The EM- use the same speaker system you would get with a kit so theyre rated at the same 20 dB. The DRE-6001 is the flagship model, and the only one with ANR. They also took over the formerly-defunct DRE line of headsets. The company sells its own headset with ANR, branded as the EM-1, for $399. is working on a new kids model due this fall. You can also buy the original headset for $100 and upgrade it yourself if youre so inclined. So its a matter of how many years youll be flying with the kids to judge the investment. For older kids (even well pre-teen), the fit might be too tight. But he might have also liked it because it was red. The small-headed in our group said the kids headset was the most comfortable, hands-down. We got some actual children who are used to flying with scrunched up adult headsets and asked for their opinion. Experience has taught us that complex volume controls and young kids are a The headset also has only one volume control with a really big knob. Most full-size headsets require bending the mic boom partway back on itself to get consistent results (sort of important when a little voice in the back says quietly, “Im not feeling so good.”). The two key features of a childs headset are a smaller headband, so the earcups dont fall below the jaw, and a shorter boom on the mic. jumped into that gap by taking an AvComm childs headset and adding their ANR to it, as well as a few of their popular upgrades, such as the ComfortTop headband (which one of our child testers dubbed “the nice velvet top”). For the KidsĪ rather gaping hole in the headset market has been an ANR headset for children. If you like the idea of the upgrade but dont relish the job of installing it, the company will do the job for an additional $50 ($75 for a helmet). We found the company quick to respond to inquiries and helpful during the install. The system comes with a three-year warranty. That means the upgrade makes more sense if youve already invested in better earseals and a comfortable headband than if you still have the $99 special you got right after your first ride in a Cessna 150 and havent used in 10 years. The mic quality and headset fit will be whatever you started with. The company claims 20 dB of canceling at the key frequencies.īecause the 10-13.4 we tested used the older foam, its passive noise-reduction is now terrible, so the headset is functional with a dead battery but not remotely quiet. Its fine for normal cockpit communications, however. If youre an audiophile who likes Brahms while cruising, wed suggest elsewhere. The sound in the unit we tested was the tinniest of any of theĪNR units weve used. In fact, for many old headsets, its probably a gain. But you can get significant relief from cockpit noise with minimal loss audio quality. The results of the upgrade flat-out wont match the performance of a purpose-designed ANR headset-you cant turn your old David Clark 10-40 into a Bose X. There is also an option for panel-mount power. And the lithium 9-volt is lighter (course it also costs $7 a battery). But one user told us he gets over 100 hours of use from a lithium 9-volt in his system. ![]() Alkaline 9-volts last about 15 hours of use in the unit, which isnt terrific as ANR systems go. We had both of these add-ons and would recommend them as a good value for ease of the install and lifetime of the headsets 9-volt battery. New mic and audio cables that have the power supply to the battery built in (the AMP cable its called) is an extra $19. The auto-shutoff battery box is a $10 upgrade to the kit price. Some Peltor headsets and helmets require a special kit thats $189. The base price is $169, which includes everything you need short of wire clippers and a soldering iron (even the solder is included). When you order, youll have to tell them which model you have and theyll put the right parts in. For example, the latest kits use a new foam that both improves the passive noise reduction of the headset (i.e., how much it blocks with the noise canceling off) and removes the need for the adhesive to hold the new ANR modules in place. Theyve been selling these same basic kits for about 15 years, with periodic improvements over time. The most spendthrift way to go is to upgrade your existing headset yourself with one of the kits from Headsets, Inc. The company also sells complete headsets with their ANR installed headset, and they revived the DRE Communications line of headsets, which includes one with ANR. Some wire clipping and soldering is involved. offers a drop-in module that fits a wide range of existing headsets and helmets. But theres still a place for good deal on ANR, be it for backseat passengers or just to stretch your own flying dollar. If pilots baby their ears, it seems they go for the best they can buy. The world of noise-canceling headsets is largely ruled by the high-end units like the Bose X and Lightspeed Zulu.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |