I think the idea of a Bluetooth enabled wireless headset is cool, but I have yet to be impressed by the sound quality of Bluetooth enabled cell phone headsets. Will be interesting to see how the Lightspeed sounds. Then there's the issue of the batteries going dead, which with Bluetooth means no sound at all, whereas the 20-3G I have will just revert to passive.

You guys know of any outfit that converts mono headsets to stereo? I upgraded intercom to stereo earlier this year for the XM, but my tried and true H10-60s aren't keeping up...

Gump

GumpAir wrote:You guys know of any outfit that converts mono headsets to stereo? I upgraded intercom to stereo earlier this year for the XM, but my tried and true H10-60s aren't keeping up...

Gump

Thy these people, you can keep your old headsets, and have stereo and ANR. www.headsetsinc.com

I have a Lightspeed 20-3G and an ASA passive set.
At the time the Lightspeeds seemed to offer the most value for the money. I've been happy with them, bearing in mind my only other experience was with passive rental headsets (and the ASA's).

The ear foam quality on the LS looks a little sub optimal. I suspect it will give out sooner than other units might.

The comfort is good. Compared to my AS, I can wear the LS for hours without feeling like I've put my head into a vice. The ASA gets pretty uncomfortable after a couple hours. The LS has better noise reduction overall.

The big earcups on the LS look dorky but, while other pilots are busy laughing their collective hiney's off, they fail to notice me pogo-sticking down the runway

I have two sets of the Clark H10-13.4's (not ANR) and have been very happy with them. I spent $99 on one of those adapters that allows a cell phone/ipod interface for the rear seat (usually occuppied by one of three teenagers) and it seems to work good for ipod. They don't use the cell phone much in the plane.

Joe.

Unfortunately any adapter can only work by converting stereo to mono. The only way to make a mono headphone stereo is to split the L&R speakers into different wires and of course wire them into a Stereo plug.
The cell phone interface is good if you need to pick up an IFR clearance in the Boonies prior to departure. Not real Boonies of course, because cell phones don't work there, but you get the idea.

I have had my new lightspeed zulu headset for a month or two now it wins hands down. In my opinion. Also I've used pilot headsets for the past 15 years, and they are really good headsets for the money and their customer service in my experience has been excellent. I have broken the wires in my jacks. The few times all of which was probably due to my abuse and in all cases pilot repaired them at no charge. Also, as stated here before the lightspeed customer service definitely is top notch as well

This thread reminds me of a Centurion I shared the ramp with at Whitehorse. They had a homemade ANR headset for the DOG! They also had oxygen plumbed to a dog-sized veterinary anesthesia mask. Pretty good deal for the dog- better than that recent video of the jerks pulling a loop with their dog in the rear seat

Oh yeah- my Flightcom Classic ANR's have been pretty satisfactory. Easy to use compact battery box, reasonably good passive reduction, and sturdy. One issue I've had on two ocassions now (same headset, same ear cup if I remember right), is a really high-pitched, screeching whistle. Seemed to always happen at the worst moment, like coming into the pattern, or approaching some busy airspace like Anchorage. Each time I sent it back and they fixed it, but last time it cost some bucks. I think their warranty is only good for three years. The ear seals are foam, which I find more forgiving in the winter, but my sunglasses temples let some noise in, and after too many hours in them they do start feeling like a vise.

I have Bluetooth-- however, the dentist sez two more office visits & it'll be cured.......

We bought Lightspeed 20XL's in 2000. they've been repaired and upgraded for free and continue to work very well. We've had nine hour days in the 185 and I can't emphasize the comfort enough. I wear DC ANR's at work, and while they are nice, I like my Lightspeed better.

I too have had great luck with Lightspeed and their service. I've used their headsets in a variety of aircraft ever since they first hit the market, and have always been pleased with them.

The only down side to Lightspeeds is that their passive attenuation isn't the best, so if the batteries die, it gets noisy. I understand the Zulu headset fixes that issue, though, and I plan to trade my 30 G 3 set in on a Zulu headset as soon as that program starts.

I've used the new Bose in several airplanes, and frankly, if you have rather large ears like me , they just plain suck. I've heard the Telex 50s are great headsets, but heavy.

a64, Headsets' stuff interferes with radio telemetry signals. The dang things emit rf and that interferes with some of the equipment I fly with. Most folks wouldn't be able to tell, but I chased that one around for weeks after one of my observers added one of those gizmos to his helmet .

I'll stick to Lightspeed.

MTV

Love my 20-3g Lightspeed.

I have 3 of there less expensive sets, the QFR solo.

Get this. A person selling me the QFR solo tells me I can save money by going to this airport and buying a different brand built by Lightspeed. I didn't do it but it was a nice gesture.

I go to the Portland factory to buy. I have never been treated better by any business!

I tried every headset I could find at Osh 05, and bought the Sennheiser ANR as it covers every issue. Its light, comfortable, and the price was about 250.I have 2 other Telex ANR models and won't wear them myself..Anita said she would buy me any set for my birthday, even Bose..I think Sennheiser are the most for your money, and wouldn't let her spend 1k for Bose BS.I can get a big screen for that price..

I have both the Lightspeed 20 3g and the Telex 50, and the Telex is by far the quieter headset. It's so quiet that I'll often forget to turn the ANR on, because even with it off it's quieter than the Lightspeed with ANR turned on. It's also more comfortable than the Lightspeed, especially after about the third hour.

The only thing I don't like about it is the dorky cord and ill conceived battery box. They could have done a lot better with that design. Regardless, I think they're THE premium headset out there.

I've never tried the Bose, but there's no way in hell I'm going to pay a thousand dollars for a headset I can't even plug my ipod into.

Pacific Coast Avionics has a set of anr`s that they say is the best on the market for the money. I was thinking about getting a set $289. But wondering how they work. Has anyone tried them. doug

Excuse me i posted the wrong price. There $199.

Tempdoug,

Your signature should give you all the information you need. A $199 ANR headset is unlikely to compare favorably with a set costing three to four times as much. In that price range I'd look at a passive set of David Clarks instead.

I have a couple of 20 3 G's and love them.. I have not done any comparisons yet but in my Beast, the noise level without headphones on is alot worse then I thought it would be. You cannot carry on a conversation with the people sitting right next to ya. The Lightspeeds do a great job of cancelling out the roar. I guess thats the price of having alot of horsepower barking up front. On a side note, my neighbor has a L-39 jet and while flying with him his 1000 dollar Bose's felt right but IMHO not worth the money.

jmtgt wrote:I have a Bose and Telex 50. The Bose is very comfy but not quiet enough in my Maule. The Telex is bulky but very comfy. Just as good as the Bose. The noise reduction on the Telex is much better than my Bose. The Telex has an inline music and phone adapter. I have used the phone one just for fun but do not like my cell in the plane. The music part is great and sounds very good to my bad hearing ears. I use the Telex 100% of the time and let my passengers use the Bose. I was going to sell the Bose but my Dad did not like that idea since he gets to use it now.

I just got a Telex 50D as a passenger headset, but had to try it out to compare it to my Bose. The Telex is slightly heavier and more bulky but noticeably quieter. In fact, I like it so much I might have to trade in the Bose on a second Telex.

Many headsets have been tried and the winner is AuriComm. Because they are very small and light you wonder why folks wear those big ones and pay over 1000 dollars for them. A hat and glasses are no problem. These are not ANR but are quiter. They come with both foam and rubber ear plugs. The only downside is you have to put them on BEFORE you take off , less than 50 seconds. Use your computer to read about them.