ANR Headsets
Chief Bottle Washer
There is plenty on CEP's in CEP-Communication Ear Protection 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Aberdeenshire
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I have used most types, currently own DC ANR's and have used Bose Noise Cancelling, both hard wired and battery.
I now fly the 92 which has a real issue with noise, and have settled with CEP's as by far the best solution. I have two sets, Peltor and DC passive, both with CEP's fitted. It's important to find the size of foam fit for the CEP that is right for you, there are three options, it took me about a week to get used to the feeling of the CEP, but now I don't notice it, even after regularl 7-8 hour days.
My preference is the Peltor's with the CEP, just because they are lighter and fit me better, but I use DC's because the Peltor's won't work in the 92. I recently switched to the mini CEP's, which are much more comfortable, they seem to just sit better in your earlobe.
So for about $100 with a couple of spare packs of ear foams or £100 delivered (including customs tax) in the UK I think they are by far the best solution. I was also advised that they don't provide any addition benefit when used with ANR as the foam earpiece provides such good protection. Also useful that you can take off the headset and the CEP's will still provide ear protection.
This is all personal experience, I can't vouch for the science, but after long days they work for me and make the radio transmissions much easier to hear.
Customer service great too, one set became faulty after 8 months and a new set was despatched immediately, no quibbles.
I now fly the 92 which has a real issue with noise, and have settled with CEP's as by far the best solution. I have two sets, Peltor and DC passive, both with CEP's fitted. It's important to find the size of foam fit for the CEP that is right for you, there are three options, it took me about a week to get used to the feeling of the CEP, but now I don't notice it, even after regularl 7-8 hour days.
My preference is the Peltor's with the CEP, just because they are lighter and fit me better, but I use DC's because the Peltor's won't work in the 92. I recently switched to the mini CEP's, which are much more comfortable, they seem to just sit better in your earlobe.
So for about $100 with a couple of spare packs of ear foams or £100 delivered (including customs tax) in the UK I think they are by far the best solution. I was also advised that they don't provide any addition benefit when used with ANR as the foam earpiece provides such good protection. Also useful that you can take off the headset and the CEP's will still provide ear protection.
This is all personal experience, I can't vouch for the science, but after long days they work for me and make the radio transmissions much easier to hear.
Customer service great too, one set became faulty after 8 months and a new set was despatched immediately, no quibbles.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Over here
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I also prefer CEPs. ANR does well enough with lower frequencies, but can't react quickly enough to reduce high frequencies as well as I want. You can check the graphs of the noise reduction at various frequencies, and ANR just doesn't cut it at high frequencies. CEPs work better at all frequencies, and provide clearer audio for me. Plus I don't have to worry about batteries.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: In company provided housing
Age: 56
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Cheap CEPs
I had one of our avionics guys at the company base wire a mini stereo jack into both of my DC passive headsets. When you plug into the jack, the audio goes into the jack, when you don't, it functions as a normal headset.
This allows you to use ANY set of mini-stereo earbuds as CEPs. The hardware is extremely cheap, the labor is whatever you can negotiate, and the sound quality is much improved. I would not consider this to be the equivalent of professional CEP installation or equipment, but it is awfully cost effective and gets you most of the CEP bennies.
The downside of using regular earbuds is that the stems of the cords were never designed to go under earcups, therefore you might have to experiment quite a bit with how you align the earbud cords, or you WILL experience some new and troubling ear pain in a relatively short amount of time.
But the benefits of CEPs are still there, as it was explained to me a long time ago, they enable you to back the volume WAY down and audio clarity still goes WAY up.
Whether you can stand another set of wires running down your neck in a hot and sweaty cockpit is for you to decide...
This allows you to use ANY set of mini-stereo earbuds as CEPs. The hardware is extremely cheap, the labor is whatever you can negotiate, and the sound quality is much improved. I would not consider this to be the equivalent of professional CEP installation or equipment, but it is awfully cost effective and gets you most of the CEP bennies.
The downside of using regular earbuds is that the stems of the cords were never designed to go under earcups, therefore you might have to experiment quite a bit with how you align the earbud cords, or you WILL experience some new and troubling ear pain in a relatively short amount of time.
