Headsets
Not well informed on the open/closed ear design. The Sennheisers come in the 45 and 25 model BUT the model is either a HME or HMEC. Then there is active and passive.
I'm so confused. I think you're right Flash. I'll use the .05 cent solution until I figure all this out.
Keep the debate coming please.
Gup
I'm so confused. I think you're right Flash. I'll use the .05 cent solution until I figure all this out.
Keep the debate coming please.
Gup
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Little Hunk-a-hunk-of Elvis,
I got a Pandoras box a few years ago and they are absolutely awesome. The old one was, as Flash indicated, ergonomically inept at times but VERY nice. It is so cool to be walking around the house with a cd player on the belt pumping Floyd through the Pandoras Box which your guitar is plugged into. You are TOTALLY mobile. Way nice. I bought mine after seein Rich Hawley's a few years back in SEA.
PT
I got a Pandoras box a few years ago and they are absolutely awesome. The old one was, as Flash indicated, ergonomically inept at times but VERY nice. It is so cool to be walking around the house with a cd player on the belt pumping Floyd through the Pandoras Box which your guitar is plugged into. You are TOTALLY mobile. Way nice. I bought mine after seein Rich Hawley's a few years back in SEA.
PT
Join Date: May 2001
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Ear mold thingy with the foam ear plug in the other ear works like a charm for me. Descending at 280KIAS vs barber-pole tends to make a huge difference as well.
I tried my Dave Clarks and they worked great as well - only thing was the flight attendants kept making fun of my "headset-head". I've already got too many things for them to make fun of so I decided to go back to the company issue.
Speaking of "company issue", do any of you have the black V-neck sweater that the FOM states is company issued? Starting to get chilly down here in MCO and that sweater sounds perfect. I must have been absent the day they issued it .........
I tried my Dave Clarks and they worked great as well - only thing was the flight attendants kept making fun of my "headset-head". I've already got too many things for them to make fun of so I decided to go back to the company issue.
Speaking of "company issue", do any of you have the black V-neck sweater that the FOM states is company issued? Starting to get chilly down here in MCO and that sweater sounds perfect. I must have been absent the day they issued it .........
Join Date: Jan 2000
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PPRuNers,
If I told you the law says that an employer needs to supply the instrumentalities to make a workplace safe and that medical research now claims that constant exposure to 70-80 db range causes long-term hearing maladies like tinitus (sp?) and that the 737 cockpit is 84-90 dbs, would any of you feel SWA should be buying our ANR headsets?
What if I told you that Don Renfro was fired by John Kramer from the Aeromedical Committee because he pushed for a study of the impact of noise in the 737 cockpit on SWAPA members. Kramer and Crum had a meal and Crum told Kramer SWA will not pay for headsets. Kramer said ok and told Don to drop it. Kramer even went as far as to change Don's RP article without Don's permission on the subject. And the board was presented with this information.
My point is this. SWAPA's mission statement says they should be on top of things that can hurt us. Why isn't the Association taking the lead on cockpit noise and the impact on SWAPA members. If it is harmful, SWA has a legal duty to provide at their expense tools for us to protect ourselves.
Or do you think we should all just pay $450 a pop every few years for the privilege of flying their noisy airplanes or go unprotected?
BTW, final fact, the AF has given disability ratings and payments for years to pilots. Many who flew the KC-135. The AF documents say that the pilots suffer from long-term hearing loss in certain freq. ranges and tinitus (ringing in the ears).
Guys, the noise and its negative effects on the human body over time is real. Fly with Dave Wirtala if you don't believe me.
The question is should you pay or the company. Right now the company has shifted the burden to you because our union has let them even though the law is on our side.
If I told you the law says that an employer needs to supply the instrumentalities to make a workplace safe and that medical research now claims that constant exposure to 70-80 db range causes long-term hearing maladies like tinitus (sp?) and that the 737 cockpit is 84-90 dbs, would any of you feel SWA should be buying our ANR headsets?
