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Reviews For: KOSS SB45 3.5mm Connector Circumaural Multi-Media Stereophone

Category: Headphones & Boom-microphone Headsets

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Review Summary For : KOSS SB45 3.5mm Connector Circumaural Multi-Media Stereophone
Reviews: 23MSRP: 36.99
Description:
Key Features:
Multimedia headset
Noise-cancelling Clear Voice Technology (CVT)
Premium sound at all volume levels
Anisotropic ferrite magnet structures deliver high
sensitivity and reduced sound distortion
Experience absolute comfort with soft, leatherette ear
cushions
Covered under the Koss Stereophones Limited Lifetime
Warranty
Product is in production
More Info: https://koss.com/collections/headsets-gaming-headphones/products/sb45
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00234.7
OE3JTB Rating: 2016-06-18
Fits perfect for Elecraft K3 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Searching for a fitting headset for the Elecraft K3, the Yamaha CM 500 is often recommended.
Unfortunately the CM-500 is not available in Europe, only in Spain, there is an importer.

Tried several others, than I found that the KOSS SB 45 sould be the same as the Yamaha CM 500
Got it for a few Euros and its amazing
Did the same settings as recommended for the CM 500 and wow, I got very good audio rapports.

And its available in whole Europe
Its a keeper.


Dont know why there is a second review thread

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/10929
K8JHR Rating: 2016-03-26
Very Good - Super Value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The KOSS SB-40 is an inexpensive, well made headset that represents good value for its fairly low $35-$40 price tag. It is light weight, and reasonably durable, with "circumaural" earphone receivers - closed ear cups which go around the ears and rest on the side of the head. They do not rest on the ears, which can become uncomfortable in a short time. The SB-45 ear cups provide modest noise cancellation, and are comfortable over long sessions. The electret condenser microphone sounds good - but requires 2-10v bias voltage from the rig or an external source. Not a big deal, but something you should know before using them.

I supplied this headset as a backup/replacement for the popular Yanmaha CM-500 at a multi-multi contest shack and operators considered them equal in comfort and performance - using them with the CM-500 without comment. Simply put, they are just as good for about 30% lower cost.

The KOSS SB-45 is NOT the same headset as the KOSS SB-40, but for a different microphone, as another reviewer suggests. The SB-40 and SB-45 are completely different headsets, comprised of completely different parts. The SB-40 looks exactly like the Yamaha CM-500, but sports an inferior dynamic microphone cartridge, rather than the electret condenser microphone capsule supplied on the SB-45 and Yamaha CM-500. In contrast, the KOSS SB-49 - IS - the same headset as the SB-45, but for the addition of an-inline volume control.

Bottom line - the SB-45 is a good, inexpensive, reasonably durable headset for use with a ham radio transceiver. It sounds good, on both receive and transmit, and is reasonably well made. It is not a $200 broadcast quality headset - but gives good performance at low cost. We used this headset to set a record in a state QSO party ... so they must be good !

Just MY take. / JR /
W0BKR Rating: 2015-12-17
Great Headset for Icoms! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have an older ICOM (781) and the SB-45 works great with it as well as with my IC-7410! I was amazed...the sound (transmit monitor) in the headset it great, very comfortable and for what you pay (~$30 ish - New) you can't beat it. Very comfortable for long periods fitting around your ear, not on the ear. Would I recommend it? You bet! In a heart beat. Electrelet mic element in the SB-45, makes it very very compatible with the ICOMs I have.
N6BIZ Rating: 2015-11-19
GREAT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
BRAND NEW FOR $ 18.50 VERY COMFORTABLE VERY LIGHT EXCELLENT AUDIO
W0BKR Rating: 2015-11-18
Good headset Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Adequate headset. Only nits are cord from headset to radio is very thin and likely to break strands when stressed (not robust). Boom mic flops about, not rigid say like a Heil headset. For the price though, should prove a good unit to have around. If it were a bit "beefier", I would rate it a 5.0.
W4SEX Rating: 2015-11-15
Can't be beat Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
High sensitivity on the headphones means that the volume can be turned down overall. Great adjustable headband too. I have owned many Koss headphones through the years and have been happy with all of them. Highly recommended.
W3JJM Rating: 2015-05-21
Could Not Be Happier Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
25 dollars shipped to store at WalMart. Great sound, comfort and audio. Worlds ahead of the other headset I reviewed and chucked in the trash.

A plus is the great warranty from Koss and the fact that Walmart gives you 90 days to return if unhappy (no connection with Walmart/Koss and me btw)

Hard to beat IMHO

KU2US Rating: 2015-05-08
Qualirty & Price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use a headset/mic, which is a must, for special events in huge pile ups!Very comfortable, great xmit voice quality and awesome receive audio. For the price, they cannot be beat!
W1BVV Rating: 2015-02-06
Best Deal Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a great headset for the money. MSRP is $39.99 but it is available on Amazon for around $25. Sound isolation is great, comfort is good (lightweight), and the electret mic is in a noise cancelling configuration with a foam windscreen. Receive sound quality is excellent and I get excellent transmit reports. Had to replace my 4 year old set recently (wires inside boom swivel became noisy) but for 6x less than the functionally comparable H*** product I'll save money for 24 years.
K8JHR Rating: 2014-07-14
GOOD BARGAIN HEADSET Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The KOSS SB-45 is a real bargain. The SB-45 sounds good and is comfortable to wear over extended operating periods. Microphone audio is good enough. While dropping or tossing this headset around the shack is contraindicated, this headset is well made and durable. What do you expect from a $40 headset?

The electret condenser type microphone capsule is rather "hot" and presents a strong signal to the
rig. You may want to employ an simple attenuator pad, such as is described on Page 64 of the November 2013 QST magazine, which attenuates mic output signal strength to approximate that of a typical performance style dynamic microphone. ICOM and Elecraft users will like it just as it comes as those rigs are designed to use electret condenser capsules.

I contend the SB-45 headset is every bit as good as the popular Yamaha CM-500. Both of these headsets have been used by a successful contest team I sometimes work with, and our operators consider them completely interchangeable.

Good value, solid performance, comfortable over long sessions. Cannot go wrong unless you demand a fancy, expensive broadcast quality headset.

Just My take.... / K8JHR /