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Reviews For: Heil Pro Set 3 Stereo Headphones

Category: Headphones & Boom-microphone Headsets

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Review Summary For : Heil Pro Set 3 Stereo Headphones
Reviews: 17MSRP: $109
Description:
stereo compact headphones
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.heilsound.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00173.6
WB5AGF Rating: 2022-07-20
Reasonably good headphones (see discussion) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
(originally reviewed on June 7, 2022; updated July 20, 2022)

(I've owned a pair of Heil Pro-Set 3 Headphones for probably 4 or 5 years but originally thought that they sounded so bad ('boomy') that I 'put-them-away' (I was irritated at myself for having bought them).

Back around Christmas (late 2021) I decided to see if I could reduce the 'boomy-ness' of the Pro-Set 3s to where they would be usable.

When I took the headphones apart (removed the transducers from their housings) what I found surprised me. There was no sound-deadening material behind them (just a small empty space).

I resorted to a 'solution' from my childhood (long ago) when I needed to dampen the Tupperware bowl (from my mother's kitchen) that I was going to use as a 'speaker-case' for the speaker from our old RCA TV (to use with my Lafayette HE-30 Shortwave Receiver).

In-a-pinch kitchen paper towels will (to some degree) dampen sound reverberations in small enclosures.

For my 'revision' work on my Pro-Set 3 Headphones I took a paper towel and experimentally tore a piece off that was sized so that, when crumpled-up, it would fill the space behind the headphone's transducer but still allowed the transducer to fit snugly into the earpiece housing.

I did that to both earpieces and then put the headphones back together. When I tested them I was pleasantly surprised .... it actually worked (many of my ideas are not so successful). The Pro-Set 3s now sound pretty good. In listening tests, comparing them to a couple of fairly well thought-of Sony headphones (MDR-V6 and MDR-7506), the Pro-Set 3s did reasonably well (they show pronounced, though smooth, enhanced bass response).

(updated 20 July 2022)
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In my original product review I concluded by commenting on what I felt were inadequately sized ear-pads, saying that I found the headphones uncomfortable to wear for more than a few minutes if I had my glasses on.

Just yesterday I received in-the-mail a couple of 'Geekria' replacement ear-pads for some Sony headphones that I've been working on.

A few days ago I had removed the 'stock' ear-pads on the Pro Set 3 Headphones to get a good look at the front of the ear-piece housings (with the driver/speaker inside). Heil has made an effort with the Pro Set 3 to have an elegant mechanical design. With the ear-pads removed what is seen is an aluminum ring (machined or cast I don't know) roughly 3.15 inches across (with the driver visible in the center).

When I received the replacement Geekria ear-pads yesterday I pulled-out my 6-inch rule to see how wide an opening was on the larger ear-pads (intended for an older pair of Sony MDR-v600 Headphones). What I found was that the ear-pads appeared to be close-enough in-size to what would be needed to mount on the Heil Pro Set 3 Headphones ... so I gave-it-a-try.

Not only did the Geekria ear-pads mount on the Heil Pro Set 3 Headphones but they looked 'right'.

I tried the headphones out, listening to several music selections, and was quite pleased; they sounded good and were comfortable.

With the new Geekria ear-pads installed the Heil Pro Set 3 Headphones are now of the 'over-the-ears' style instead of their original 'on-the-ears' design.

