Lightspeed headset overhaul

[AerocatS2A]

Hi all,

I have a Lightspeed Zulu headset that needs the cord replaced/repaired, does anyone know of anywhere in Australia that can do this?

[Ultralights]

i had mine overhauled at concept at Bankstown (where i bought mine all those years ago), or just email them direct and they will tell you where to send it.

[Radix]

..........

[Trent 972]

Concur. Follow the procedure at Lightspeed (http://www.lightspeedaviation.com/content/lightspeedaviation/CustomPages/Customer-Care/Request-Service.htm).
I couldn't be happier with the service I received.

[Ilikeflying]

You can also use Skype to freecall them directly in America.

[drunk_pilot]

Quality Avionics in Archerfield are the Lightspeed repairer.

[Horatio Leafblower]

Go through Lightspeed's website. You will need to enter the headset's serial number (found under the headpad) and you're away.

I bought my first Zulu in 2009 and it went back for a birthday in March this year - the cord was replaced completely (including the controller) at no cost, and it was back to me in a couple of weeks. Couldn't be happier. We were sent Emails at every stage of the pocess so we knew exactly when it was received, when it had been assessed, when it was finished and when it had been dispatched.

Second Zulu (2.0) had a crackle in it somewhere and same story - there and back in about 2 weeks and at no cost.

We sent a Sennheiser away at the same time as the first Zulu. Although the repairs were carried out at no cost, I had to chase and chase to get some confirmation that they indeed had the item. This was never confirmed by Sennheiser (or as we now say around here, Sheissenheiser) until after the unit arrived back at the office. :(

[RHSandLovingIt]

I had a mixed experience... Had the cables on the 4.5yr old Zulu starting to fray/split.

They were happy to repair for free (organised via website as mentioned above), and after shipping to their service centre in Brisbane (Quality Avionics), I got an email saying as much and that they estimated the repair would be done and shipped within 3 days...

and that's when things went a little pear shaped. One week later I asked if it had been completed and shipped back, only to be advised that they were "waiting on a part" !!?!

Wouldn't really have been a problem, had I not been home only for 3 weeks before travelling back overseas for work... Which requires use of my headset most days! :(

They eventually got it done and even attempted to expedite the shipping back to NZ using Fedex, only for someone to screw up and fail to mark the package as a warranty repair and it got held up by NZ customs and I was unable to get it back before departing.

So, I cant even comment on the quality of the repair, as I'm still attempting to negotiate release of the package without paying GST/Duty... Using 3rd world internet :-/

[AerocatS2A]

Thanks all. I'll chat to Lightspeed, not sure why I didn't do that in the first place!

[deadcut]

Has anyone had the foam pads split at the bottom on the inside? Along with flaking of the material.
Pretty annoying as it is starting to interfere with the ANR. Planning to contact lightspeed about it but I fear that they will just tell me to pound sand as it is a "consumable".

The headset is about 1.5 years old and I have flow about 500 hours with it.

[LeadSled]

Or you could buy a headset that doesn't have all these problems.

I have oen DC, it has had how may years use I can't recall on an airline flight deck, plus just about every other aircraft I have flown in the last 25+ years --- and not a single problem.

I have a second one that is "only" about 20 years old, not so much intensive use, again never a problem.

There must be some reason why so many airlines and military use DC??

Tootle pip!!

And, by the way, their warranty backup us superb, an acquaintance ran over their flight bag, didn't do the headset much good. No problem, DC replaced it under warranty/

[AerocatS2A]

I used to have a DC noise cancelling headset and I just didn't like it. Too heavy and when it brushed the top of my lifejacket the noise cancellation would get momentarily screwed up.

[Horatio Leafblower]

How many hours has your DC headset done in those years, Leadsled? :suspect:

I also have a DC 13.4 that is very robust; even it has needed the occasional replacement mic and headpad and ear seals every 3-4 years.

I vastly prefer my Lightspeed, however.

Tootle pip.

[The name is Porter]

I'm tipping that leadsled is recommending DC's because he doesn't need noise cancelling anymore, i.e. He's already industrially deaf!

[bolthead]

Sheissenheiser. That must be the German translation for my experience with NZ Customs. Complete crap.

I sent a $10,000 navigation computer back to its NZ manufacturer for repair (marked as such) after the screen failed the first time I used it.

After 2 or 3 months seized by Customs they sent it back to me. So I hand delivered it. Maybe its a method to boost tourism?

Don't waste your time reading the tosh on their 'make a complaint' webpage. The whole experience was pathetic.

[Ixixly]

Couldn't agree more with the majority here, had a problem with the wiring on my LightSpeed, admittedly it may be more my fault for getting it caught in the door one too many times but they were more than happy to repair them for free, sent to Brisbane and service was great, came back almost as good as new!

[LeadSled]

Re. time with the DC, at a guess around 10,000 h. Amongst other attributes, it had the right TSO.
If I had had one years before I did, I would not have the degree of industrial deafness I do have, along with roughly 100% of my contemporaries --- but headsets were "not the done thing" in Qantas in those day, use the overhead speaker and a hand held mike.
However, it only took one successful case where a pilot won substantial compensation for industrial deafness for the Qantas "policy" to do a 180, and make noise cancelling headsets mandatory overnight.
However, I have always found the noise attenuation of the DC better, and I could hear on HF when nobody else on the flight-deck could make head no tail of said HF.
Tootle pip!!

[Left 270]

Just put new earmuffs on my Z2 lightspeeds which had about 800 hours on them and I couldn't believe the difference it made!! Must be X5 quieter now, will be doing it more regularly for sure

[rubberprune]

My Zulus were 10 years old with 500 hours. The rubberised material had become sticky and the cables were cracked. The stickiness I could remove with isopropyl alcohol and elbow grease. The cables I'm not clever enough to replace.
I wrote to Lightspeed asking for the name of the Australian repairer as I was aware from this thread that there was someone in Brisbane or Sydney who did authorised repairs. I was more than happy to pay for the shipping and repairs in order that I keep the headset from landfill. Unfortunately, Lightspeed would not put me in touch with the repairers, encouraging me instead to buy a new headset. No thanks.
I sent my headset to Doctor Headset in Melbourne and John repaired it a very reasonable cost, offering to shorten or lengthen the cable if required. I recommend his service to anyone with a headset out of warranty. Costs are all up front and he's a terrific fellow with many stories about his time as a pilot and engineer in the RAAF.
The headset is working like new again, with stronger cables than original, but will be the last thing I buy from Lightspeed.

Cheers.