Hello everyone.

I have been flying with a regular headphone (passive noise reduction)
and have been considering buying an ANR headphone as soon as I get my
private license.

I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset. I
know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA (Gulf
Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are they
good or will I be better off with some other one?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex Vasconcelos

Hi Alex,

I was in the same boat as you about a year ago.

I would suggest, if possible, flying with a couple of different models
before buying one. I borrowed a friend's Bose headset and tested a pair
of David Clark's. While the Bose were a bit more comfortable, they
weren't $500 more comfortable. If I flew 8 hours a day, however, I
would have bought them...

A friend who borrowed my headset, however, HATED it.

In . com> a.vasconcelos@
att.net wrote:
> Hello everyone.
>
> I have been flying with a regular headphone (passive noise reduction)
> and have been considering buying an ANR headphone as soon as I get my
> private license.
>
> I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
> and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset. I
> know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA (
> Gulf Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are
> they good or will I be better off with some other one?
>
> Any suggestions will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Alex Vasconcelos
>
>

> wrote in message
oups.com
>
> Any suggestions will be appreciated.

I haven't tried the Bose, but I did get a chance to try a David Clark model.
I ended up buying the Pilot 17-76:
http://www.pilot-avionics.com/html/html_root/freedomanr.htm

I also own a SoftComm C-90 set (now "C-300"):
http://www.softcommheadsets.com/aviation-products/html/headsets.html

Both are good, but I prefer the Pilot set for my regular flying. As far as
performance is concerned, both the SoftComm and Pilot set seem comparable to
the David Clark model I tried for significantly less money.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=4415
____________________

> I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have

I use the Lightspeed 20XLc. Here's what I don't like about them:

1. The standard foam earcups make crispy noises, and they're hard as a rock
on cold days.

2. The optional gel earcups are not crispy, but they're thinner and make the
headset too loose on my head. There's no adjustment for tightness of fit. I
had to go back to the crispy ones.

3. The volume control dongle

a. The volume control sliders slide too easily. One bump against your
leg and everything's quiet all of a sudden. I put a piece of electrical tape
on it to hold the sliders in place... looks great.

b. The ANR on-off button turns off too easily. One bump against your leg
and everything's loud all of a sudden. Not much to do about it.

c. The dongle is never where you want it. I tried holding it in my lap,
but a) and b) kept happening, so I kludged up a metal clip on the back so I
could clip it onto the map pocket... looks great.

The ANR works fine. I realize this is probably more than you wanted to know,
but the moral of the story for me anyway is to spend the money on a set that
fits well and has the controls in a sensible location before worrying about
ANR.

-Tom

--
Tom Young
t e y o u n g 1 @ c o m c a s t . n e t
(remove _this_ to reply)

Try a few different models but go for ATC intelligibility and comfort, in
that order If your hearing is crisp (you're young and haven't blasted your
ears with rock n' roll), many headsets will do, and comfort will reign
supreme. If your hearing is not good, the higher-end headsets need a listen
because (ostensibly) they have higher quality drivers in the cups and ATC
will be clearer. Shop for headsets like you would shop for a pair of
quality hi-fi speakers. Go for the sound, not the shill, no matter what
color.

BTW, I had a pair of inexpensive sets converted to ANR. Bad move; they
sounded like crap. They sounded better before and after, when I had them
"un-converted".




> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hello everyone.
>
> I have been flying with a regular headphone (passive noise reduction)
> and have been considering buying an ANR headphone as soon as I get my
> private license.
>
> I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
> and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset. I
> know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA (Gulf
> Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are they
> good or will I be better off with some other one?
>
> Any suggestions will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Alex Vasconcelos
>

In a previous article, "R.L." > said:
>BTW, I had a pair of inexpensive sets converted to ANR. Bad move; they
>sounded like crap. They sounded better before and after, when I had them
>"un-converted".

I had my Dave Clarks converted, and they're great.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Why is there only one Monopolies and Mergers Commission?
-- JNP

> I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
> and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset.

