Best Headphones for Ham Radio -Ham Radio Planet

A good pair of headphones could change your entire approach to Ham radio. If there is one thing Ham radio enthusiasts run into a ton, it’s difficulty making out what the person on the other side of the mic is saying.

It’s also a matter of privacy. If you’ve made QSO and you don’t want everybody in your house listening to your entire conversation, headphones are the answer. Last but not least, it helps to bleed out all of the extraneous noise.

It’s especially helpful if you have kids or dogs and they’re making a ton of racket in the background. Whether it comes with a boom mic or not, you would be surprised at how many headphones out there have active or passive noise-canceling technology.

Yamaha CM500 Headset with Mic

Yamaha manufactures more than just motorcycles and engines. The Yamaha CM500 are high-impact headphones, which basically means that you can drop them a bunch and they’ll be just fine.

The best feature about them is the “ultra-flexible” headband. It’s hard to find a good pair of headphones that aren’t too restrictive as they press in on your head. It goes without saying that Ham radio enthusiasts spend a good deal of time on their rigs so comfort is essential.

The frequency response runs from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a 100 Hz to 20 kHz mic range. They’re also noise-reducing. However, it’s not active noise reduction but passive noise reduction, meaning the materials in the headphone’s design are sound resistant.

Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone

When it comes to audio technology, Sony knows its business, with a wide range of over-the-ear headphones and earbuds, both wireless and wired. The MDR7506 features a closed-ear design and contains a 40mm driver.

The frequency response ranges from 10 Hz to 20 kHz and it has a sensitivity of up to 106 dB. Sony’s MDR7506 Headphones are very comfortable so you can wear them for long periods without experiencing any discomfort.

When you’re not using them, they feature a collapsible design for easy portability and storage. The closed-ear design creates an atmosphere all its own and is a highly popular feature in the music recording industry.

Bose QuietComfort 35 Series 2 Gaming Headset

Don’t let the word “gaming” throw you off. Bose’s QuietComfort Series is robust and the 35 Series 2 is no exception in terms of Bose’s commitment to quality and comfort. You can use these in wired or wireless mode, though for Ham radio use, the wired option is the better bet.

The active noise-canceling technology is high-level and nearly seals you off entirely from the world around you. They’re also lightweight and feature a high degree of long-term comfort. The boom mic is completely detachable so you don’t need to have it in the way if all you’re doing is listening.

Last but not least, the mic features noise-rejecting technology, so only your voice matters, with all of the background noise around you remaining in the background.

JLab Play Gaming Wireless Headset

If you’re looking for a good Ham radio headset but can’t afford to break the bank, the JLab Play Gaming Headset is a perfect choice. You’ll get a minimum of 22 hours of use using Bluetooth 5 technology and JLab’s Play also features a 10-minute, rapid charge time.

If you don’t prefer to use wireless, the headset also features an optional AUX cable for lower latency. The boom mic is retractable and stays out of the way when not in use. The quick mute button is also convenient when you don’t intend to use it or accidentally broadcast your voice.

Though it’s manufactured primarily for gaming purposes, JLab’s Play headphones fit right in for Ham radio use because of their premium design and features. Although it doesn’t feature ANC (Active Noise-Canceling), it’s designed with passive noise canceling using materials that naturally absorb/deflect outside sound waves.

Contents

1 All Things Considered

2 References

All Things Considered

Some of the headphones on this list are gaming headphones, which makes them perfectly suited for Ham radio use thanks to their low latency, active and passive noise-cancelation, and long-term comfort.

If you spend a lot of time in front of your Ham rig, comfort is one of the highest priorities with quality and functionality bringing up the rear. These headphones with boom mics provide all of that, along with additional features to boost their effectiveness.