ANR headset suggestions?

[Magnus]

I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
harder to sync the props.

On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
noice reduction off from what I understand.

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, Magnus > said:
>I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
>Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
>the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
>harder to sync the props.

That's an old wives tale. Thirty years ago people were saying you
shouldn't wear a headset for the same reasons - if you ask those people
who didn't wear a headset back then if they regret the decision, they will
reply "PARDON ME? I CAN'T HEAR YOU."

I can hear the engine just fine - actually you can hear the small
variations even better because they aren't overwhelmed by the huge
"background" noise. And you can hear the radios WAY WAY WAY better.

I have a Headsets Inc conversion of my favourite Dave Clark 13.4s.
They're pretty good, but I'm once again considering maybe getting some
Lightspeed Q30s or something equally high end.

--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"Boromir, with three arrows in your chest, you ARE the Weakest Link, g'bye!"

[Blanche]

Try as many of the headsets as you can. See which you prefer.
In addition to the ANR effect, you want comfort! Everyone is
different (head size and shape, ear placement, etc) so don't
take anyone's opinion as the way to go.

Many of the mail order shops (and possibly shop where you live)
have 30 day trail periods.

[Thomas Borchert]

Magnus,

> Is ANR worth it or not?

The only usable Richard-Collins-quote I know: "ANR is the greatest
invention with regard to comfort in airplanes since seat cushions." Worth
a lifetime battery supply in gold.

> Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.
>

Total BS. Don't discuss downwind turns with those same people, either.

Have a look at the Lightspeeds.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Dale]

In article >,
Magnus > wrote:

> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.

That's not true. You can hear things better with ANR. I surprise the
jumpers I haul when I respond to their conversations in the back of the
206. <G>

You may be surprised at some of the noises you hear when you start using
an ANR headset...things you hadn't noticed before.

> On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
> especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
> noice reduction off from what I understand.

There is no reason to turn the ANR off...unless you don't want to hear
whats going on. <G>

My first ANR set was a David Clark converted with the headsets Inc. kit.
Worked well for a couple years then it started to give me some problems.
I purchased a new DC 10-56(Helicopter type ear cups...slightly deeper)
headset. I'm very satisfied with them. I was flying a B-24 and B-17
for a couple of years. The airplanes were equipped with Bose ANR
headsets. I didn't like the Bose. Noise attenuation was OK, but the
headset itself is cheap and easily broken and it doesn't fit well and
would slip when moving our heads. With the Bose if the ANR should quit
working you might as well not have a headset on. With the DC you still
get good attenuation.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

[Magnus]

Just had a look at sportys, the lightspeed 30-3G seem good, high active
noice reduction. I guess my biggest concern now is if they are
comfortable to wear.

My roommates have david clarks with the gel, which make for a nice fit
I think, but these have less noice reduction and cost more too.

Is the lightspeed comfortable?


On 2004-03-22 12:24:29 -0500, Dale > said:

> In article >,
> Magnus > wrote:
>
>> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
>> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
>> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
>> harder to sync the props.
>
> That's not true. You can hear things better with ANR. I surprise the
> jumpers I haul when I respond to their conversations in the back of the
> 206. <G>
>
> You may be surprised at some of the noises you hear when you start
> using an ANR headset...things you hadn't noticed before.
>
>> On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
>> especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
>> noice reduction off from what I understand.
>
> There is no reason to turn the ANR off...unless you don't want to hear
> whats going on. <G>
>
> My first ANR set was a David Clark converted with the headsets Inc.
> kit. Worked well for a couple years then it started to give me some
> problems. I purchased a new DC 10-56(Helicopter type ear
> cups...slightly deeper) headset. I'm very satisfied with them. I was
> flying a B-24 and B-17 for a couple of years. The airplanes were
> equipped with Bose ANR headsets. I didn't like the Bose. Noise
> attenuation was OK, but the headset itself is cheap and easily broken
> and it doesn't fit well and would slip when moving our heads. With the
> Bose if the ANR should quit working you might as well not have a
> headset on. With the DC you still get good attenuation.

