Telex 4105 vs Stratus 50

[Robert Barker]

Just got my tax refund and want to get a new headset. I like Telex and am
trying to decide between the Stratus and the 4105. Is the performance of
the Stratus worth the extra $300?

Thanks

[Jay Honeck]

> Just got my tax refund and want to get a new headset. I like Telex and am
> trying to decide between the Stratus and the 4105. Is the performance of
> the Stratus worth the extra $300?

Boy, if the lack of response to this question doesn't illustrate just how
far Telex has slid (slud?) in the headset food-chain, I don't know what
does. When I first started flying, Telex was a major player, on a par
with Dave Clark. Now, I can't recall the last Telex headset I've seen...

I hope they have other revenue streams...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[john smith]

> > Just got my tax refund and want to get a new headset. I like Telex and am
> > trying to decide between the Stratus and the 4105. Is the performance of
> > the Stratus worth the extra $300?

Stratus 50 has the best noise cancelling in high noise aircraft of all
makes and manufacturers of headsets.

[Roy Smith]

In article >,
john smith > wrote:

> > > Just got my tax refund and want to get a new headset. I like Telex and
> > > am
> > > trying to decide between the Stratus and the 4105. Is the performance of
> > > the Stratus worth the extra $300?
>
> Stratus 50 has the best noise cancelling in high noise aircraft of all
> makes and manufacturers of headsets.

I've been using a Stratus 50 for a couple of years. It's not terrible, but
I wouldn't buy another one and would not recommend it to others.

Mine broke within a few months of getting it (I could hear, but the mike
was inop). Telex fixed it for free, but it's not a warm and fuzzy feeling
to know that something which is that expensive broke so quickly.

The ANR sometimes generates strange noises, and every once in a while gets
into a howling mode that's so loud it's painful. Some sort of feedback
loop, I guess.

The headset itself is uncomfortable. I find my old DC-13.4's easier to
wear. In the winter, the earcup foam gets so stiff and rigid, it's
actually painful until it warms up a bit. The gel seals in my DC's were
wonderful by comparison.

There's also an RF overload problem. My home field (HPN) has a radar
antenna not far from one of the runways. Every time I go past the radar, I
get a "pop" noise in the headset as the beam points in my direction.
Worse, it will often cause the whole ANR processor to crash (or something),
requiring me to power-cycle the headset to get it back. Telex didn't seem
interested when I complained about that.

The in-line battery box is also a pain. It makes putting the thing away
awkward, and it's always flopping around in the cockpit. That's not really
a Telex-specific problem, but it is a pain. It would be great if the
industry could standardize on a plug to get power and audio in/out all in
one jack, but that's probably a pipe-dream.

What is a telex-specific problem is how the battery box is built. Every
time I open the cover, I cringe, hoping I don't break it off. It just
doesn't have a rugged feel to it. I'm sure one day it will break off, and
then I guess I'll get to see how Telex deals with out of warranty repairs.
It takes 4 AA's, and the diagram showing which way to put them in is almost
impossible to see. I have enough trouble deciphering it in the daylight;
at night, it's impossible to read.

If I ever buy another headset, I'm going back to DC.

[Michael Ware]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:Sl0Mf.822713$xm3.807436@attbi_s21...
> >> Now, I can't recall the last Telex headset I've seen...
> >
> > On an NFL field?
>
> You mean like this?:
>
> http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/nfl/2001/0306/photo/s_holmgren_i.jpg
>
> Looks like a Motorola product, to me.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>
Check this out:
http://www.megaclinic.com/megasite/boards/read.php?f=13&i=407&t=407

I have seen a number of college coaches using headsets wuth the familiar
black oval earcups as well.

