{"id":58319,"date":"2023-12-03T05:00:38","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T09:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=58319"},"modified":"2023-12-01T06:34:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T10:34:51","slug":"checking-out-some-headphones-for-dxing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/checking-out-some-headphones-for-dxing\/","title":{"rendered":"Checking out BHI’s HP-1 and NCH headphones for DXing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM<\/strong><\/p>\n

As an oldster with a bit of hearing deficit, I am a big fan of anything that helps me to hear better when I am trying to tease out hard-to-hear signals, whether medium wave broadcast, shortwave broadcast, or single-sideband signals on the HF ham bands.<\/p>\n

Toward that end, headphones help a lot. They deliver the audio signal directly into the ear canal while reducing distraction from external sounds. I had some inexpensive headphones from a big-box store, but I wondered if there were headphones that would be better suited for DXing.<\/p>\n

So I contacted the folks at BHI to see if they had any headphones that would help with medium wave DXing. BHI is the British company that manufactures really effective noise cancelling products<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In response, the folks at BHI sent me their HP-1 Wired Stereo Headphones<\/a> and their . . . NCH Active Noise Cancelling headphones<\/a>\u00a0. . . free of charge.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

BHI describes the HP-1 Wired Stereo Headphones as \u201cComfortable Folding dynamic stereo headphones for Radio Communications,\u201d and, in my view, they are just that. I found the HP-1 to be highly useful for medium wave and shortwave DXing. To my ear, they sound like they are biased toward high frequencies, with lower bass response than on the headphones I bought from the big-box store years ago. Because of the lower bass response, I find it easier to tease out faint signals on the airwaves, and the ear cups are comfortable for long-term listening. The cable is 1.9 m long and is terminated with an integral 3.5mm stereo jack plug.\u00a0 The HP-1<\/strong>\u00a0headphones are supplied with a 1\/4″ stereo to 3.5mm stereo adapter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The NCH Active Noise Cancelling headphones are a bit of a different beast: they are NOT designed to cancel noise on the broadcast signal you are listening to. Instead, they are designed to reduce external<\/u> noise. According to the BHI website:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bhi\u00a0NCH<\/strong>\u00a0active noise cancelling headphones (ANC)\u00a0do not work like our other DSP noise cancelling products but effectively reduce external ambient background noise enabling you to concentrate more and enjoy your listening experience when listening in a noisy environment.\u00a0 The over-ear style\u00a0NCH<\/strong>\u00a0headphones also give good passive audio isolation from external noise<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

These headphones are powered an AAA battery. There is a switch to turn the noise-cancellation circuity on and off, and there is an LED that lights when the unit is activated. The NCH headphones have a 1.25m detachable cable with 3.5mm jack plug (both ends).<\/p>\n

So I tried out the NCH headphones while mowing the lawn with a gasoline-powered lawnmower and listening to an audio book on my digital recorder. Bottom line: they really work to significantly reduce (but not totally eliminate) an external noise source and make the listening experience more pleasant. And when they are not turned on, they work really well as ordinary headphones for DXing. Like the HP-1 headphones, they are comfortable and biased toward high frequency.<\/p>\n

In the end, I found both these headphones worked well for their intended purpose, and I am happy to recommend them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM As an oldster with a bit of hearing deficit, I am a big fan of anything that helps me to hear better when I am trying to tease out hard-to-hear signals, whether medium wave broadcast, shortwave broadcast, or single-sideband signals on the HF ham bands. Toward that end, headphones help a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4199,3,129],"tags":[5352,10382,10378,10379,10381,10380,9323],"class_list":["post-58319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-news","category-reviews","tag-bhi","tag-bhi-hp-1-review","tag-bhi-hp-1-wired-stereo-headphones","tag-bhi-nch-active-noise-cancelling-headphones","tag-bhi-nch-review","tag-bhi-review","tag-jock-elliott-kb2gom"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-faD","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55033,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/12\/checking-out-the-xiegu-gnr1-digital-audio-noise-filter\/","url_meta":{"origin":58319,"position":0},"title":"Checking out the Xiegu GNR1 Digital Audio Noise Filter","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"December 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Call me a retro-crank, an old-schooler, but part of the joy of listening to shortwave is that the signals sound like they have come from far away. There is nothing like hearing the music, the news, the commentary \u201cfiltered through the shortwaves\u201d . . . as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Xiegu-dsp-back-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Xiegu-dsp-back-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Xiegu-dsp-back-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Xiegu-dsp-back-001.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54404,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/sometimes-the-right-tools-lead-to-agreeable-results\/","url_meta":{"origin":58319,"position":1},"title":"Sometimes the right tools lead to agreeable results","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"October 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Listening to the HF ham bands can be a lot of fun. All you need is a shortwave receiver capable of receiving single sideband (SSB) transmissions and a chart of the amateur bands. You can find downloadable PDF charts of the United States Amateur Radio Band\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/bhi-shortwave-001-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/bhi-shortwave-001-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/bhi-shortwave-001-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50761,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/jock-reviews-the-bhi-compact-in-line-noise-eliminating-module\/","url_meta":{"origin":58319,"position":2},"title":"Jock reviews the BHI Compact In-Line Noise Eliminating Module","author":"Thomas","date":"November 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: The noise, the neighbor, and the box By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Imagine the annual meeting of an international corporation called SWLing Inc. (or SWLing LTD). The CEO, looking splendid in his custom-tailored suit, is addressing the assembled multitudes. On\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bhi-compact-in-line-dsp-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bhi-compact-in-line-dsp-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bhi-compact-in-line-dsp-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bhi-compact-in-line-dsp-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/bhi-compact-in-line-dsp-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56485,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/a-little-barefoot-ultralight-mw-dxing-in-which-my-mental-status-is-questioned\/","url_meta":{"origin":58319,"position":3},"title":"A little barefoot ultralight MW DXing . . . in which my mental status is questioned","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"May 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM About 10 days ago, the Better Half and I visited my wife\u2019s sister in Sodus, NY, a small town in the western part of the state near the shores of Lake Ontario. First consideration when packing was \u2013 never mind the underwear and the toothpaste \u2013\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/CCrane-skywave-SSB-and-headphones-002-001-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/CCrane-skywave-SSB-and-headphones-002-001-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/CCrane-skywave-SSB-and-headphones-002-001-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52181,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/its-magic-but-its-real-the-joys-of-listening-to-the-ham-bands\/","url_meta":{"origin":58319,"position":4},"title":"“It\u2019s magic, but it\u2019s real”: The joys of listening to the ham bands","author":"Thomas","date":"March 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: The joys of listening to the ham bands By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s magic, but it\u2019s real.\u201d That statement was uttered recently by an amateur radio operator \u2013 a ham \u2013 from South Carolina. He was on the 20-meter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Icom IC-756 Pro Transceiver Dial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Icom-IC-756-Pro-3.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Icom-IC-756-Pro-3.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Icom-IC-756-Pro-3.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Icom-IC-756-Pro-3.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64507,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/cc-buds-solo-two-years-into-the-mission\/","url_meta":{"origin":58319,"position":5},"title":"CC Buds Solo: Two years into the mission . . .","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"November 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Okay, okay, I can almost predict what you will be thinking: it\u2019s not the most expensive piece of gear in your listening kit. But for me, headphones or earbuds that pipe the audio from my SW receiver or scanner directly into my ears is one of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/hdp_audio_cc_budsolo__11642-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/hdp_audio_cc_budsolo__11642-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/hdp_audio_cc_budsolo__11642-1024x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58319"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58327,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58319\/revisions\/58327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}