Sport Pilot Talk

theskunk · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 10:51 pm Post subject: Headset recommendations?

I know that most headset manufacturers aim for a certain band to cancel within, and i'm wondering what you guys have observed to be the best/comfort/price for a rotax engine's frequency.

I'll be specifically flying the allegro 2007 for my training, and likely be looking at something a bit quicker for my own, but probably still rotax powered, if not then i could see jabiru powered.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

3Dreaming · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 301 Location: noble, IL USA

I have heard good things about the Telex ANR for the rotax frequency range. If I remember right it was the 50 series that they suggested. That being said each person is different. I would recomend that you get somewhere that you can try on different headsets for comfort and their ability to block the noise. Tom

Targetbuster · Joined: 04 Mar 2011 Posts: 36 Location: Sultan wa

I fly the Evektor Sportstar and have found numerous trouble with headsets. Everything from David clarks to lightspeed headsets have produced a horrible squealing when the mic button is pushed. Feedback of some sort I presume. I've found this in two separate planes and it has been very frustrating. I use the the lightspeed Sierra now which is made in America and it seems to have the least of all issues of the several I've tried including the Zulu. Hope that helps.

oldsportpilot · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 68

Targetbuster wrote: I fly the Evektor Sportstar and have found numerous trouble with headsets. Everything from David clarks to lightspeed headsets have produced a horrible squealing when the mic button is pushed. Feedback of some sort I presume. I've found this in two separate planes and it has been very frustrating. I use the the lightspeed Sierra now which is made in America and it seems to have the least of all issues of the several I've tried including the Zulu. Hope that helps.

I have about 100 hours in a Sportstar using a Bose X headset. It performs flawlessly, and turns the engine sound into a low hum.

LeafAngel · Joined: 05 Aug 2010 Posts: 13 Location: Kilbourne, Ohio

I also fly a Sportstar and use the Bose A20 headset. It works flawlessly. As oldsportpilot says, it turns the engine noise into a low hum. I also find that you can still detect subtle changes in the engines sound.

flyboy2007 · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 79 Location: wisconsin

I use avcomm and love them. and they don't cost 900.00

ka7eej · Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 177 Location: Taylor, Az

HI

I fly an Allegro 2000 I use David Clark 13.4.. I bought several on Ebay. Some 2 or 4 at a time. I sold all but 2 and have about $100.00 each in them, after selling the others off one at a time.Buy LOW sell High... It worked for me and I cannot see any reason to spend over $500.00 on a Headset..

Good luck and use a little power (2400-2600) over the numbers to land that Allegro until you get more used to it... Cut power at 3-4 inches off the runway..Gives you way more control...It aint no 172 or Cherokee!!! I spent lots of money and time trying to learn power off landings until I read this method on a forum post...

Brian

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1390 Location: Lock Haven PA

This ANR headset was mentioned on a different thread:

http://www.pilotmall.com/product/PilotMallcom-Sound-Silencer-Headset-ANR/pilotmall-headsets

It appears to be a house-branded Lightspeed. I haven't tried it, but the specs are good, and it looks like a fine value for the price.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1390 Location: Lock Haven PA

Targetbuster wrote: Everything from David clarks to lightspeed headsets have produced a horrible squealing when the mic button is pushed. Feedback of some sort I presume.

That sounds to me like an RFI (radio frequency interference) issue between your comm radio and your intercom, I suspect, rather than a headset issue. If I'm right, the problem will exist in every headset, until you resolve the underlying cause. Ferrite beads installed directly at the intercom's audio input and output leads, plus good grounding, can sometimes mitigate such problems. You'll probably need the help of a good avionics shop to track it down.

NismoRR · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 71 Location: Murrieta, CA

drseti wrote: This ANR headset was mentioned on a different thread:

http://www.pilotmall.com/product/PilotMallcom-Sound-Silencer-Headset-ANR/pilotmall-headsets

It appears to be a house-branded Lightspeed. I haven't tried it, but the specs are good, and it looks like a fine value for the price.

As usual Paul, appreciate this. I got a cheap ASA headset for training that's been great thus far and was going to get an improved set after the ticket. Well I'm there but am trying to put all extra money towards the training bill, but for $250, this might be a perfect solution.

zaitcev · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 258 Location: Albuquerque, NM

Michael, owner of Remos GX that I rent and a member on this forum, flies it with a jet headset that he also uses for work, which looks like something that call center workers wear. It really is not that noisy. I use David Clark H10-13S, because I have to deal with traditional piston singles. -- Pete

ct4me · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 43 Location: Phoenix, AZ

I've found the Dave Clarks work best for me, too. I have a buddy that has bought the "top" 5 or 6 brands... Bose, Zulu, Telex, etc. Each time, he loans me his cast-offs to try, with the offer of a "good deal" if I like them. In each case, after taking them for a spin, I've decided that the old Dave Clarks sounded better.
After sending my radio back to Garmin for that recent free service bulletin repair, I found I had to do some serious adjustment to get my DC's back to sounding normal. With that in mind, I'm guessing that you just can't plug a set in and evaluate them without "tuning" them for your aircraft and personal preferences. Play with the levels, like sidetone etc, until you find your sweet spot.
Tim

jake · Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Posts: 80 Location: minnesota

Take from somebody whos hearing is not what it used to be. (although mine is not from the airplane it is noise related)

GET THE QUIETEST SET YOU CAN FIND!!!

Anything you save on headsets now now will not be worth hearing loss later in life. Bargain headsets are no bargain.

When we are young we dont think about taking care of ourselves till its too late.

Way too many pilots with hearing loss.

Jake.

theskunk · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:22 pm Post subject:

Well, I had the chance to try on a bunch of headsets in an Allegro the other day -- I tried the following:

Bose X
Lightspeed Sierra
Lightspeed Zulu.2
Bose a20

Basically I flew up to a pilot services place that I used to take lessons at, and the CFI there (my old one) gave me the run of those 4 -- i'm currently 100% spoiled on the bose a20 -- the only concern there is that I haven't worn them for a long period of time, and I have a feeling that If I can manage to get into the plane that I want to end up in (CTLS) then I'll have the 4-5 hour range that i'm looking for.

In the next 2 years, my goal is to fly from krdu to w10 to visit some family. It'll take 17 hours of flying according to foreflight, but i think it would be an amazing adventure.

jake · Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Posts: 80 Location: minnesota

I currently own a lightspeed zulu and a bose x and will try out the bose 20 at oskkosh.

For those of you that have tried the new bose what did you see as improvements?

Jake