New headset
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
That Lightspeed model:
http://www.lightspeedaviation.com/productsqfrx2.asp
Called the QFRXCc Headset
active - uses electronics to attenuate the sound; passive - uses physical barriers (earmuffs/padding) to attenuate the sound
Plenty of info out there on the net
Called the QFRXCc Headset
active - uses electronics to attenuate the sound; passive - uses physical barriers (earmuffs/padding) to attenuate the sound
Plenty of info out there on the net
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: UK
Active and Passive
It's all to do with how they keep the engine noise out. Passive headsets form a sound-tight seal around your ears, which can be sweaty and uncomfortable.
Active headsets use fancy battery-powered electronics to feed negative engine noise into your ears, cancelling the real engine noise, with no need for the seal. But they do need batteries.
You probably wouldn't want to fly with an unreliable headset, so if you go for an active set, carry a spare set of batteries and learn how to change them on the fly.
Or better still, change them on the ground before you need to.
Active headsets use fancy battery-powered electronics to feed negative engine noise into your ears, cancelling the real engine noise, with no need for the seal. But they do need batteries.
You probably wouldn't want to fly with an unreliable headset, so if you go for an active set, carry a spare set of batteries and learn how to change them on the fly.
Or better still, change them on the ground before you need to.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
I can't speak for any other brands, but the Bose warns you with a fast blinking Amber light when you are down to 8 hours battery remaining and from 2 hours remaining turns to a flashing red light. There is absolutely no excuse for running out of battery whilst airborne!
I probably need my head testing, but I have four of them, one for each seat, and they are FANTASTIC.
I probably need my head testing, but I have four of them, one for each seat, and they are FANTASTIC.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Dorset
Started with a cheap pooley's set which were ok while learning and then bought myself a Bose in the USA. Totally superb in every way. Worth the money but buy in the US. Also bought a lightspeed for the other half (who doesn't fly as much as me) and she always ends up swapping with mine as she finds them more comfortable and a lot quieter..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Oxford
FWIW, my vote is for Clarity Aloft. A lot cheaper than Bose-X, though still clearly a luxurious choice at a bit over £300. They're in-ear types, passive but with phenomenal isolation, they weigh almost nothing, and they're so comfortable that I forget I'm wearing them until I turn the master off after shutdown, and realise the instructor's lips are moving but I can't hear anything.
I got mine just after I started circuits, and the difference it made was phenomenal - RT just seemed so much easier, substantially improving my brain overload management and thereby actually making flying easier.
I got mine just after I started circuits, and the difference it made was phenomenal - RT just seemed so much easier, substantially improving my brain overload management and thereby actually making flying easier.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: UK
I can't speak for any other brands, but the Bose warns you with a fast blinking Amber light when you are down to 8 hours battery remaining and from 2 hours remaining turns to a flashing red light. There is absolutely no excuse for running out of battery whilst airborne!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Rishy,
I'll summarise in one phrase :
Hearing loss is not recoverable
Unless you want to be on hearing aids earlier than necessary, if you can afford to spend money on a good headset, then you should do so.
My first recommendation would be to make sure you buy an ANR headset rather passive. After that, choice of brand is largely down to preference and budget, but DC and Seinheisser (spelling ?) are the two most common.
Also of note, if you wear glasses (or intend to wear your favourite pair of sunglasses when summer eventually appears), try to get the opportunity to test the fit. There's nothing worse than frames being uncomfortably your temples during long XC outings.
By the way, unless Bose units work differently to others I've used, this ...
Is a load of rubbish. (to put it politely).
Good ANR headsets become passive headsets when the batteries run out ... they don't suddenly cease to be and become ex-headsets .....
I'll summarise in one phrase :
Hearing loss is not recoverable
Unless you want to be on hearing aids earlier than necessary, if you can afford to spend money on a good headset, then you should do so.
My first recommendation would be to make sure you buy an ANR headset rather passive. After that, choice of brand is largely down to preference and budget, but DC and Seinheisser (spelling ?) are the two most common.
Also of note, if you wear glasses (or intend to wear your favourite pair of sunglasses when summer eventually appears), try to get the opportunity to test the fit. There's nothing worse than frames being uncomfortably your temples during long XC outings.
By the way, unless Bose units work differently to others I've used, this ...
There is absolutely no excuse for running out of battery whilst airborne!
