I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a new ANR set.
Done the due dilligence on the net, & tried to search on here, it seems most have a good impression with the Lightspeed Zulu's. Spendy, but since I have trouble understanding human voice tones with background noise, it seems the thing to do! I (& others) get tired of saying/hearing "say again"!!

What I'm wondering, is current opinion on the new Zulu2 effectiveness. I've read rave reviews, neutrality between brands/models, and complaints about Zulu durability (although that seems to be older Lightspeed products).

Imagine ... asking for opinions!

I like my Zulus, however I found the Bose ANR worked better during a side by side. That said, IMO my DC's are the best for quietness. They are just uncomfortable.

If you go with Zulus, make sure you take advantage of their buy back program. They gave me something like $200 for a 20 year old pair of DCs. Made it worth while.

Greg-

I had a pair of light speed headsets freak out in my twin...during final approach into Honolulu. Lost comms. They made a very loud blast of noise which was unbearable. They were sent back for a refund.

After that I really don't like ANR stuff. I have DC ANR but use passive in the Scout.

My $0.02.

I am a Zulu 1 owner and have been happy with its great noise canceling ability, and though it had to go in for a repair once, Lightspeed's customer service is excellent.

At the Northwest Aviation Expo last week I tried the Zulu 2, Bose and the new Sennhieser S-1. Though I was not in an aircraft there was a noisy simulator next to the exhibit and with crowd noise I think I was able to get a fair Idea for comparison. These headsets are all within $100 dollars of each other. I would without question buy the Sennhieser S-1. In comfort and apparent build quality, they are all so close that it wouldn't matter, but the S-1 is noticeably quieter. It has better passive and active noise reduction. The Zulu 2 was not noticeably better than my Zulu 1 and was slightly better than the Boise for noise reduction. I have tinitus and years of damage from the sirens of firetrucks and ambulances, motorcycle and aircraft noise and these tired old ears are ready to drop a grand and move the Zulu over to the passenger seat. IMHO.

I bought Zulu 2 because that's what I could get when I got them. I would have bought the Sennhieser S-1 had I been able to get them. That was poor planning on my part really. I needed them on a two day express. So, the S-1s have a HiZ kick in the upper human voice range. If anybody wants to swap, my Zulu 2 are nearly new and I have the box etc. I'll swap them if you don't like your Sennhieser S-1. Oh, and the Zulu 2 are just fine if I don't find a trade. I hear stuff good even in the Luscombe with utility interior and straight stacks

EB

I'll never go back to passive after using ANR's for a couple years. I use my Zulu's on longer flights but always seem to grab my Bose X's if I'm doing a check flight or a quick circuit.. Not sure why, just seem a little less fiddly.. My auster is so loud your ears would bleed without ANR headsets! I think I'd go the A20's if I had spare $$.. The plugs on my trusty old DC's are starting to tarnish and the ear seals are leaking goo everywhere..

Zulus, hands down, you'll throw the Bose in the trash if you have to fly a noisy airplane, and especially if the batteries take a dump. When I was flying in the Skyvan in Alaska my batteries would last less than 10 hours and it was unbearable when they quit with the Bose. The batteries would last at least 30 hours or more with the Zulus, and if they died it was just an inconvience. A loud environment is where they really shine.

NC: Just wondering who you talk with from your plane? Rolly? Nick? Maybe Mary to let her know when you want dinner?

Hard to believe there is a noisier plane than a 185 and I loved my Bose Xs. No battery issues as they were hardwired.

Zulu's for me as well. And since I'm redoing my panel I'm adding in Lemo connectors in the front, will buy two new Zulu's with Lemos so I no longer need worry about batteries, and move the current Zulu's for the backseaters (no Lemos).

I've had nothing but DCs until I bought some really cheapies ($80 each) for the occasional 4th passenger or little kid, a year or so ago. I bought my first DC 10-40 (predecessor to the 10-30) in 1979, which is still going strong--and after it was damaged in the late 80s, DC repaired it at no charge, which sold me on their customer service. I bought my first DC 10-13.4 a couple of years later and my second 13.4 about 8 years ago.

My only complaint about the DCs was that on long flights (all day), their comfort level went down. So I modified both 13.4s with Oregon Aero comfort/hushkits, and for several years, I was totally satisfied with the DCs.

