Headsets - ANR
Join Date: Mar 2005
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The Zulus are better for listening to your ipod though
In my humble opinion, if you are more concerned about how your ipod sounds in flight, you are not concentrating on flying the aircraft. Low time pilots need to be focussing on what they are doing, not grooving to tunes. I know long sectors get boring, but one must focus on the job at hand. Whipping out the ipod would not look good in front of PAX.
I agree with Rat. DC's complete the image. Ms AGS99 reckons they're super sexy...
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Ignore all posts in the vein of "I have passive headset and don't have hearing loss".The same attitude as "my dad/uncle/mother etc smoked all there lives and died aged 100 of old age".
High frequency hearing loss is permanent and frequently accompanied by tinnitus. the hearing loss is a nuisance but the tinnitus, whilst not the end of the world is asomething you will live to regret. Once you have either you can't go back in life and change the decisions you made.
So your parents are very sensible to insist on ANR.
As to headset only choice of two really IMO - Bose X or Zulu. I have zulu - cheaper and as good or debatably better than Bose. Rugged, comfortable and excellent active and passive attenuation.
Good luck - you have good parents.
John
High frequency hearing loss is permanent and frequently accompanied by tinnitus. the hearing loss is a nuisance but the tinnitus, whilst not the end of the world is asomething you will live to regret. Once you have either you can't go back in life and change the decisions you made.
So your parents are very sensible to insist on ANR.
As to headset only choice of two really IMO - Bose X or Zulu. I have zulu - cheaper and as good or debatably better than Bose. Rugged, comfortable and excellent active and passive attenuation.
Good luck - you have good parents.
John
Brett Mahlo and Ross Pay aren't dummies and weren't born yesterday. They have both used many, many different headsets.
If both those guys use Zulu, I am saving pennies for a Zulu.
Rat**** - I thought my X11s were.... well, rat****. sorry.
AnyGivenSunday has an excellent point about music and concentration
If both those guys use Zulu, I am saving pennies for a Zulu.
Rat**** - I thought my X11s were.... well, rat****. sorry.
AnyGivenSunday has an excellent point about music and concentration
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Wow, looks like the response has a majority in the Zulus favour... I'll keep thinking but I reckon I'll go for the Zulu's, however, still deciding! Keep your opinions coming!
I run with a Bose in the 737 for work and the cub for fun they are 1st rate, I used Sennheiser anr for a number of years and these are better; battery life and sound quality. I just wish I'd had them when flying the Electra and Herald (twin Dart powered old girl).
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Lightspeed Mach 1
Here's another suggestion: Lightspeed Mach 1. You won't get sweaty ears or "headset hair" after the third hour in the seat, and the noise attenuation is pretty good.
It's non-ANR, but good enough. Apparently the reduction in noise is not far off the ANR headsets because you have plugs in your ears..
I've been using it in fixed wings and helicopters, and it does the job very well. Sound quality is excellent, they're super light and small (much less stuff to carry around), and with the custom molded earplugs they're superb! Music/phone connectors come with it, no Bluetooth though.
It's non-ANR, but good enough. Apparently the reduction in noise is not far off the ANR headsets because you have plugs in your ears..
I've been using it in fixed wings and helicopters, and it does the job very well. Sound quality is excellent, they're super light and small (much less stuff to carry around), and with the custom molded earplugs they're superb! Music/phone connectors come with it, no Bluetooth though.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Horses for courses - it depends on what you fly.
I use Telex Stratus D50's as they are excellent in very noisy aircraft such as Beavers (radial powered). With the ANR switched on the loudest noise I hear is wind noise. However when I'm in a Caravan I often don't bother turning the ANR on - the passive noise reduction is better than most passive DCs.
I tried both the Bose and the DC X11's in the Beaver. The Bose were useless, the X11's were a little better as they provided similar attenuation to other passive headsets that I compared them with. If money was no object I would have probably get a set of X11's for the Caravan as well as they are very light and comfortable.
I have never tried the Zulu's so can't comment on them. I bought my headset to save my hearing - the people that matter don't look at the brand / style of headset to asses your flying ability.
I use Telex Stratus D50's as they are excellent in very noisy aircraft such as Beavers (radial powered). With the ANR switched on the loudest noise I hear is wind noise. However when I'm in a Caravan I often don't bother turning the ANR on - the passive noise reduction is better than most passive DCs.