Good ANR headsets become passive headsets when the batteries run out ... they don't suddenly cease to be and become ex-headsets .....
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Urf
If you're prepared to wait for ebay bargains you can do well - I managed to pick up a Pilot PA17-72 ANR headset new for £125 so you don't need to pay the earth for an ANR headset. Its pretty good,, but doesn't sit that well with sunglasses, cant afford a second mortgage for the Bose ones though.
Its funny though that now I have more hours I sometimes forget to turn on the ANR & don't notice! I don't panic when the battery runs out anymore either. My instructor uses a very battered pair of passive Dave Clarkes (seemingly on principle) & still hears 1000 things I don't.. seems the main trick is to actually listen!!
Its funny though that now I have more hours I sometimes forget to turn on the ANR & don't notice! I don't panic when the battery runs out anymore either. My instructor uses a very battered pair of passive Dave Clarkes (seemingly on principle) & still hears 1000 things I don't.. seems the main trick is to actually listen!!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 326
Likes: 11
From: UK
Although I am a year (I guess) away from qualifying, when I do, I will need to equip the small boy and the other half with headsets.
The other half has very poor hearing which is deteriorating rapidly with age so presumably I should splash out on the best possible ANR kit to both protect what hearing she has and allow her to hear what's going on?
Presumably, similar logic for the ten / eleven year old as he needs all the protection he can get at that age?
Looks like I'll be stuck with club kit after buying that lot!
Any advice on this appreciated, thanks.
The other half has very poor hearing which is deteriorating rapidly with age so presumably I should splash out on the best possible ANR kit to both protect what hearing she has and allow her to hear what's going on?
Presumably, similar logic for the ten / eleven year old as he needs all the protection he can get at that age?
Looks like I'll be stuck with club kit after buying that lot!
Any advice on this appreciated, thanks.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Joe,
ANR are very good at cutting out background noise, better than any passive set will ever be ... so for people such as your other half, an ANR set should help them focus on what they need to listen to rather than trying to distinguish against background noise that creeps in.
I do see where you're coming from on the budget side of things ... I guess there are two options, second hand ANR or an "expensive" passive headset for someone .... which is likely to be cheaper than an ANR set but still give better protection than a cheapie.
Up to you in the end ....your cash, not mine.
ANR are very good at cutting out background noise, better than any passive set will ever be ... so for people such as your other half, an ANR set should help them focus on what they need to listen to rather than trying to distinguish against background noise that creeps in.
I do see where you're coming from on the budget side of things ... I guess there are two options, second hand ANR or an "expensive" passive headset for someone .... which is likely to be cheaper than an ANR set but still give better protection than a cheapie.
Up to you in the end ....your cash, not mine.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 326
Likes: 11
From: UK
That's it, I'm convinced. We were given Bose ANR headsets for the IFE on a flight back from Dallas this morning and I was hugely impressed. With ANR on, I could have my ipod at about 3/4 the volume I need it at with conventional headphones with similar earpieces (not the crummy ones that came with the ipod).
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
There is absolutely no excuse for running out of battery whilst airborne!
Is a load of rubbish. (to put it politely).
The Bose is different to most other brands. As stated, the battery warning flashes amber for 8 HOURS before it goes flat. The last 2 HOURS it flashes RED.
I will repeat my posting -
(With a Bose).....There is absolutely no excuse for running out of battery whilst airborne.
In several hundred hours I have never had an ANR failure in a Bose headset. By watching the warning light as you turn it on you can decide when to change the battery with total accuracy.
If this facility is not installed on the other brands available, I agree that ANR failure is probably inevitable at some point due to a flat battery.
(And yes, I know there were some faulty Bose where the warning did'nt work, but this was a fault, not a design feature)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: st.albans
A budget solution that works incredibly well is to bye a cheapy £50 set & get some gel filled earmuffs and exchange them for the nasty plastic ones.
I use two of these for the back seat pasengers, so when you know which flashy noise cancelling ones you want the cheapies still have a purpose.
My pref. for noise cancelling (6yrs trouble free operaration) are the pilot dnc range.
I use two of these for the back seat pasengers, so when you know which flashy noise cancelling ones you want the cheapies still have a purpose.
My pref. for noise cancelling (6yrs trouble free operaration) are the pilot dnc range.
