The Zulus are great but I'm in the same camp and Hotrod. My old sigtronics, copies of DCs, are good enough for me. I put a hushkit on them and now I prefer the fit over the Zulu. The Zulus are quieter but not by a large enough margin to make be spend the $. I'm going to buy a couple used sets of DCs and install hushkits for the back seats. I'd like to give the headsets inc ANR kit a try. I'm hoping to find a 6-place intercom with Bluetooth and crew mode so not having Bluetooth headsets won't be an issue.

Lightspeed Zulu!

I have had mine for over a year and love them. My partner has Bose, we traded out for a long day of flying and both agreed we liked the Zulu better. Easier on the head and ears. Battery seems to last FOREVER! Occasionally I just change them because I can't believe they last this long.

I would buy them again in a heartbeat!

whee wrote: I'm hoping to find a 6-place intercom with Bluetooth and crew mode so not having Bluetooth headsets won't be an issue.

I have a 6-place intercom new in the box that I'll sell for cheap. The brand is DRE. It doesn't have Bluetooth but it does have aux input/music channel.

Why 6-place for a 4-place aircraft? You gonna smuggle somebody in the way back?

Absolutely agree that the first best thing to do is try each set that you like, and make sure it's comfortable over the long haul--not good to get on the ground after a 3 hour leg, feeling as if your head's been in a vice for awhile.

That was exactly the way I felt with my first DC 10-40 (predecessor to the 10-30), purchased in 1978. Otherwise, I liked it. I still have it, upgraded with the Oregon Aero comfort and hush kits, for the backseat passenger. DC repaired it once at no charge, after it was damaged by being dropped in the early 90s--one speaker quit working, but instead of just replacing that speaker, they literally replaced everything but the headband--mic, wiring, both earcups--really amazing service, which is why I am a real DC fan.

While that 10-40 was off to DC for repair, I ordered a new 10-13.4, because it was lighter and frankly I didn't expect DC to repair the old set so quickly--but they arrived the same day. Then in 2005 in an effort to persuade Marilyn that she should fly with me, I bought a new 10-13.4--didn't help--she still hates to fly. So the 2 10-13.4s became the front seat headsets and the old 10-40 went to the back seat.

But although the 10-13.4s are more comfortable than the old 10-40, they're still only good for a couple hours before they get uncomfortable (DC has made some more recent comfort changes, so that may not be true of the latest versions). So I ordered comfort and hush kits from Oregon Aero for one of the 10-13.4s, and it proved to be so comfortable and provided more passive noise cancelling that I ordered a second one for the other 10-13.4. That worked well for long trips, comfort wise. But after a whole day of flying, I had some residual rushing sounds in my ears for awhile afterwards.

After several years of being satisfied with the 10-13.4 with the OA mods, I realized that I was having to ask ATC to repeat too often, but I really didn't want to spend $1100 to replace my 10-13.4 already equipped with the nice OA mods, so I ordered a Headsets Inc. ANR conversion kit. Easy to install, that was the cure for not understanding ATC. The only downside is that the OA hush and comfort kits have to be removed (found that out when the kit came). The ANR requires less insulation (supplied by HI) and a thinner earpad to work properly. So I pulled those from the 10-13.4 and put them into the old 10-40, and ordered a thinner comfort earpad from OA for the 10-13.4. Now I have a good ANR headset, which is very comfortable. No residual rushing sounds, no discomfort, even after a long day of flying, like 7 or 8 hours.

I have compared my modified headset with the Bose X in my airplane at cruise, and mine is every bit as good. I have not compared it to any of the Zulus or the Bose A-20. But I am totally satisfied with mine, now. The HI conversion is quality--better speakers (music sounds very good), good wiring, easy to install. With the HI provided insulation, the passive noise cancelling isn't as good as it was before the mod, but it's much better than the Bose's passive noise cancelling--which is almost non-existent. Battery life on any ANR is affected by the activity, so that if music is played a lot, the battery will die sooner. When the battery dies on the HI, turning it off and then on again restores the ANR for about 20-25 minutes, plenty of time to finish shooting an approach. I ordered mine with the auto-shutoff feature, which has saved a lot of $$ on batteries!

So my suggestion is that if you have a headset that you like, but that it could be more comfortable and quieter, get the OA comfort and hush kits. If you'd like it to be even quieter, get the thinner OA ear pads and the HI ANR conversion kit. Instead of spending $1100 for a new headset, it'll cost you $52 for the OA earpads, $169 for the HI conversion, for a total of $221 plus shipping. If you opt for the HI extras (auto shutoff battery box, AMP cable, battery box holder), that's another $51. If you want a panel-plug instead of the battery, that's another $39, but you won't need the ASO battery box or battery box holder, saving $29. Then it's just a matter of spending an hour or so installing the kit into your headset, and if you go for the panel-plug, having your AI install it.

Cary

I'd really like a panel mount intercom; DRE only makes portables, right? I'm going to install a 5th seat like is available in a Maule.

whee wrote:I'd really like a panel mount intercom; DRE only makes portables, right? I'm going to install a 5th seat like is available in a Maule.

I don't think you can do better than a PS Engineering intercom. Mine is part of my PMA6000B audio panel--very definitely a superb intercom. Honestly, the only trouble I ever have is when a passenger forgets to move the mic close to their lips, a la Hollywood.

