ANR Headset Recommendations for the Saab?

[Whoop Whoop]

Question for you Saab drivers out there...

Would you recommend an ANR headset to a new Saab pilot? If so, which one do you use and/or would recommend?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you-

Whoop Whoop

 

[DoinTime]

I used a Bose X on the Saab. Its amazing the difference that a high quality ANR makes in reducing the low frequency prop noise.

 

[JATAGA]

I use the DC's but make sure you get the newer 9v batt version not the six AA version. And be ready to go through a bunch of batterys.

 

[Godfather]

Lightspeed 20k or 25K works very well.

The Telex 850 is OK but sidetone volume control (or lack thereof) makes it loud when you transmit on the comms, so you have to use eargplugs as well. Intercom is great.

Telex 750 airman is what I use. works great but man the SLOB CAN BE LOUD IF YA DON'T USE EARPLUGS.

 

[ATLplt]

I've had good luck with the Lightspeed 20XL2's. They're a little large but comfortable enough for a long day.

 

[English]

Bose X are the best for the Saab. The frequency range that the Bose cancels is exactly the range that the Saab produces.

 

[RampTower]

Whoop X 2

If you can afford about $125 bucks for the first month and $82 bucks every month after that for 1 year, the Bose X is the best $1000 dollars you'll invest in, especially if you plan on being in the Saab for a few years. And besides, my buddies that went from a turboprop to a jet, STILL use their Bose X.

It's lightweight too, at just 12 ounces. After a full day's use, my head or ears do not hurt one bit. Uses just two AA batteries that last a while, opposed to up to 6 batteries that some ANC headsets require (which means you save money in battery replacement). And it has a pretty good automatic shutoff feature just in case you forget to turn off the ANC.

 

[I.P. Freley]

Sometimes I wonder if there are a bunch of Bose salespeople on here...

If you want to spend a grand, get Bose. If you want to save 500 bucks, get Litespeed. 95% of the performance for half the price. Just my opinion, having used both. Litespeeds are also good on batteries, something like 40-50hrs of life with good alkalines (2 AA) and have auto-shutoff.

I don't buy the argument, which I will now exaggerate, "how important is your hearing, if it's not worth a thousand dollars to you, you deserve to go deaf". The fact of the matter is that ANY ANR headset kicks butt over passive headsets and any one of them is enough to get the ambient noise below the threshhold where it is likely to cause any hearing damage.

You don't need to spend a thousand dollars if you don't want to. Even the least expensive ANR Lightspeed will do the trick, over $600 less than Bose, and for not much more than a good set of passive DC's like the H10-13.4. The next step up is another hundred bucks but much better performance...

If you feel like throwing an additional $500+ at Omar Bose, go right ahead... But like basically everything sold by Bose, it's overpriced for the performance you get out of it. Have to admit, their marketing is very good.

Just keep in mind that most ANR headsets are essentially worthless if the battery dies or the electronics take the big dirt-nap. This is one thing that recommends DC's very expensive ANR sets, that they work just like the passive headsets even with the electronics turned off.

 

[vclean]

I installed the aftermarket anr modules from Headsets Inc. If you or someone you know is handy with a soldering iron, then these may be for you. I put them in an older (13 yrs) DC10-20. I replaced the 9V source with a 6AA battery holder. This increases useful battery life from ~10hrs to >50 hrs. If the batteries die or the electronics go, the headset will still retain it's original passive mode.

I've had fo's with the Lightspeeds. While they seem to work well, they are fragile and seem to pickup noise from the windshield heat.

http://www.headsetsinc.com

 

[I.P. Freley]

I've had fo's with the Lightspeeds. While they seem to work well, they are fragile and seem to pickup noise from the windshield heat.

http://www.headsetsinc.com

No argument there, they are fragile relative to a pair of DC's, due to the amount of plastic in their construction. I had the headband break and needed a repair. Then again, the only person I ever knew who had a pair of Bose had to return them twice soon after purchase because the electronics failed, first one side and next both sides stopped working. He gave up and went back to his DC's... But when they were working they worked quite well, though really no better than the Lightspeeds I was using at the time.

I can't confirm them picking up noise from the windshield heat... The only thing I ever picked up with them was the radar at some of the bigger fields like DCA and ISP. Otherwise they didn't pick up any noise, and in fact did so less than my DC's.

 

[Shobra]

I used the lightspeed 25xls in the saab, without any problems except I broke a small part and they replaced it for free even though it was a year or two out of warranty. (Very good Customer Service) If I leaned my head way over by the side window in some of the older A models I heard a very very slight hum. And once in a great long while I'd hear a blip from a large radar only while operating on the ground. I think they are good for the price but if you can afford the bose go with those. What ever you decide make sure it has ANR. You'll thank yourself in a year when you can still hear.

