The BM-17 is a lightweight single-side or dual-side headset designed for Amateur Radio use. To accommodate different radio setups, the BM-17 is available with either a BM-17-Dynamic element or a BM-17-iC electret element.

The speakers used in the BM-17 are very sensitive and don’t require much AF gain from the transceiver. The frequency response is 200 Hz – 5 kHz with very low distortion. The ear pads are replaceable acoustic foam.

The BM-17-Dynamic headset uses the BM-D dynamic element designed specifically for communications use in Ham Radio. This 600 ohm dynamic element will work on most amateur radio rigs requiring a Low-Z input impedance (usually between 150 ohms and 4k ohms). The BM-17-Dynamic has an operating frequency response of 120Hz – 10 kHz.

The BM-17-iC headset, using our iC electret element, was created for use with Icom radios. This element has been made to utilize bias power in iCOM radios which addresses low-gain issues that arise when using dynamic elements. This element must be paired with the AD-1-iC (included) or AD-1- iCM adapter. The iC adapters have no internal DC blocking capacitor so bias voltage can be passed allowing the iC electret element to operate. The iC element has an operating frequency response of 35Hz – 12kHz.

The microphone audio for the BM-17 series terminates into a 1/8” mono plug while the headphone terminates into a 1/8“ stereo plug (1/8” to 1/4” adapter included).

The boom is designed to be extremely flexible and is swivel mounted to the headphone speaker for optimal positioning in any situation.

The use of the AD-1 series mic adapters allows simple interface with popular transceiver inputs. The adapter cable has a 1/8” female input jack for the headset microphone while the 1/4” female that exits the adapter is the PTT (push to talk) line for the Heil foot switch or hand switch. The  1/8” or 1/4” stereo plug goes into the headphone jack on the transceiver front panel.

Note: To use dynamic mic elements on vintage radios (requiring a high impedance input of 10k to 30k ohms) will require the use of an XT-1 impedance matching transformer.