What if I told you that Don Renfro was fired by John Kramer from the Aeromedical Committee because he pushed for a study of the impact of noise in the 737 cockpit on SWAPA members. Kramer and Crum had a meal and Crum told Kramer SWA will not pay for headsets. Kramer said ok and told Don to drop it. Kramer even went as far as to change Don's RP article without Don's permission on the subject. And the board was presented with this information.
My point is this. SWAPA's mission statement says they should be on top of things that can hurt us. Why isn't the Association taking the lead on cockpit noise and the impact on SWAPA members. If it is harmful, SWA has a legal duty to provide at their expense tools for us to protect ourselves.
Or do you think we should all just pay $450 a pop every few years for the privilege of flying their noisy airplanes or go unprotected?
BTW, final fact, the AF has given disability ratings and payments for years to pilots. Many who flew the KC-135. The AF documents say that the pilots suffer from long-term hearing loss in certain freq. ranges and tinitus (ringing in the ears).
Guys, the noise and its negative effects on the human body over time is real. Fly with Dave Wirtala if you don't believe me.
The question is should you pay or the company. Right now the company has shifted the burden to you because our union has let them even though the law is on our side.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Spectra, I'll ask our Aeromedical Committee what gives at the Dec BOD mtg and let you know.
Tripwire, Try this:
http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_...&category_id=6
This thing rocks and can even be played out thru your stereo. It's amazing how much better you can get playing to a drum pattern.
Flash
Tripwire, Try this:
http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_...&category_id=6
This thing rocks and can even be played out thru your stereo. It's amazing how much better you can get playing to a drum pattern.
Flash
Join Date: Sep 2000
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ANR Headsets and "Hot Mic" combo
Hearing protection for pilots has been an ongoing debate for a long time. Talk to anyone who has flown Boeing 707/727/737 aircraft for 20 years or more and you'll most likely be talking to a person with significant hearing loss! Recently, I came across an article about this subject in the PHX crew lounge. It stated that OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, specifically exempts itself from this area (airline cockpits) and will not write regulations for mandatory hearing protection as they do for other work places. Sounds like the ATA (Airline Transport Assn) may have done some serious lobbying to be granted this exemption.
Having said that, it would seem incumbent on the airlines to make an effort to protect their pilots. I was at Oshkosh this year and talked to the Sennheiser guys. They said that Boeing makes a switch for the yoke or comm panel that will make "HOT MIC" available without using rubber bands. It is available but Southwest just won't buy it. How much could it cost to protect the hearing of the best pilots in the US airline industry?
How many of you out there, when lying down in a quiet room, can hear a ringing or pinging sound that can vary in pitch or type of sound? (Rushing, roaring hash, pinging, etc.) Or, how many of you are being told by your spousal unit to turn down the TV? How many of you think to yourself about how people seem to mumble more these days and can't enunciate well. Most of us have a measurable high frequency loss which makes many words sound like mumbling because we don't hear the entire word, just the low and medium frequencies. These are all signs of hearing loss.
There are some great new headsets out there on the market when combined with the switch that Boeing makes could eliminate hearing loss from this job. Now, does the company care enough about us to at least help us state a goal and meet the financial aspects of that goal? If SWA would just fund the switch installation and let us choose and buy the headset we prefer it would be a giant gesture of goodwill. Later, after further study, the company, along with the pilots, could decide on the best headset for our operation and negotiate a low price that should be paid for by the company but could be shared in the beginning to get the ball rolling.
I have had regular hearing tests done and have kept them in graphic form. If enough pilots do the same then perhaps some day a class action lawsuit could be brought to all the airlines stating that while the technology existed to have saved the hearing of their pilots, these airlines kept silent and did nothing. It would be far less expensive for airlines to provide hearing protection for pilots than to pay for expensive digital hearing aids and damages payments for loss of the ability to enjoy life as others do who weren’t harmed by their workplace and management policies.
I have paid for my own headset even though I would have preferred the company to do so. Now, I really enjoy the noise levels I get when my FO has an ANR headset as well. These headsets also have noise canceling mics so the level of "hiss" is quite low when the hot mic is in use. When an FO is using only a Plantronics earpiece it helps him hear the hot mic but it makes my hearing less than desirable because the Plantronics mic is not very noise canceling, but still better than going without. When two Sennheiser units are used together with "HOT MIC" it is like conversing with your FO in a living room. It's GREAT!
