Active Noise Reduction headsets ...
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Join Date: May 2003
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Active Noise Reduction headsets ...
... like the BOSE-X ones I read about everywhere.
A simple question (from an equally simple bloke) : can you still hear important external noise (eg, the stall warner / gear horn etc), and if so, how ? Why does the ANR not cancel it all out ?
Sorry if this is a boring one, but it puzzles me ....
FF
A simple question (from an equally simple bloke) : can you still hear important external noise (eg, the stall warner / gear horn etc), and if so, how ? Why does the ANR not cancel it all out ?
Sorry if this is a boring one, but it puzzles me ....
FF
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Don't know the technical reasons, but on my Pilot ANR headset, when activated it cuts out all the low droning frequencies.
These pilot ones have a circuit to boost the higher frequencies too (such as those that speech occur at).
I've got a feeling that the high frequency sounds occur too rapidly for ANR to cope with, hence high frequency filtering is obtained by the ear-cups themselves, low-frequencies by the ANR.
To this end, I invested in some silicon ear seals which form a better fit to my bonce than the standard foam ones.
It also had nothing to with the fact that it feels like a pair of silicon implants either side of your head ;-)
RH
These pilot ones have a circuit to boost the higher frequencies too (such as those that speech occur at).
I've got a feeling that the high frequency sounds occur too rapidly for ANR to cope with, hence high frequency filtering is obtained by the ear-cups themselves, low-frequencies by the ANR.
To this end, I invested in some silicon ear seals which form a better fit to my bonce than the standard foam ones.
It also had nothing to with the fact that it feels like a pair of silicon implants either side of your head ;-)
RH
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Quote 'Pilot ANR...'. I bet they are good.
They may be rechargeable and ... but if you seek ultimate noise suppression Bose are unbeatable.
You may rejoice at saving £300 -£400 pounds now but I bet you will pay ten times as much to recover your hearing when you can't hear a party conversation when you are 60. Think on.
They may be rechargeable and ... but if you seek ultimate noise suppression Bose are unbeatable.
You may rejoice at saving £300 -£400 pounds now but I bet you will pay ten times as much to recover your hearing when you can't hear a party conversation when you are 60. Think on.
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A simple question (from an equally simple bloke) : can you still hear important external noise (eg, the stall warner / gear horn etc), and if so, how ? Why does the ANR not cancel it all out ?
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Hopefully not, because aviation headsets use noise cancelling mikes. The mike has TWO holes in it arranged so cockpit noise enters into both of them and cancels out where the diaphragm is located.
The mike has to be oriented so that your voice goes into one of the holes and not the other.
It's an interesting question whether the stall warner etc goes into the intercom too. I don't think they do but could be wrong!
The mike has to be oriented so that your voice goes into one of the holes and not the other.
It's an interesting question whether the stall warner etc goes into the intercom too. I don't think they do but could be wrong!
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When I use my David Clarks (with ANC added) in the Slingsby I definitely can't hear the stall warner. Personally, I find it's an advantage - one less distraction during aerobatics.
You can tell when it's cose to the stall by the feel of the controls, anyway.
You can tell when it's cose to the stall by the feel of the controls, anyway.
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I have a Flightcom Denali ANR headset, bought it in the US for around $400 a few years back. Its a nice yellow colour too 
Fantastic headset, one PP3 9v battery powers it for hours (and you can carry a spare). It cuts out all the low rumble and I'll tell you what after using one on a long cross country you'll never go back. ATC is much clearer, you don't get the headache, you can still hear high frequency warnings / stall warners etc....
You can get one delivered from the USA for £300 in 5 business days at todays exchange rate, or if you know someone going over, £280ish.
Fantastic headset, one PP3 9v battery powers it for hours (and you can carry a spare). It cuts out all the low rumble and I'll tell you what after using one on a long cross country you'll never go back. ATC is much clearer, you don't get the headache, you can still hear high frequency warnings / stall warners etc....