I tried both the Bose and the DC X11's in the Beaver. The Bose were useless, the X11's were a little better as they provided similar attenuation to other passive headsets that I compared them with. If money was no object I would have probably get a set of X11's for the Caravan as well as they are very light and comfortable.
I have never tried the Zulu's so can't comment on them. I bought my headset to save my hearing - the people that matter don't look at the brand / style of headset to asses your flying ability.
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The David Clark X11 has a number of issues. biggest problem is they actually break. The plastic hinge that holds the earcup to the frame is breaking. The other main complaint is they seem to have insufficent volume even when all is turned up flat out but the biggest problem of all is David Clark will not allow any warrenty claims to be processed in Australia. All returns must be shipped back to the States for repair. Just rediculous. Imagine paying approx $1300 and having a problem a week later and being told it will be 3 months before you will have the headset back. Next one is the Bose. It has almost no passive noise reduction and if the battery goes flat or the circuitry fails you may as well take it off and use the speaker in the aircraft. Also the earcups are very shallow and they press on a lot of peoples ears which is quite uncomfortable. They have also had a major recall as they were flattening batteries in a few hours. The Lightspeed Zulu has become a real favourire and the Telex Stratus range has the highest nouse reduction around. Both have not had any real issues and the Zulu has bluetooth. Not sure about warrenty on the Lightspeed though as no real agent in OZ. Telex warranty definately ok in OZ. Another option is the David Clark H10-13 XL. Basically a H10-13.4 with a factory active kit fitted and not too expensive either. A great headset but not as fancy in the looks as the newer ones.
Never going back to PNR headsets. My Bose set survived my time "up norf" and I still use them over the company supplied DCs.
Hey Rat, does "Altronics green" complete the pilot image too?
Hey Rat, does "Altronics green" complete the pilot image too?
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I've been flying with the Zulu's in a Yak for the past 6 months and can't fault 'em. Tried the Bose initially but for the money the Zulu's were both better and seem tougher. Time will tell.
Active Noise Reduction. Do not waste your money or your hearing on anything without it.
This is a very uninformed statement - the "counter sound wave" is the precise means of reducing the sound "pumping through your ears".
Originally Posted by ga_trojan
That way you are doubly protected from noise, its cheaper, and additionally you won't have a counter sound wave pumping through your ears.
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To use technical terms:
Destructive Interference, where a wave in the opposite phase crosses the other wave and causes the sound/light/whatever to be nullified..
Think Physics, aren't you guys pilots or something?
Anyway, I was at work today: and I thought:
Just like the competition between CPU's in computers, you have AMD fanboys, and Intel Fanboys, no matter whether the performance on each is better.
I think i'm seeing a similar situation with the DC fanboys putting down all the other headsets because "real pilots use DC only". Maybe (big epiphany?) DC may no longer sell the best headsets?!
Maybe Active Noise Reduction is the go nowadays and maybe, just maybe, a set of spare batteries for an ANR headset in a flight bag (if the other batteries fail) could be better for you than wearing PNR headsets all your life?
Destructive Interference, where a wave in the opposite phase crosses the other wave and causes the sound/light/whatever to be nullified..
Think Physics, aren't you guys pilots or something?
Anyway, I was at work today: and I thought:
Just like the competition between CPU's in computers, you have AMD fanboys, and Intel Fanboys, no matter whether the performance on each is better.
I think i'm seeing a similar situation with the DC fanboys putting down all the other headsets because "real pilots use DC only". Maybe (big epiphany?) DC may no longer sell the best headsets?!
Maybe Active Noise Reduction is the go nowadays and maybe, just maybe, a set of spare batteries for an ANR headset in a flight bag (if the other batteries fail) could be better for you than wearing PNR headsets all your life?
Last edited by PyroTek; 4th Oct 2008 at 07:56.
Excessive brand loyalty does often tend to cloud people's judgements of other brands.. DC headsets are good, sure. But just because lots of people have them does not make them the best. There are more cockroaches on the planet than humans, but we don't claim cockroaches to be the superior life form. Remember people once thought the earth was flat.
Claiming ANR headsets are bad because the batteries might run out is like claiming engines are bad because the fuel might run out.