(I'm finished with my work on the Heil Pro Set 3 Headphones for now.)
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(signed)
Paul, WB5AGF
K6LCS Rating: 2022-01-25
Excellent quality, lightweight, comfortable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use these during my Zoom presentations - usually about two hours at a time. VERY comfortable and lightweight. Audio quality is excellent. Totally pleased with this purchase.
W5EIT Rating: 2020-12-08
Really wanted to like these Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Like others here, I think the sound from these headphones is great, but they were very uncomfortable, both on the ears and on the top of my head. I couldn't wear them for more than about 10 minutes. Perhaps my wife will have better luck, otherwise, they're going to be returned after only a few minutes of use. (Wish I could have tried them on in a store.)
KX2T Rating: 2020-05-17
Don't Buy these Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned these now for over 4 years now, still trying to like them but they just sound funky to me, like something is missing in the mid range area. I have a used old pair of Sony MDR 7506 headphones that blow these away for both amateur radio use and HiFi use which are very comfortable, they are even better sounding than the Heil IC headphones/boom set I own and use. I don't know what is happening with Heil sound, they used to be top rated for many years but I think this HiFi ESSB has taken ole Bob down the wrong path cause I owned a pair of the PS-6 boom mic headset in which the headset part was OK but the mic element was nowhere near the old HC5 element. Back in the nineties Heil product were the word in this hobby and even before that decade but I just wonder what happened. Bob has been in the recording industry for YEARS but when a pair of $100 Sony and AKG headphones are better ole Bob better wake up. I have tried to sell them but every time I get a buyer they back down, may have to donate them to the local radio club!

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Earlier 0-star review posted by KX2T on 2017-06-30

I have owned these headphones for 3 years now, I have tried to like them but there audio quality is really not designed for amateur radio voice spectrum, they are much better at music and should not be sold for amateur radio use at all. They also are not at all comfortable and after 1 hour you want to rip them off your head no mater how you adjust them. I think Bob Heil is used as a figure head in Heil sound and doesn't get involved into the amateur radio products as he used to.
AA3R Rating: 2020-01-25
Needs improvement Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Headphone sound is great, especially like the phase-reversal feature but the ear cushions basically are too small....and I have average size ears
K6HPX Rating: 2019-02-27
MOST DISAPPOINTING Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Disappointing; returned them after trying hard to like them. Excessive pressure. They are on earlobes, not on head surrounding ears. Attenuation of ambient noise mediocre at best. Phase-reversal switch the best feature of them.
I bought them expecting something wonderful from the Heil brand.
N3DF Rating: 2017-03-31
Great Value Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I like the fact that these headphones are light, well-made and have excellent audio. The on the ear design is comfortable for my operating sessions (typically one to three hours). While it adequately suppresses ambient noise, the design also allows me to hear the doorbell, nearby phones ringing, etc. A real bargain at the price.
KA5IVR Rating: 2016-04-09
Kills your Ears Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've own these Pro Set 3 Headphones for a couple of years. I can only wear them about 30 minutes before they start Killing my ears. They look & sound good, but the pads need to be bigger like my Pro Set Elite headset.
N7RD Rating: 2015-04-24
Good But Could Be Better Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Being a CW guy these headsets are wonderful, except the ear muffs are too small. Need to let your whole ear inside to be able to wear for over a couple of hours with out your ears hurting. Sound and quality are wonderful, just need bigger ear muffs to allow the complete ear inside.
K7NSW Rating: 2015-02-03
CLOSE TO GREAT - BUT NOT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received mine 2 days ago. Paid $94 plus tax from HRO. The adjustable headband fully extended allows the phones to just cover my ears. I was disappointed in that. I need a little bit more length to get them "just right". I want pads that allow my ears to fit inside the cups, not ride on top of my ears. I emailed Heil and they assured me these are super comfortable. Turns out they are not. I expect my ears will be sore if I wear them more than an hour. Then I will get a headache. So why did I keep them? Well, I am a CW guy and these phones sound great! The little toggle switch on the right phone puts the incoming signal tone dead center in my brain. The is the first time I have experienced this feature. It is amazing. The twist off & on cord set is a good feature. Gives me flexibility when I go rig hopping during Field Day. Also great down the road when the connection of the cord to the jack plug becomes intermittent as it now is on my Pro-5 headset with boom mic. Just twist on a new cordset and off you go! They sound great on CW and no mic boom to distract me. Nothing is cheap anymore - sorry, but that is the way it is. My dream CW headset is this pair with the big puffy over the ear cups you see the NFL and college coaches wearing during the games. So, all things considered, I will keep them. They are close to great but do not quite make it. Yes, I know. Heil has just come out with a new head set with mic boom. It has the big puffy ear pad cups I want. It is probably a dream come true for the ssb folks. But that product comes with a mic boom. Even if I push it straight up it is still a weight and distraction I do not want. So, this is my two cents worth from Idaho.