PIREP of sorts: got a new headset, but should I keep it?

Okay, so I finally ponied up and purchased a ANR headset. After much
hemming and hawing over the Lightspeed 20-3G and the Flightcom Denali,
I went with the Denali, primarily because they have a 30 day money back
guarantee, and because everyone seems to get the Lightspeeds and I
wanted to be different.

So far I have flown with the Denali's twice for a total of just under 4
hours. The initial out of the box impression was that they are well
constructed. Tight seams, no loose parts, feel pretty solid. After
following their fitting instructions, the fit is firm, yet comfortable,
and after two 2 hour cross countries I have felt no pain or pressure.
At 13.4 oz they are light enough, although they feel like they sit low
on the left side, which is where the mic boom is, and I haven't been
able to adjust that away yet. I suspect that the cord is stiff in it's
new-ness and is pulling it down.

As for noise attenuation: I have been flying for over a year with a
cheap $99 Cobra headset, and I expected to be absolutely blown away
when I put these on - it didn't happen. The passive cancellation is
actually not as good as the el-cheapo set. When I flip the switch, it's
better, and it definitely cancels the low frequency noise, but the
higher frequencies are right there. I wouldn't say it's loud, per se,
but I guess I expected the "I turned them on and thought the engine
quit" effect that I've read about so many times with various ANR
headsets. Funny, but in flight, it kind of sounds like the default King
Air in flight simulator (which I think sounds more whiny than the real
thing, at least in the cabin). A quick look at the groundspeed on my
GPS confirms that I am, in fact, in a Cessna 152.

In all this, I guess my question is, is there an ANR model that will
really blow you away, or is my experience par for the course at $500?
Should I go Lightspeed? The 20-3G does claim an additional 3-4db of
cancellation, but the frequency response curve is almost the same. Does
even the mighty Bose X have the "engine quit" effect?

John K.
PP-ASEL
Student IA

Having owned 3 different paris of Lightspeeds I could not in good
conscious recommend them. Their quality is poor, customer service is
great but I don't want to have to keep sending something in for repair.

I have a pair of the Pilot ANRs and they are ok, nothing special. I also
have two pairs of David Clarks ANRs. I like both of them a lot and
recommend you consider them. They are bullet proof and have great
passive cancellation. They fit me just fine and without the bulkiness of
the Lightspeeds. Best of all when it is cold out they do not need to
warm up like the Lightspeeds do to fit right.

Scott

wrote:
Okay, so I finally ponied up and purchased a ANR headset. After much
hemming and hawing over the Lightspeed 20-3G and the Flightcom Denali,
I went with the Denali, primarily because they have a 30 day money back
guarantee, and because everyone seems to get the Lightspeeds and I
wanted to be different.

So far I have flown with the Denali's twice for a total of just under 4
hours. The initial out of the box impression was that they are well
constructed. Tight seams, no loose parts, feel pretty solid. After
following their fitting instructions, the fit is firm, yet comfortable,
and after two 2 hour cross countries I have felt no pain or pressure.
At 13.4 oz they are light enough, although they feel like they sit low
on the left side, which is where the mic boom is, and I haven't been
able to adjust that away yet. I suspect that the cord is stiff in it's
new-ness and is pulling it down.

As for noise attenuation: I have been flying for over a year with a
cheap $99 Cobra headset, and I expected to be absolutely blown away
when I put these on - it didn't happen. The passive cancellation is
actually not as good as the el-cheapo set. When I flip the switch, it's
better, and it definitely cancels the low frequency noise, but the
higher frequencies are right there. I wouldn't say it's loud, per se,
but I guess I expected the "I turned them on and thought the engine
quit" effect that I've read about so many times with various ANR
headsets. Funny, but in flight, it kind of sounds like the default King
Air in flight simulator (which I think sounds more whiny than the real
thing, at least in the cabin). A quick look at the groundspeed on my
GPS confirms that I am, in fact, in a Cessna 152.

In all this, I guess my question is, is there an ANR model that will
really blow you away, or is my experience par for the course at $500?
Should I go Lightspeed? The 20-3G does claim an additional 3-4db of
cancellation, but the frequency response curve is almost the same. Does
even the mighty Bose X have the "engine quit" effect?

John K.
PP-ASEL
Student IA



--
--------------------
Scott F. Migaldi
CP-ASEL-IA
N8116B

PADI MI-150972
Join the PADI Instructor Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PADI-Instructors/

--------------------

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever used an ENC upgrade from headsetsinc.com.
They claim to have an ENC headset add on for $169.00. I have a set of DC
10-30's. I am quite happy with them. However it is the only headset I have
ever used. I bought them used on Ebay for $110.00, and added on new foam
and Gel Earseals.

Headsetinc.com claims that their add on is about equivalent to the similar
ENC model. Is this really true?

If so, I am pretty interested in buying the kit.

--
John Huthmaker

"Scott Migaldi" wrote in message
...
Having owned 3 different paris of Lightspeeds I could not in good
conscious recommend them. Their quality is poor, customer service is great
but I don't want to have to keep sending something in for repair.

I have a pair of the Pilot ANRs and they are ok, nothing special. I also
have two pairs of David Clarks ANRs. I like both of them a lot and
recommend you consider them. They are bullet proof and have great passive
cancellation. They fit me just fine and without the bulkiness of the
Lightspeeds. Best of all when it is cold out they do not need to warm up
like the Lightspeeds do to fit right.

