Bose verse Zulu

[CT Arrow]

As a diehard Bose headset fan, I had yet to find anything that would deliver the quality of the Bose X headset. Well, that changed yesterday!

I heard about the new comparable ANR headset from Lightspeed marketed as "Zulu". I happened to be at SNF in April and stopped by the Lightspeed booth. I sampled the Zulu in their soundbooth and while I thought the Zulu was good, I still didn't think it was agood as the Bose. Am I slightly biased, probably!

Fast forward a few months to July.. The reviews of this headset continued to be favorable and the added features really caught my attention mainly bluetooth. Okay, could this headset really be that good? I had to know for sure so I ordered one on-line w/ a 30 day return policy. Hey, if I didn't like it, it only cost me a few bucks to ship back.

Yesterday was baptism by fire for this headset! We had filed to Hyannis, MA and were calling in via radio to pickup our clearence. Engine's running and we are ready to go. BPT radio has nothing on file? Okay check Duats and it shows it's in the system. BPT radio says we need to call NY Tracon and chat with them via telephone to pick-up the clearence. Hmm, okay, fire up the iphone coupled to the Zulu via Bluetooth. WOW! Audio is clean, no background noise and it works really slick! Okay so far I am impressed!

Pick-up the clearence and were off! The total flight to Hyannis and back was about 1.5 hours. In that time I worked multiple controllers and noticed that it was easier to hear and understand them. For me, the Zulu audio range is better, crispier and the ANR is slightly better.

Fit and finish is excellent and I really like the way the ear fits inside the cup verse resting on the leather pad of the Bose. The Zulu is well made and although slightly heavier, you really don't notice the difference. I can understand why this headset is receiving rave reviews. It simply is one of the best ANR headsets on the market today.

Oh, as for my Bose, it will probably be sold locally or will find it's way on Ebay.

FWIW

 

[GMascelli]

I tried both and made the zulu purchase a few months ago. The added features for the bluetooth and music was really nice add in the ANR quiet along with clear audio and comfort made me a happy pilot.

I could not talk my Bride out of her DC10-13S headset, she did not think anything was worth the $850. I picked up the DC X-11's and she said I can sell her 10-13S set. Maybe I'll pick up a zulu for her this Christmas.

 

[HPNPilot1200]

Oh, as for my Bose, it will probably be sold locally or will find it's way on Ebay.

Andy,

I love my Zulu's as well...I would never go back to the Bose. How much are you thinking of selling your old Bose pair for? I may want to purchase it as a spare/pax headset if you're not asking close to full retail. Just a thought. :smile:

 

[kmead]

I just bought two Zulus for the Malibu and they are fantastic. I installed the powered interfaces so I would not need a bunch of extra batteries. The down side is that my kids demand that the 172 now gets the interfaces so they can use them.

Kevin

 

[flyersfan31]

I have a Bose and a Zulu in the plane. I use the Zulu exclusively. I didn't think I'd find a better headset than the Bose, but when Lightspeed had that upgrade offer for the 30-3G, I went for it. The Bluetooth interface is fantastic. The set itself is very light and comfortable. Zulu is the hands-down winner in my book.

 

[CT Arrow]

Andy,

I love my Zulu's as well...I would never go back to the Bose. How much are you thinking of selling your old Bose pair for? I may want to purchase it as a spare/pax headset if you're not asking close to full retail. Just a thought. :smile:

Hey Jay,

Based on ebay reference pricing, $500-700. They are about 4 years old, excellent condition. I don't have the Bose case they came in but you can have the ZULU case

My IFR buddy has some interest in them and let me see where that goes.
I'll let ya know!

Doing any flying? Be at KBID all day Sunday at the beach.

 

[CT Arrow]

I have a Bose and a Zulu in the plane. I use the Zulu exclusively. I didn't think I'd find a better headset than the Bose, but when Lightspeed had that upgrade offer for the 30-3G, I went for it. The Bluetooth interface is fantastic. The set itself is very light and comfortable. Zulu is the hands-down winner in my book.

I too am amazed at those who have jumped off the Bose wagon and went to Zulu land. It simply is a better headset!

 

[ScottM]

Do any of you get the ear seals breaking open when you turn your heads? When I use the Zulu everytime I turn my head to the right the seal breaks and I get a rush of noise. It is the main reason that I still use my DC to this day as my primary headset.

I used the Zulus last weekend as I needed the Bluetooth connectivity to talk to a vehicle and that was great.

 

[HPNPilot1200]

Hey Jay,

Based on ebay reference pricing, $500-700. They are about 4 years old, excellent condition. I don't have the Bose case they came in but you can have the ZULU case

My IFR buddy has some interest in them and let me see where that goes.
I'll let ya know!

Doing any flying? Be at KBID all day Sunday at the beach.

Sounds good Andy. I haven't flown since my checkride. Waiting on damn parts for the Mooney...prop governor and an alternator component. It was supposed to come yesterday from UPS but never showed up. Arggh!

Enjoy the beach tomorrow.

 

[Bill]

Had been wanting to upgrade headsets for a good while, so I bought both. I bought the Bose outright, and had a long conversation with Lightspeed customer service before ordering. I wanted to use their trade up program and turn in my 30-3G.

They assured me, "Yes, we're using much better grade materials now, the plastic is much stronger, stuff shouldn't break."

