, or someone just parroting what others have said or written. Modern detector do not "whisper". The computerized circuitry simply doesn't allow it. Very old, pre-computerized detectors, actually would give out only a whisper of a signal increase on very deep coins. Of course, those "very deep" coins were 6-8 inches, which is easily findable for most machines today.

 

[dewcon]

I agree Detector... those wires have to go. Id like to see that as the next REAL improvement for detectors.... there is no reason they cant with all the blue tooth and such out there. Also to add something to whispers... you have to stop listening to those surface sounds and slow down. If you have a depth meter try concentrating more on depth for awhile and you will notice a difference in the sounds. Some of the noise you think is ground noise isnt.... listen for the repeat and you will get the hang of it.

Dew

 

[randy]

those wires have to go. Id like to see that as the next REAL improvement for detectors.... there is no reason they cant with all the blue tooth and such out there.

Whites claims bluetooth was too slow when they did it, or at least that's what I recall reading. So they came up with their own. I never thought bluetooth would have a noticeable lag, but WDIK?

Bottom line, I think it added a bit to the cost, and that may be a problem for widespread adoption on lower end machines, but we'll see.

 

[Rudy]

Not all detectors are capable of producing whispers. Machines that run in silent search mode and or don't have audio modulation (ie. Beeps are always at full volume), do not make good whispering machines.

This might also be of help.
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=14711&page=2&highlight=understanding+sounds

 

[ohiochris]

Like Rudy said many detectors wont whisper , with maybe a few possible exceptions you really need to be able to manually adjust your ground balance , and sensitivity , and another control I cant remember the name of at the moment where you set the background hum of the machine so that you can just barely hear it and then you can actually find deep or small targets by just a slight change in the hum. There is a name for that on the tip of my tongue but for some reason its escaping me right now.

Most of the newer low end machines just give a one size fits all beep or tone but wont "whisper"

 

[Rudy]

Like Rudy said many detectors wont whisper , with maybe a few possible exceptions you really need to be able to manually adjust your ground balance , and sensitivity , and another control I cant remember the name of at the moment where you set the background hum of the machine so that you can just barely hear it and then you can actually find deep or small targets by just a slight change in the hum. There is a name for that on the tip of my tongue but for some reason its escaping me right now.

Most of the newer low end machines just give a one size fits all beep or tone but wont "whisper"

Threshold? http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=15979&highlight=understanding+volume

 

[Jason in Enid]

Like Rudy said many detectors wont whisper , with maybe a few possible exceptions you really need to be able to manually adjust your ground balance , and sensitivity , and another control I cant remember the name of at the moment where you set the background hum of the machine so that you can just barely hear it and then you can actually find deep or small targets by just a slight change in the hum. There is a name for that on the tip of my tongue but for some reason its escaping me right now.

Most of the newer low end machines just give a one size fits all beep or tone but wont "whisper"

The term you are searching for is "threshold".

 

[ohiochris]

Yep, threshold....its been a while since I used the term and a while since I had a detector with that ability. thanks

 

[Monkeywrangler2]

The think I don't like about headphones is if you use both earpieces, you cannot hear what is going on around you well. Situational awareness takes a huge nosedive.

While I do plan to get some sort of earbud/earphones, I will only use one side. I like to know who/what may be coming up behind me.