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Whirlwind THS 3 Talkback Headphone Announcer Console — main product image
Whirlwind THS 3 Talkback Headphone Announcer Console
Whirlwind THS 3 Talkback Headphone Announcer Console
Whirlwind THS 3 Talkback Headphone Announcer Console
Whirlwind

Whirlwind THS 3 Talkback Headphone Announcer Console

Purpose-built for the booth: the Whirlwind THS 3 delivers broadcast-grade mic control and dual headphone monitoring in one silent-switching console.

$588.00*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:May 27, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Whirlwind THS 3 is a talkback and headphone management console designed specifically for the demands of sports announcing positions — a workflow where signal path cleanliness, switching reliability, and monitoring flexibility aren't optional features, they're baseline requirements. The passive Mic Out is the sonic centerpiece: by keeping the on-air mic path free of active circuitry, the THS 3 ensures that whatever character your microphone has is what hits the board, with no added noise floor or coloration from an active output stage. Coupled with completely silent mic output switching, it's built for the moment when going live means exactly that.

Monitoring is where the THS 3 earns its place in a professional booth setup. Separate left and right headphone amps with individual volume controls, plus the ability to route two distinct headphone signal inputs to either or both ears, gives an announcer the kind of granular mix control that lets them balance program audio against a producer IFB in real time without asking for a board adjustment. The active Talkback Out adds a further layer of operational control — a separately leveled path back to production that stays completely independent of the broadcast feed. The build reflects Whirlwind's reputation for road-worthy reliability: this is a piece of gear intended to sit in a fixed announce position and perform identically on game one as on game one hundred.

Key Features

Separate left and right headphone amps with individual volume controls

Two headphone signal inputs can be assigned to either or both ears

Passive Mic Out for on-air reliability

Mic output switching is completely silent

Active line level Talkback Out with level adjust

Mic On, Cough and Talkback switches for control

Specifications

Mic Output Type
Passive
Talkback Output Type
Active, line level
Headphone Amplifiers
2 (left and right, independent)
Headphone Inputs
2 (assignable to either or both ears)
Controls
Mic On, Cough, Talkback switches; individual headphone volume controls; Talkback Out level adjust
Mic Switching
Completely silent
Brand
Whirlwind
Model
THS3

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Passive Mic Out keeps the on-air signal path clean and free of added active-stage noise — what you send is exactly what the mic produced.
  • Completely silent mic switching eliminates the risk of audible transients reaching the broadcast feed when toggling on-air status.
  • Dual independent headphone amps let each ear carry a different source mix, enabling the professional split-cue monitoring setup standard in sports broadcasting.
  • Active Talkback Out with level control gives a separately adjustable IFB path to production without contaminating the main mic output.
  • Dedicated Cough switch provides a discrete, instant mic cut that announcers can hold without committing to a full mic-off state.

👎 Cons

  • No onboard phantom power documented, which limits condenser microphone compatibility without an external phantom source in the chain.
  • Designed specifically for sports announcing workflows — the feature set is narrow enough that it offers limited utility outside broadcast commentary or similar on-air positions.
  • Passive Mic Out, while sonically clean, offers no output gain trim, so gain staging must be managed entirely at the receiving console or interface.
  • The physical form factor and switch layout prioritize fixed-position studio use, making it less suited to mobile or roving broadcast rigs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Passive mic outputs preserve signal integrity by introducing no active circuitry that could add noise or coloration — a critical advantage in live broadcast where any added noise floor is unacceptable. The THS 3's passive Mic Out means your microphone signal reaches the board exactly as it left the capsule.
It means the Mic On switch generates no audible click, pop, or transient on the output when toggled — a non-negotiable requirement for on-air work where a switching artifact would go out live to the audience. The THS 3 achieves this through relay-based or noise-suppressed switching circuitry rather than a simple hard switch.
Yes. The THS 3 allows the two headphone signal inputs to be assigned to either or both ears, giving the announcer per-ear control over program audio versus producer IFB or crowd feed — essential for a broadcast position where you need to hear two separate mixes simultaneously.
The active line-level Talkback Out routes the announcer's mic signal to a producer, director, or truck — separately from the on-air Mic Out. It has its own level adjust, so you can set it independently of the broadcast feed. This is standard practice in sports broadcasting for talent-to-production communication without compromising the on-air signal path.
The product description does not specify onboard phantom power on the THS 3. If your condenser microphone requires 48V phantom power, verify with your console or interface upstream in the signal chain, or use a dynamic mic — many sports announcers use dynamic mics precisely for their robustness in loud stadium environments.

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