When the S706 s docked to the cradle you need something to act as an antenna (bad desigin Sony!) but you don't need the NC022 earphones (although they will work) - anything metalic (I just tried it with a pair of sissors!) will do as long as you poke it in a couple of millimeters and allow it to touch one side (circular - no sides - DOH!) of the earphone jack. Without anything touching the earphone jack you won't hear a thing - not even hiss - so there must be some switching circuit in the WM. Give it a go - the combo makes an awesome radio.