Yeah, right.

First time I put on the Zulu, I went to move the mic boom down to my lips, and the #@!$ thing snapped right off at the base where it attaches to the ear cup. Hanging by the wire. NOT EVEN ONE FLIGHT.

I haven't gotten a round tuit yet to send them in, but they wouldn't exchange them outright, only a week old, have to send them in for repair.

I've been using the Bose since, work fine, don't break.

This is the VERY LAST Lightspeed product, ever. It doesn't matter HOW GOOD the sound is, if that cheap plastic crap breaks every time you look at it, it's worthless.

Lightspeed, join VW in my never again product category.

 

[HPNPilot1200]

This is the VERY LAST Lightspeed product, ever. It doesn't matter HOW GOOD the sound is, if that cheap plastic crap breaks every time you look at it, it's worthless.

Wow. The exact opposite of my Zulu experience. You must have gotten a dud. I've worn the heck out of mine and they look brand new with no issues.

 

[ScottM]

Wow. The exact opposite of my Zulu experience. You must have gotten a dud. I've worn the heck out of mine and they look brand new with no issues.

Lightspeed is anything but consistent. They are well known for their poor quality but great service. The lack of consistency is what I think the biggest strike against them is. I only tried and bought the Zulus because it looked as though they finally made some major design and manufacturing changes. From what I see they did and there is an increase of quality. But it is still not perfect.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Wow. The exact opposite of my Zulu experience. You must have gotten a dud. I've worn the heck out of mine and they look brand new with no issues.

I've even managed to beat the living crap out of my 20-3G's and they've never physically broken. I have gotten the battery box replaced because the ANR quit, and my ear seals are falling off but that's probably because I did a poor job of reattaching them 3 years ago after I did the surgery to put the new battery box on (I use them too much to send 'em in for 4 days, so Lightspeed handed me a new battery box for free at OSH so I could do them myself!)

Sooner or later, I will get a Zulu - I just haven't decided whether to trade in the 3G's, or send them in for rehab after I get the Zulu and keep them for pax.

 

[flyersfan31]

Do any of you get the ear seals breaking open when you turn your heads? When I use the Zulu everytime I turn my head to the right the seal breaks and I get a rush of noise. It is the main reason that I still use my DC to this day as my primary headset.

Not with the Zulu, but I did with the Bose. Go figure. The bose also seemed to have an overly-aggressive squelch setting for the mic. I almost always had a 1-3 second delay; it drives my wife insane when she's using them. No such problem with the Zulu. It's not an audio panel issue - it's the headset.

AFA quality? No problems with any of the 3 Lightspeeds I've owned (QFR XC Solo, 30-3G, and Zulu).

 

[CT Arrow]

Lightspeed is anything but consistent. They are well known for their poor quality but great service. The lack of consistency is what I think the biggest strike against them is. I only tried and bought the Zulus because it looked as though they finally made some major design and manufacturing changes. From what I see they did and there is an increase of quality. But it is still not perfect.

Which is why I bought Bose originally. The earlier lightspeed products had
a nasty habit of breaking alot! But people raved about them and service. Nothing personel, but I prefer NOT to to be on a first name basis w/ a service department cause I vist them frequently. So far so good!

No issues Scott when I turn my head. I love these things the more I use them!

 

[CT Arrow]

Sounds good Andy. I haven't flown since my checkride. Waiting on damn parts for the Mooney...prop governor and an alternator component. It was supposed to come yesterday from UPS but never showed up. Arggh!

Enjoy the beach tomorrow.

Sunburned to a crisp but worth it!
Good look on the Moon-I parts! Hopefully they show up on Monday!!
I'll keep ya in the loop when I get an answer back from Phil on the Bose.
May try for lunch at 121 this week. If so, I'll give ya a call!

 

[ScottM]

Nothing personel, but I prefer NOT to to be on a first name basis w/ a service department cause I vist them frequently. So far so good!!

OH! I don't take that as personal at all. That has been my point with LS all along. I gave up on them because I had ot use their service department so much. When I went DC I loved it, no having to get repairs, spare parts, etc. I gave Ls a chance again with the Zulus because of the newer design AND the bluetooth. I thought that was a real handy feature.

So far my Zulus have been defect free. But I do admit to not using them very much. I jsut love my DC's more as they fit my head better.

 

[HPNPilot1200]

Sunburned to a crisp but worth it!
Good look on the Moon-I parts! Hopefully they show up on Monday!!
I'll keep ya in the loop when I get an answer back from Phil on the Bose.
May try for lunch at 121 this week. If so, I'll give ya a call!

Sure thing. I'm flying the Bo on Wednesday and will be working Thursday and Friday. Perhaps I could convince the boss to let me out of the office for a lunch break. Plus I can show you whatever we have in the hangar.

You got my number.

 

[CT Arrow]

Sure thing. I'm flying the Bo on Wednesday and will be working Thursday and Friday. Perhaps I could convince the boss to let me out of the office for a lunch break. Plus I can show you whatever we have in the hangar.

You got my number.

Jay, The week has changed and looks like I am not getting up to
OXD. Chat w/ ya soon!

 

[keymanewb]

We still have a couple Zulus left. You'll receive a free King Schools Take Off course as well. No sales tax if you are outside CA.

Paul Bell. Personal Sales. King Schools Inc.
1-800-793-6898