Quiet Technology Halo Headset
 

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

Earplug headsets Rock!
 

Paul,

I agree on Quiet Technologies. I've been flying the Auricomm headset for 3 years now. Even on 5 hour + flights, it's perfect. My Ipod sounds terriffic in it as well. Glad you like yours.

Art in Asheville

Quiet Technologies Halo
 

Paul,
I'm glad to hear you are pleased with your decision since I was one of the ones on the other thread who expressed positive results with my QT Halo. I haven't done any loops or rolls in my 172, but I do agree with all your other comments about the advantages of wearing the QT Halo versus the "Mickey Mouse" ears of the other headsets. Also, when I get my -7 finished, I will enjoy the option of wearing a wide-brimmed hat under the RV's canopy. I think this headset is a well-kept secret that soon will be well known. It's amazing how well this headset works. :D
Don Hull

Any problems with equalizing pressure in ears?
 

Paul,

Have you noticed any problems with equalizing pressures in the ears with changes in altitude while using these? Do you have the foam earpieces or the custom fitted?

Thanks,

Good question, and the answer is no - I haven't noticed any equalization issues. It might be vented in some way I am not aware of. I am using the yellow foam earpieces that came with the headset. I do climb and descend pretty fast, so that should be a good test for equalization problems, however, many years ago I was a professional diver, and had a reputation for never having ear blocks, even when I had a cold....

Paul

Another Halo Thumbs Up!
 

Paul-

Have you tried out the silicone inserts, or are you sticking with the foam plugs? I ask because the silicones don't seem to fit in my ears, wonder if I'm the only one.

I received my Halo set last week, have flown a couple of flights with the foam inserts and am very pleased. After 30 minutes of 3-4g pulling, full range of loops, rolls, and everything in between, the headset didn't move. The owner of QuietTech advised me to put the "neckwire" over the top of my head, wear a hat, for aerobatics, but it seems that it's not needed.

I normally fly with a Lightspeed QFR CrossCountry, and was relatively happy with the headset, but found that on acro flights the headset slid around quite a bit. I alternated between the QFR and the Halo on my first flight with the new headset and found that the QFR with ANR on seemed to be a bit quieter than the Halo, but it's possible that the attenuation was just different.

Any one else have any comments on comparison between your Halo and former ANR headset?

Ken

How do they work under G's
 

I am very close to pulling the trigger on these guys but I wonder how well they work flying acro. Particularly pulling G's and having a look around. Normal headsets fly off or back during such manouvering and require various tricks to prevent the motion (e.g. velcro straps, cloth helmets etc).

Saw Bud Granley do a show with the Clarity Aloft and he was giving a play-by-play over the PA system while wearing them and it didn't sound like they fell off... but he gets paid to fly them... and he's pretty good...

Do these things stay on? Are there 'simple' ways to keep them on?

Thanks

Acro no problem..better than mouse ears
 

I have flown acro with mine, no problem, much preferable to the heavy mouse ears, which do fall off pulling g. No sweating under them either. I have flown them in RV's, Yak, and T-6. I'm converted. Oh, and since I wear glasses, the ear foam never adequately seals around my glasses, so they're much quieter than my $$$ ANR david Clarks.

Art in Asheville

I have to agree with Paul's (and other's) assessment of the QT Halo's. I bought a pair at Oshkosh, and have been VERY pleased with their performance in every airplane I've flown since then (including an RV-7). Super quiet, light, and the sound quality is simply amazing! Two very big thumbs up!

QT Halo Tubes
 

Ditto on great fit, feel and freedom of these earsets/ headsets- Wish I'd found them years ago!!