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General discussion

personal radio with earcups (no earbuds!)

Sep 8, 2009 5:36PM PDT

Can anyone recommend a portable radio without earbuds doubling as an antenna? I don't mind a set of earcups that is also an antenna, but earbuds give me a horrible eczema (rash) in my ears. Preferably under $75 of a globally acknowledged brand that I can buy in Europe, where I live. Postage charges from US webshops make it too expensive for me. Many thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Starter links.
Sep 8, 2009 8:34PM PDT
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Starter links
Sep 8, 2009 10:13PM PDT

Thanks for the useful info, Bob, but I'm not going to travel on the train every day with such a monstrous thing on my head.

It took me quite a while, but then I found the Sony SRF-M37V on eBay UK. Just in case anyone else is looking for a solution to this issue.

Thanks anyway.

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So why not your MP3 player and Ear Pad headphones?
Sep 9, 2009 12:33AM PDT
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Cos that wouldn't solve my problem
Sep 9, 2009 3:39PM PDT

I may well be mistaken, but as I understand it, most radios use the supplied headphone as an antenna. And most of those have ear buds, not ear cups.

See what I mean?

Regards,
Jan

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Yes
Sep 9, 2009 10:53PM PDT

You are somewhat mistaken. The wire of ANY headphones or earbuds will act as the antenna for the FM radio. You don't need to use the headphones/earbuds that came with the player.

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Yes
Sep 9, 2009 10:59PM PDT

Well, that's really interesting - I did indeed not realise that this is how it works. Thanks very much for your kind explanation.

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You're Welcome. : )
Sep 9, 2009 11:17PM PDT

I've never quite understood why makers don't make this fact clear. I suppose they hope to sell more of their particular brand of headphones when the supplied originals go on the fritz.

Also, it IS possible that some headphones would work better as an antenna than others, I would imagine. Depending on how well the wiring is shielded from outside interference. But I personally haven't noticed any major differences.

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P.S.
Sep 9, 2009 11:25PM PDT

I should also have mentioned that the impedence of an aftermarket pair of 'phones is also important. Some headphones are more difficult to drive to a satisfactory volume level, especially when used with players with an imposed volume limiter, such as many that are sold in various parts of Europe. I'm no electronics guy, but if I remember correctly, the lower the impedence of the headphones, the easier it is to drive them to higher volume levels.

If I'm wrong, hopefully someone will jump in and correct me.