Re: Lightspeed L1\'s
Ask and ye shall receive. Here is a review from July '05 Aviation Consumer on in-ear headsets.
In-the-Ear Headsets: Don’t Buy Yet
The market is in utter flux with at least three new products poised for introduction. Quiet Technologies and Lightspeed are the ones to watch.
by Lionel Lavenue
As an alternative to noggin-crushing conventional headsets, so-called in-the-ear designs offer blessed relief. They’re light, cool in hot weather and the audio performance is excellent. After a so-so market response, interest in these products has picked up since we last reported on them in the February 2003 issue.
Since then, we’ve continued to flight test revisions and improvements of these products, including entries from Quiet Technologies, LightSPEED and a new company called Aloft Technologies. Here’s a brief update on what we’ve learned.
AuriComm II
Over the last two years, Quiet Technologies has discontinued the UltraFlite and AuriComm and replaced them with a single unit, the AuriComm II. The AuriComm II is similar to the original AuriComm with the choice of an optional headband or an improved earpiece, which we strongly prefer over the headband.
The AuriComm II no longer uses the patented Comply foam ear inserts. Instead, unless you choose the custom earmolds, it has a new type of ear insert with a triple-flange rubber silicone eartip. Although we were dubious that this tip would work as well as the Comply tips, we were impressed with the comfort and performance.
As press time, the AuriComm II is still $365 retail ($325 discounted) with a 30-day money-back guarantee. In our view, the AuriComm series remains the benchmark in this class of product and, as noted in the sidebar, an improved version is in the works.
Panther’s CAT
Panther has also improved the original CAT system. In contrast to Quiet Technologies, which offers both custom earmolds and standard eartips, CAT’s claim to fame is its custom earmolds made for just the person using the headset.
We liked the original CAT system, but had problems with the fact that the earpiece also included the mic, causing distracting noises while eating, talking or even breathing. Some users even reported problems talking with ATC. A new version addresses this problem with an improved boom mic, which we haven’t tested. Unfortunately, the price of the CAT system has risen from $495 to $650, twice as much as the AuriComm II. And there’s no money-back guarantee.
Clarity Aloft
The new guy in town is the Clarity Aloft in-the-ear headset by Aloft Technologies. The Clarity is similar to the old UltraFlite by Quiet Technologies, consisting of a headband connected to two earpieces and a boom mic. The eartips are the same technology used in the original AuriComm—Comply foam ear inserts—which we like. Apparently, Aloft is now the exclusive licensee of the patented Comply technology and it’s the only company offering these eartips.
To don the headset, you place the headband around your head behind your ears, then pinch the inserts and stick them into your ear canal. Adjust the boom mic and you’re all set. It’s dirt simple and it works. But the headband is an acquired taste. My in-the-ear testing expert, my wife, Teresa, preferred the AuriComm over the Clarity simply because the AuriComm has no headband.
That said, there are advantages to the headband. It provides more support for the earpieces, so they won’t pop out, and it also makes the boom mic more secure. However, for those attracted to in-the-ear technology for its utter lack of weight, the headband may be an issue.
One thing about the Aloft product surprised us. On its Website, Aloft recommends replacing the Comply eartips every four to five flights. Yet we have used the same eartips for 50 to 60 flights over two years and they’ve only recently started to degrade. Replacement of the eartips is an expense and logistics consideration; they cost about $25 for a dozen.
If a headband doesn’t trouble you, the Clarity Aloft is a good performer and we liked its attractive storage case. However, at $650 retail ($550 discounted), it’s $225 more than the equally capable AuriComm II. Aloft also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
L1 by LightSPEED
LightSPEED has heavily marketed its new lightweight headset, the L1, but when we asked for a demo unit, LightSPEED demurred for months. By the time we were sent an L1, LightSPEED was set to discontinue it and introduce a new product. We were surprised to note that the L1 is essentially the same product as the AuriComm II and, in fact, LightSPEED buys the headset from Quiet Technologies and repackages it, with some enhancements.
For one, the control box is unique. It has a dual volume control as well as something very useful: a cellphone and music interface. As far as we know, LightSPEED is the only company to offer an in-the-ear headset with these features. Unfortunately, the interface—but not the headset—requires batteries.
The L1 worked fine, as expected, given that it’s essentially an AuriComm unit. However, instead of a triple-flange eartip offered with the AuriComm II, the L1 comes with three types of eartips. One is similar to the triple-flange but there are also two other compressible foam eartips. LightSPEED says they’re the only company currently offering a variety of eartips for different sized ears. Lightspeed also offers custom earmolds by special order. As noted in the sidebar, LightSPEED is introducing a clean-sheet design and we recommend examining that product before buying.
Don’t Buy Now
Two years ago, we declared the original AuriComm as the winner. For the time being, that conclusion stands. Given AuriComm’s expertise, we have confidence its new product will perform well, too. But with so many new products planned, our advice is don’t buy now. Wait until later in the year when the market clarifies. If you simply can’t wait, you won’t go wrong with the AuriComm. The Clarity is a good second choice.
Here is a suppliment with the article about what is to come.
(sorry about the way it pasted)
As we prepared this report, we were
astonished by the new developments
in the in-the-ear headset
market, with three of the four manufacturers
planning announcements
at Oshkosh in July.
Quiet Technologies will introduce
the AuriComm III, which will have a
new earpiece—or “earhook” as they
call it—to support
various types of
eartips, including
custom earmolds.
The headband will
still be available, but
only upon request
for hard-to-fi t heads.
As for the ever-important
eartips, the
AuriComm III will
have three options:
the rubber triple-
fl ange, foam and custom earmolds.
The new AuriComm III will also
have a new high-performance noisecanceling
mic, which Quiet says will
be the “smallest on the planet.” A
new control box will have volume
controls, a cellphone interface but no
music input. And notably, unlike the
Lightspeed L1, the interface won’t require
batteries. The new design will
include a new noise-control feature
as an option for those in low-to-moderate
noise-level aircraft.
Quiet has kept quiet about the
AuriComm III, disclosing it for the
first time to Aviation Consumer. They
promise that it’s lightyears ahead of
the competition. Projected price of
the new unit is $375, a $50 increase.
LightSPEED, not to be outdone,
also plans to announce a new
product at OSH. Although its name is
still secret or undecided, the project
is currently known as, you guessed
it, L2. LightSPEED promises the L2
will be “dramatically diff erent from
anything on the market.” For example,
the control box will be more
sophisticated than the L1, with both a
new cellphone interface and a music
interface. The number of available
eartips will increase, possibly off ering
as many as fi ve diff erent types to
guarantee a fi t in even the most dif-
fi cult ear canal. (See photo at left for
examples.)
Aloft Technologies also has plans
for an Oshkosh announcement but
they declined to provide details,
other than to say the new headset
will have stereo, an upgrade from the
current monaural product.
Panther Electronics says its soonto-
be-introduced featherweight
contender is the Pilot Pro, which is a
Bluetooth headset combined with
the CATS earmolds. The Bluetooth
mic/receiver headset is similar to the
wireless units available for cellphones
and there’s no cable between the
headset and the aircraft.
The headset has a rechargeable
battery and a controller interfaces
to the aircraft, which has a volume
control for the wireless headset.
Panther said it would release this new
combination headset in late May or
early June 2005, well in advance of
Oshkosh. As of our deadline, a price
had not yet been set.
Way More in the Works
