Lightspeed Mach 1
 

Has anyone used this in the EMB-145? The captain I just flew with had one and she said she loved it, but I want more than just one opinion. I'm currently flying with my Bose X and its an extra bag to carry around, batteries go dead, and after wearing it all day it gets a little tight.

Comments?

I've had my mach 1 for a few years and use it everyday in the 145. Love it and would recommend.

I hate the headset debate but I was curious too. I have been wearing a bose X for a 4 years now and I think its the greatest thing since peanut butter and jelly (in the same jar) But I have had a wandering eye lately.

The mach 1 looks good because of its light weight and the fact I can just stuff it in my flight bag instead of carrying the bose deluxe

After my first ride in 2 different t-props the other day (SF340, Dash 100) I am not sure that anything other than my bose could tame those noise levels. Who knows...

I haven't used them in the 145, but I have used them in the 170 and swear by them.

Whats the difference in the Mach1 and the Mach1C?

I love the mach 1s but the only experience I've had them in is the seminole. They were as good as the average headset in terms of tuning out the noise and I didn't even have the custom made fittings.

Saying that, I'm going to be starting on the Beech 1900 soon. Does anyone know how they would do on the 1900? Anyone with 1900 experience know of a good headset?

Nothing beats the Bose X in a T-Prop, but in a jet the Mach 1 or Telex 850 are great. I use the 850's and swear by them.

I used my Mach I for about three trips before I gave up on it and sold it on E-Bay. The light weight was nice, but that was the only positive for me. I had a hard time getting the earpiece to stay in a position where I could hear correctly, regardless of which insert I used. It took WAY too long to get untangled, inserted, clipped on, etc. Also, because I fly corporate type aircraft, every time a passenger would try to say something I needed to hear, I'd have to take the earpiece out, then refit it again once the conversation was over. PITA for me.

After I gave up on the Mach I, I bought a set of Bose QC-2's and the boom mic adapter from UFlyMike.com. It's about $500 for the whole thing, and you get essentially the same thing you would get buying the Bose X, at $1000, but lighter and more comfortable. The noise cancellation is nice, very light and comfortable, no complaints at all. The boom still allows you to plug in an MP3 player, or in my case, a portable XM receiver. I also use the QC-2 standalone when I'm flying deadhead to reduce noise or want to listen to music in the hotel room. The batteries usually last me for a whole 7-day trip.

-NTFB

i thought the Mach 1 wasnt TSO'd....and that you had to fly with a TSO'd headset on a 121 carrier...

has the Mach 1 been TSO'd?

am i wrong?

thanks!

Jeff

There is no FAA requirement for these headsets to be TSO'ed. If your FOM or other company policies require it, that's a different story. For more info, here's a link for you: http://www.uflymike.com/id8.html

And no, I'm not affiliated with this company.

-NTFB

Headsets are like underwear. You need to try them all and wear what feels right on you.

I have owned a Mach1 for a while now. Flew with it all through school in Seminoles. I like it. Fwiw, I did get the custom silicone ear pieces. I would recommend them.

I am now in training to fly the EMB-145 and I was about to buy the Bose-X both for ANR and because I have been told the expected impedance in the EMB-145 is 500-600 ohms and the Mach1 is only 400ohms. The Mach1 might heat up I am told... ? Thoughts?

Well let me tell you this from experience with the Bose. They do work well in the 145, but they are best at tuning out the lower frequency noise like pistons and props. BUT, the 145 has a shockwave that forms just above the windows at higher mach #s like .70+. They don't do as well at filtering these noises out. I think they kind of amplify it a little as they are trying to cover it but just can't. Also the long days you can expect in the 145 they get a little tight. Also unless you are short, if I shifted my head to the right a little I would hit the visor track, just seemed a litle bulky. BUT all thru my flight instructing days and flying a 310, and Seneca around, there is nothing better!!!!!

Thats interesting...

Eh, I have used a Bose X and the Mach 1 in the Saab. I am still using the Mach 1. Just a much better headset. No real difference in dealing with the noise and you can't beat the price, the plug in capability, and the extra space in the flight bag. FWIW the Bose is just not worth the price. If it was 500 bucks it would perhaps be a bit better choice, but I'd still prefer the room in my flight bag... The bose is also as durable as a piece of balsa wood. In just over a year of 121 flying I had to send the bose in 3 times for repairs due to a bad ground/buzzing problem.

I love my Mach 1s. Converted over from the Bose, and never looked back. They work GREAT in the ERJ, with custom ear molds. The ear piece does take some practice to figure out, but it comes with time. I've also never had a heating problem due to impedance differences. I think only the CVR output is 600 ohms. And my CP laughed at me when I asked him about the TSO thing a while back and said it's not an issue at all.

I tried the telex 850 in the ERJ and they really sucked. I am now lugging around my DC's. I flew with a guy who was wearing the Mach 1 and I had some difficulties hearing him clearly all the time...I still want to try them though as he might have just mumbled alot...

He might have just never adjusted the mic gain. I had that same problem, took about 3 seconds to fix.

Not sure if anyone answered this... The diff is the Mach1 comes with foam ear plugs and the Mach1c includes custom silicone ear pieces from Sensaphonics.

I highly recommend the custom ear pieces. Sound isolation is quite good and they are very comfy. Only issue with them is they have to be thoroughly cleaned often or they'll fall off the headset.

Speaking of... does anyone else here have the custom ear pieces? How do you guys clean them?

i love the mach 1's in the crj. just finished a trip with a captain with the bose and when i tried them on it sounded like i was in a tin can. Lightspeed is also a great company when it comes to customer service. i have the custom earmolds and would also recommed them, however it works just as good with out them

I haver used the Mach 1 and the Bose in the CRJ. If you are not sure the Mach 1 is for you order it without the ear molds if you dont like it return it if you do like it order the ear molds and it comes out to the same price. Dont forget you will have to pay an audiologist for the fitting. Should add about $50.00 to the total price. I have had issues with my Mach 1 and lightspeed did everything they could to make sure I was happy with the product. Great comapny to work with!

My wife got me the Mach I for Christmas 2 years ago. Since then I've used them in everything from light pistons to twins to the Dash 8 and now on the 145. Just recently I got the earmolds (through another vendor) and they are great. I couldn't imagine having to wear the vice-like DCs on my head all day. And Lightspeed customer service is awesome. I have had some issues with the tie clip and belt clip breaking, but each time I tell them about it they get the parts to me within a couple of days. They offer to fix it themselves, but I don't want to be without it for any length of time.

Great headset, worth the money.

I have used the Bose in the past and it is a very good headset. I currently use the LS1 in an E145. Try out the headset with the basic ear pieces first. I didn't like the no roll foam ones because they are too hard. The yellow ones (just like the cheap throw away ear plugs) were the most comfortable and blocked out sound about as much as a set of DCs. The custom ear mold bock out even more exterior sound while being very comfortable. The belt clip does tend to break but from what I've been told LS is changing the design for it so it shouldn't be a problem for long.

I did 5000 hours in the EMB-145 with Telex 750's and free ear plugs provided by the company. Not a problem. Still using them in Boeings (minus the ear plugs). How do you guys afford $1000 headsets? I'd never pay $1000 or even $500 for a simple headset.