SG Browns - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

CaptainKernel · 16th Jun 2009, 7:09 pm

Hi

Does anyone know if they still make these high-impedance headphones? Thery were legendary when I was a kid (like AVO 8s were) and a mate of mine had a pair once.

I'd love to get a set, might be fun to build a decent quality "crystal" set again.

Thx
H

Skywave · 16th Jun 2009, 10:16 pm

I had a pair once when I was a very enthusiastic and young SWL. I can still recall, even now, just how much they hurt my ears after about 30 minutes of wearing them!

Al. / Skywave

Station X · 16th Jun 2009, 10:24 pm

Quite right Al. I prefer a modern light weight headset. You can forget you're wearing it.

CaptainKernel. Crystal sets will work perfectly OK with low impedance headphones or a crystal earpiece. I know because I've tried it. I'm told that selectivity isn't as good, but I can't say I've noticed.

Hermit6345 · 17th Jun 2009, 11:05 am

I have a pair of SG Brown headphones which are 3000R impedance. From what I have read these might be classed as low impedance! How high did the SG Brown phones go? Mine work a treat with my BC221 anyway. I concur with the comments about comfort though.

HamishBoxer · 17th Jun 2009, 12:13 pm

Most Hi Impedance are 2000 Ohms

David

AlanBeckett · 17th Jun 2009, 12:20 pm

I had a pair in the late '50s, but I remeber them being 4000 Ohms.
Alan

HamishBoxer · 17th Jun 2009, 12:42 pm

Thats 2000 each earpiece,in series.

russell_w_b · 17th Jun 2009, 12:56 pm

I have a pair of SGBs: 2000 Ohm. For some reason, they always commanded quite a price on the surplus market, incommensurate, I thought, with their quality (simple steel band, easily broken pin-pivots on the bakelite earpieces). I'm still quite fond of them, though.

I concur with Station X's findings about lo-Z cans on a crystal set - they work fine. Having said that, I've only used balanced-armature receivers, such as DLR5s, STCs and Airlite 62 ex-Military (receiver inset 4T variant, like used in type 700 series telephones) which are far more sensitive than the traditional stalloy diaphragm-type version.

It's still possible to get DLR5s on the surplus market.

AlanBeckett · 17th Jun 2009, 1:04 pm

Hamish,
I believe you are correct. This really is straining my memory, but I seem to remember that one wire went to each earpiece then one in a V shape between them. All in nicely twisted brown cotton covered, of course. I must look in the attic, just in case .....
Alan

Aub · 17th Jun 2009, 1:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by russell_w_b

It's still possible to get DLR5s on the surplus market.

Yes indeed. I bought a pair at a radio rally 3 years ago. they look brand new.

Radio_Dave · 17th Jun 2009, 1:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainKernel

I'd love to get a set, might be fun to build a decent quality "crystal" set again.

I've just made a crystal receiver (Selective Crystal Set by P.A.Dewhurst) and like you wanted a pair of SG browns to go with it. I got a nice pair, with 4000 ohm impedance from Ebay, really cheaply

.

As mentioned above they are incredibly uncomfortable, heavy and they'll fall off with any forward or backward tipping of the head..... but you've just got to put up with it for the sake of authenticity!

David

Skywave · 17th Jun 2009, 2:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio_Dave

As mentioned above they are incredibly uncomfortable, heavy and they'll fall off with any forward or backward tipping of the head..... but you've just got to put up with it for the sake of authenticity!

David

Hear, hear!

Al. / Skywave

peter.sables · 17th Jun 2009, 2:51 pm

Hi.

Well to make headphones more sensertive I would cut a disk out of thin mica then cut out of a u/s steel disk a 1/2" round then stick it to the mica. Realy works.

Pete G4MRU

Hermit6345 · 17th Jun 2009, 4:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamishBoxer

Most Hi Impedance are 2000 Ohms

David

Yes, so are mine, now I have had a look at them with my specs on! Type F, 2000

Ian

OErjan_S · 17th Jun 2009, 4:20 pm

actually, a good matching transformer and a pair of KOSS sparkplugs (wired in series by only using the tip and ring) is likely better than 99% of those SG browns.
here is some more on that.
http://www.schmarder.com/radios/misc...ransformer.htm
http://www.crystalradio.net/soundpow...ng/index.shtml

dseymo1 · 17th Jun 2009, 4:35 pm

SGBs turn up pretty regularly at 'antique' stalls around here. You shouldn't have much trouble finding a pair at a sensible price, once you've convinced the stallholder that the BBC label doesn't mean that they were actually used by the BBC

G4XWDJim · 18th Jun 2009, 1:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aub

Quote:

Originally Posted by russell_w_b

It's still possible to get DLR5s on the surplus market.