[Anyone]

"Magnus" > wrote in message
...
> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.

I have DC 13.4 with the headset's inc. converstion. It makes a huge
difference for not a lot of money.

Nonsense about not hearing the engine.

>
> On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
> especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
> noice reduction off from what I understand.
>

[Otis Winslow]

I have LightSpeeds and like them. They also have good support. The
best thing to do though is to try several different kinds and see what feels
best on your head.


"Magnus" > wrote in message
...
> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.
>
> On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
> especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
> noice reduction off from what I understand.
>

[John Harper]

I have the Lightspeed 30s and the DC ANR (whatever they
call it). I bought the LS after a year or so with the DC, and
now the only time the DCs get worn is when there are
4 people in the plane.

That said, if reliability is your big thing, quite a few people (including
me) have had to send the LS back for something or other to
be fixed - their service is excellent and quick, but still it takes
a week or two.

John

"Magnus" > wrote in message
...
> Just had a look at sportys, the lightspeed 30-3G seem good, high active
> noice reduction. I guess my biggest concern now is if they are
> comfortable to wear.
>
> My roommates have david clarks with the gel, which make for a nice fit
> I think, but these have less noice reduction and cost more too.
>
> Is the lightspeed comfortable?
>
>
> On 2004-03-22 12:24:29 -0500, Dale > said:
>
> > In article >,
> > Magnus > wrote:
> >
> >> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> >> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> >> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> >> harder to sync the props.
> >
> > That's not true. You can hear things better with ANR. I surprise the
> > jumpers I haul when I respond to their conversations in the back of the
> > 206. <G>
> >
> > You may be surprised at some of the noises you hear when you start
> > using an ANR headset...things you hadn't noticed before.
> >
> >> On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
> >> especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
> >> noice reduction off from what I understand.
> >
> > There is no reason to turn the ANR off...unless you don't want to hear
> > whats going on. <G>
> >
> > My first ANR set was a David Clark converted with the headsets Inc.
> > kit. Worked well for a couple years then it started to give me some
> > problems. I purchased a new DC 10-56(Helicopter type ear
> > cups...slightly deeper) headset. I'm very satisfied with them. I was
> > flying a B-24 and B-17 for a couple of years. The airplanes were
> > equipped with Bose ANR headsets. I didn't like the Bose. Noise
> > attenuation was OK, but the headset itself is cheap and easily broken
> > and it doesn't fit well and would slip when moving our heads. With the
> > Bose if the ANR should quit working you might as well not have a
> > headset on. With the DC you still get good attenuation.
>
>

[David R.]

I have the Bose series X headset. Expensive, but worth every penny in my
opinion. I wouldn't buy any other set now.


"Magnus" > wrote in message
...
> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.
>
> On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
> especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
> noice reduction off from what I understand.
>

[Cockpit Colin]

I've got 2 pair of Bose - and now I wouldn't consider using anything else
(including a David Clark H10-13X). (Bose is the most expensive headset you
can buy - and right now they can't make enough of them - I wonder if that
gives anyone a clue?)

Can't say what Bose customer service is like - they just never break down.
I've heard that Lightspeed customer service is fantastic though - some
people have returned their headsets 10 or 20 times for repair and each time
the fix em up and send them back ;)

[Magnus]

I think the bose are a little steep in price for me, like 1000$ or so.
The lightspeed are 5-600, suits my pocket better.

On 2004-03-22 19:41:28 -0500, "Cockpit Colin" > said:

> I've got 2 pair of Bose - and now I wouldn't consider using anything else
> (including a David Clark H10-13X). (Bose is the most expensive headset you
> can buy - and right now they can't make enough of them - I wonder if that
> gives anyone a clue?)
>
> Can't say what Bose customer service is like - they just never break down.
> I've heard that Lightspeed customer service is fantastic though - some
> people have returned their headsets 10 or 20 times for repair and each time
> the fix em up and send them back ;)

[G.R. Patterson III]

Magnus wrote:
>
> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not?