But as my hearing slowly deteriorated, I was having trouble understanding ATC, but I wasn't ready to spring for any of the 1 AMU headsets. So instead I bought a Headsets Inc. ANR modification for my original 13.4, and quite honestly, it's every bit as good as any of the Bose versions--I've flown with them, except for the latest A20 version. I have not flown with Zulus or the Sennheiser. The Zulus don't fit my ears well, and I haven't had any opportunity to try out the Sennheiser except at OSH, which isn't realistic.

With the OA comfort items and the HI ANR conversion, I have a terrific headset, comfortable in all respects for all day flying. The HI upgrade uses much better sounding ear speakers, and the ANR works very well in my noisy little airplane. The conversion is easy, if you can solder wires together or onto a circuit board. Battery life is good, around 25 hours, but they have a feature that they don't advertise--if the ANR shuts down due to a low battery, there's another half hour available by just turning it off and back on. They also offer a panel plug (not the same as the high end headsets), but I haven't bothered to have it installed.

My $.02.

Cary

Thanks for all the replies, but there doesn't seem to be much agreement!
Like most (expensive) thngies, whatever I buy I'll be delighted with. (tsk) Some are light or quiet, some are comfy, some have good service, & ONE even buys back the old greenies!

Ford, I once tried to talk to a blu/wht 185 I was following around. No, I don't talk to the characters you mentioned. I do like to yack with a wingman, and I had a helluva time getting out of Kraploops once when there was a lot of traffic. I wqas scared to lift off the river 'cuz I couldn't understand 100% what was going on.

Logan,
I went through the same decsision process as you several years ago. I took a BIG wad of cash to OShkosh with my mind made up with buying the Bose. I was smart enough to try all the different manufacurers headsets before spending that 'wad' of cash. I walked out of there with Zulu's. I actually felt they were the better headset and I saved a few hundred dollars. Sort of like optics in that everyone's eyes see differently, as do your ears. Fit and sound may be better with one brand over the others. Try several and see what 'fits' you the best.

Back to my HI comments: With all the bells & whistles (unified cable which they call an AMP cable, auto-shut off battery box, pouch for the battery box), you'll only spend $200 to convert your own headset. The OA comfort items will run you another $100. So for $300 and an hour of your time to do the conversions, you'll have as good a headset as the 1 AMU versions--only thing you won't have is Bluetooth.

Of course, if you don't like your current headset, that's a different story.

Cary

Just get some Zulu's and don't look back. I haven't tried all of the others, who has? But before settling on Zulus, I tried Bose, DC, DC ANR conversions, and several others. The Zulus came out on top every time so that is what I bought for the 2 front seats. The back seat headsets are DC passives and work fine for the few times more than two seats are full.

Cary wrote:So for $300 and an hour of your time to do the conversions, you'll have as good a headset as the 1 AMU versions--only thing you won't have is Bluetooth.

I did a ANR conversion plus some comfy ear cup mods for ~$190. After doing the mods, I decided the ANR was maybe 25% of the improvement, albeit a good one (prop noise). I prefer them to some >$800 headsets I've tried, and are almost as good and comfy with the ANR turned off as the pricey ones were with the ANR on. The only issue is bulk and weight, which don't bother me. For the cost of the high dollar units, I can afford to convert the two remaining sets, and have enough left over to feed my O-470 100LL for several hours.

For the cost of the high dollar units, I can afford to convert the two remaining sets, and have enough left over to feed my O-470 100LL for several hours.

My point exactly.

Cary

I've owned several ANR brands over the years as the technology progressed, and what I've not owned of the following, I've borrowed from friends to try. I currently own two Bose-X and a Sennheiser S1 digital. The Bose-X I would not buy again for half the price, but when purchased they were supposedly the best thing going. Now there's much better.

S1 vs. Bose A20:

Side by side "hot swapping" test in my Husky - Both excellent headsets. ANR essentially the same, though the S1 has better passive noise reduction if the electronics ever go TU. S1 has significantly better voice and music fidelity (the A20 has a bassier, "muddy" low end). The S1 has bigger more comfortable ear cups and it's standard Bluetooth works with both cell phone and stereo music sources (the S1's little control panel also controls the music player of choice through blue tooth - nice). Blue tooth (cell only) on the A20 not tested, but sounds fine when I've received calls.

Zulu2:

Comfortable, good ANR (though not up to the S1 or A20). What killed it for me is the Zulu's occassional intermittent and loud growling noise when used in a louder environment (Pawnee tow plane). The growling seems to be some sort of motorboating response to ANR overload - - not acceptable.