Yes indeed. I bought a pair at a radio rally 3 years ago. they look brand new.

There's a tatty pair of DLR5s on eBay at the moment. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WWII-RAF-RADIO...3A1%7C294%3A50
Nothing to do with me I might add.

Jim

16th Jun 2009, 7:09 pm	#1
CaptainKernel Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia, USA Posts: 1	SG Browns Hi Does anyone know if they still make these high-impedance headphones? Thery were legendary when I was a kid (like AVO 8s were) and a mate of mine had a pair once. I'd love to get a set, might be fun to build a decent quality "crystal" set again. Thx H

16th Jun 2009, 10:16 pm	#2
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: SG Browns I had a pair once when I was a very enthusiastic and young SWL. I can still recall, even now, just how much they hurt my ears after about 30 minutes of wearing them! Al. / Skywave

16th Jun 2009, 10:24 pm	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: SG Browns Quite right Al. I prefer a modern light weight headset. You can forget you're wearing it. CaptainKernel. Crystal sets will work perfectly OK with low impedance headphones or a crystal earpiece. I know because I've tried it. I'm told that selectivity isn't as good, but I can't say I've noticed. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

17th Jun 2009, 11:05 am	#4
Hermit6345 Rest in Peace Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 638	Re: SG Browns I have a pair of SG Brown headphones which are 3000R impedance. From what I have read these might be classed as low impedance! How high did the SG Brown phones go? Mine work a treat with my BC221 anyway. I concur with the comments about comfort though.

17th Jun 2009, 12:13 pm	#5
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: SG Browns Most Hi Impedance are 2000 Ohms David

17th Jun 2009, 12:20 pm	#6
AlanBeckett Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,686	Re: SG Browns I had a pair in the late '50s, but I remeber them being 4000 Ohms. Alan

17th Jun 2009, 12:42 pm	#7
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: SG Browns Thats 2000 each earpiece,in series.

17th Jun 2009, 12:56 pm	#8
russell_w_b Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: SG Browns I have a pair of SGBs: 2000 Ohm. For some reason, they always commanded quite a price on the surplus market, incommensurate, I thought, with their quality (simple steel band, easily broken pin-pivots on the bakelite earpieces). I'm still quite fond of them, though. I concur with Station X's findings about lo-Z cans on a crystal set - they work fine. Having said that, I've only used balanced-armature receivers, such as DLR5s, STCs and Airlite 62 ex-Military (receiver inset 4T variant, like used in type 700 series telephones) which are far more sensitive than the traditional stalloy diaphragm-type version. It's still possible to get DLR5s on the surplus market. __________________ Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI.

17th Jun 2009, 1:04 pm	#9
AlanBeckett Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,686	Re: SG Browns Hamish, I believe you are correct. This really is straining my memory, but I seem to remember that one wire went to each earpiece then one in a V shape between them. All in nicely twisted brown cotton covered, of course. I must look in the attic, just in case ..... Alan

17th Jun 2009, 2:51 pm	#13
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: SG Browns Hi. Well to make headphones more sensertive I would cut a disk out of thin mica then cut out of a u/s steel disk a 1/2" round then stick it to the mica. Realy works. Pete G4MRU

17th Jun 2009, 4:20 pm	#15
OErjan_S Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Skelleftea, Sweden Posts: 250	Re: SG Browns actually, a good matching transformer and a pair of KOSS sparkplugs (wired in series by only using the tip and ring) is likely better than 99% of those SG browns. here is some more on that. http://www.schmarder.com/radios/misc...ransformer.htm http://www.crystalradio.net/soundpow...ng/index.shtml

17th Jun 2009, 4:35 pm	#16
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: SG Browns SGBs turn up pretty regularly at 'antique' stalls around here. You shouldn't have much trouble finding a pair at a sensible price, once you've convinced the stallholder that the BBC label doesn't mean that they were actually used by the BBC