Absolutely worth it. Any ANR headset is better than the best passive headset.

> Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.

I have not found that to be the case. Even if that *were* the case, all of these
sets have an on-off switch. You could always cut it off if you felt you needed
to "hear the engine better".

George Patterson
Battle, n; A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would
not yield to the tongue.

[Thomas Borchert]

Magnus,

comfort is a thing that is very personal, due to head shapes and such.
Having said that, there are probably very few people describing DCs as
comfortable. They're not called David Clamps for nothing. OTOH,
Lightspeed kind of invented the concept of very soft-cushioned,
comfortable headsets at an affordable price.

You need to try before you buy to judge comfort. Or use a dealer with a
money-back guarantee.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Andrew Sarangan]

I like the Denali headset. I found the Lighspeed to be bulkier. I
delayed buying an ANR for a long time because I was initially
skeptical that it was all just a marketing gimmick. Now I wish I had
bought them sooner. Not being able to hear the engine is pure BS. You
can hear the engine better, not worse. It makes a huge difference in
pilot fatigue. Only downside is, you will tend to speak softer (since
you can hear everything so well), and your passengers without ANR may
not hear you that well. So you have to speak up, or adjust your
intercom level down.



Magnus > wrote in message >...
> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.
>
> On the other hand, it seems to be a very comfortable feature,
> especially if you're up instructing all day long and you can turn the
> noice reduction off from what I understand.

[ISLIP]

Once I replaced my David Clark (non ANR) with Lightspeeds, I never looked back
because the sound reduction was so great. However, clamping pressure remained ,
especially on a long trip. I treis my friend's Bose and liked them, but not
enough to dump the Lightspeeds and the clamping pressure wasn't much better.
Somewher I read a reference to Auricomm (QuietTechnologies.com. These are very
similar to a cell phone headset and weigh about as much . Brought them as a
Christmas present to myself ($350.00) and LOVE them. Just took a trip from Long
Island to Houston & back with no complaints.
Maybe not to everyone's taste but certainly worth loking at at an alternative.

John

It was Aviation Consumer that did an article on them last February

[Brian Cox]

Magnus wrote in message news
> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.
>
Hi,
I have been using a set of Telex ANR-1D headsets for the past 7
years. They fit me well and work just great. I can hear the radios
much better with ANR. All of my flying the past 4 years has been in
light twins, and have absolutely no problem synching props by ear with
ANR headsets. Bought my wife a pair of Bose X at Oshkosh 4 years ago
- she loves them. Her headset and the Aeromedix reliefband make our
flights a treat. Otherwise, she would probably be very uncomfortable.
My advice is to get a set of ANR headsets, whatever type is
comfortable to you.

Safe flying,
Brian

[Cecil E. Chapman]

I've been very pleased with the 20XL (which I use as a passenger/back-up
headset) and the 20 3G which I use as my primary headset. I know some
people will push the Bose headsets, but for what I saved between the price
of the Bose and my 20 3G I was able to buy a new handheld GPS - AirMap 500.

I should tell you that I was a bit of a skeptic about how much difference an
ANR headset would make over a passive headset in terms of fatigue; yet, I
have to tell you the difference in how I feel after a flight (without the
'extra' noise) is significantly less fatigued. Also, disregard the 'old
wives tales' about not being able to hear critical sounds,,, it is not a
problem at all.

Good Luck!

--
--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil
PP-ASEL
Student-IASEL

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

"We who fly, do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with
this miracle that lies in our hands and beneath our feet"
- Cecil Day Lewis -
>

[Jay Honeck]

> I've been very pleased with the 20XL (which I use as a passenger/back-up
> headset) and the 20 3G which I use as my primary headset. I know some
> people will push the Bose headsets, but for what I saved between the price
> of the Bose and my 20 3G I was able to buy a new handheld GPS - AirMap
500.

Get the Twenty 3Gs.

