Delta 4000 volume control

[all iron]

I have been running the volume at max.

This has never been a problem with the headphones that i used to have ( they were also at max ) independent on each ear.

I just bought a new set of headphones that have a volume control on the wire.

The volume will blow your eardrums right out of your head!
The volume control on the headphones is awkward and i may tape it at a set position.

Question: does turning the volume down on the unit compromise the depth,sensitivity,of the detector?

It seems that i read a post from Monte that may have said something about volume control ( Sorry Monte ) don't mean to make you repeat yourself.

 

[margiop]

It is better than you keep it over 4/10.
In position 1-2-3 you lose high tone.

 

[Monte]

be the Volume control. Sometimes, with any make or model, there will be something in their design that just doesn't quite 'fit' in a lot of people's choices. For me, about the only thing I don't like about these two models is the addition of the Volume control.

I have been running the volume at max.

That is exactly what I do. The Gamma starts at full Volume, but the Delta needs to be upped a little. I've search with okay success at the default setting of '8' but prefer to run it up to '10.'

This has never been a problem with the headphones that i used to have ( they were also at max ) independent on each ear.

I just bought a new set of headphones that have a volume control on the wire.

The volume will blow your eardrums right out of your head!

The volume control on the headphones is awkward and i may tape it at a set position.

Most detectors don't have a variable "volume control" as such. With many models a "volume" control adjusted the target volume and not necessarily the audio strength you heard. For the most part, manufacturers have eliminated the volume adjustment, but not all of them. The T2's volume control doesn't have the same effect on the target response as do the Alpha, Delta and Gamma as the T2 volume adjusts bot the headphone and speaker volume. Still, I set my detector's at maximum because I prefer to adjust the headphones independently.

You didn't mention which brand/model headphones you are now using. I admit that I don't have the greatest hearing, especially right now in my right ear as I mend from an accident in June, but I have always favored using the best quality headphones with the best fit on my head and the best audio control i can for metal detector use. I have never cared for wimpy headphones that flop around or are easily tugged off my head if I am hunting in brush. I also like to have a nice fit over my ears to block out wind, traffic, noisy children in playgrounds (although you hear them you can ignore them), and provide ample comfort yet let me hear good responses including those from deeper, smaller and fainter targets.

Most headphones on the market that various detector makers provide have an impedance of 16 ohms or 32 ohms and I seldom find a set that doesn't sound (to me) somewhat muffled. I prefer a louder or more brilliant audio response and I get what I want from either my Killer B 'Wasp' or SunRay Pro Gold headphones. They are essentially the same and provide an excellent fit that doesn't flop around or want to fall off when I am bent to recover a target. They fit over my ears just fine, and they use 150 ohm speakers! These have separate volume controls on each ear-piece with subtle 'detents' for click adjustment and are not easily 'bumped out of a setting.' Matter of fact, never when in use.

With the 150 ohm speakers they can provide me with the best overall target response, with any make or model detector I use. I prefer to hear the more robust audio 'hit' and I seldom use the limiter switch, but it is there. When detecting, once I get a goo hit I might make a quick pass or two to isolate or pinpoint and then recover the target, but I don't make a lot of repeated sweeps with a lot of loud audio. Still, as mentioned, it does have the 'limiter' circuit.

If you are searching a site that tends to have a lot of shallower targets, which usually give you a much louder response than a deeper target might, you can toggle the limiter On and that will reduce the loud blasts from shallower targets so that they will have a similar audio response to mid-dept or deeper targets. Since you didn't mention your brand of headphones it is difficult for readers to know what you're using or why they might be too loud. I have a set of lightweight headphones, with an in-line volume control in the cable, but these Koss headphones are also muffled-sounding and I seldom use them for detecting.

Question: does turning the volume down on the unit compromise the depth,sensitivity,of the detector?

It seems that i read a post from Monte that may have said something about volume control ( Sorry Monte ) don't mean to make you repeat yourself.