Claiming ANR headsets are bad because the batteries might run out is like claiming engines are bad because the fuel might run out.
I use the BoseX's and can't fault them, however I bought them and shortly afterwards heard about the Zulu's, but my decision was based on BoseX vs. X11's and the like, given the opportunity I would have probably tried the Zulus as well as they sound like a good product.
Have done 4 plus hour navs with my BoseX's and they are fantastic! Anyone who doubts ANR should take off without ANR switched on and then switch ANR on at circuit height and then tell me that ANR is useless! The difference has to be heard to be believed.
Have done 4 plus hour navs with my BoseX's and they are fantastic! Anyone who doubts ANR should take off without ANR switched on and then switch ANR on at circuit height and then tell me that ANR is useless! The difference has to be heard to be believed.
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I used ordinary DC 10-30s (which were over 10 years old when I inherited them) for many years, then got a set of DC ENCs (forget the exact model, not the 11). Have used them constantly in pistons (singles & twins), turbines (singles & twins) for the last 8 years; including some very long sectors (5+ hours). They are very very good. No faults, no failures, good battery life.
Have not tried Zulu or Bose.
Have not tried Zulu or Bose.
Last edited by Jamair; 5th Oct 2008 at 08:25.
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Lightspeed Zulus
I have used Bose and Lightspeed as well as some david clarke sets and personally i choose zulus, i have baught a set and love them, the only thing i have to say is that they feel as if they dont clamp as tight as they should. feels loose but they stay on during aerobatics. so i recomend these. 
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Yeah... it just wouldnt be the same without 'Highway to the Danger zone' 
Seriously tho... I have tried the Lightspeed Zulu and they were fantastic... however I made my own version of the Mach 1/QT Halo using a set of in-ear foam earphones (Hearing Components NR-10's with inline volume), the mic+circuitry+cables+plugs from an old telex airman 750 headset, a coathanger and some heatshrink tubing...
something similar to this guy
The earplugs are rated at 29NRR and they seem to do alright for small aircraft like 152's and 172's... I've compared them inflight to my normal PNR headset and they are quieter but they can be a bit fiddly with all the cables... definitely more comfortable tho... no headclamp, no sweaty ears/head etc...
Seriously tho... I have tried the Lightspeed Zulu and they were fantastic... however I made my own version of the Mach 1/QT Halo using a set of in-ear foam earphones (Hearing Components NR-10's with inline volume), the mic+circuitry+cables+plugs from an old telex airman 750 headset, a coathanger and some heatshrink tubing...
something similar to this guy
The earplugs are rated at 29NRR and they seem to do alright for small aircraft like 152's and 172's... I've compared them inflight to my normal PNR headset and they are quieter but they can be a bit fiddly with all the cables... definitely more comfortable tho... no headclamp, no sweaty ears/head etc...
While we are on the subject....
Anyone here have a set of 13.4's they have modified with the Headsets Inc ANR kit? I find the 13.4's extremely comfortable but the low frequency noise they let through that you get inside a C404 is almost deafening. Im wondering if this is a feasable option as I have tried the Bose X's and i found they just sit on my ears, rather than around them like the 13.4 earcups do. This was very annoying for me! And I don't even have large ears! Is this a normal fit for Bose's?
Anyone here have a set of 13.4's they have modified with the Headsets Inc ANR kit? I find the 13.4's extremely comfortable but the low frequency noise they let through that you get inside a C404 is almost deafening. Im wondering if this is a feasable option as I have tried the Bose X's and i found they just sit on my ears, rather than around them like the 13.4 earcups do. This was very annoying for me! And I don't even have large ears! Is this a normal fit for Bose's?
Chazdat, wiggle the earcups of the headset so your ears slip into them. Works for me.
Pyro, whatever you chose get a demo first. Usually you'll be able to try before you buy provided you leave your details and a few hundred $ while you're out flying. A good earseal is important. I remember when I tested the Bose and thought "these are good, not great". Then I took my sunglasses off to clean them and was plunged into almost total silence.
Pyro, whatever you chose get a demo first. Usually you'll be able to try before you buy provided you leave your details and a few hundred $ while you're out flying. A good earseal is important. I remember when I tested the Bose and thought "these are good, not great". Then I took my sunglasses off to clean them and was plunged into almost total silence.