The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I have the urge to purchase a new headset. My David Clark HT-40's are getting heavy! Not wanting to commit a "kneejerk" reaction, I thought I would throw my quest out to all you 170ers. The more people surveyed the better my decision should be. I want to get a new set to use going to the convention in LV.

I am leaning toward the Lightspeed 20 XL. The 15XL may be adequate, and I am pretty sure the 25XL is even better, but I don't want to bust the budget too bad.

I would appreciate input on these or other ANC headsets and any suggestions on where to find the best prices.

thanks in advance. Frank N6888A

I've got a couple of the Lightspeed 20K's and love 'em. Use 'em in my 170 and at work. They're get rid of more noise in the 170 than they are with 3 blade props,...but hey.,, there're more noise to get rid of in a 170!
I've also used the Lightspeed 20XL's and cannot tell the difference. The XL series just remember to turn themselves off in case you forget. But you only forget once or twice with the old ones, and you'll have no more trouble with it after buying batteries uselessly.

I bought 4 20XLs when I bought my 170. It was money well spent. I've never had a passenger complain about discomfort and I've worn them for 3+ hours on several occasions. Much more comfortable than David Clarks on my oversized cranium. Haven't tried the 25s but I figured the extra money wasn't worth it.

gahorn wrote:I've got a couple of the Lightspeed 20K's and love 'em. Use 'em in my 170 and at work. They're get rid of more noise in the 170 than they are with 3 blade props,...but hey.,, there're more noise to get rid of in a 170!
I've also used the Lightspeed 20XL's and cannot tell the difference. The XL series just remember to turn themselves off in case you forget. But you only forget once or twice with the old ones, and you'll have no more trouble with it after buying batteries uselessly.

George, do I understand correctly that the 20K & the 20XL are the same headset, but the XL will cut itself off automatically & the K doesn't? I can buy a few batteries for the difference in price if there is a price break. Do you have any suggestions who might have the best prices. I won't be as lucky as you and stumble onto a real deal!!!! Frank

I have a pair of Pilot PA 17-79s. I'm not unhappy with them but wouldn't buy another set. I had a problem with one earpiece and it took the company a month to return them fixed--no charge. One thing I do like is the battery is in the earpiece and not on the cord. They are comfortable to wear--I've worn them for 8 hours of flying in a day and they were no problem. I just think there are better ones out there for the price.

planepilot1 wrote:

gahorn wrote:I've got a couple of the Lightspeed 20K's and love 'em. Use 'em in my 170 and at work. They're get rid of more noise in the 170 than they are with 3 blade props,...but hey.,, there're more noise to get rid of in a 170!
I've also used the Lightspeed 20XL's and cannot tell the difference. The XL series just remember to turn themselves off in case you forget. But you only forget once or twice with the old ones, and you'll have no more trouble with it after buying batteries uselessly.

George, do I understand correctly that the 20K & the 20XL are the same headset, but the XL will cut itself off automatically & the K doesn't? I can buy a few batteries for the difference in price if there is a price break. Do you have any suggestions who might have the best prices. I won't be as lucky as you and stumble onto a real deal!!!! Frank

The difference between the Xl and the K is the XL's have automatic shutoff. I agree. If you can remember to turn 'em off,.....save some money.
Lightspeed presently has a program to give trade-in's to folks who wish to upgrade. They take in their 20K's and for another $150 will give 'em a 20XL. I believe they sell the 20K's for subsequently less. Try 'em. They have a website, http://www.anrheadsets.com/
gh

Frank:

I flew from Anchorage to Oshkosh last year and bought a set of the 20XLs. Best money I have spent in some time. They made the trip back much, much more enjoyable. They are also much cheaper than hearing aids.

I was set to buy a pair of the lightspeeds last year but two of my friends had the headbands break on theirs. These incidents happened several months apart. It could have something to do with the cold winters up here??? I decided just to keep using my David Clark 13.4's until I found out how well the factory treated them. About every other time I go flying now I think I should ask those guys if they were satisfied with the factory response but by the time I get down I forget! (I have a great memory it's just really short lately).

Has anyone else had this problem? (The headband breaking problem, not the memory problem) I would still like to get the lightspeeds.
I will try to remember to talk to the boys this weekend to see if the factory took care of the problem for them.

