My Lightspeed headset review = junk

[RPM]

Well, I had just bought a Lightspeed 30 3g headset about a month ago, I liked it at first but it had some minor problems with the ANR on the ground that was no big deal really, but that has recently been getting worse and worse so now the ANR doesn't even work on the ground at all with anything above 1,000 rpm's, and let me tell you the Lightspeeds passive qualities are probably worse than without a headset at all. Now it's starting to cut out in the air occcasionally, and i'm missing radio calls. What finally put me over the edge was on a flight yesterday my window latch broke and the window came open, the lightspeeds got incredibly loud and started squealing, scrambling to find the ANR off button I thought my head was gonna explode! I turned off the ANR, and the damn things were still so loud I had to take them off, it was much quieter without a headset. So I learned real quick the lightspeeds used without ANR are terrible, worse than without a headset. I use to fly with my DC's and the window open without any problem and I could hear fine.
I don't have time to dink around sending junk headsets in for warranty work every month, so the lightspeeds are on the way back to Marv Golden for a refund, top of the line my ass! Maybe the pair I got was just a lemon, but I don't care, i'm not dealing with this crap.

I guess it's back to the old DC 13.4's for me. I know they're proven and won't crap out on me. Anyone know if the aftermarket ANR kits from headsets inc. will void the great DC warranty. After using ANR I definately want it, but I want ANR that works without problems, and I want the headset to have good noise cancelling without ANR as well

If you lose the ANR on the Lightspeeds or Bose you might as well just throw them out the window because they are completely worthless used passively.

[Aviator737]

Hm, that's too bad. And a different experience from everything I've read and heard. I just got myself a pair of 20XL2s.

Haven't had a chance to use 'em though. But they're freakin' huge! You weren't kidding when you said don't wear 'em when there's a hot chick in the airplane!

[RPM]

Yes they are huge

I hope you have better luck with yours than I did. It may have just been a fluke that I got a bad set, but like I said, I don't have time to mess around with warranty work, and I've been starting to hear the lightspeeds need routine maintenance to keep them working properly, and if their gonna need it every 30-40 hours like mine.... well that won't cut it

Kinda funny, just a week or two ago I was still recommending them

[GaTechKid]

Sorry to hear about your experience. I've had the Lightspeed QFR CrossCountry headset for almost 2 years and I haven't had a problem yet. *knock on wood*

[music]

I dont own a pair but most people love them. This is actually the first time I heard someone complain. I did see something in the google(Usenet whatever) news groups that the only complaint is the noise while on the ground.

So I dug a little deeper for you.

It seems they are susceptible to interference from radar. It really is only a slight issue while on the ground at the airport. Most people dont mind it. But thats prob why they are not TSO'd.

As far as things being louder with them on. My guess would be that was probably due to the fact that the ANR couldnt figure out what to do because of the wind. I would be surprised if any ANR could keep up with wind.

All ANR does is replay the same freq sound out of phase. They cancel each other out. If it plays the wrong freq you will hear both.

It does seem like your unit is prob a little flakey. If you do decide to stay with lightspeed you should exchange them for a pair that works right.

You should also paint them.. hahaha... Those things are ugly.

Anyway I was just trying to help.

[RPM]

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It seems they are susceptible to interference from radar. It really is only a slight issue while on the ground at the airport. Most people dont mind it. But thats prob why they are not TSO'd.

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I know about the radar chirp problems, I had that also but it wasn't a big deal. The problem with mine was complete failure of the ANR and not being able to hear the radio 90% of the time on the ground.

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As far as things being louder with them on. My guess would be that was probably due to the fact that the ANR couldnt figure out what to do because of the wind. I would be surprised if any ANR could keep up with wind.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, I understand that the ANR probably can't keep up with the wind noise, and it would be acceptable if the headset had a decent amount of passive protection, but it doesn't. With the ANR off the headset is useless, it actually seems to amplify the noise and make things worse, which is a major problem in my opinion. What if your battery runs out and you don't have a replacement, or you wanna fly with the window open??

Thanks for the input, I just don't think the lightspeeds are right for me, so they are being returned.

[CAFFEINE]

Sounds like you got a lemon headset. I have a pair of 20-3G's and love them. I sometimes open the window and never have had the problem you described. Perhaps the amount of extra noise from the open window varies from plane to plane, but I haven't had any problems with this. I have turned off the ANR inflight just to test the passive noise canceling alone and I agree with you that it is not very good but considerably quieter than no headset. I dont think I would want to fly for too long with dead batteries (so I always carry a spare set in my flight bag).

[WillNotFly4Food]

That's too bad RPM. Perhaps it's something with the newer models but I sing nothing but praise about my 25XL's. Their customer service is also top notch.

[Mavmb]

I've had the Lightspeed 20XL for 3 years and it has been wonderful! The headset did break once and it was even out of warranty. I thought I would have to pay because it was out of warranty but Lightspeed still fixed it free of charge and gave me a new headset bag and everything! Their customer service is excellent!

To the above poster, I think you just happened to get a dud. Send it into the company. They'll replace it free of charge. The Lightspeed is the best headset I've ever had!

[Mavmb]

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Hm, that's too bad. And a different experience from everything I've read and heard. I just got myself a pair of 20XL2s.

Haven't had a chance to use 'em though. But they're freakin' huge! You weren't kidding when you said don't wear 'em when there's a hot chick in the airplane!

[/ QUOTE ]

Umm, chicks like things that are big!

[aloft]

Hate to say I told ya so. but....

Hear me now and believe me later: tis cheaper to buy one DC ANR headset at the outset than a passive one and then an off-brand ANR one when you realize what your hearing's worth.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Return that Lightspeed crap and get yourself the H10-13X you shoulda bought in the first place.

