Looking for Lightspeed Headset Opinion (20-3G versus 30-3G)

Scott DellAngelo · #1 05-16-2006, 07:33 AM

I have been flying my Lightspeed 20-3G's that I bought at Oshkosh last year for 30 RV hours and 10 Kitfox hours. I am very happy with them, but as I near the end of my phase 1 I need to get another headset. For those whom have used both, do you think the 30-3G's are worth the $110 extra or should I just get another 20-3G? The cheapskate in me says buy the cheaper ones, but if the difference is indeed noticeable then I might bite the bullet. I have flown with Bose and they are very nice, but to me personally they are not THAT much nicer.

Thanks,
Scott
#90598 - N598SD Flying - 30 hours (darn weather for the past week is getting annoying)

n468ac · #2 05-16-2006, 07:37 AM

I've had both ... and your right, it's really hard to tell the difference between the two ... but i'm currently using the 30-3G.

Bob Martin · #3 05-16-2006, 09:06 AM

I tried them all at Oshkosh.
I bought the 30's
I always regret not buying the best.
but, I have to agree, the Bose wasn't worth twice the money.

dan · #4 05-16-2006, 04:47 PM

I originally bought an R25XL for me and R20XL for my pax (both reconditioned from Lightspeed). I was happy with them for the most part. When the headband on my R25XL broke a few months ago I decided to splurge and trade up to the Thirty-3G. Lightspeed gave me credit for the R25XL and I did the trade-up.

The Thirty-3G crackled on takeoff. The noise level in my plane (while I haven't quantified it...I want to at some point) is ridiculous on takeoff. Literally on every takeoff, for the first 10 to 20 seconds, I would hear crackling.

And to be honest, I couldn't tell any difference from the R25XL and the Thirty-3G...or the R20XL for that matter!! Friends swore by the Thirty-3G and told me when they switched they noticed a huuuge difference. Different airplanes, different noise levels.

Anyway, I called Lightspeed and told 'em about the crackling. They had me send the headset back to them for a modification that they make, some sort of "tuning" for extremely loud environments. When I got the headset back it had new 25XL ear muffs on it (as well as the original Thirty-3G ear muffs in the bag). The crackling problem was gone.

There may be a sliiiiiiiiiiiight difference in noise reduction betwen the older models and the 3G line. It's not night and day in my case. I repeat...in my case. My plane is LOUD. No interior.

I'm happy with Lightspeed as a company, and I'm mostly happy with their products. Just wanted to give an objective data point.