I?ve now got about five hours this week flying with my new Quiet Technology Halo Headset, and I must say that I am impressed! Light, quiet, good sound ? it really does seem to fulfill all the requirements I have for a headset.
I had been shopping for a new headset primarily because my ?passenger headset? (an old passive David Clark) was beginning to show its age. Sometimes, you look for any excuse to try something new?..I decided I?d promote my current Lightspeed XL 20 that I?ve been happy with for years to the back seat, and buy myself something new. I originally was going to go for a new Lightspeed, but it is hard to resist trying new technology ? especially when it gives you the chance to get rid of the big Mickey Mouse ears. With the big bubble canopy of the -8, it would be nice to be able to wear a brimmed hat to keep the sun off my neck.
I read all of the posts on the Clarity Aloft vs. Mach 1 thread, and counted a lot of positive comments about the Halo. Since I already have a music and cell phone interface in the airplane, that wasn?t necessary, and after talking with some PhD audiologists, I was convinced that the Halo would give me hearing protection equal to the ANR units.
I am used to wearing very lightweight headsets for hours on end at work, but they are just in one ear, and aren?t ?compression fit? into the ear canal. I have to admit that there are days where my ear is numb after a ten hour session because of the little ear bud, but I decided that the soft ear plugs of the Halo might be different.
This morning I flew 2.5 hours out to the Hill Country and back, and never noticed the presence of the Halo. I was able to change hats without taking it off, and the sound quality was excellent ? even with my Mono intercom, music from the XM receiver was crisp. The microphone sounds very good on my intercom, although it took a little fiddling to find a good Vox setting ? not bad, just different from what I was used to. Not having the big ear cups and head band really makes your head seem more free, and looking for traffic is easier. The headset stayed nicely in place during some loops, rolls, and Cuban Eights. Construction quality looks very good to me.
Will the halo be as comfortable at the end of an eight hour flying day? I can?t tell yet for sure, but it looks promising. I?ll keep the Lightspeed ANR in the airplane for passengers, and I can always switch to that if my ear canals get tired of the plugs. I still think I get the best overall noise reduction wearing my helmet with ANR ear cups ? but I only use that if I?m wearing a parachute, or if I?m planning on going really high and want to use my O2 mask.
Paul
I had been shopping for a new headset primarily because my ?passenger headset? (an old passive David Clark) was beginning to show its age. Sometimes, you look for any excuse to try something new?..I decided I?d promote my current Lightspeed XL 20 that I?ve been happy with for years to the back seat, and buy myself something new. I originally was going to go for a new Lightspeed, but it is hard to resist trying new technology ? especially when it gives you the chance to get rid of the big Mickey Mouse ears. With the big bubble canopy of the -8, it would be nice to be able to wear a brimmed hat to keep the sun off my neck.
I read all of the posts on the Clarity Aloft vs. Mach 1 thread, and counted a lot of positive comments about the Halo. Since I already have a music and cell phone interface in the airplane, that wasn?t necessary, and after talking with some PhD audiologists, I was convinced that the Halo would give me hearing protection equal to the ANR units.
I am used to wearing very lightweight headsets for hours on end at work, but they are just in one ear, and aren?t ?compression fit? into the ear canal. I have to admit that there are days where my ear is numb after a ten hour session because of the little ear bud, but I decided that the soft ear plugs of the Halo might be different.
This morning I flew 2.5 hours out to the Hill Country and back, and never noticed the presence of the Halo. I was able to change hats without taking it off, and the sound quality was excellent ? even with my Mono intercom, music from the XM receiver was crisp. The microphone sounds very good on my intercom, although it took a little fiddling to find a good Vox setting ? not bad, just different from what I was used to. Not having the big ear cups and head band really makes your head seem more free, and looking for traffic is easier. The headset stayed nicely in place during some loops, rolls, and Cuban Eights. Construction quality looks very good to me.
Will the halo be as comfortable at the end of an eight hour flying day? I can?t tell yet for sure, but it looks promising. I?ll keep the Lightspeed ANR in the airplane for passengers, and I can always switch to that if my ear canals get tired of the plugs. I still think I get the best overall noise reduction wearing my helmet with ANR ear cups ? but I only use that if I?m wearing a parachute, or if I?m planning on going really high and want to use my O2 mask.
Paul