Yes, it can. At the default setting of '8' or up to the maximum of '10' you're going to hear a good audio response from all makes of targets from low-conductive to the higher-pitched larger-sized high-conductive targets.

If you reduce the Delta or Gamma Volume control too much, such as down to 1, 2 or even 3, you will have a softer, weaker audio response from Nickels and Pennies and Foil and Pull tabs and such, and a very weak hit from Quarters. At those low settings you might not/will not hear the highest audio response from silver Halves or Silver Dollars.

I am sure that whoever designed that sort of Volume adjustment in these models had a reason or purpose for it, but I have no use for it at all. I like the most response I can get from any detector. I run them as 'hot' as I can while maintaining just functional stability, and as I stated, I use some o0f the best top-quality headphones available form the detectorist.

If you just bought these headphones you might want to consider an exchange if they are not comfortable or can't be adjusted well. However, regardless of the headphones you use, set the Volume control at or near maximum. If some audio blasts are too strong a reduction of the Sensitivity control can help a little bit on deeper targets, but proper headphones are the most important 'accessory' you can have.

Monte

 

[BuckeyeBrad]

I for one absolutely LOVE the (mostly user adjustable) modulated audio on all the Tek Frat Boys and yes, I realize by personal experience that each of the three are somewhat different from the others. I do have decent hearing and with that, the modulated audio saves a lot of time in sorting out deep and or small targets from the rest. I also know full well that those with impaired hearing could struggle with the (for them) over-effectiveness with this feature. Given that, I think the solution with future offerings is (or seems to be) simple. Just either make the max setting uniformly "loud" on all segments yet still allowing the operator to achieve essentially the same functional current range via adjustment, or add a two mode audio volume feature where in one mode one can retain the adjustable modulation as it is now, and the other mode it's full tilt all the time. If it wouldn't add too much complexity, allowing the user to adjust the volume of each tone would be very cool as well as functional for ALL users. Also, maybe I missed something or perhaps my Delta is "different" but on it, max volume is pretty much uniformly loud. If someone is experiences problems hearing the high tone on the Delta when its volume is maxed, that's gotta be high freq hearling loss coming into play. In the meantime with the current feature(s), headphone experimentation and selection is the only way to address any outages one might be experiencing or as a loast resort, stick with two tone mode.

 

[all iron]

Thanks everyone for the insight.
I bought a pair of the bounty hunter Headphones that are much louder than the radio shack set that i had.

 

[Monte]

I for one absolutely LOVE the (mostly user adjustable) modulated audio on all the Tek Frat Boys and yes, I realize by personal experience that each of the three are somewhat different from the others.

As most of us know there is a marked difference between the T2 and the four 'Greek' series models. What is confusing is the differences usually noted between the Delta, Gamma and Omega, but we could include the Alpha for come comparison. The four models are definitely NOT based on one single electronic platform that has been simplified for the lesser models from the Omega.

Also, many readers don't know what "modulated audio" is or the counter term, "saturated audio." So, for those who don't know, here's a little explanation that I hope isn't too confusing. What it boils down to is how the manufacturer designs their detector, the affect certain control functions might have on performance, how they detect and then process a target signal, and we can't forget that even then it might differ based upon the audio tone mode being used.

In brief, when we sweep our detector coil close-to or over a metal object, the electromagnetic field about the coil is disrupted by the presence of the metal target and the EMF now generated about its surface. The detector's electronics will sense this change in the EMF and will process an audio signal. in a normal, old-style analog world we would hear a strong audio response from a shallow target that might be on the surface or down maybe 3" or so, then the audio loudness or strength would start to get a little weaker and weaker as the coil-to-target distance increased.

This would describe what we refer to as a "modulated" audio because the audio response or signal strength would modulate to become stronger and stronger as the coil-to-target distance got closer, or weaker-and-weaker as the coil-to-target distance increased. For years we're used terms like "listen for the weaker, fainter signal from a smaller or deeper target" because most detectors functioned with a modulated audio response.

