Has anyone any experience with Clarity Aloft, Quiet Technology Halo or Lightspeed Mach1 in a Rotax engine airplane?
I'm wondering how well the in the ear (ITE) types handle the typical noise of a Rotax powered LSA cockpit?
I've read the Aviation Consumer Feb 11 report which says that as far as noise attenuation is concerned, the ITE are about as good as medium quality ANR but not as good as the top of the line Bose or Lightspeed. I'm assuming that would be in a typical GA airplane and suspect the LSA might have different noise characteristics.
TIA.
In-The-Ear Headset
Moderator: drseti
Re: In-The-Ear Headset
Jim,
There's another product you may want to consider. Quiet Technologies Halo. It's an ITE that's almost $200 cheaper than Clarity. Reviews on other forums are very positive. I literally just received my order and will be giving them a try this weekend.
There's another product you may want to consider. Quiet Technologies Halo. It's an ITE that's almost $200 cheaper than Clarity. Reviews on other forums are very positive. I literally just received my order and will be giving them a try this weekend.
dave
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Jack Tyler
- Posts: 1380
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Re: In-The-Ear Headset
Dave, please do give us a pirep after you've had some time in the air with them.
Jack
Flying in/out KBZN, Bozeman MT in a Grumman Tiger
Do you fly for recreational purposes? Please visit http://www.theraf.org
Flying in/out KBZN, Bozeman MT in a Grumman Tiger
Do you fly for recreational purposes? Please visit http://www.theraf.org
Re: In-The-Ear Headset
Please note how well they do in the full range of how you operate the airplane, including if you idle or taxi with the door/canopy open, flying with vents open, etc. Check it with squelch off, morse code (if you receive it) and at high and low frequency inputs.
I'm looking forward to your Pirep.
I'm looking forward to your Pirep.
Re: In-The-Ear Headset
I bought a pair of the Clarity Alofts for my wife. She thought it would save her hair do when flying 
In any case, I have a Rotax powered Gobosh and have tried them in that plane. She also used them for several flights. She complained of not being able to hear well with them on. I also didn't like the way they sounded, nor the way they felt on anything over an hour. My DPE also had Halos and recently switched to ANR headsets. I fly with Lightspeed Zulu 2's and love them. I got my wife a pair of Zulu 2's as well and she likes them much better than the in ear ones I originally got her.
Carl
In any case, I have a Rotax powered Gobosh and have tried them in that plane. She also used them for several flights. She complained of not being able to hear well with them on. I also didn't like the way they sounded, nor the way they felt on anything over an hour. My DPE also had Halos and recently switched to ANR headsets. I fly with Lightspeed Zulu 2's and love them. I got my wife a pair of Zulu 2's as well and she likes them much better than the in ear ones I originally got her. Carl
Private Pilot and RV-12 Builder
Pirep for Quiet Technologies Halo
I took my Halo headsets out for their first test flight today. Short answer -- 2 thumbs up!
For comparison, my current headset is a passive LighSpeed with published 28db noise reduction. I have flown with ANR as well but don't care for the way sound (that I want to hear) is blocked.
The Halo's ship with 3 different types of in-ear inserts: 2 sizes of compressible foam and 1 triple flange rubber insert. The flange is very simple to insert while the compressible foam takes a bit of practice. Here's video for how to do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6SGPdJnJUI. There's a simulation on the difference in performance: flange, foam. I went with the flange for this flight.
You may wear the Halo in three different positions: top of the head, around the back of the head or off the shoulders. Off the shoulder was a little strange to me and got int he way of the seat belts so I went with around the back of the head. Very comfortable.
It takes maybe 30 seconds more to get the Halo situated versus a regular headset but not a big deal. Put my hat on, seatbelt, then put the Halo on around the hat in back, inserted the flange ear plugs then ready to fire up my Sting.
At idle, you engine was like like background noise but it had definition. When pushing the throttle slightly to go up an incline, you could hear the difference but still very low volume. You could hear the prop/engine move to a dull 'roar' on run-up but still highly attenuated.