But the benefits of CEPs are still there, as it was explained to me a long time ago, they enable you to back the volume WAY down and audio clarity still goes WAY up.
Whether you can stand another set of wires running down your neck in a hot and sweaty cockpit is for you to decide...
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: who knows....
Age: 38
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I have to agree, CEP's are the way to go, but I don't like the idea to have additional wires around my neck'.
Also, being a copilot in EMS ops sometime I have to jump off the cabin quite fast, and I'm sure sooner or later I will forgot to disconnect the CEP jack and screw up something when I pull off the headsets from my head.. LOL
Anyway, I'm waiting to receive a ANR conversion kit to upgrade my trusty and old D.C. headset (actually they are older than me! ) .
If you want I can take some photos during the installation and share with you my impression about this kind of conversion.
Also, being a copilot in EMS ops sometime I have to jump off the cabin quite fast, and I'm sure sooner or later I will forgot to disconnect the CEP jack and screw up something when I pull off the headsets from my head.. LOL
Anyway, I'm waiting to receive a ANR conversion kit to upgrade my trusty and old D.C. headset (actually they are older than me! ) .
If you want I can take some photos during the installation and share with you my impression about this kind of conversion.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Aberdeen
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"Customer service great too, one set became faulty after 8 months and a new set was despatched immediately, no quibbles."
Where did you get yours from? I've seen them on Communication Earplug Kit for $139. I also looked on the CEP website briefly but couldn't see an ordering page.
Also, what kit did you order for the Peltor (I have a spare Peltor headset I'm going to modify for use on the EC225)?
Thanks.
Where did you get yours from? I've seen them on Communication Earplug Kit for $139. I also looked on the CEP website briefly but couldn't see an ordering page.
Also, what kit did you order for the Peltor (I have a spare Peltor headset I'm going to modify for use on the EC225)?
Thanks.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: LOS
Age: 67
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Just received my shiny new Bose A20's. Flew with the Bose X for the last 5 years in the 61 and other than a few snags I was generally happy with them.
The one thing that took a bit getting used to was that the side tone was low, so I always found myself talking louder than necessary.
I can confirm that the new A20 is an improvement to the X. The ANR is noticeably better, the side tone is what I would call normal now and the comfort/fit is better as well. The annoying easily moved volume wheels on the X have been addressed as well. One interesting thing is with the X when you stored it the ear cups were spring loaded together, which in the tropics meant that the sweat was trapped. The A20 design prevents the ear cups contacting each other when its in the storage bag, so I think that will help.
The one thing that took a bit getting used to was that the side tone was low, so I always found myself talking louder than necessary.
I can confirm that the new A20 is an improvement to the X. The ANR is noticeably better, the side tone is what I would call normal now and the comfort/fit is better as well. The annoying easily moved volume wheels on the X have been addressed as well. One interesting thing is with the X when you stored it the ear cups were spring loaded together, which in the tropics meant that the sweat was trapped. The A20 design prevents the ear cups contacting each other when its in the storage bag, so I think that will help.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: who knows....
Age: 38
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I got the kit from this site:
ANR Headsets
Nice guy to deal with.
I did the installation in a pair of DC 10.00 ( headphones only ) I have fitted a mic boom from from another pair of DC I had before and the game was done!
I got also the super comfort head cushion and undercutted ear seal from D.C.
Tested in a 109 doing EMS and I love them! the difference is like night and day, the comunications are much better now, and most of the noise is gone. Even if the battery goes down you still have a pair of "passive" David Clark so the quality is not bad at all!
ANR Headsets
Nice guy to deal with.
I did the installation in a pair of DC 10.00 ( headphones only ) I have fitted a mic boom from from another pair of DC I had before and the game was done!
I got also the super comfort head cushion and undercutted ear seal from D.C.
Tested in a 109 doing EMS and I love them! the difference is like night and day, the comunications are much better now, and most of the noise is gone. Even if the battery goes down you still have a pair of "passive" David Clark so the quality is not bad at all!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Over here
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CEP-USA isn't really set up as a retailer, but you can buy directly from them, and unlike most manufacturers/wholesalers, cheaper than from a reseller. The list of products with part numbers is here, and you have to email or telephone them for prices and for ordering. The email address is on the home page, as well as on the contact page. I've found them excellent to deal with.