Scott

wrote:
Okay, so I finally ponied up and purchased a ANR headset. After much
hemming and hawing over the Lightspeed 20-3G and the Flightcom Denali,
I went with the Denali, primarily because they have a 30 day money back
guarantee, and because everyone seems to get the Lightspeeds and I
wanted to be different.

So far I have flown with the Denali's twice for a total of just under 4
hours. The initial out of the box impression was that they are well
constructed. Tight seams, no loose parts, feel pretty solid. After
following their fitting instructions, the fit is firm, yet comfortable,
and after two 2 hour cross countries I have felt no pain or pressure.
At 13.4 oz they are light enough, although they feel like they sit low
on the left side, which is where the mic boom is, and I haven't been
able to adjust that away yet. I suspect that the cord is stiff in it's
new-ness and is pulling it down.

As for noise attenuation: I have been flying for over a year with a
cheap $99 Cobra headset, and I expected to be absolutely blown away
when I put these on - it didn't happen. The passive cancellation is
actually not as good as the el-cheapo set. When I flip the switch, it's
better, and it definitely cancels the low frequency noise, but the
higher frequencies are right there. I wouldn't say it's loud, per se,
but I guess I expected the "I turned them on and thought the engine
quit" effect that I've read about so many times with various ANR
headsets. Funny, but in flight, it kind of sounds like the default King
Air in flight simulator (which I think sounds more whiny than the real
thing, at least in the cabin). A quick look at the groundspeed on my
GPS confirms that I am, in fact, in a Cessna 152.

In all this, I guess my question is, is there an ANR model that will
really blow you away, or is my experience par for the course at $500?
Should I go Lightspeed? The 20-3G does claim an additional 3-4db of
cancellation, but the frequency response curve is almost the same. Does
even the mighty Bose X have the "engine quit" effect?

John K.
PP-ASEL
Student IA



--
--------------------
Scott F. Migaldi
CP-ASEL-IA
N8116B

PADI MI-150972
Join the PADI Instructor Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PADI-Instructors/

--------------------

John,

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever used an ENC upgrade from headsetsinc.com.


Yes, on a Softcomm "Red Baron" DC clone. Highly recommended for your
situation, i.e. low-price passive that you really like. If, OTOH, you want
modern ergonomic design and top-end ANR, get a new headset.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

,

and because everyone seems to get the Lightspeeds and I
wanted to be different.


Feel the pain? ;-)

Maybe there's a reason more people seem to buy the Lightspeed than the
Denali.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

The Headsets kit works well, but does take some soldering skill if you do it
yourself. I have one installed in a helmet as well as in a pair of DC's.

So far I have flown with the Denali's twice for a total of just under 4
hours. The initial out of the box impression was that they are well
constructed. Tight seams, no loose parts, feel pretty solid. After
following their fitting instructions, the fit is firm, yet comfortable,
and after two 2 hour cross countries I have felt no pain or pressure.
At 13.4 oz they are light enough, although they feel like they sit low
on the left side, which is where the mic boom is, and I haven't been
able to adjust that away yet. I suspect that the cord is stiff in it's
new-ness and is pulling it down.

I've owned and used Lightspeed, DC and, now, Denali ANR's. For me, the
Denali's are by far the most comfortable , have the best low-frequency
noise rejection and the fewest spurious oscillations (a problem with
the Lightspeed set I had). I also like the battery compartment box with
the clip that stays put and out of the way and the auto power-off
circuitry that acts within just a few minutes.

wrote:

In all this, I guess my question is, is there an ANR model that will
really blow you away, or is my experience par for the course at $500?

You might try Sennheiser. I preferred them to Denali.

Does even the mighty Bose X have the "engine quit" effect?

No. Bose used to have a 30-day money-back guarantee, though, so you could try a
set for next to nothing.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

wrote in message
oups.com...
[...]
As for noise attenuation: I have been flying for over a year with a
cheap $99 Cobra headset, and I expected to be absolutely blown away
when I put these on - it didn't happen. [...]
I wouldn't say it's loud, per se,
but I guess I expected the "I turned them on and thought the engine
quit" effect that I've read about so many times with various ANR
headsets.

Where have you read about that? I have never heard of anyone saying that.
All of the ANR headsets I've ever used (Peltor, Lightspeed, Bose) had the
same effect: they are MUCH more effective with cancelling the low
frequencies than the high.

The goal of the headset should be, IMHO, to reduce the overall sound volume
(pressure), protecting your hearing and reducing fatigue, while at the same
time allowing you to hear important sounds. Every ANR headset I've tried
does this.

I don't know whether it's a design choice, or a basic limitation in what's
capable with the first generation of ANR (IMHO they haven't gotten to the
second generation yet), but it does happen that the low frequencies are the
ones that seem the loudest, and which fatigue one the fastest.

I would suggest it's unrealistic for anyone to expect an ANR headset to
actually remove all ambient sound. I've never heard of any that do that,
nor have I heard of anyone saying that they do.

Pete

Pete,

I've read it a number of times in this very group while trying to
decide which headset to get, usually in reference to a Lightspeed
product. I just searched again for giggles and saw someone claim that a
Telex Echelon ANR produced that effect.

Don't get me wrong, I really don't think I want to wonder if the engine
is running or not when I'm flying, just had a different expectation I
suppose. I guess I thought I'd just hear a faint soothing background
hum, or something, I don't know.

In the end, I think I'll stick with the Denali's. Like I said earlier I
expected to be blown away for the $400 price difference and wasn't
exactly. If that's just the way it is then I'll just give them more
time. There's no doubt I can grow to love them, they are definitely
nice. Plus now that I only hear the higher frequencies I can pretend
I'm flying a King Air....

John K