Tori:
Having said that, it would seem incumbent on the airlines to make an effort to protect their pilots. I was at Oshkosh this year and talked to the Sennheiser guys. They said that Boeing makes a switch for the yoke or comm panel that will make "HOT MIC" available without using rubber bands. It is available but Southwest just won't buy it. How much could it cost to protect the hearing of the best pilots in the US airline industry?
How many of you out there, when lying down in a quiet room, can hear a ringing or pinging sound that can vary in pitch or type of sound? (Rushing, roaring hash, pinging, etc.) Or, how many of you are being told by your spousal unit to turn down the TV? How many of you think to yourself about how people seem to mumble more these days and can't enunciate well. Most of us have a measurable high frequency loss which makes many words sound like mumbling because we don't hear the entire word, just the low and medium frequencies. These are all signs of hearing loss.
There are some great new headsets out there on the market when combined with the switch that Boeing makes could eliminate hearing loss from this job. Now, does the company care enough about us to at least help us state a goal and meet the financial aspects of that goal? If SWA would just fund the switch installation and let us choose and buy the headset we prefer it would be a giant gesture of goodwill. Later, after further study, the company, along with the pilots, could decide on the best headset for our operation and negotiate a low price that should be paid for by the company but could be shared in the beginning to get the ball rolling.
I have had regular hearing tests done and have kept them in graphic form. If enough pilots do the same then perhaps some day a class action lawsuit could be brought to all the airlines stating that while the technology existed to have saved the hearing of their pilots, these airlines kept silent and did nothing. It would be far less expensive for airlines to provide hearing protection for pilots than to pay for expensive digital hearing aids and damages payments for loss of the ability to enjoy life as others do who weren’t harmed by their workplace and management policies.
I have paid for my own headset even though I would have preferred the company to do so. Now, I really enjoy the noise levels I get when my FO has an ANR headset as well. These headsets also have noise canceling mics so the level of "hiss" is quite low when the hot mic is in use. When an FO is using only a Plantronics earpiece it helps him hear the hot mic but it makes my hearing less than desirable because the Plantronics mic is not very noise canceling, but still better than going without. When two Sennheiser units are used together with "HOT MIC" it is like conversing with your FO in a living room. It's GREAT!
Tori:
Moderator
PT, do you have or have you tried the "Pandora's Box"? I'm thinking about getting one from Santa, but haven't talked with anybody that's really played with one. Sorry for thread creep and thanks in advance.
Did you ever get the Pandora? I've had a PX-4 (the latest one) for about a year now, and it's the second best, guitar related accesssory that I've bought, next to my Traynor tube amp.
It sounds awesome, and Flash is right, the rythym patterns are great for improvisation practice, and are customizable for temp and key. I use it on the road as well as at home when the famly units are asleep. I've even recorded with it directly patched into my Fostex digital multitracker.
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I have a Sennheiser HMEC 300 ANR headset. It's great, very comfortable and great noise reduction.
German made and about USD$500. Not the cheapest.
It is a bit hungry on batteries, but also can be easily wired into the aircraft power source.
I also have a Lightspeed ANR headset it also quite nice, light, good battery life, comfortable. And resonable price.
Lightspeed
Sennheiser
German made and about USD$500. Not the cheapest.
It is a bit hungry on batteries, but also can be easily wired into the aircraft power source.
I also have a Lightspeed ANR headset it also quite nice, light, good battery life, comfortable. And resonable price.
Lightspeed
Sennheiser
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I have heard that if you fly turboprop with an anr headset you can't hear the props if they go out of sync. This could be a good thing for you (as the pilot) but maybe not for the pax.
However- I think they're a great idea!
However- I think they're a great idea!
