Search-scan Electronics Optifones

While many treasure hunters spend a considerable amount of time pouring over catalogs and field test reports before deciding on which metal detector to buy, only a fraction of this effort is usually given to selecting accessories which would often help increase both the quality and quantity of their finds. After the metal detector, headphones are probably the most important piece of equipment treasure hunters can purchase if they want to be successful.
Search-Scan Electronics has drawn upon the years of experience its owners have in the field of treasure hunting to produce products such as the Leprechaun and 450 metal detectors along with a number of truly unique accessories. They have recently introduced headphones that are revolutionary in design and extremely effective in alerting the user to even the faintest signal produced by the metal detector.
FEATURES AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The overall appearance of the Optifone is the first feature that strikes one upon removing it from its box. Unlike other headphones which are held in place by applying pressure to the earpieces and a band resting on top of your head, the Optifone looks like a pair of high quality sunglasses with ear cups on either side. By design, the ear cups completely surround the ear and rest on the bridge of the nose. This innovative design eliminates the pressure caused by the head band on all other headphones resulting in greater comfort when worn for extended periods of time. Another benefit .of this design is that without the head band, a ball cap can be worn comfortably to block out the sun.
The Optifones incorporate a 2-1/4 inch diameter speaker on each side rather than the smaller ones used in most other models currently available. This feature, combined with the broad frequency response ranging from 50 to 16,000 hz makes them extremely responsive to even the faintest signals at the edge of the metal detector's detection depth.
The Optifones come with a heavy-gauge 6-foot coiled cord which has been designed to eliminate the problem of insulation breakdown and subsequent failure of the headphones. A sturdy toggle switch mounted on one of the ear cups enables the user to select either STEREO or MONO operation thereby allowing the Optifones to be used on virtually any metal detector currently on the market.
The feature that truly sets the Optifone apart from all other headphones is the ability to insert interchangeable lenses in the frame for varying lighting conditions. With standard headphones, it is extremely uncomfortable to wear sunglasses or prescription glasses for any length of time since they must be worn under the ear cup cushion. With the lens built as an integral part of the Optifones, this discomfort has been completely eliminated.
The Optifone comes standard with two interchangeable lenses - clear and silver mirrored. The clear lens can be used in low light conditions or to keep blowing sand out of your eyes when hunting in the desert or on the beach. The silver mirrored lens is a high quality Italian lens which does an excellent job in blocking out ultraviolet light yet is not too dark to be used in overcast conditions.
Search Scan Electronics offers an optional lens kit which allows prescription lenses to be inserted behind either the clear or mirrored lens. This enables even those treasure hunters who need to wear glasses to be able to enjoy the benefits the Optifone provides. Nearly any of the larger optical stores will be able to fit a pair of prescription lenses in the frame included in the kit, and since they are removable, the Optifones can be used by the entire family.
Another feature of the Optifone that reflects the thought that went into its design is the ability to "re-build" the ear cups if they become dirty or damaged. Search Scan offers a hygiene kit which includes a pair of replacement ear muffs and the exchange can be completed in under 10 minutes.
FIELD USAGE
After unpacking the Optifones, I selected three different metal detectors and proceeded to bench test them to check the audio response of the headphones to various targets.
The Optifones did a good job in blocking out virtually all background noise and produced a clear audio response to both small targets as well as those at depths where only a faint signal was detectable.
I snapped-in the mirrored lens and took one of the detectors to a nearby playground. It was an overcast morning and I was worried that the tinting on the lens would be too dark for the light conditions. After recovering the first few coins, I found that I was able to see the targets quite easily, even when they were covered with the moist, dark soil.
Near an old oak tree I received a faint but discernible signal that failed to produce a solid indication on the target ID meter.
Removing the headphone jack from the detector, I swept the coil across the spot where the target was and due to background noise caused by a slight breeze and two children playing on the other side of the playground, was not able to hear the signal. Plugging the Optifones back in, I pinpointed the target and removed a deep plug.
Careful probing at the bottom of the hole revealed a 1919 Mercury dime which had been buried at just over 7 inches. I repeated Us test several times before heading home, and in each case I was unable to clearly hear the weaker signals without the use of the Optifones. These signals produced six early wheat cents with dates ranging from 1912 through 1937 and a 1935 Mercury dime in well-worn condition.
A few days later I took the Optifones to a beach and worked both the sandy area as well as the shallow water as deep as I could go without getting the control housing wet.
The headphones did an excellent job in blocking out the background noise such as waves washing up on the sand, people playing on the beach and in the adjacent park, and a stiff breeze blowing across the lake. The mirrored lens blocked most of the bright sun and as in the playground, I was able to recover several deeply buried targets that had obviously been there for some time.
Beach hunters who use the Garrett XL-500 Seahunter, XL-200 Beach Hunter, or the I W. Fisher Pulse 6X/8X may want to contact Search Scan Electronics to have a waterproof connector installed which will allow them to use the Optifones on their detector.
While the headphones themselves are not waterproof, you can wade up to your neck and the mirrored lens will eliminate the glare from the surface of the water.
SUMMARY
It is obvious that Search Scan has incorporated the treasure hunting-related experience of both its founders as well as industry experts in designing their current line of both metal detectors and accessories.
The Optifone is no exception and has eliminated many of the reasons people currently have for not wearing headphones. The Optifones have been built to last thru many seasons of use
and they will ensure that even the faintest signals from deeply buried targets will not be missed.
The Optifone costs $139.95, and while that is more expensive than most headphones on the market, the responsiveness, comfort, and quality of construction that they offer make them well worth looking into. They come with a one year parts and labor warranty.
The prescription lens kit sells for $30.00, and the hygiene kit costs $9.00. There are two optional lenses available - a smoke lens for $7.50 and a gold mirrored lens for $14.50.
For more information on the Optifone or any of the other products produced by Search-Scan-Electronics write them at 107 Section Street South, Fair Hope, AL 36532 or call them at (205) 928-9040 and be sure to mention that you read about them in Treasure Facts.