Looks to me like the Lightspeed 20XL is a replacement to the 20K's (from reading the websites). I don't see any 20K's for sale, but I haven't looked very hard. Avionics West (http://www.avionicswest.com) has the 20XL listed for $399. I think the upgrade Lightspeed was offering was from 20K to 25XL, and I agree that it doesn't seem like it was a worthwhile investment. The 20K (and 20XL) sound like a great headset, especially for the price.

I've used David Clark ANC headsets for hundreds of hours in a Twin Otter and in my 170, and they work great but they are very uncomfortable. Clamp hard, and they are HEAVY. Of course, we don't have the lightweight versions, so those are probably more comfortable. I'm looking at buying a set of the Lightspeeds for myself. I'm curious about this headband breakage issue, though. I saw in a review of the Lightspeed QFR Cross-Country (on the Lightspeed website, no less), mention of the reviewer's own 20K headband breaking (http://www.anrheadsets.com/qfrreview.html).

Jack

N2218B wrote:I was set to buy a pair of the lightspeeds last year but two of my friends had the headbands break on theirs. These incidents happened several months apart. It could have something to do with the cold winters up here??? I decided just to keep using my David Clark 13.4's until I found out how well the factory treated them. About every other time I go flying now I think I should ask those guys if they were satisfied with the factory response but by the time I get down I forget! (I have a great memory it's just really short lately).

Has anyone else had this problem? (The headband breaking problem, not the memory problem) I would still like to get the lightspeeds.
I will try to remember to talk to the boys this weekend to see if the factory took care of the problem for them.

Without reading the manual (which doesn't address the issue anyway) I thought that the headband was "bendable". It was pretty cold wx and the famous Lightspeed "ear-cushions" were firm when cold, so I thought bending the headband was the answer. It wasn't. I cracked it. (It took a pretty hefty treatment to do it, but I managed.) I called Lightspeed and complained. They said to send them in. They were back in less than a week with new headbands.
Moral: Remember that the ear-cushions on Lightspeeds are self-conforming....as they warm up to your ear, they soften and become very comfortable. If it's cold wx, just give 'em a few minutes.
As a follow-up, two years later I'd torn the ear-cushions with my eyeglasses,...not bad, just damaged the soft leatherette/fau-kid-skin surfaces. Lightspeed mailed free replacements to me within days.
I've got nothing but praise for Lightspeed. (And they're several ounces lighter than my spare David Clarks.)

I put the ANC module from Headsets, Inc. in my Peltor 7006 headset. They are almost too quiet now, can't hear the engine. It doesn't make them any lighter though.

That's probably not the engine you're not hearing. It's the prop. A good ANR headset will mostly dampen out the low-frequency prop sounds. You actually hear the engine better. You can hear valves clicking and people talking better in the cockpit, even if not on the intercom, better than ever before. You can even hear wind noises. You just won't have to listen to that tiring, pounding, propeller.

A friend who has quit flying gave me a set of Bose last fall and I wired them in when I was doing all the panel work and intercom the last few weeks. A couple of days ago we received the Lightspeed 15Ls from Chief ($305) for the wife. The Bose are really the best but are heavier and also hotter to wear and of course quite expensive. The Lightspeed 15's are a good alternative and fit her smaller head better plus much lighter. For her the 20 didn't fit as well. We're really looking forward to the trip North in a few weeks to really see what they're like after a few hours. Also to listen to the Walkman CD's and Rush on AM all inputed thru the music input jack on the new PS Eng PMA4000 A/P intercom. Do I sense some envy out there???

Dave Clark wrote:A friend who has quit flying gave me a set of Bose last fall and I wired them in when I was doing all the panel work and intercom the last few weeks. A couple of days ago we received the Lightspeed 15Ls from Chief ($305) for the wife. The Bose are really the best but are heavier and also hotter to wear and of course quite expensive. The Lightspeed 15's are a good alternative and fit her smaller head better plus much lighter. For her the 20 didn't fit as well. We're really looking forward to the trip North in a few weeks to really see what they're like after a few hours. Also to listen to the Walkman CD's and Rush on AM all inputed thru the music input jack on the new PS Eng PMA4000 A/P intercom. Do I sense some envy out there???

You know, of course, that Rush has lost his hearing. The general diagnosis is that he's been listening too much to himself.

George let's not start on the Rush thing but it is amazing how much he got back with the surgery/implant.