ANR Headset "airline type" for G.A

[jeff64]

Hello

I want to change my headset and buy an ANR one. I am a private pilot and fly mostly DR400.
I am thinking of an headseat with small ear pieces like the ones in airline aircraft (for example the Sennheiser HMEC 25-CAP)
Does the ANR is okay for using on a SEP or Do I need an old fashioned big ear with ANR ?

Hope you understand me, I'm french and not the best english student of time

[172driver]

pas de probleme avec le Franglais ;-)

I think you'll find that an 'airline type' headset isn't going to give you enough hearing protection. Don't forget that the GA ANR headsets achieve their damping by a combination of passive and active noise reduction. I also doubt that the ANR in a headset that's been conceived for the cockpit of an airliner works on the same frequencies as one that's made for GA. Simply put, a prop and piston engine produce a different kind of noise to the wind rushing along a pointy nose.

To cut a long story short - buy a Bose-X, best investment you'll ever make

[1800ed]

I'd agree with the above. he Bose-X headset is the best I've ever had the pleasure of using.

[Jofm5]

Jeff,

I disagree with the above, I bought the HMEC-25 ANR on ebay (£180) and have had absolutely no problems with them and excess noise even when for one flight I forgot to switch the ANR on. In my experience they are a very good and are not heavy or too tight like others that I tried.

I have used them in 2 different PA-28-140 and 2 different PA-28-161's and found them comfortable with the audio very clear and never had readability issues with ATC. With the ANR on enough engine noise comes through that you can still judge RPM by ear. Not sure how the DR400 compares noise wise in the cockpit to the Piper's, might be best you borrow some first before investing.

Cheers

Jof

[toolowtoofast]

I have used the ear-plug type ANR set in my 206. It was really effective, but easily knocked out, then difficult when busy to reset in my ear properly - this could lead to an overwork situation very quickly.

I much prefer my David Clark X11's. At least then when the battery runs flat, there is still (quite acceptable) passive attenuation

[englishal]

I'd go for the Lightspeed Zulu rather than than the Bose-x. Provides excellent clarity, very good ANR plus has bluetooth so you can link to your phone. Not to mention ipod input with auto muting when there is radio traffic. Oh and it is cheaper than the Bose-x.

(I've used both by the way and although the Bose is great and a little lighter, it is no better than the Zulu...)

[jeff64]

thank you all for your advices. Will try both and will see
Thanks

[S-Works]

I have a set of the HMEC 25's and they are tragic in a light aircraft. They do not cut any of the background noise out as they have zero passive attenuation. Because they are subject to the high noise of a non pressurised aircraft the battery life is alos tragic.

I use the Bose-X for private and work flying and they have proven to me priceless in terms of performance. They have suffered a very hard life over the years and I have finally managed to get the cabled that connects to the LHS ear cup to develop a break which gives an intermittent failure of the ANR. So off to HS at Shoreham for repair. I have been lent a set of the lightspeeds while the Bose are away for repair and can say I am quite impressed. The ANR is not bad at all, certainly in the Bose league and the Bluetooth is a very cool function. I have my iPhone connected to it and it BT streams music and the phone nicely. They are heavier than the Bose and a slightly more bulky but not show stoppingly so.

It would be a hard choice for me to choose between them. I think only brand loyalty would take the edge on the Bose for me if I was buying again.

[Wrong Stuff]

I have been lent a set of the lightspeeds while the Bose are away for repair and can say I am quite impressed. The ANR is not bad at all, certainly in the Bose league and the Bluetooth is a very cool function.

The Lightspeed Zulu headset, presumably? If you're nearly swayed, they must be good.

[IO540]

Based on using the bose-x for 8 years and the Zulu only briefly, I think they are probably comparable in performance, but the bose-x definitely wins on long flights. The other day I did a 7:10 nonstop flight and felt absolutely no discomfort from the Bose. Their price is obscene IMHO but for some totally weird reason nobody has yet made anything as good and as comfy.

The bluetooth feature is IMHO of questionable value, because the scope for listening to music in the air is limited - in any real flying scenario there is too much radio activity. I would not spend any money on it - unless one wants to use a bluetooth equipped satellite phone when airborne.

[S-Works]

in any real flying scenario there is too much radio activity.

I don't know what you define as a real flying scenario, but I managed to spend most of the day yesterday flying with the radio switched off!!! It was rather pleasant to have some music playing low in the back ground, just enhanced what was a perfect day bouncing from private strip to private strip in the Auster.

I would not disagree with your comment on the Bose headset, I spend 8hrs a day with them on my head when at work. But I do have to say the lightspeeds have impressed me so far.

[172driver]

But I do have to say the lightspeeds have impressed me so far.

Well, if Mr. Bose himself says so

[Fuji Abound]

I would not disagree with your comment on the Bose headset, I spend 8hrs a day with them on my head when at work.

Yes, but you cant really disagree give your pseudonym.

[S-Works]

LOL. It would indeed take something very impressive to move me away from the Bose headsets. But I have to say the lightspeeds are close which did surprise me!!

[Waveman]

I have HMEC25's from the day job and have used them in light aircraft too. They're not really suitable for a PA-28 but the quieter cockpit of the DR400 makes them usable and I find the battery life is good too.

[wbryce]

Bose-X!

I use it for private flying and in the 737, fantastic headset.

[Kolibear]

I bought a couple of pairs of Lightspeed Zulus earlier in the year and they are well worth the money. I tried the Bose' - they were very good too but what swayed me was a review in L**P which put them at No 1 and the metal headband. I thought the hinge was intrustive & could scratch the inside of a canopy.

Mrs K likes them too as she can plug her iPod in & listen to that.

But I think there is so little to between them that it comes down to personal choice.

[Mike744]

I'm very happy with the performance of the Lightspeed Zulu though I don't use (or particulary want) the bluetooth facility - which I feel sure would greatly impact on the battery life. Care is needed when placing the headset back in its case because you can get accidental power up - although it does have a timer to auto shutdown after a period of non-activity so that shouldn't drain the battery. The power switch I think needs either a plastic guard or to be countersunk sufficiently so preventing accidental operation.

Lightspeed advertising does somewhat bull-up the hi-fi quality of the headset for music use but comparing it with non-aviation hi-fi headphones I thought it was just a little better than average (though their LRC processing improves the experience). Unsurprisingly though in comparision with my Sennheiser HD600 it looses out bigtime
I'm happy with the ANR performance and the comfort of the Zulu, it does exactly what I bought it for