I have been watching this thread and not keen to get involved as I find the R-22 headset problem depressing. But I guess I should as in my experience I haven't had an R-22 that haven't had issues with Lightspeed.
I am a great advocate of Lightspeed and their headsets, but not in my R-22.
I have had a Zulu in my R-22 and have had enough problems with it to make me not be willing to fly with the Zulu.
I have had 3 Lightspeed ANR headsets, since the original 20XL, and cosider Lightspeed to be a great company with great products.
The Zulu in my 22 had an intermittent loud sound (not at all like the transient sound if an ear cup shifts on the ear as you turn head - I have seen this occassionally and it is a non issue for me). The loud sound prevents hearing ATC comms and lasts a couple of seconds.
I sent my first Zulu back to factory and it was returned with no improvement (and no communucation from factory as to if the found anything wrong so I assume they tested it and found no fault with headset).
As prob continued I complained to the factory and they arranghed for me to swap my Zulu over at local dealer for a slightly used later serial number set. This was much better but did not eliminate the problem.
So from my view Zulu is a GREAT headset but as is well known the R-22 can be a cantankerous beast when it comes to headsets.
Just out of interest my original Lightspeed 20XL mic would not work at all with the first R-22 I flew. Lightspeed suggested it was that some R-22's are wired so the Lightspeed mic does not get power and I should make up my own short adaptor (NATO plug to the Lightspeed 2 jacks) but reverse the mic wires. Immediately this fixed the problem and mic worked perfectly. I have never seen an authoratative explaination as to why some R-22's have so much prob with headsets but anecdotal info is ?some R-22's have a wiring prob as per above.
Of interest I have never had a problem with DC headset in R-22. Seem to work every time.
John
Last edited by rjtjrt; 8th September 2010 at 22:32.
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