Many of you know that I've had a checkered history with LightSpeed. Mary
and I own four pair of 'em, purchased from '99 till '03, and love their
comfort and ANR performance. However, three of those four pair have been
back to Lightspeed for repair on multiple occasions. They always fixed 'em,
free of charge -- but they just kept breaking.

At OSH '03, the president of LightSpeed presented me with a FREE pair of
Twenty 3Gs, after I unwittingly told him my never-ending tale of woe with
his products. (He was operating in "stealth mode" at the Pacific Coast
Avionics booth, working there under cover, so I had no idea that I was
bitching at the head honcho until he told me.)

Well, our Lightspeed 15s have broken -- yet again. (The microphone works
only occasionally, and crackles the rest of the time.) This would be the
third trip back to Lightspeed for this particular headset, and I just didn't
want to mess with it again. I decided to buy a new pair.

This time, however, I've got 8 months of experience with the new Twenty 3Gs,
and have once again become a solid LightSpeed advocate. I decided to go
with their "trade-up" program, and trade my old 15s in for another new pair
of Twenty 3Gs.

Here's why: The Twenty 3Gs are everything a headset should be. Solid,
comfortable, packed with cool features, and -- most importantly -- DURABLE.
They are much sturdier than their earlier models, without gaining any
weight, and the quality control that was sorely lacking in their earlier 15s
and 20s is now plainly evident.

Features abound. The cell phone interface -- something I thought I'd never
use -- is very cool, and we use it all the time.

The bass and treble boost -- again, something I thought I wouldn't care
about -- has turned out to be wonderful. ANR tends to make things sound
tinny, and the bass and treble boost restores music to its original sound.
On a long trip, this is very noticeable.

In fact, this thread has just cost me some bucks. I just got off the phone
with the president of LightSpeed. I thanked him for last year's gift,
thanked him for fixing the problems at Lightspeed -- and ordered two more
sets of Twenty 3Gs.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Masino]

I've had the David Clark H10-13Xs for 5-6 years or so (with gel seals and
fabric ear cup "socks"). They work real well, are comfortable, and will
last forever. My old H10-40s are still going strong after about 17 years.
I tried some of the newer Bose headsets recently and I couldn't detect any
noise sound reduction difference between them and my DCs.

--- Jay


--

__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

[Jay Honeck]

> I tried some of the newer Bose headsets recently and I couldn't detect any
> noise sound reduction difference between them and my DCs.

Uh-oh...

"Can you hear me now?"

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Richard Russell]

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 15:23:41 -0600, "Anyone" >
wrote:

>
>"Magnus" > wrote in message
...
>> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
>> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
>> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
>> harder to sync the props.
>
>I have DC 13.4 with the headset's inc. converstion. It makes a huge
>difference for not a lot of money.
>


I've seen the adds for this conversion but I don't know anything about
it. Would you (or someone) mind giving me the 30 second
indoctrination? Is it expensive? Is it something that I would
install from a kit? Thanks.
Rich Russell

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, said:
>On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 15:23:41 -0600, "Anyone" >
>wrote:
>>I have DC 13.4 with the headset's inc. converstion. It makes a huge
>>difference for not a lot of money.
>I've seen the adds for this conversion but I don't know anything about
>it. Would you (or someone) mind giving me the 30 second
>indoctrination? Is it expensive? Is it something that I would
>install from a kit? Thanks.

It's a kit that replaces the cords going into the ear cup with ones
containing a battery box, and the speakers inside the ear cups with a
smaller speaker, a tiny microphone, and a circuit board with some very
clever electronics. I didn't have the nerve to cut open my own Dave
Clarks, so I paid the guy at the Headsets Inc booth at Oshkosh $75 to
install mine for me. I think the kit itself was a hair over $200.

It gave me ANR while I still have the quality construction and lovely
gel ear seals of my existing Dave Clarks. My only quibble is that the
volume control on the ear cup doesn't work as well as it used to, which
means that when there are people without ANR in the plane you find the
intercomm almost painfully loud.