Their PM1200 for experimentals is a 2 place intercom which can have up to 6 additional places added. Not cheap, but then quality is never cheap. Their PM500EX for experimentals is a 4 place, but I can't tell if it can be expanded to a 5th place.

Cary

whee wrote:I'd really like a panel mount intercom; DRE only makes portables, right? I'm going to install a 5th seat like is available in a Maule.

It's the DPE Symphony 468. I think it's about 2008 vintage. Sorry for the hijack, we'll take this to a back channel.

umm...im a bose guy...but next i think im gonna try the zulu's...most people really like 'em

Another vote for the Lightspeed Zulus. I have worn a few different ones on occasions when I didn't have mine for whatever reason. The Lightspeeds are far and away the most comfortable of the ones that I have worn, including Bose and DC. The way I can tell is that I put them on and forget that I have them on.

I didn't think that I would need the Bluetooth feature, because I have no desire to take phone calls or pipe in music when flying, but it did come in handy activating an IFR clearance when departing from a non-towered airport.

The missus bought them for Christmas for me when I was getting my PPL. I have been very happy with the operation and comfort. Like someone else mentioned, the battery seem to last forever also.

JB

Echoing above, you need to try them all, then decide.

As an example, I've had or have the Bose X, Bose A20, DC Pro-X, Zulu PFX, and DC 10-13.4. I use the A20, wife likes the DC Pro-X, daughter likes the old Bose X, son like the DC 13.4. Crazy, but they've all tried them all.

DC is bulletproof. Great passive NR, but once you've flown with good ANR, they're not even close. I've done the earplug thing, and it's probably the best at absolute noise reduction, but I don't like wearing earplugs that long.

Bose X is great if they fit. My head and ears like them, but not everyone's do.

Bose A20 is *much* better than the already good Bose X. ANR is phenomenal, passive is marginal. No Bluetooth music, but you can buy a BT dongle from Bose that works well, or just use the included cord to connect to your device.

Zulu PFX: Really wanted to like them. Bought at OSH and flew hometown SoCal with them. Super comfy, but the batteries didn't last past Idaho. Had to use my Bose X for the rest of the flight home. Never thought I'd need batteries (4 of them) in less than 14 hours. Returned them and bought the A20.

DC Pro-X: My work headset. Great in jets, let's me slide one earpiece off slightly to adjust the amount of ANR on that ear so I can hear the other guy. Almost non-existant passive NR, but very good ANR. Good enough to use in the 180, which I find amazing. Not on par with the A20, but useable nonetheless.

Thanks for all the pireps! I decided to order the anr kit for david clark h10-13.4 If I'm not impressed, I'll pass them on to my wife and save some more for a bose or lightspeed.

I've tried some of the older ANR versions, never did like the Bose...just didn't "sound" right for me. Plus, once you break the ear cup seal with a pair of sunglasses, all bets are off (with both noise and comfort). I've been using Quiet Technologies' Halo for a few years and have really come to like them. They're light, don't interfere with my sunglasses, and attenuate the noise very well. The one downside I found with them was if you're doing a bunch of "strip-bagging" they can be a hassle putting in/out of your ears every time you shut down and hop out. For that, I just throw on my DCs.

I have the original Lightspeed zulus and love them , of course I love my iPod and the fact I can use my phone to call the wife if I'm flying somewhere else..
Like having a complete stereo system in the airplane you fly have also used them when going to the NASCAR races

I saw a guy wearing his Zulus on an Alaska Airlines flight the other day...sitting in coach.

Zzz wrote:

whee wrote: I'm hoping to find a 6-place intercom with Bluetooth and crew mode so not having Bluetooth headsets won't be an issue.

.....Why 6-place for a 4-place aircraft? You gonna smuggle somebody in the way back?

Two of the jacks will go into the pod he's gonna put on.

Who remembers the days when intercoms and headsets were a rare commodity? Huh?????

Ha Ha! That's why my original CFI had that greasy ball cap. To use it to reach forward and beat me over the head with when I did something stupid!

Gump

Zzz wrote:I saw a guy wearing his Zulus on an Alaska Airlines flight the other day...sitting in coach.

I may have done this a time or two...

gbflyer wrote:Who remembers the days when intercoms and headsets were a rare commodity? Huh?????

That's how I learned to fly-- through hand signals and "do it like this" demonstration. If you think riding in a J3 with no headsets or intercom is bad, try an open cockpit ultralight with a two-stroke Rotax screaming away at 5000 RPM right above your head.

Looks like I'm the only one who likes the in-the-ear Clarity Aloft. I alternate between them and Zulus. On a hot day it's nice to not have those big earmuffs on. On cold days, I like having the big earmuffs on! On long flights I get tired of either the in ear plugs and switch to the outside headset or vice versa. Just feels good to change.

I buy the Zulus used from Aircraft Spruce or ebay for $500.

I have LEMO jacks in both airplanes. No more bulky battery boxes holding dead batteries.

The Claritys are great for traveling since they're so compact. And good for hopping in a different plane without LEMO jacks. And they don't need power, so no batteries. I'm no audio expert but I reckon they cut the db's almost as much as the ANRs. Just replace the squishy tips regularly. They're cheap.

Pierre