Headphones? Me?
Oh yeah! I didn't use them with my first (cheap Radio Shack) detector. Then I used my BH 840 several days before using headphones. What a difference! I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't want to use them. Yes, some cover the ears and cancel out almost all of the surrounding sounds. I used to wear some that really cancelled out the sounds around me; but I was hunting in a school yard with no one around except maybe my friend with his BH. Now, I use light-weight headphones that let me hear most of the surrounding sounds; but I still get great sounds from the detector. They are not cumbersome, don't seem to heat my ears much in summer. I can put them on and wear a toboggan, knit, stocking, (what ever you call them) cap over them for warmth in the winter. I try to get headphones that have at least a 5' cord (leads). I can lay the detector down and not have to unplug the earphones while digging. I hate the short cords because I jerk them around enough that they don't last long. I could unplug them; but then the detector can sound thru the speaker. I could turn the detector off while the 'phones are unplugged; but then I'd have to retune it. I'm not sure if unplugging the phones, but leaving the adapter plugged in would cause any strain of the detector or not. (A lot of electronic equipment is not to be used with speakers or headphones.) Also, if the cord is long enough to cause trouble, I just fold it until I have the length I want and put a tie-wrap, rubber band, etc. on it. It works great for me.