From: Scott Martindale <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>

Subject: On headphones in a Language Resource Center

Date: December 1, 2014 at 9:42:34 PM GMT+2

To: <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>





This was a conversation that came up awhile ago and I wanted to pitch in, but it took me awhile to get everything together.



You can check out the following comparison here in Desktop Chrome or Firefox: (Safari has lots of issues and IE 10 loads out of sync. mobile browsers won't have a mouse cursor, ).

http://www.uvm.edu/~rmarti14/audiotest.html



You can just slide your cursor over the headsets to hear a fair-use complaint extract of a song.



One of my core principles in our LRC is to provide that which cannot be easily obtained elsewhere. The headset that we use, the Sanako SLH-07, has very poor reproduction of most sound, but works very well with voice. This is great when you are trying to view a film, listen to music or even listen to a workbook that has "authentic" clips of conversations, complete with city or airport background noise. But this is the type of equipment that students wouldn't have on the phones, tablets or computers and it is the type of equipment that makes an LRC a great place for language learning.



The other part of this discussion was the microphone. I don't have any complaints nor have I heard any complaints from students or faculty about hearing others too easily or distortion. I imagine this has a lot to do with the materials and the constraints of the lab space.



Cheers,

Scott



Richard “Scott” Martindale

LRC Director

University of Vermont

Southwick Bldg Room 200A

Burlington, VT   05405

(802) 656-7856

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