No. Have a look at LightSPEED's range at www.anrheadsets.com.

> I
> know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA (Gulf
> Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are they
> good or will I be better off with some other one?

Have a close look at the Lightspeed QFR XCc. Then look again at the
GCA...

Besides ANR, comfort is the key thing about a headset. This is
individual, but I would say you'd be hard pressed to find a better
combination of ANR, comfort and value than the Lightspeed 20XLc. I think
DC and its clone designs are WAY overpriced - and very uncomfortable,
too. But that's something to be tried. You can do that in a pilot shop -
or make use of money-back-guarantees.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

> I use the Lightspeed 20XLc. Here's what I don't like about them:

Lightspeed's newer Twenty 3G series of ANR headphones address nearly every
problem you mention (and a few you don't mention, like their poor
workmanship and durability) with the 20XLs.

I've owned Lightspeeds from their first 15s. The old ones worked great,
when they worked. The new ones are close to perfect.

I'd buy another pair of Twenty (or Thirty) 3Gs in a heartbeat.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

> Lightspeed's newer Twenty 3G series of ANR headphones address nearly every
> problem you mention (and a few you don't mention, like their poor
> workmanship and durability) with the 20XLs.

So, I get to look forward to them falling apart also? I just keep getting
happier with these things.

--
Tom Young
t e y o u n g 1 @ c o m c a s t . n e t
(remove _this_ to reply)

I have a pair of the FlightCom Denali headsets. Love them. All
leather pads that seal with very low clamping pressure, within 1 oz of
the Bose and sound great.

Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
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Thomas Borchert wrote:
>
> Have a close look at the Lightspeed QFR XCc.

Make that a *real* close look. For those that can use them, they seem to be
great and the best bang for the buck. When I tried them at Oshkosh a few years
ago, they did not seal well around glasses (the company warned about this and
had no plans to change it) and a number of people with odd-shaped heads also had
problems. If the cups don't seal well, you get a sort of "feedback" effect in
the speakers.

For that reason, I wouldn't recommend that you mail-order the things, but I
would definitely second Tom's recommendation that you try them out.

George Patterson
"Naked" means you ain't got no clothes on; "nekkid" means you ain't got
no clothes on - and are up to somethin'.

wrote:

> Hello everyone.
>
> I have been flying with a regular headphone (passive noise reduction)
> and have been considering buying an ANR headphone as soon as I get my
> private license.
>
> I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
> and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset. I
> know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA (Gulf
> Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are they
> good or will I be better off with some other one?
>
> Any suggestions will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Alex Vasconcelos
>
This has been discussed a lot of time, but here goes...

I have two pairs of the old LightSpeed 20Ks and they have worked great,
well except for a couple of occasions where they had to go back to
LightSpeed. But, overall I am VERY satisfied with them. I do not get
fatigued wearing them. LightSpeed has newer models, but right now I do
not see a reason to upgrade.

--
Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP

George,

> Make that a *real* close look.
>

Check out the GCA ones (or Marv Golden's or Avshop's or several other
"shop brands" looking similar to the QFRs). You'll find that they are
VERY similar to the QFRs - at a slightly lower price. That's what I was
trying to hint at.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:w4mie.1623$WG.1189@attbi_s22...
>
> I'd buy another pair of Twenty (or Thirty) 3Gs in a heartbeat.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

Great, send some my way ;-)

Jay,

> I'd buy another pair of Twenty
>

What do you mean, "buy"? <gd&r>

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

>> I'd buy another pair of Twenty
>>
>
> What do you mean, "buy"? <gd&r>

It *is* pretty amazing that, of the four pair of Lightspeeds in our plane,
I've only had to buy two of them.

One pair was given to me by the president of Lightspeed, and I won the other
in a drawing at the Cherokee Pilots Association fly-in at Tan-Tar-A resort.