On taxi, moving your head side to side (90 degree head turns) can slightly break the seal although it didn't seem to materially effect the noise reduction. I also gently pushed the flanges a bit and didn't experience the seal being broken the rest of the flight.
In flight, the headset continued to do a great job. I picked up a local tower controller, AWOS and local pilots. Crystal clear reception. In fact, I had to turn my radio down from it's normal setting due to received transmissions being too loud.
I opened all three of my vents with nominal increase in noise.
Full throttle take-off was attenuated significantly but I still heard the appropriate engine/plane sounds. I stayed in the pattern and experienced pretty much all engine settings and plane attitudes and am very impressed with the headset.
By the time I pulled up to the hangar, I literally forgot I had the headset on. Very comfortable and significantly quieter than my current set. Given noise is a log ratings are a log function, I'd guess the attenuation was in the upper range of Quiet Technologies spec of 30-45db.
The simulator sound above is very much what I experienced.
For comparison, my current headset is a passive LighSpeed with published 28db noise reduction. I have flown with ANR as well but don't care for the way sound (that I want to hear) is blocked.
The Halo's ship with 3 different types of in-ear inserts: 2 sizes of compressible foam and 1 triple flange rubber insert. The flange is very simple to insert while the compressible foam takes a bit of practice. Here's video for how to do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6SGPdJnJUI. There's a simulation on the difference in performance: flange, foam. I went with the flange for this flight.
You may wear the Halo in three different positions: top of the head, around the back of the head or off the shoulders. Off the shoulder was a little strange to me and got int he way of the seat belts so I went with around the back of the head. Very comfortable.
It takes maybe 30 seconds more to get the Halo situated versus a regular headset but not a big deal. Put my hat on, seatbelt, then put the Halo on around the hat in back, inserted the flange ear plugs then ready to fire up my Sting.
At idle, you engine was like like background noise but it had definition. When pushing the throttle slightly to go up an incline, you could hear the difference but still very low volume. You could hear the prop/engine move to a dull 'roar' on run-up but still highly attenuated.
On taxi, moving your head side to side (90 degree head turns) can slightly break the seal although it didn't seem to materially effect the noise reduction. I also gently pushed the flanges a bit and didn't experience the seal being broken the rest of the flight.
In flight, the headset continued to do a great job. I picked up a local tower controller, AWOS and local pilots. Crystal clear reception. In fact, I had to turn my radio down from it's normal setting due to received transmissions being too loud.
I opened all three of my vents with nominal increase in noise.
Full throttle take-off was attenuated significantly but I still heard the appropriate engine/plane sounds. I stayed in the pattern and experienced pretty much all engine settings and plane attitudes and am very impressed with the headset.
By the time I pulled up to the hangar, I literally forgot I had the headset on. Very comfortable and significantly quieter than my current set. Given noise is a log ratings are a log function, I'd guess the attenuation was in the upper range of Quiet Technologies spec of 30-45db.
The simulator sound above is very much what I experienced.
dave
Re: In-The-Ear Headset
Was just looking at this site. They make in the ear products for civilian and military suited for very high noise situations:
http://www.cep-usa.com/cep/civil-aviation
Also see the Resources section of this website for fitting the earplugs.
http://www.cep-usa.com/cep/civil-aviation
Also see the Resources section of this website for fitting the earplugs.
- Richard
Sport Pilot / Ground Instructor
Previous Owner: 2011 SportCruiser
Sport Pilot / Ground Instructor
Previous Owner: 2011 SportCruiser
Re: In-The-Ear Headset
Have flown several more flights with the Halo and still prefer them over traditional headsets. Just flew back from NW Arkansas to Dallas in a stiff headwind for a 3.4 hr flight. My wife usually starts feeling uncomfortable after 1.5 hrs with prior headsets but no complaints with the the Halo. Very comfortable and quiet.
dave