Noise Canceling headset

[[email protected]]

What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.

Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.

WH

[Craig Reinholt]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:11:51 AM UTC-8, wrote:
> What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
>
> Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
>
> WH

I use the Bose QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® earbuds. That, with a 3.5mm to 4.5mm jack adapter works nicely. For me, earbuds are better than a headset because of limited space to hang / store a headset after climbing out. BTW, they are great on long commercial flights to cancel the engine noise and are comfortable to wear. Craig

[jfitch]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:48:53 AM UTC-8, Craig Reinholt wrote:
> On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:11:51 AM UTC-8, wrote:
> > What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
> >
> > Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
> >
> > WH
>
> I use the Bose QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® earbuds. That, with a 3.5mm to 4.5mm jack adapter works nicely. For me, earbuds are better than a headset because of limited space to hang / store a headset after climbing out. BTW, they are great on long commercial flights to cancel the engine noise and are comfortable to wear. Craig

+1 on the Bose. I've been using them for years. Started out just during engine runs, now I wear them the entire flight, cuts down on the wind noise, makes radio reception at high speed perfect. No room in my 26Mi for a big headset.

[JS[_5_]]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 9:08:09 AM UTC-8, jfitch wrote:
> On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:48:53 AM UTC-8, Craig Reinholt wrote:
> > On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:11:51 AM UTC-8, wrote:
> > > What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
> > >
> > > Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
> > >
> > > WH
> >
> > I use the Bose QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® earbuds. That, with a 3.5mm to 4.5mm jack adapter works nicely. For me, earbuds are better than a headset because of limited space to hang / store a headset after climbing out. BTW, they are great on long commercial flights to cancel the engine noise and are comfortable to wear. Craig
>
> +1 on the Bose. I've been using them for years. Started out just during engine runs, now I wear them the entire flight, cuts down on the wind noise, makes radio reception at high speed perfect. No room in my 26Mi for a big headset.

Another advantage of earbuds: They don't scratch the canopy when being donned or removed. Less polishing.
Jim

[Rick Lederman]

I use the Bose A20 in my Stemme S12. I am just over six feet tall with a long torso so the thick headband can touch the canopy so I rest the headband on the bill of my hat. It looks stupid but works, and beauty is as beauty does.

I tried the Bose Proflight Aviation headset with ear buds, as Bose will tell you, the noise reduction is not nearly as good as the A20, and not nearly enough for the S12. They were simply terrible in my Stemme. Bose was great and took them back with a full refund.

[[email protected]]

From a base of no prior knowledge I too have looking into noise cancelling headsets for a self launching glider. Those Bose earbuds sound good but I figured that a noise cancelling microphone was as, if not more, important as the speakers (??) because in the ASH 26e I have flown recently I had problems making myself understood on the radio with a normal boom microphone when the engine was running.

I have been looking for a lightweight compact conventional headset and currently I am considering the Telex Airman 8 ANR headset (with a noise cancelling microphone and ANR earphones) which looks to be substantial enough to survive glider cockpit life but not too bulky. Reviews of this suggest it is not as good as full size top name headsets for professional use but hopefully enough for short term use during engine runs.

[Gary Wayland]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 10:11:51 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
>
> Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
>
> WH

A set of headphones has to be a big item in the cockpit of a glider.

What about earplugs you use at the gun range? The last thing I want is headphones on when I 'm soaring and listening to the air around me. So, for the small amount of time served by the headphones for engine noise, is this worth it?

I have the Bose for the Helicopter and it is a must in that contraption!

Just Curious...

Gary
"SQ"

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:17:46 PM UTC, Gary Wayland wrote:
> On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 10:11:51 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> > What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
> >
> > Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
> >
> > WH
>
> A set of headphones has to be a big item in the cockpit of a glider.
>
> What about earplugs you use at the gun range? The last thing I want is headphones on when I 'm soaring and listening to the air around me. So, for the small amount of time served by the headphones for engine noise, is this worth it?
>
> I have the Bose for the Helicopter and it is a must in that contraption!
>
> Just Curious...
>
> Gary
> "SQ"

In my limited SLS experience without a headset I find it difficult to make and receive intelligible lining up and take off calls.

[Mike Reid]

If you already own a Bose QC 15, 25, or 35, you can add a microphone from uflymike.com. I used the older version for years in 737s, and it worked well and was much more comfortable than the full size Bose aviation headset. I've used it in Cessnas as well, and it was adequate, so should work fine in self launchers.



Mike

[Andrzej Kobus]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 10:11:51 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
>
> Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
>
> WH

HALO from http://www.quiettechnologies.com/index.php?route=common/home

It is an excellent headset at reasonable price.

Andrzej

[[email protected]]

Andrzej, the QT Halo doesn't seem to be have been available from the manufacturer for some time. What about the similar Clarity Aloft or Faro Air passive earbuds headsets - does anyone have experience of using one of those in a SLS?

[Dan[_6_]]

I use the cep system (www.cep-usa.com)
I've used them for years in my power aircraft under a DC Headset and really like them in my motorglider (ASH 31Mi) with boom mic.
I have used both the standard foam ear plugs as well as a pair of custom molded ear inserts. The standard foam plugs work great.
I highly recommend this system.

Dan
7DR

[krasw]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 5:11:51 PM UTC+2, wrote:
> What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
>
> Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
>
> WH

I use these:
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Isolating-Headphones-Plastic/dp/B00AEY4QP2

I plug them to speaker junction box so that I can hear radio trough them, I still use standard boom mic. No active noise technology, just very good passive noise isolation. They are cheap and effective, and most important, you can keep them in shirt pocket all the time.