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I have a collection of sets from Altronics cheapies, to DC 10-30s, to the DC ENC. On any given day I will jump from a piston single, to a pressurised turboprop, to a piston twin; and the DC ENCs are simply fantastic in all environments. I would like to try a Bose too, but I am very happy with the DCs. You need to find someone who has a type you think you want and borrow them for a days flying - there is no other way to really test whether they will deliver what you want.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Buy a decent headset. Don't be cheap and get one of those DIY ANR kits that requires a soldering iron. You are wasting your time.
ANR is the best thing that has happened to headsets. I fly most of my hours in a multi-turboprop and have owned ANR for the last 2 years. The best NZ$1000 I have ever spent. Period.
I have used several ANR headsets. Here's my 2 cents on the best ones:
BOSE X: By far the best, but also the most expensive. I have used the BOSE X in pistons and multi turboprops and it's absolutely superb all round. Nice and light, magnesium at the top etc. Very confortable. Very expensive.
TELEX 4105: This is the one I have now. I bought this one because it offered EXACTLY the same noise reduction numbers (passive and ANR dBs) as the Bose, but half the price.
It is not as good looking. The Telex sets are a bit clunky and heavier than the Bose, but it depends how much you want to spend. Who cares what you look like wearing it? It's all about preserving your hearing.
Also, the Bose chews through the batteries by comparison. The Bose X that I have used (which belongs to a mate of mine) only gets about 20 hours flying per 9V batt.
The Telex 4105 that I have gets 50 hours flying per 9V batt.
Also, don't be a cheap b*stard when it comes to buying batteries. I use the Duracell 9V which by far gives me the longest life. I have tried all the others. The only one that comes close is the Energiser E2, but I find the Duracell is better.
Bombay
ANR is the best thing that has happened to headsets. I fly most of my hours in a multi-turboprop and have owned ANR for the last 2 years. The best NZ$1000 I have ever spent. Period.
I have used several ANR headsets. Here's my 2 cents on the best ones:
BOSE X: By far the best, but also the most expensive. I have used the BOSE X in pistons and multi turboprops and it's absolutely superb all round. Nice and light, magnesium at the top etc. Very confortable. Very expensive.
TELEX 4105: This is the one I have now. I bought this one because it offered EXACTLY the same noise reduction numbers (passive and ANR dBs) as the Bose, but half the price.
It is not as good looking. The Telex sets are a bit clunky and heavier than the Bose, but it depends how much you want to spend. Who cares what you look like wearing it? It's all about preserving your hearing.
Also, the Bose chews through the batteries by comparison. The Bose X that I have used (which belongs to a mate of mine) only gets about 20 hours flying per 9V batt.
The Telex 4105 that I have gets 50 hours flying per 9V batt.
Also, don't be a cheap b*stard when it comes to buying batteries. I use the Duracell 9V which by far gives me the longest life. I have tried all the others. The only one that comes close is the Energiser E2, but I find the Duracell is better.
Bombay
Join Date: Mar 2000
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DIY kit is brilliant
I purchased the DIY kit over the net direct from Headsets Inc for the princely sum of $250. It included a new cable and an auto off device to save battries when left on accidently. this is about $150 cheaper than I could get the same kit in Oz. I installed the kit in my DC 13.4's.
I fly piston twins and single turbine, and the results were brilliant! These kits only take away the low frequency noise, i.e. prop noise and piston noise. So for the first time in your career, you will be able to hear people talking behind you in the aircraft. However the real benefit is the reduced fatigue on your brain after a long day in the saddle.
The battery problem is easily solved by using rechargable batteries. But you need to spend the bucks on good rechargeables, which means Nickel metal hydrides. Nicad's just don't cut it.
I have never worn the Bose's, but comparing mine to a mates factory DC anr's, neither of us could tell the difference.
I fly piston twins and single turbine, and the results were brilliant! These kits only take away the low frequency noise, i.e. prop noise and piston noise. So for the first time in your career, you will be able to hear people talking behind you in the aircraft. However the real benefit is the reduced fatigue on your brain after a long day in the saddle.
The battery problem is easily solved by using rechargable batteries. But you need to spend the bucks on good rechargeables, which means Nickel metal hydrides. Nicad's just don't cut it.
I have never worn the Bose's, but comparing mine to a mates factory DC anr's, neither of us could tell the difference.