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Reviews For: Heil Proset

Category: Headphones & Boom-microphone Headsets

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Review Summary For : Heil Proset
Reviews: 84MSRP: 130.00
Description:
Headphones with boom microphone.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.heilsound.com/ProSet.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00843.7
W6OPO Rating: 2011-01-18
Ok but... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have owned the Proset Plus with the HC4 and HC5 element for several years. The headphones (head band and ear muffs) are the best I have ever had. But the HC4 and HC5 elments just sound awful. I get complaints so the mic boom is never used. It wont stay where I put it anyway.

A few months ago I bought the Proset HC6 - not the elite but Proset HC6. The HC6 mic element is a vast improvement over the HC5. In fact it sounds good, really good.

But the ear muffs are smaller and the headband is loose. It is maddening to tilt my head and have the headset fall off! I can't stand it. The old heavier Proset Plus with big ear muffs and tighter band work great but for the mic elements and boom that wont stay where I want it.

If only Bob Heil would put the boom and HC6 of the Proset on the Proset Plus!

One more thing - the new Proset doesn't come with a 1/4" plug! Although the packaging and instructions claim a 1/4" plug it has an 1/8" with a 1/4" adapter. I complained to Bob about that but got no where.

The problem is when I pull the headphone plug out of the radio the adapter stays in and so I have no sound until I yank out the adapter. Not good.

Unhappy -

73,

Bob - W6OPO
W0BKR Rating: 2010-12-10
Good Value Proset 4 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought a new one from Gigaparts for around $130 and like the set. Work fine, seem well made. Bought cheaper sets in the past and ended up either in the junk box or returned for one reason or another...
UR5LAM Rating: 2010-12-08
Fine Audio, but uncomfortable. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great mic! Audio reports are excellent.
Earphones sound exceptionally good.

The headset are very hard to use for long time.
I'm feel ache for my ears after 1-2 hours in a contest.
K1IZ Rating: 2009-10-12
Very comfortable, great audio from the HC-4 element Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm using the Proset on a Yaesu FT-980. I initially found the head phones to be very comfortable, but casual usage wasn't much of a test. I put it to a real test during the California QSO party. They were very comfortable the whole time I operated. I wear eyeglasses, and never felt the bows pinching the whole time. A big surprise was the number of unsolicited "great audio" reports I received during the test, outnumbering my Yaesu MD-1 by a ten to one margin. The HC-4 element really does a fine job. My only complaint (are you listening Heil?) is the cord is waaaay too long! I uncoiled enough to make do and then put the twist tie back on. Still, for the price, I would recommend them,
K5MO Rating: 2009-03-07
Quality probs, questionable serivce policy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I like my headset, but it lost function in one earpiece in a little over one year. While I realize this is somewhat inevitable, I thought $100 + headphones would last a bit longer.

My second surprise was repair policy. The only way to get tracked shipping is stated as UPS. Heil wants $16 for tracked shipping , otherwise there's no guarantee of delivery. To quote:

"For returns out of warranty, we will ship only UPS ground, so it can be tracked, and you will be charged $16."

$16 isn't the end of the world, but it's 15% of the purchase cost of the item, we all know that USPS priority is cheaper and does provide a tracking number and convenient service. I ship such items weekly, and I know the cost.

I'll probably try and fix them myself, after all it's just headphones and wires. It's good to keep this service policy in mind when factoring in the purchase price. I found the performance no better or worse than my Telex set, and have no complaints in that regard.
NE2Z Rating: 2009-01-31
Love it - even if not entirely used for Ham Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What motivated me was PC use more than Ham Radio. I got tired of going through cheap PC multimedia headsets every year. Then I got to thinking it would be nice to finally have a nice headset to use as a Ham. After the reserach I decided to go with this headset and the HC-5 element since I was goint to use it most often on the PC.

I'm 70s old school when it comes to wanting to feel the weight and snuggness of a decent set of headphones on my head. So you can imagine me going back in time when I closed my eyes, plugged into my Toshiba SA-420 ( I said I was old school) and played some of my '68 to '74 collection of music. Was quite happy.

OK. Back to the PC. I've used it in gaming (L4D) and Skype with no issues just that I have to keep the boom very close to my mouth.

I'll let the other 5/5 reports speak to its quality when used as intended :)


AA4ZZ Rating: 2007-12-30
The Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used Prosets for many years of contesting and DXing. It is very comfortable. When one broke after many years of hard use it was easy to send back to Heil for repair. I prefer the Proset to the Proset Plus.
K3AN Rating: 2007-12-26
Uncomfortable for long use. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the Proset with the HC-4 element. The mic definitely has punch and the earphones provide smooth audio while reducing ambient noise. BUT, they are so darn heavy and tight on your head that wearing them for more than an hour or so is just plain unpleasant. I use them ONLY at Field Day, when other nearby ops are busy shouting their CQs and exchange messages. I would also take them with me if I were to participate at a multi-transmitter contest station. At home, in my quiet shack, I much prefer the Heil BM-10 headset/mic. You can wear them comfortably for hours on end. So Heil gives you a choice; choose according to your need. Or buy both!
ON4CT Rating: 2007-06-11
good mic , moderate audio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use a second hand headset since one year.
The FT1000MP Mark V and the HC5 element form HEIL are very good !
The audio from the headphones is not so good, my cheap 10 Euro PC headphone is equal to the HEIL.

The parts are moderate quality.

I give a 4 because the all the parts can be ordered.

73
DIRK
ON4CT
ex on4adz


WF2S Rating: 2007-05-29
Excellent Product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used a Pro Headset for 15 years with my Icom 761 and 765. I enjoy rag chewing and DX -5BDXCC and Honor Roll, and use the Heil with the HC4 element for all SSB contacts. While replacing the foam ear pads, through no fault of the product, I broke the earphone swivel to the headset. Thinking the worst, that it was not repairable, I decided to salvage the two speakers for a project and remove the HC4 element for future mike implanting. At Dayton, I met the Heil team and was surprised to learn that for $45 plus shipping they would repair and restore the Pro Headset to NEW CONDITION.I sent them a box of pieces! In one week it was back in my hands with all new parts and working without a flaw. Now, if only the other manufacturers in the USA would provide such excellent service. Sure, their product is not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for. I am so satisfied that I boucht a Pro set with the dual elements for Icom. I will continue to use Heil products for all my microphone needs.