[jfitch]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:11:51 AM UTC-8, wrote:
> What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.
>
> Since the back seat persons head in only inches from the motor - I want to protect their hearing.
>
> WH

I'd suggest trying the Bose QC20. You can try them for 30 days and bring them back to Bose for a full refund. I've tried several other in-ear solutions, including the very high end Etymotic version. The very good ones do give good noise isolation, but they are fiddly to install in the ear and for me uncomfortable after several hours. The ones with very high quality foam or a custom molded insert work much better than the cheaper versions. The Bose have been independently tested by several labs, and have noise cancellation rivaling or in many cases exceeding over-the-ear versions, and in most cases exceeding in-ear noise isolation plugs. It is frequency dependent (better at lower frequencies, near 40 db) but that is the noise from an engine. They are not really an in-ear device, rather there is a silicone seal that seals the ear channel without protruding inside, which for me makes them comfortable to use for many hours, and very easy to put on or take off (no squishing or rolling of foam). There is no microphone, I use a Plantronics MS50T30 lip mike which others tell me works very well, engine on or off.

[RR]

On Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 4:22:09 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> Andrzej, the QT Halo doesn't seem to be have been available from the manufacturer for some time. What about the similar Clarity Aloft or Faro Air passive earbuds headsets - does anyone have experience of using one of those in a SLS?

I fly with Clarity Aloft. It is comfortable, but I do remove the earbuds after shutdown, But keep the mic on (keep the headset on just pull out the ear buds). On return taxi, I don't always put them back in as the 31 is not too loud at taxi throttle. you can change the tips of the earbuds to lots of different materials if you want/need to.

Rick

[danlj]

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 9:11:51 AM UTC-6, wrote:
> What is the best value noise canceling headset for a motor glider.

An article years ago was published in which sound pressure levels were measured in some motorgliders. As I recall, the ranges were 100-115 dB, making effective hearing protection important.

For years, I used in my Ventus Cm the best earplugs I could find (about 30 dB reduction), for my scalp is very close to the canopy, risking both the canopy and my head, and inadvertent dislodgement of the headset.

About 4 years ago, I discovered the Clarity Aloft headset with expandable earbuds, that combine the 30dB passive protection of earplugs with absent headband.

[Kevin S.]

+1 on the Clarity Aloft. I’ve used one in my self-launcher for 8 or 9 years. Sometimes I leave one of the earbuds in (when the engine is off) if there’s something I’m particularly keen to follow on the active frequency.

- Kevin

[Darryl Ramm]

On Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 9:27:46 PM UTC-8, Kevin S. wrote:
> +1 on the Clarity Aloft. I’ve used one in my self-launcher for 8 or 9 years. Sometimes I leave one of the earbuds in (when the engine is off) if there’s something I’m particularly keen to follow on the active frequency.
>
> - Kevin

+2 on the clarity aloft. They are great as they come but I replace the foam ear-tips with 3 flange silicone tips made by Etymotic research (https://www.etymotic.com/consumer/accessories/er4-new.html). A little less futzing than compressing the foam before you insert the ear tips. Many audiology labs can also cast you custom ear inserts which can feel even better.

In-ear headphones like the Calrity Aloft provide fantastic isolation and sound quality, but some people do not like the feeling of having something inserted in their ear.

The Clarity Aloft can also hang around your neck after you use them and you may not even notice/have to futz with stowing them/fishing them out.

[[email protected]]

Four positive responses in succession for the Clarity Aloft - impressive!

[[email protected]]

Thank you for all the excellent Information and opinions!!

Much appreciated - my crew (wife) hearing thanks you also :)

Good Soaring in 2019

WH

[Craig Reinholt]

One correction. The adapter for the Bose QC20 earbuds to use with standard USA aviation female audio jacks is a 3.5 mm female to 6.35 (1/4 inch) male stereo adapter.
Here is one example.
https://www.amazon.com/Homyl-2Pieces-Degree-6-35mm-Adapter/dp/B07FR6QGBL/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=90+degree+6.35+mm+audio+stereo +plug+to+3.5+mm+stereo+headphone+jack+adapter&qid=1549654217&s=Electronics&sr=8-9


> I use the Bose QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® earbuds. That, with a 3.5mm to 4.5mm jack adapter works nicely. For me, earbuds are better than a headset because of limited space to hang / store a headset after climbing out. BTW, they are great on long commercial flights to cancel the engine noise and are comfortable to wear. Craig

[[email protected]]

On Friday, February 8, 2019 at 2:36:35 PM UTC-5, Craig Reinholt wrote:
> One correction. The adapter for the Bose QC20 earbuds to use with standard USA aviation female audio jacks is a 3.5 mm female to 6.35 (1/4 inch) male stereo adapter.
> Here is one example.
> https://www.amazon.com/Homyl-2Pieces-Degree-6-35mm-Adapter/dp/B07FR6QGBL/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=90+degree+6.35+mm+audio+stereo +plug+to+3.5+mm+stereo+headphone+jack+adapter&qid=1549654217&s=Electronics&sr=8-9
>
>
> > I use the Bose QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® earbuds. That, with a 3.5mm to 4.5mm jack adapter works nicely. For me, earbuds are better than a headset because of limited space to hang / store a headset after climbing out. BTW, they are great on long commercial flights to cancel the engine noise and are comfortable to wear. Craig

Thanks for the help- I just ordered them!

WH