--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Or, to put it another way, if you see a long line of rats streaming off of
a ship, the correct assumption is *not* "gosh, I bet that's a real nice
boat now that those rats are gone". - Mike Sphar

[Rick Glasser]

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 12:26:25 +0100, Thomas Borchert wrote:

> comfortable. They're not called David Clamps for nothing. OTOH, Lightspeed

I bought the new headpad and cut-away gel seals for my DCs and they made
a huge difference. Now my big ears don't feel so assaulted when I take
them off.

--
Rick/JYO
PP-ASEL-IA
remove 'nospam' to reply

[Jonathan]

I upgraded my DC's with the headset inc. I love 'em. Wasnt too hard to do
if you're at all handy with a soldering iron.

My only regret was using my DCs to do this upgrade. When your done, the
only thing leftover from the original DC's were the shell, and the boom mic.
they even have you replace the passive sound insulation inside the cups.

In hindsight I would've picked up a cheap pair of softcomm's or similar off
Ebay, used them to upgrade, and kept the DC's as Passenger's headset.

-Jonathan

"Richard Russell" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 15:23:41 -0600, "Anyone" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Magnus" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> >> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> >> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> >> harder to sync the props.
> >
> >I have DC 13.4 with the headset's inc. converstion. It makes a huge
> >difference for not a lot of money.
> >
>
>
> I've seen the adds for this conversion but I don't know anything about
> it. Would you (or someone) mind giving me the 30 second
> indoctrination? Is it expensive? Is it something that I would
> install from a kit? Thanks.
> Rich Russell

[RM]

Magnus > wrote in message >...
> I've been looking around a bit for a good headset, any recomendations.
> Is ANR worth it or not? Some people say it's bad because you can't hear
> the engines so it takes longer to discover engine problems and makes it
> harder to sync the props.

OK, I guess it's been a few years since I posted this story, so maybe
I'll be forgiven the repetion...

I was happily using a DC set when I ran into a kid who had been convinced
that he was going to make money on Cessna leasebacks. As a result of this
"investment," he was experiencing cash flow problems. I offered him half
price (cash) for one of his Bose sets and he snatched it.

So I took my new Bose and the DC sets up in a Tomahawk for a little cruise
around the prarie. After leveling off, I took off the DC and tried on the
Bose.

The Bose seemed quite nice, but I then switched back to the DC, just to see.
I was amazed that somehow in the few minutes that I had been wearing the
Bose, the DC had suddenly broken. It wasn't attenuating noise at all and the
racket was deafening.

That's how good they are: going from an ANC set to a top-quality passive
makes the passive seem like no headset at all. I'd never go back.

Personally, I like Bose. I've tried Lightspeed and definitely prefer Bose
for both performance and comfort. Besides that, you do get great customer
service for that outrageous price.

Worth it? Couldn't say. I do believe they are the best, but maybe not $500
better than whoever is in second place, if you have to buy them new.

[Paul Sengupta]

"Paul Tomblin" > wrote in message
...
> In a previous article, said:
> >On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 15:23:41 -0600, "Anyone" >
> >wrote:
> >>I have DC 13.4 with the headset's inc. converstion. It makes a huge
> >>difference for not a lot of money.
> >I've seen the adds for this conversion but I don't know anything about
> >it. Would you (or someone) mind giving me the 30 second
> >indoctrination? Is it expensive? Is it something that I would
> >install from a kit? Thanks.
>
> I think the kit itself was a hair over $200.

$169. Plus $19 more for an all-in-one cable, plus $10 more
for a battery box which switches itself off.

http://www.headsetsinc.com

Paul

[Paul Sengupta]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:vv08c.78138$po.634616@attbi_s52...
> > I tried some of the newer Bose headsets recently and I couldn't detect
any
> > noise sound reduction difference between them and my DCs.
>
> Uh-oh...
>
> "Can you hear me now?"

They were ANR DCs...

Paul