 

[Turbojet]

I have a pair of aviation lightspeed 30 3g's that I bought last year and used only 6 months while I was on reserve at Skywest for sale. I paid $600 for them and will consider any reasonable offers. I am at Southwest now so I don't use them. They were comfortable and were very nice in the noisy Brasilia...They have 4 years on the waranty still and are in like new condition with case and original box and packing...

Let me know if you would be interested in them..

Thanks
TJ

 

[ATLplt]

I broke a small part and they replaced it for free even though it was a year or two out of warranty. (Very good Customer Service)

I've had the same type of experience with their CS. The ANR went out on the right side, and I told them it was caused by me dropping the thing on the pavement. They fixed it out of warranty, free of charge, and shipped it back next-day air.

 

[pavelump]

Does a headset have to be TSO'd in order to use it in 121 or 135 operations? I couldn't find any TSO info on the Lightspeed site or at the faa TSO site.

Anybody try their new L1 in-ear headset?

 

[platinumclub]

IP did you see the F1 race today???

 

[I.P. Freley]

IP did you see the F1 race today???

You bet I did. If anyone still thinks one set of tires for a whole race is a good idea, reference what happened yesterday.

(sorry for the thread creep!)

 

[Flying_Corporal]

Question for you Saab drivers out there...

Would you recommend an ANR headset to a new Saab pilot? If so, which one do you use and/or would recommend?


Whoop Whoop

I use DC ANR with the 9V battery in the SF340. One day I was forced to use a regular headset w/out ANR and I felt miserable. The difference is night and day. When I bought it two years ago it was about $650.

Highly recommend it.
Cheers, FC

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

Hey Bose with or without earplugs?

 

[TonyC]

Hey Bose with or without earplugs?

Without.

Using earplugs with a Bose Aviation X headset would defeat the purpose. One would have to increase the volume that is delivered to the ears, which would increase the exposure to the bone structures surrounding the exterior of the ear.

Take the earplugs out, cover both ears with the Bose, turn the volume down, and enjoy the crystal clarity.












.

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

Okay cool. Can I borrow a 1000 dollars?

 

[TonyC]

Okay cool. Can I borrow a 1000 dollars?

You can borrow it from Bose.

Pay 1/12th plus taxes, shipping and handling today, they'll ship the headset. Pay 1/12th this time next month. Repeat 10 times. Headset's yours, no interest.









.

 

[ERfly]

You can borrow it from Bose.

Pay 1/12th plus taxes, shipping and handling today, they'll ship the headset. Pay 1/12th this time next month. Repeat 10 times. Headset's yours, no interest.








.

Plus, as of last week, Bose was offering free next-day air shipping if you ordered over the phone. I just got it for the ERJ and absolutely love it. Best money I've ever spent and worth every penny.

 

[Stepclimb]

Bose & ERJ?

Do you find that the Bose cancels the high freq wind noise in the ERJ? I thought that it was optimized to only cut low freq (prop) noise.
With the lightspeeds, I can also attest to the excellent customer service. Most components that crack/break can be replaced by the average pilot with a small screwdriver. Lightspeed has Fed-exed overnight parts to me even when the headset was out of warranty. Also, the lightspeeds have a cell-phone & music interface.
One last point: With ANR headsets that use AA batteries, Radio shack sells NiMh (nickel metal hydride) batteries with 2000 mAh capacities and a small charger. That's 2 amp hours! I have found these batteries will last about a week of flying 4-5 hours a day. I charge them at home before a trip and carry the small charger in the bag for the overnights, but have not needed to use it.

 

[ERfly]

I find it does a good job of cancelling out the wind noise. It doesn't get rid of it completely, but it takes a lot of it away. It does take out the rumble that is still there when you wear the David Clarks. The best part is the comfort. I can barely tell I have them on and I was doing some long legs last week (IAH-YYZ, CLE-AUS, IAH-MKE, IAH-COS).


I've heard of guys getting 50 to 60 hours and more out of 2 regular AAs with the Bose. I'll check on the performance after I go through my first set.

My only problem is that the mike picks up a lot of wind noise and some guys don't like it. I end up spending most of the flight with the hot mike off. Any other Bose users have the same complaint?

 

[Ralgha]

What's the feel of a Bose and sunglasses?

 

[ERfly]

What's the feel of a Bose and sunglasses?

Good. I tried the Sennheisers before and my big complaint (besides the fact they EAT batteries) is that they pinch really hard on my sunglasses and I find myself in pain after about an hour.

I have Ray-Ban Predator Flight Squares and I don't notice any pinching under the headset.

 

[Whoop Whoop]

Thank you to everyone who submitted comments!

Whoop Whoop