Naturally, due to age or poor hearing or just a desire for a more brilliant audio 'hit, many hobbyists used to ask if the audio signal could be increased to a degree so that the deeper and weaker and harder to hear targets would produce a stronger audio. This was accomplished by using a signal process that would "saturate" the audio response and the result was enhancing the weaker signal so that it, and all in-between signals, produced a strong audio as did the shallower targets. Thus the strong surface audio response was "saturated" so that all signals of sufficient level were enhanced and gave the same loud audio response as the surface targets.

Initially, some models have achieved this level of "saturated" audio performance by using a 'clipped filter" circuitry. As such, if a metal target produced sufficient disruption of the EMF so that it achieved a certain limit of audio strength, that target signal was processed and enhanced such that it would sound as loud and solid as a shallower target. If the target was too small or too weak or too deep such that it didn't produce that minimum amount of initial response, then that signal was 'clipped' and filtered out. There was no such thing as a 'weak signal" from those models because you either got a strong audio response from everything of sufficient detectable size or mass, or you didn't get anything.

There are some models on the market that have a variable gain control that lets the user increase the audio response whereby a low Sensitivity/Gain setting will produce a "modulated" audio with louder shallow targets and then the strength trails off as the coil-to-target distance increases. A lower-end setting also reflects a loss of overall depth of detection. There is also the adjustment option whereby an increase in the Sensitivity/Gain control might increase or 'saturate" the audio response such that the user will hear a stronger ('saturated") audio from a deeper target.

Both a "modulated" and "saturated" audio performance will have strong and weak points and each of us can select (if available) when and when not to use a certain type of operation. Also, we need to make certain we learn the variances our detector models provide us because sometimes one model might offer a "saturated" response in a multi-tone mode of operation, but and excellent 'modulated" audio in a different Audio Tone selection. Also, changes in the Sensitivity or Tone or Volume controls might, or might not, make a difference between "modulated" or "saturated" audio response.

Take, for example, the T2, Omega, Gamma and Delta models to compare their differences. Note: I am using "air test" comparisons.

The T2:

If you are using the 3 or 4 Tone Audio ID, you will have a more saturated audio at the higher Sensitivity settings. The saturation amount will vary but appears to be about

 

[BuckeyeBrad]

Do you use voice rec software or do you actually type all of your lengthy replies? Whichever the case, they're always excellent so more power to ya!!

 

[Monte]

hunt-and-peck many of these out ... often it takes hours with distractions.

Now, with a little epsom salt and hot water I'll finish soaking those pinkies so I can get some detecting in today.

I hope that post didn't/doesn't confuse too many who are still in the learning phase of metal detecting.

Monte

 

[Jay Evans]

Excellent post Monte, Your explanations are always well written and I find allot of useful info in most all of your replies. You have a way of describing the intricacies of the inner workings of the detector that make me want to get out and experiment with whatever a particular post covers. As far as the T2 goes, I too like the 1 & 2+ tones more for the subtle differences in tone response the target makes. While I haven't had the T2 very long I have noticed the difference between the tone/mode settings. On the T2SE the dp mode tones are allot different, and I plan to experiment more with that setting in the near future. The book says dp has a totally different way of responding to targets and it also sets it into a slower sweep mode for deep detecting. dp & cL also operates in the 2+ tone mode. Awesome detector and it's always nice to get out and try something new with the T2SE. It's packed with different features that keeps you experimenting and looking for that setup that works best for you. Thanks for all the awesome posts!

 

[Monte]

an incredibly versatile detector, especially for the dedicated detectorist who wants.needs depth of detection and a good functional VDI read-out when able. There are times, for some, to use the other Tone ID options, but for me the T2 in 2+ Audio Tones is just fine!

For each of us we just need to learn and master what ever model9s) we have to get the most out of them for our needs, and the T2 provides plenty of adjustment options w/o a lot of goofy stuff we really don't need.

Monte