:-)

But I did buy another pair for a wedding gift...so Lightspeed is probably
still money ahead.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

To add somthing new to this discussion, I would suggest looking into
one of the new lightweight passive headset designs. Either from
www.clarityaloft.com or the Lightflight from Lightspeed.

They both use an in ear foam seal to provide very good noise reduction(
claims to exceed ANR in some cases). I'm going from an old set of Bose
to the Clarity.

Thank you everyone for the responses.
I will take your suggestions into consideration when getting my next
Headset, hopefully here in the next two or three months.

Alex Vasconcelos.

In a previous article, "revdmv" > said:
>To add somthing new to this discussion, I would suggest looking into
>one of the new lightweight passive headset designs. Either from
>www.clarityaloft.com or the Lightflight from Lightspeed.
>
>They both use an in ear foam seal to provide very good noise reduction(
>claims to exceed ANR in some cases). I'm going from an old set of Bose
>to the Clarity.

How often do you have to replace the foam seals? I use foam earplugs at
night because my wife is a heavy snorer, and the plugs are only good for a
couple of days before they won't squoosh (sorry to get technical there)
enough to get into my evidently narrower than normal ear canals.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"Mission Control clears SMS-1 to Canaveral via thrust vectors, Up, Hold
Earth, right turns, expect further clearance in ten days."
http://www.avweb.com/news/usedacft/181561-1.html

"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
> > I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
> > and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset.
>
> No. Have a look at LightSPEED's range at www.anrheadsets.com.
>
> > I
> > know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA (Gulf
> > Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are they
> > good or will I be better off with some other one?
>
> Have a close look at the Lightspeed QFR XCc. Then look again at the
> GCA...
>
> Besides ANR, comfort is the key thing about a headset. This is
> individual, but I would say you'd be hard pressed to find a better
> combination of ANR, comfort and value than the Lightspeed 20XLc. I think
> DC and its clone designs are WAY overpriced - and very uncomfortable,
> too. But that's something to be tried. You can do that in a pilot shop -
> or make use of money-back-guarantees.
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
>

I'm just starting out as a student, but I'm planning on making myself a
reward at solo with an ANR headset. Went to the local pilot shop over the
weekend and did the examine/try on thing with several brands of headsets
(they'll also let me "test fly" a pair or 2 before purchase!). I have to
say that I wasn't impressed with the quality of the LS headsets there. They
looked really cheaply made. I also looked at the DCs, Telex's and others.
I think come time to purchase, I'll go with the Telex 4150s. Seem like a
great bank for the buck, and they're comfortable...

wrote:

>
> I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
> and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset. I
> know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA
(Gulf
> Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are they
> good or will I be better off with some other one?
>
> Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thousand-dollar sets really are better than $250 sets.

I suggest scouring the ads, including bulletin boards at your local
airport(s) to find a used set if new is truly out of the question.

Xxx,

> Thousand-dollar sets really are better than $250 sets.
>

That's not the question. The question is: Are they 750-$-better? And
that's up to the individual to decide. It's anything but clear-cut.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I have a pair of Sennheiser HMEC 300's that I've had for about a year now.
They are the only ANR headphones I've had, but I tried a pair of Lightspeeds
that another pilot in our club had, and I think these are just as
comfortable. That is, not as nice as bose, but not bad. Another guy who has
flown with Lightspeed's for a long time thinks the Sennheiser's are quieter.

The construction seems solid, no plastic parts to break. They use batteries
pretty quickly, but I plug them into the cigarette lighter so that's not a
problem.

I've been happy with them.

Brad
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hello everyone.
>
> I have been flying with a regular headphone (passive noise reduction)
> and have been considering buying an ANR headphone as soon as I get my
> private license.
>
> I would like to ask what types of tips people who have used them have
> and also whether I will really have to spend $500+ for a headset. I
> know the Bose costs $995 and that is out of my range. I saw a GCA (Gulf
> Coast Avionics) ANR for about $250. Has anyone tried these? Are they
> good or will I be better off with some other one?
>
> Any suggestions will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Alex Vasconcelos
>