Zulu 'popping' noise..

Thunder-Robo

Thunder-Robo

Well-Known Member
Spent about 6 hours with the zulu today, and this problem keeps coming back.

The head set has been making a loud and distracting popping and warbling sounds, at what seems to be random occurrences, during random phases of flight, and stays there until I lift the headset off my head for a fraction of a second. What's up with that?

This used to happen when I move my head to look out the the left wing or something... but today it was happening at random, no matter which way my head was facing... ideas?

I put new batteries in before my night launch, but it was still there... )=

Cheers
Derek
 
I have noticed something with the Bose X : if you cover the ambient noise sensor at the center of the cup you get some strange noise out of it.
I don't have my Zulu yet but it seems a common thing with ANR headset. I was flying on Air France the other day, and you have ANR headsets (Sennheiser) on each business class seat. So I gave a go at blocking the sensor and bingo it was all out of phase.
In the Bonanza I fly over here, the seats are new and the headrests sit pretty high. When I turn my head to talk to someone in the back I get that as well.
Give that a thought and if it still does it, send it back, the Lightspeed customer service seems fantastic.
 
Thunder-Robo said:
Spent about 6 hours with the zulu today, and this problem keeps coming back.

The head set has been making a loud and distracting popping and warbling sounds, at what seems to be random occurrences, during random phases of flight, and stays there until I lift the headset off my head for a fraction of a second. What's up with that?

This used to happen when I move my head to look out the the left wing or something... but today it was happening at random, no matter which way my head was facing... ideas?

I put new batteries in before my night launch, but it was still there... )=

Cheers
Derek
Click to expand...

Mine does this, it has something to do with battery connection. I lightly tap the batt box against something hard and that fixes it 100% of the time. Problem occurs about 30% of the time when I first start them up.
 
My Bose and Zulu does this occasional, although I prefer the Bose so I dont use the Zulu much anymore.

I cant turn my head or lean it on the wall cause it will drive one insane.
 
Thunder-Robo said:
Spent about 6 hours with the zulu today, and this problem keeps coming back.

The head set has been making a loud and distracting popping and warbling sounds, at what seems to be random occurrences, during random phases of flight, and stays there until I lift the headset off my head for a fraction of a second. What's up with that?

This used to happen when I move my head to look out the the left wing or something... but today it was happening at random, no matter which way my head was facing... ideas?

I put new batteries in before my night launch, but it was still there... )=

Cheers
Derek
Click to expand...

What are you flying? I've heard of this happening with when guys were flying the Beavers, the old Piston Otters, and certain piston airplanes really low.
 
From what it sounds like, it might be the seal. I have the same problem with my qc-15s while the prop is adjusting, and my old X's would do it if the ambient sensors caught some wind.

I dont know how the X's act in a beaver or other radial, but i know the 15s will get warbly when the prop is adjusting, and they'll do the same thing in a twin. Just a thought.
 
I haven't noticed it being loud, but I do get some weird audio sometimes if my cell phone is left on and too close to the battery box on a Bose.
 
msmspilot said:
I haven't noticed it being loud, but I do get some weird audio sometimes if my cell phone is left on and too close to the battery box on a Bose.
Click to expand...

That's what I was going to say. Sounds like a cell phone is looking for a signal. Sprint phones are real bad for this. Verizon phones don't seem to do it.
 
mshunter said:
Well what did you expect! If you cause what essentailly is a malfunction, of course things are going to get funny.
Click to expand...

Didn't expect anything. Just noticed and shared. If that's ok with you. :beer:
Maybe he's new to ANR headsets, maybe that's something he's done inadvertently. Maybe he doesn't care or maybe it helped him out. Isn't that what this place all about ?
 
My zulu does the same... really annoying sort of "flutter" in your ears right? Called lightspeed a bunch of times about it... supposedly it's a "rare" seal issue that has to do with certain head shapes. Had 15xl's before and they never did it. Give lightspeed a call. They've got a few tricks to try to fix the issue (change the headset padding, etc.). They eventually had mine sent in to get checked, and it's better but still has the problem. Good luck!
 
as weird as this sounds. My ear seals were lose from wearing my sunglasses, causing a bad seal. I didn't wear the Zulu's one day, as well as replacing the batteries and the problem went away.

I haven't had the problem since and I purchased a newer pair of shades with a thinner band on them.
 
Sometimes when doing a runup in a piston, just closing the window will stop a weird noise in the headset.

If that's not it, check the batteries. When mine run low and the red light (instead of green) shows up, changing the batteries will do the trick.
:beer:
 
Thunder-Robo said:
Spent about 6 hours with the zulu today, and this problem keeps coming back.

The head set has been making a loud and distracting popping and warbling sounds, at what seems to be random occurrences, during random phases of flight, and stays there until I lift the headset off my head for a fraction of a second. What's up with that?

This used to happen when I move my head to look out the the left wing or something... but today it was happening at random, no matter which way my head was facing... ideas?

I put new batteries in before my night launch, but it was still there... )=

Cheers
Derek
Click to expand...

We've seen this problem with many ANR headsets if you don't have a good seal on your head. Do you wear glasses? Do the ear seals have a good fit?
 
I occasionally get this same phenomenon with my Zulus when the seals aren't tight enough against my ears or there is a lot of ambient noise. As others have mentioned if you can avoid wearing glasses that will help out dramatically. I went to the dollar store and got a pair of sunglasses that I wear when I'm flying. This has worked well for me so far because the frames are extremely thin and they are so cheap that if a break them I don't care. No point in wearing $150 Oakleys with a headset.
 
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