Headset Misfortunes

Recently, B A R R Y posted:

On Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:40:28 GMT, "Neil Gould"
wrote:

If playing rock & roll for almost 50 years hasn't killed my hearing
already, it's highly unlikely that I'm going to suffer auditory
damage from my non-ANR David Clarks. In fact, when wearing them the
SPL is significantly lower than driving in our MGC-GT, which is so
noisy there was no point in having a radio. ;-)

A long time sound mixer asks, do you get regular, objective hearing
tests? I've worked with lots of guys who subjectively state they have
"no hearing damage".

A long time sound recorder (owned two studios, still do recording though
retired from the studio business) answers, "yes", though I have the
equipment and am capable of more precise measurements than those in the
typical audiology exam. Although I have enough age-related "roll-off" in
the high frequencies that the ultrasonic alarm systems in department
stores no longer cause me to walk away holding my head in pain, I can
still hear the carrier frequency oscillation in analog TVs over my
tinitis. ;-)

Hearing hazards are time based. Longer
exposure to lower levels of sound, some of which may not seem all that
loud or bothersome, can do as much damage as a short period in much
louder conditions.

Another aspect is that the ambient level of sound in the city has been
steadily increasing to the point where it's noisier at night today than it
was when this area had an industrial base. Also, the MGC is a lot quieter
than the typical motorcycle or semi. All these things are relative, and
the time spent in the air (much less than I'd like) is vastly outweighed
by these other elements. So, I think I'll be able to ride it out 'til the
"final tally"! ;-)

Neil

B A R R Y wrote in
:

On Sun, 3 Feb 2008 14:17:12 +0000 (UTC), Bertie the Bunyip
wrote:


WHAT?

Bertie

Egg-zactly!

Stop mumbling.



Bertie

I have 4 Lightspeeds, 1 20XL, 1 15 XL and 2 QFR's for the rear pax. I've
had them about 6 years. There was one cracked earcup "horseshoe" and a
cracked headband. Replacement parts were shipped very promptly, and repairs
were simple. I have been very pleased with all my LS products. I can't
blame LS for either of the problems, as the headsets seem to get tossed
around or wind up on the floor after use. My non-aviation passengers tend
to be less than careful about most everything. Just last week a girl pretty
much insisted on walking on the wing in (very nice) spike heels, despite the
wingwalk area which has to be 18" wide. I told her she could put a hole in
the wing if that happened again. Luckily there was no dimpling, even though
she was shapely but by no means petite. Thank God for Walter Beech...

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
. ..

"NW_Pilot" wrote in
message . ..
Jay Honeck wrote:
I will never, ever, EVER go back to standard non-ANR headphones...

I will second that!!! Lightspeed are great!!

You're right, but mine have needed a surprising number of repairs. I'm
thinking three returns to the factory in 7 years plus two or three
replacements of the headset foam cups plus my new opportunity to replace
the battery box myself.

And that's with about 500 hours of use.

Not good, IMO, considering how reliable well built electronics are.

KB

On Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:22:00 -0500, John Smith wrote:

In article ,
Thomas Borchert wrote:

John,
One more point: There is, of course, a very good reason to get a
passive. That's money. ANR headsets are expensive and not everybody can
afford them or is willing to spend that kind of money on a headset. Or
they aren't that bothered by noise.

As much as I would like to try out an ANR headset, I have six pairs of
DC headsets I have accumulated over the past 28 years. One of the planes
I fly is a Cherokee Six, so I need all six headsets. The most I paid for
any one of the six headsets was $225 new.
The cost to replace all six is $3000 to $6000, depending upon brand.

Try foam earplugs under your standard headsets. Doesn't cut down on the
radio/intercom volumes much, but makes a big difference in noise levels. When I
wear them in my open-cockpit airplane under my ANR headset, I can't tell if the
ANR is on or off.

Ron Wanttaja

John,

As much as I would like to try out an ANR headset, I have six pairs of
DC headsets I have accumulated over the past 28 years. One of the planes
I fly is a Cherokee Six, so I need all six headsets. The most I paid for
any one of the six headsets was $225 new.
The cost to replace all six is $3000 to $6000, depending upon brand.

Well, here's my advice: Don't ever try ANR ;-)

OTOH, kind of hard to advocate against it or make comparative judgements,
when you haven't even tried it...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:19:08 +0100, Thomas Borchert
wrote:

John,

As much as I would like to try out an ANR headset, I have six pairs of
DC headsets I have accumulated over the past 28 years. One of the planes
I fly is a Cherokee Six, so I need all six headsets. The most I paid for
any one of the six headsets was $225 new.
The cost to replace all six is $3000 to $6000, depending upon brand.

Well, here's my advice: Don't ever try ANR ;-)

OTOH, kind of hard to advocate against it or make comparative judgements,
when you haven't even tried it...


He only needs ONE ANR set. G

Other pilots will bring their own, pax can't tell...

On Sun, 3 Feb 2008 15:41:52 +0000 (UTC), Bertie the Bunyip
wrote:


Stop mumbling.

click - megaphone ON

EXACTLY!!!

click - megaphone OFF

You're too funny...

Email me direct if you ever get Northeast layovers. I'll buy dinner.

---------------------------------------------
** http://www.bburke.com/woodworking.html **
---------------------------------------------

"Bertie the Bunyip" wrot

WHAT?

Exzactery!

I have abused my hearing, over a lifetime, mainly by playing in loud music
groups, and exposure to power tools.

Do I regret not taking precautions? You bet. Can I do anything about it
now? Not a thing.

My wife has put down the verdict that I HAVE to get hearing aids, and the
sooner the better.

Anyone got any preferences? Digital or not? Brand names? Behind the ear
or in the ear?

I have (I believe, but not tested) overall hearing loss, with more in the
higher frequency ranges. A TON of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) that
probably is the majority of my problem. I need to drown out the ringing,
with amplified voices, I believe.
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote in
:


"Bertie the Bunyip" wrot

WHAT?

Exzactery!

I have abused my hearing, over a lifetime, mainly by playing in loud
music groups, and exposure to power tools.

Do I regret not taking precautions? You bet. Can I do anything about
it now? Not a thing.


Yeah,. flew a lot of loud airplanes as a kid and I have some loss as wel,
but I'm still legal at the moment.



Anyone got any preferences? Digital or not? Brand names? Behind the
ear or in the ear?

They all seem to work OK. I just hate the ones that hurt when you have them
on for any length. I use a Sennheiser at work at it's as good as anything
else I've used.


Bertie

Not all...

The DC XII work OK when the ANR quits..

But I have the BOSE..and when the ANR quits you might as well toss
them in the back seat.. they are useless..

Well.. I suppose... the mike still works...

Dave



On Sat, 2 Feb 2008 20:00:46 -0500, "Kyle Boatright"
wrote:


"WJRFlyBoy" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:33:23 -0500, Kyle Boatright wrote:

So, I'm stuck using the 'ol reliable $89 David Clark knock-off's I got
when
I earned my license. They are not nearly as bad as I remembered, and it
is
nice not having to deal with a battery box and AA batteries that die at
inconvenient times...

Newbie question, is not carrying backup headsets and batteries a given?
--
Remove numbers for gmail and for God's sake it ain't "gee" either!

Nope. ANR headsets still work with dead batteries. The ANR function is the
only thing you lose. With backup stuff, what do you really consider
necessary? I don't carry a spare GPS, a spare map, or a spare set of
headsets. Nor do I carry a handheld radio. My belief is that is any one of
the primary devices dies, I'll be able to safely complete my flight without
it.

KB