[ERAU_Intern]

Listen, I really think you got a lemon set there. I have a set of 20-3'g's and have been instructing in them for the last 6 months. They arent as good as Bose, thats for darned sure, but they are certainly the best headsets I have ever owned. The ANR is quite good actually. My only gripe is that they eat up batteries much faster than advertised. I am lucky to get 20 hours out of them! And also they arent all that durable. This probablly has something to do with the fact that they are built to be light on your head, but some of the plastic parts on mine are getting kinda banged up from my 3-4 flight per day abuse. HA! Anyhow, everyone likes different stuff, but to me, $450 bucks for this headset was well worth it! I certainly dont wanna pay 600 plus for the bandwagon DC's. But if I had the grand to drop on a new set of Bose, believe me, I'd do it.

[RPM]

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Hate to say I told ya so. but....

Hear me now and believe me later: tis cheaper to buy one DC ANR headset at the outset than a passive one and then an off-brand ANR one when you realize what your hearing's worth.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Return that Lightspeed crap and get yourself the H10-13X you shoulda bought in the first place.

[/ QUOTE ]

He, He, I know, I know. I like to learn the hard way They are in the process of being exchanged for the DC 13X right now, already sent them back, plus I am getting about $40 back, because the DC's are on sale. Back to the old David clampers for me

I'm sure I did just get a lemon Lightspeed headset, but that was enough to piss me off and get rid of em, and after owning them I can see they they wouldn't last anyway as hard as I am on stuff. My old DC 13.4's got the hell beat out of them and they worked good as new.

I'm not trying to bash lightspeed, they probably still make a decent product if you don't get a f-d up set from the beginning, and they were definately VERY comfortable, I won't argue there.

Bottom Line - I think the Lightspeed headset would be OK for the occasional recreational pilot, or a passenger headset, but it won't cut it for daily professional use IMO.

[jtrain609]

Heya,


Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Lightspeed, man. I love my Lightspeed's, and hated my DC 13.4's. They held up fine, but they felt like a vice on my head. If they didn't hurt my mellon so much, I woulda suck with the DC's, but that was not quite the case. If you can wear the DC's, go for it dude!

[SteveC]

I love my DC's. Worth every penny in my opinion.

Funny how some people hate how the DC's fit and other's love 'em. I have a pretty big melon, and I think the Clark's are very comfortable, even for long flights.

No accounting for tastes, they say.

[BobDDuck]

I have a pair of the 15xl and have never had any problems with them. As to their big size... there is a reason they call them the Princess Leia head set. Sorry they didn't work out for you RPM.

Ethan

[aloft]

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Funny how some people hate how the DC's fit and other's love 'em. I have a pretty big melon, and I think the Clark's are very comfortable, even for long flights.

[/ QUOTE ]

That seems to be the key to comfort and DCs; smaller noggin = greater clamping force = discomfort. Larger noggin = more leverage on the top spring steel band = less clamping force = more comfort.

[SteveC]

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Funny how some people hate how the DC's fit and other's love 'em. I have a pretty big melon, and I think the Clark's are very comfortable, even for long flights.

[/ QUOTE ]

That seems to be the key to comfort and DCs; smaller noggin = greater clamping force = discomfort. Larger noggin = more leverage on the top spring steel band = less clamping force = more comfort.

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Must be why all the small-brained guys buy dem other brands!







Oh, relax. Just joshin'.

[JHines]

The DC H10-60's have adjustable tension; they aren't uncomfortable at all.

[cimepilot]

Had my LS 20XL's for three years and will never go back to DC's or anything that isn't ANR. DC's are clamps and hurt like hell when you are pulling a 6-8 hour flight. After 8 hours of flying the Lightspeeds have never bothered me. They key is to always have a pair of backup batteries in case they go out during the flight. When the ANR is working, you can't beat 'em.

[shooter13]

So this TSO thing. Tell me more about it. When would I need a pair of TSO approved headsets like the DC's. Unless you are flying a B1900 or something small such as that, do you still wear a big ole headset like the DC 13.4? TSO only applies to Part 121 right?

<--- is excited to finally be starting to learn to fly

[Ralgha]

Definatly got a lemon. I have a set of 25XLs. Batteries last about 50 hours, passive qualities ARE there, it is definatly quiter with them on and ANR off than with the headset off. I fly around with a window open not infrequently and have never had a problem.

They hold up just fine too, using them 80-100 hours a month.

Just looking at a DC set makes my head hurt.

[bullmastiff]

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Had my LS 20XL's for three years and will never go back to DC's or anything that isn't ANR. DC's are clamps and hurt like hell when you are pulling a 6-8 hour flight. After 8 hours of flying the Lightspeeds have never bothered me. They key is to always have a pair of backup batteries in case they go out during the flight. When the ANR is working, you can't beat 'em.

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Hell yes, I have pulled 17 hour flights with military issued DC's on OMG I could have sworn my head was gonna be permanently dented in.

[SteveC]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Had my LS 20XL's for three years and will never go back to DC's or anything that isn't ANR. DC's are clamps and hurt like hell when you are pulling a 6-8 hour flight. After 8 hours of flying the Lightspeeds have never bothered me. They key is to always have a pair of backup batteries in case they go out during the flight. When the ANR is working, you can't beat 'em.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hell yes, I have pulled 17 hour flights with military issued DC's on OMG I could have sworn my head was gonna be permanently dented in.

[/ QUOTE ]
Everybody's mileage varies.

My longest day was a four-leg trip in a Twin Comanche from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Houston, Texas, and back. 12.8 hours flying time total in one long-arse day. And my Clark's still felt good.

All depends on the person, which is why everyone recommends you test-fly a pair for a while before purchasing if you can.