Lightweight Headsets

[DarkSarcasm]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this but oh well...

 

I've been looking at headsets on the internet, and I've seen some lightweight ones that look rather like Bluetooth headsets for mobiles.

 

Two main makers of these headsets are Clarity Aloft and Lightspeed.

 

My question is, has anyone got/tried this style of headset? Does the noise-cancelling work as well as in traditional aviation headsets? It seems like they would let in a lot more outside noise than traditional headsets.

 

So, yeah, does anyone out there have this style of headset and what do you think of them?

 

 

[Ultralights]

i have a set of Lightspeed Zulu, they are full ear cup headset, and the noise cancelling is Excellent! once you turn them on, its almost perfectly silent.

 

i cannot comment on the earpiece type headset, but i think they are designed for airline type environments where there is little cockpit noise.

 

 

[perthjay85]

I to looked at these headsets and from what i gathered there mainly for the more expensive planes that have much less prop noise in the cockpit. If your looking at a lightweight headset the Lightspeed Zulu's or the Bose X's are the way to go but there both quite pricey.

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

Yeah, I'm not planning on getting a headset until Christmas (or perhaps earlier if my instructor tells me to). I am looking for a lightweight one when I do get one so I'll keep those suggestions in mind. I have a scar on my head that is painful when too much pressure is put on it, so I am interested in any suggestions for headsets that don't 'clamp' so tightly.

 

I posted this mainly because I'm just curious about these new headsets. It seems to me that they wouldn't fully block out the cockpit noise so I was simply curious if anyone had tried one...

 

 

[Guest basscheffers]

These are what are called "canal phones", because you insert them into the ear canal. I have not tried these, but if they are anything like my Shure hifi canal phones, they will be much, much better than any "normal" passive headset. Also, your sunglasses won't break the seal, making them even better.

 

The main issue is if you will find them comfortable. If you can put up with wearing foam earplugs for hours, then you should be OK with these.

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

So they actually work for blocking out the noise? They seem like they wouldn't be enough...

 

 

[Guest basscheffers]

Earplugs work and so do these, for that is what they are, earplugs with little speakers built in! :)

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

haha, fair point!

 

It just seems to me that if these headsets worked really well etc, then more people (particularly professional pilots/instructors/people who fly all day) would have them, because they look like they would be so much more comfortable than normal headsets. But since they seem fairly uncommon, it makes me wonder if there's something wrong with them! But perhaps everyone is just set in their ways...

 

 

[Guest basscheffers]

90% of us seem to just buy a David Clark and be done with it, so stuck in their ways is probably a factor. But it is also that they are not well known. It is only since a few years that canal phones for iPod, etc. use are being marketed to consumers and the aviation headset makers are definitely reacting to that. They are simply very new.

 

They are also not cheap, so many people are likely to be reluctant to invest in something they have not heard from a trusted source they are any good. Best thing the manufacturers could do is send many of them out to aviation magazines so they can review them!

 

However, whether you feel comfortable with them is very personal. Nobody hates David Clarks, but I know people who have really, really tried canal phones for their iPods and just can't stand them. I only like them in very noise environments where you sit still, like airline travel, so I use my expensive Shures once or twice a year these days...

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

That's all true. They look good in theory, but whether it would actually be comfortable with earplugs in for hours at a time is another matter...

 

 

[perthjay85]

the other thing to look at was a set of these plugs that are actually moulded to your ears. Im trying to find them again because im not sure if or where there done in aus.

 

But what they do is fill your ear with some expanding gel that expands and hardens. This way it takes the exact shape of your ear. I imagine if any are going to cut out noise these would be the best.

 

I will try and find some more info on them and post it for your unless someone else already knows about them

 

Jay

 

 

[GraemeK]

I came across the web site for t-bone headsets the other day.

 

These have an individually moulded plug and there is no separate mike - it picks up vibrations from the head.

 

But for noisy piston environments, they recommend putting a normal set of ear muffs over the top!

 

 

[perthjay85]

another thing to think about is once you have got your license and if you think about a long trip is are you going to be able to stand earphones for the length of time you will be wearing them. I did consider that sort of headset but I thought about it and decided not to.

 

me personally i cant wear headphones for more than an hour without them becoming uncomfortable and I have tried all sorts of headphones with my ipod. Thats why personally im saving up for a set of lightspeed's or bose's.

