David Clarke Reviews

Pete Brown wrote:

With regard to ANC, don't even think about not getting it. I
know that it seems like an expensive option now when you are
starting out but if you continue to fly, you will find that
the upfront cost is nothing compared to the cost of hearing
aids that you will eventually need.

There is some question of the value of ENR (Electronic Noise Reduction)
in avoiding future hearing loss. Our company investigated supplying ENR
headsets in a high noise area, but decided not to, since there was no
demonstrated value. In short, ENR only works on lower frequencies, and
those frequencies typically don't affect hearing as much as higher
frequencies.

There were a couple of areas where there might have been some benefit,
but they were unquantifyable, so the company couldn't put a dollar value
on the systems. The use of the systems might have led in a possible
reduction in fatigue, resulting in improved alertness, and there might
have been improved clarity in conversations, reducing communication
error.

There is some question of the value of ENR (Electronic Noise Reduction)
in avoiding future hearing loss. Our company investigated supplying ENR
headsets in a high noise area, but decided not to, since there was no
demonstrated value. In short, ENR only works on lower frequencies, and
those frequencies typically don't affect hearing as much as higher
frequencies.


.... and smoking hasn't been proven to cause cancer.

If you put them on, and it seems quieter (vs a non ENR set) then it's probable
that there is less noise entering the ear. This probably leads to less damage
(if we accept the premise that noise at that level causes damage).

I find ENR works on the higher frequencies too. I put on my DCs passively and
can still talk to people around me. I flip on the ENR and it's like I've gone
deaf.

My only issue with (DC) ENR is that I get a low frequency warble, probably due
to a poor seal around the earpiece of my glasses.

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

In article ,
(Teacherjh) wrote:


My only issue with (DC) ENR is that I get a low frequency warble, probably
due
to a poor seal around the earpiece of my glasses.

I had that same problem, give them a call.

--
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

My only issue with (DC) ENR is that I get a low frequency warble, probably
due to a poor seal around the earpiece of my glasses.

I had that same problem, give them a call.


What was your solution? I called them, they suggested and sent me (free) the
ear seals that go around the eyeglass earpieces and are supposed to improve the
seal. They did, a bit, but were fussy and I ended up just living with the
warble.

What happened with yours?

Jose


--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

In article ,
(Teacherjh) wrote:


What was your solution? I called them, they suggested and sent me (free) the
ear seals that go around the eyeglass earpieces and are supposed to improve
the
seal. They did, a bit, but were fussy and I ended up just living with the
warble.

They fixed them. G I was also getting what sounded like feedback. I
called DC, they said I needed to send them in...I did, they sent them
back fixed.

--
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

In article ,
(Teacherjh) wrote:


What was your solution? I called them, they suggested and sent me (free) the
ear seals that go around the eyeglass earpieces and are supposed to improve
the
seal. They did, a bit, but were fussy and I ended up just living with the
warble.


Ok, read this a little closer. G We might not have the same problem.
If it is your glasses any chance you can get a pair with a thinner
earpiece? I wear sunglasses almost all the time I fly and don't have a
problem with a seal. I do buy glasses with a thin metal frame however.

--
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

If it is your glasses any chance you can get a pair with a thinner
earpiece


My glasses have just about the thinnest earpiece I can get. If i don't wear
glasses and seat the headphones properly they are dead quiet. Until the crash.
g

If I poke around the earpiece, I can get them to warble by letting air in. So
I don't think it's a defect, just an inherent property of requiring a good
seal.

Maybe other brands are more eyeglasses tolerant, but the DCs are built like a
tank, and I've used their (passive) hearing protectors for many years, which is
why I chose DCs to begin with.

Jose
--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

In article ,
(Teacherjh) wrote:


I find ENR works on the higher frequencies too. I put on my DCs passively
and
can still talk to people around me. I flip on the ENR and it's like I've
gone
deaf.

Are you saying you can no longer hear people talking? I find the
opposite..using ANR allows me to hear the jumpers in the back of the 206
talking...to their surprise sometimes. G

--
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

Are you saying you can no longer hear people talking?

Pretty much. I wear them (also) when I'm outside doing noisy stuff (running a
gas mower for example) and the quiet it produces is quite striking. If
somebody talks, whatever sound reaches the inside of the headset is cancelled
out by the ANR and I can barely hear them. It's great!

(of course if they are on an intercom in the plane, I hear them perfectly)

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

Teacherjh wrote:


There is some question of the value of ENR (Electronic Noise Reduction)
in avoiding future hearing loss. Our company investigated supplying ENR
headsets in a high noise area, but decided not to, since there was no
demonstrated value. In short, ENR only works on lower frequencies, and
those frequencies typically don't affect hearing as much as higher
frequencies.


... and smoking hasn't been proven to cause cancer.

If you put them on, and it seems quieter (vs a non ENR set) then it's probable
that there is less noise entering the ear. This probably leads to less damage
(if we accept the premise that noise at that level causes damage).

Perhaps. The general consensus is that A weighted noise is what causes
hearing damage. That weighting scale drops off below about 1000 hz,
meaning that people don't readily hear low frequency noise. People tend
to feel low frequency noise more than hear it. The ENR systems
typically only work in those low frequency ranges, which is why it is
felt they have limited value in avoiding hearing loss, except in
extremely noisy, low frequency environments.

To put it in perspective, note that a two-bladed prop rotating at 2,000
RPM, will generate a noise frequency that is about four times the
maximum rate that the ENR systems work at.

I find ENR works on the higher frequencies too. I put on my DCs passively and
can still talk to people around me. I flip on the ENR and it's like I've gone
deaf.

It actually doesn't work at higher frequencies. If you read the
specifications for those systems, you will find that they typically
don't attenuate noise above about 500 or at max 1,000 Hz, which are both
low frequencies. The reason is that there is a risk of compounding
noise, instead of attenuating it, as the frequencies increase. What you
are finding with the ENR system is that it reduces the low frequency
noise and allows other sounds to come through more clearly.