[Robert Barker]

"Roy Smith" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> john smith > wrote:
>
>> > > Just got my tax refund and want to get a new headset. I like Telex
>> > > and
>> > > am
>> > > trying to decide between the Stratus and the 4105. Is the
>> > > performance of
>> > > the Stratus worth the extra $300?
>>
>> Stratus 50 has the best noise cancelling in high noise aircraft of all
>> makes and manufacturers of headsets.
>
> I've been using a Stratus 50 for a couple of years. It's not terrible,
> but
> I wouldn't buy another one and would not recommend it to others.
>
> Mine broke within a few months of getting it (I could hear, but the mike
> was inop). Telex fixed it for free, but it's not a warm and fuzzy feeling
> to know that something which is that expensive broke so quickly.
>
> The ANR sometimes generates strange noises, and every once in a while gets
> into a howling mode that's so loud it's painful. Some sort of feedback
> loop, I guess.
>
> The headset itself is uncomfortable. I find my old DC-13.4's easier to
> wear. In the winter, the earcup foam gets so stiff and rigid, it's
> actually painful until it warms up a bit. The gel seals in my DC's were
> wonderful by comparison.
>
> There's also an RF overload problem. My home field (HPN) has a radar
> antenna not far from one of the runways. Every time I go past the radar,
> I
> get a "pop" noise in the headset as the beam points in my direction.
> Worse, it will often cause the whole ANR processor to crash (or
> something),
> requiring me to power-cycle the headset to get it back. Telex didn't seem
> interested when I complained about that.
>
> The in-line battery box is also a pain. It makes putting the thing away
> awkward, and it's always flopping around in the cockpit. That's not
> really
> a Telex-specific problem, but it is a pain. It would be great if the
> industry could standardize on a plug to get power and audio in/out all in
> one jack, but that's probably a pipe-dream.
>
> What is a telex-specific problem is how the battery box is built. Every
> time I open the cover, I cringe, hoping I don't break it off. It just
> doesn't have a rugged feel to it. I'm sure one day it will break off, and
> then I guess I'll get to see how Telex deals with out of warranty repairs.
> It takes 4 AA's, and the diagram showing which way to put them in is
> almost
> impossible to see. I have enough trouble deciphering it in the daylight;
> at night, it's impossible to read.
>
> If I ever buy another headset, I'm going back to DC.

I'm currently using a Telex passive-only headset and find them really
comfortable. I've tried the DCs but guess I don't have the head shape that
makes them comfortable, particularly with my glasses. I've also heard
repair complaints on every maker's ANR line - among them are Bose,
Lightspeed, Telex, DC, etc. Doesn't seem to be any of them that haven't
been back to the manufacturer. I'd thought about Sennheiser as I really
like their audio headsets, but the aviation headsets just look too flimsy.

[Matt Barrow]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:vm_Lf.797416$_o.697469@attbi_s71...
>> Just got my tax refund and want to get a new headset. I like Telex and
>> am trying to decide between the Stratus and the 4105. Is the performance
>> of the Stratus worth the extra $300?
>
> Boy, if the lack of response to this question doesn't illustrate just how
> far Telex has slid (slud?) in the headset food-chain, I don't know what
> does. When I first started flying, Telex was a major player, on a par
> with Dave Clark. Now, I can't recall the last Telex headset I've seen...
>
> I hope they have other revenue streams...

Yeah they do...turbine jockies. Spend a lot of time with them?

[Michael Ware]

"B A R R Y" > wrote in message >
Wow!
>
> I didn't know that Telex made the Motorola NFL sets, but I don't doubt
> it.
>
> I've personally seen "Nextel" branded _2-way_ (not NEXTEL service!)
> radio systems in NASCAR pits that actually used Motorola and Icom
> radio gear and DC headsets.
>
> Isn't marketing and sponsorship a funny thing?
>
> Barry

Yeah I never would have guessed it either, I was just poking around for
football coach sideline photos.

[Scott Skylane]

Jay Honeck wrote:
/snip/
> I hope they have other revenue streams...

They do. As Matt B. mentioned, they have models that are quite popular
with the jet pilots. I have the ANR-850's, which are specifically
designed to block out high frequency wind noise, as opposed to the lower
frequency attenuation found in G.A. headsets. They are lightweight,
compact, and self powered by the audio buss (no batteries, ever!). They
work fantastically in the boeing, aren't worth a hoot in the 182.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane