I have a Lightspeed Zulu tat I like a lot. I had an early Lightspeed ANR for the right seat but it took a dump. I have two early non ANRs for the back that I seldom need to use.

I am thinking of getting a good pair and non ANRs for the right seat. I am usually by myself so paying over 500 bucks is probably not going to happen. I would like some responses from pilots that actually use or have used what I am talking about.

You can’t beat the David Clark H1013.4 for a non ANR headset IMO. I used one for years before I switched to ANR. I still have 2 of them that I’ll probably keep forever to let passengers use. You can buy them new for a little over $300 or less if you find a used set.

Why not install this kit into your early lightspeed headset. Have a decent ANR headset for a $169

http://www.headsetsinc.com/anr_kits.html


Very easy install with basic soldering skills, really only uses the shell of your headset. Miles better than any price passive headset.

My go-to work headset was my DC H10-60s with coil cord. 60 below to 120 above, sat on, stepped on, cargo loaded on, treated like crap...

They always work, and for me comfortable enough for lots of 8+ hour flying days. My pair is 30 years old now, at least, and still look like new.

Gump

I second the DC 10-13.4. I have two of them, one which I converted several years ago with the Headsets Inc. ANR conversion kit. I think highly of both the headset and the conversion. The benefit of the DC 10-13.4 over other DCs is that it's a few ounces lighter--and that's noticeable at about the 1 1/2 hour mark in a flight.

Before I converted the one headset to ANR, I added the Oregon Aero hushkit and comfort kit to each of them. I highly recommend the OA hushkit to improve clarity (it's primarily better insulation, both more and different type) and the comfort kit to improve (wait for it) comfort--it really makes a difference to have better ear seals and head cushion. After the conversion, I took the hushkit and comfort materials out of that one (except for the head cushion) and installed them on my original DC 10-40 (the predecessor to the current DC 10-30, which is now DC's entry-level headset).

Cary

I wonder why DC makes bothe the H1013.4 and the H10-60. It is hard for me to see a real difference

My father gave me a David Clark H10-30 headset as a gift when I soloed in 1979, long before ANR and they are still going strong

qmdv wrote:I wonder why DC makes bothe the H1013.4 and the H10-60. It is hard for me to see a real difference

I believe the 13.4 is the newer one. It's lighter weight, slightly lower noise reduction (23dB instead of 27dB reduction), fully flexible boom, and a single volume control rather than the dual volume control on the 60. The cord on the 60 is also easily replaceable (unplugs from the ear cup).

But I still feel the same way - it seems that they are close enough together to only make one. Personally, I like that the green ear cups on the 13.4 are a matte finish while the 60's are gloss. Gloss looks old fast. Also the fully flexible boom is nice.

I think the 13.4's are great and are what I used until I got my A20. I will forever have them for a passenger or backup. DC customer service is awesome with free repairs.

-Asa

Cary wrote:I second the DC 10-13.4. I have two of them, one which I converted several years ago with the Headsets Inc. ANR conversion kit. I think highly of both the headset and the conversion. The benefit of the DC 10-13.4 over other DCs is that it's a few ounces lighter--and that's noticeable at about the 1 1/2 hour mark in a flight.

Before I converted the one headset to ANR, I added the Oregon Aero hushkit and comfort kit to each of them. I highly recommend the OA hushkit to improve clarity (it's primarily better insulation, both more and different type) and the comfort kit to improve (wait for it) comfort--it really makes a difference to have better ear seals and head cushion. After the conversion, I took the hushkit and comfort materials out of that one (except for the head cushion) and installed them on my original DC 10-40 (the predecessor to the current DC 10-30, which is now DC's entry-level headset).

Cary

+1. Did exactly the same thing, got exactly the same result. In fact my Bose A20 is out of action at the moment and I haven’t suffered at all switching back to the ANR fitted DC’s and the DC’s have never been out of action.

Before you replace the headset that took a dump.... have you talked to Lightspeed?

I bought a Zulu headset second hand, and after a few years it was really rough. I sent it to Lightspeed and for 100 bucks it came back looking like new.

Just a thought.

Jeff

noodles wrote:Before you replace the headset that took a dump.... have you talked to Lightspeed?

I bought a Zulu headset second hand, and after a few years it was really rough. I sent it to Lightspeed and for 100 bucks it came back looking like new.

Just a thought.

Jeff

They are old XL's 18 years pluss

Another vote for DC here.
Ive got a 20 year old set of 10-13.4s w/ the Headsets Inc ANR kit for me, and another DC (-60s?) With the Hush Kit for the F.O.