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In a scenario possibly familiar to many, having expended a considerable amount of cash at my local prospecting retailer on a brand new detector it didn’t take long to confirm for myself the oft mentioned deficiencies of the supplied headphones in the myriads of product reviews read prior to purchase.
Returning to the shop after some cursory online research surprisingly revealed the 3rd party OEM supplied headphones were common across a popular brands extensive range of budget and near $10,000 top of the range detector models. This realisation was surpassed only by the revelation that they retail separately for less than $100 which in all probability meant the wholesale cost to the detector manufacturer is significantly less than $50!
It begged the question, why is the audio signal as the single most important sensory input between the human operator and todays sophisticated and expensive electronic metal detectors being interfaced via budget headphones?
The lack of credible aftermarket options from which to choose was also perplexing, inspection of alternatives found many were simply repurposed consumer grade headphones with basic padding not comfortable for extended periods nor built rugged for outdoor use. The purported specialist products were often thinly disguised budget hearing protectors cobbled together with generic components. The quality of construction, finish, design and packaging were rudimentary with generally non-existent user instructions or specification disclosed. Moreover, most did not include the specific features I was seeking, nor in my opinion worth the asking price on the shelf.
As a former Design & Technology teacher having taught a broad range of practical subjects including electronics for nearly 20 years, I vividly recall thinking to myself ‘I could make better’ and so started what would become a world-wide search to source hardware and components to build headphones tailored to the peculiar requirements and rigours of prospecting.
Following countless hours of research, a selection of materials were acquired and several prototypes built. Personally used for extended periods to test their durability and efficacy, a specification was chosen and assembled into a final build that achieved what was initially sought.
Several queries from fellow prospectors seeking to buy similar units piqued the idea to consider small scale production to cater for local demand. The idea whilst persistent, remained dormant constrained by the competing day to day demands of time at home, full time work and recreation. An unexpected change of employment followed by the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic, provided the time and impetus to focus my interest into manufacturing reality and the creation of Aurumax.
Using lessons and knowledge learnt from previous builds, a small initial production run was completed and distributed to select buyers. Using their feedback, the specification was further refined into the products now offered here.
With the physical products ready, a whole set of new challenges presented itself with considerations for branding, marketing, packaging and sales to be solved. In hindsight, these have been the most challenging and time-consuming obstacles, far exceeding initial estimates.
Acknowledgement must be given to my cousin whose keen interest in all things electronics, technical knowledge and critical feedback has been invaluable in evaluating and selecting audio hardware and is most appreciated. Their input into the design and manufacture of the 3D printed speaker mounts has also been pivotal in supporting development of these headphones and to whom I extend my personal thanks.
As a low volume specialist manufacturer, the decision to establish an online only sales platform is seen as the best way to service customers across Australia who we anticipate will benefit from the detailed images, descriptions and information contained within the pages of this website.
Should prospective purchasers require further assistance or clarification, feel free to reach out via the Contact Us page.
Aurumax is proudly based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder Western Australia, the gold capital of Australia.