You can get one delivered from the USA for £300 in 5 business days at todays exchange rate, or if you know someone going over, £280ish.
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I'm pretty sure I can even hear windnoise when the ANR's are turned on, unless it's just my tinnitus that isn't being drowned out by the motor. Anyway, ANR headsets should be the first thing any young pilot buys. If their hearing hasn't already been permanently damaged by the amplified musak of the day, a cheap passive headset and a lycoming up front will do the job shortly after. Hearing is so easily damaged and doesn't tend to come back.
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Sorry, what did you say?
When I started fixed wing lessons fifteen years ago I was lucky to be able to afford the lessons in a Cessna 150. Headsets were out of the question and we had the overhead speaker at full volume. I think my ears are still ringing from that.
I've got a nice set of David Clark ANR, and the robbie I train in has the Bose - both EXCELLENT. When I upgraded headsets several years ago I donated my old headsets to the 150 so the next kid that comes along won't have to endure what I did.
I've got a nice set of David Clark ANR, and the robbie I train in has the Bose - both EXCELLENT. When I upgraded headsets several years ago I donated my old headsets to the 150 so the next kid that comes along won't have to endure what I did.
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We have 4 Boxe X headsets in our plane. We had the battery part built into the aircraft so the box that controls the unit. (Which is actually a slim little thing now on the latest ones) is empty.
Two things that I would tell you to be careful about..
1. If you have the Bose 'prep' in the plane. Be v. careful when other people use the headset. They tend to try to force the pins in and bend them. Also when they get out, I often have to remind them that they still have the headset attatched to them. If you don't they will walk of and destroy your headset.
2. Target for thieves! (ebay is a great place to get rid of stolen stuff without getting caught if your wondering where the market for stolen Bose headsets is!)
TD
Two things that I would tell you to be careful about..
1. If you have the Bose 'prep' in the plane. Be v. careful when other people use the headset. They tend to try to force the pins in and bend them. Also when they get out, I often have to remind them that they still have the headset attatched to them. If you don't they will walk of and destroy your headset.
2. Target for thieves! (ebay is a great place to get rid of stolen stuff without getting caught if your wondering where the market for stolen Bose headsets is!)
TD
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Had an audiogram done in my medical last week and I am convinced that the AME used noise cancelling headsets 'cos I couldn't hear a thing!
He did quirkily state that the requirement for the most effective ANR headsets diminishes proportionately with age and thus inversely with the ability to fund them.
Lightspeed ANR 30g are a delight and allow all those little extraneous noises like..... Terrain - Terrain...... Glideslope - Glideslope........ Pull up - Pull up .......to filter through without creating a major distraction.
He did quirkily state that the requirement for the most effective ANR headsets diminishes proportionately with age and thus inversely with the ability to fund them.
Lightspeed ANR 30g are a delight and allow all those little extraneous noises like..... Terrain - Terrain...... Glideslope - Glideslope........ Pull up - Pull up .......to filter through without creating a major distraction.
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The aircraft powered Bose headsets do have flimsy plastic connectors.
Really curiously, the connectors which are made by LEMO appear very hard to get. One can get every other size (pin count) in that exact Lemo range very easily (RS, Farnell etc) but that particular pin-count I haven't found a source for yet. If the connector breaks, the likely bill is over 100 quid.
Bose are the best for performance, but aren't built like a tank. That's why one must not lend them to other people, and one must explain to each passenger that the thing costs nearly 800 quid (at which point their jaw drops to the floor, expecting something like £20) so "please be really careful with it".
Really curiously, the connectors which are made by LEMO appear very hard to get. One can get every other size (pin count) in that exact Lemo range very easily (RS, Farnell etc) but that particular pin-count I haven't found a source for yet. If the connector breaks, the likely bill is over 100 quid.
Bose are the best for performance, but aren't built like a tank. That's why one must not lend them to other people, and one must explain to each passenger that the thing costs nearly 800 quid (at which point their jaw drops to the floor, expecting something like £20) so "please be really careful with it".