 

I can wear headsets easily enough but don't like the clamping pressure either thats why I am looking into these headsets, but that is only my opinion. But if unlike me you can wear headphones for long periods of time they might be your best option.

 

 

[Guest drizzt1978]

Well don't get the Zulu 20XLC, they are awesome, block out heaps of noise, BUT they are tight to wear. So they would be uncomfortable to wear with that scar you have. For anyone else i highly recommend them, despite being ugly!

 

Let us know how you go and what choice you make.

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

Well I'm not planning (at the moment) of getting one until Christmas...but research is fun!

 

Supposedly the Lightspeed Zulu and the Bose Aviation X are meant to be lightweight and clamp less...any opinions?

 

Yeah, I'm not sure about the whole earphone thing. My iPod headphones don't go all the way into the ear like those do, and I do agree that it seems an uncomfortable prospect to have two things shoved into your ears for long periods of time. Also not sure how earwax would affect them :P

 

 

[FlyBye]

Protec Hearing

 

Have a pair of ear plugs from this guy for pistol shooting, but I see on his web site that they do have headsets as well. May be worth a call (Lex Shipp 0894483700).

 

Not shore how they will go in the tropics as even the the ordinary headset can give you some grief if you don't use the cloth covers. Hope this helps

 

 

[facthunter]

Earplugs.....

 

Used them for years, but in a relatively quiet cockpit. You have to select a size that fits your individual ear and can hardly be felt' They are just tight enough to seal and no more. I only ever used them in one ear at a time. If there is a lot of prop noise and slipstream noise, I would think the conventional type with good foam/ gel would be effective and would not have to be too tight fitting., if the pad adapted to the shape of the head without too much pressure.

 

Quite a lot of noise comes through the bone of the skull especially low frequency, so maybe a nice light helmet with phones built in, might be the go. Nev

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

thanks for the replies :) I think that when I eventually decide to buy one, I'll just have to find a shop with lots of different ones and do a massive try-on...

 

 

[poteroo]

Telex Airman ANR 850 is only 4 ozs weight - but said to be more suited to jet cockpits. Telex Airman ANR 500 are about 6 ozs, and have larger ear cups than the 850's. . Telex seem to specialise in lightweight sets - some with single earcups + in canal side. Probably worth looking more into Telex range. I originally had a more expensive Telex and loved it...unfortunately, so did some unknown thieving mongrel!!

 

My RV-9 co-pilot likes to be able to talk to me, but also is very sensitive to weight. I purchased an el cheapo set called a Flightcom F20 for US$120.00 last year in Arizona, they weigh about 4 ozs. She finds them really good, and if needed, uses earplugs + headset in noisy hired aircraft. Yes, they also have a quite acceptable mic which works well with our i/com.

 

happy listening,

 

 

[ossie]

Well I'm not planning (at the moment) of getting one until Christmas...but research is fun!Supposedly the Lightspeed Zulu and the Bose Aviation X are meant to be lightweight and clamp less...any opinions?

Yes that's right, they do feel light on your noggon.

 

I have both, and like the bluetooth feature on the Lightspeed, but for comfort I go for the Bose.

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

thanks for the replies guys :) I'm planning on going to some shops at Moorabbin airport on Saturday and just trying a whole stack on to see what they feel like

 

I'm planning on buying whatever one I choose off the internet though, seems like it will be cheaper...

 

 

[Guest markfnkl]

I recently bought a Lightspeed Zulu headset. Couple observations:

 

1. it's important to make sure you fit them properly over your head. I didn't at first and got a loud thrumming sound, presumably from the ANR [active noise reduction] feature, in the earpieces.

 

2. you have to turn the headset on, using its batteries [unless you're connected to panel power] in order for the ANR to work. After a recent flight, I realized I had never turned the headset on! Radio communications are unaffected, but it means that only the passive noise reduction was working. Even so, the noise level was perfectly acceptable. I think that demonstrates the inherent quality of the headset and is also good assurance that even if the batteries go dead during a flight, the headset will do a more than adequate job.

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

I'm glad to hear that the passive reduction is good too. One thing that I've heard with some ANR headsets is that if the batteries run out and you're left with passive, they're terrible...

 

Any tricks to fitting them?

 

 

[Guest markfnkl]

The earpieces are on sturdy sliders. Even though I'd say my head is at least average size, the best fit for me was all the way up--the narrowest setting. I'd say everyone just needs to experiment, but to err on the side of snugness.