Lightspeed Delta Zulu

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Boatguy
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by Boatguy »

I ended up returning my DZ and going back to my Z3. There are some conflicts between the DZ and the GMA1360 3D audio. Lightspeed tracked these down with Garmin and expects to have a fix in Q2. I'd like the benefits of the equalization so I'll try it again in 3Q23.
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by nworthin »

i bought the Delta Zulu even though I have 2 A20’s and 2 Lightspeed Zulus in the plane already but had to have the “latest thing”. Been very disappointed. Two in a row, when plugged into the LEMO port, immediately start squealing at a high pitch (which I can easily hear without any equalization!) So, I’ve given up on these things. I think this may be a common problem because when I reported it on the first one, they were quick to issue the RMA for return. If I can trust the hearing test, my hearing is pretty ok (need some augmentation at the very highest frequencies) so that feature is not all that valuable and the Sentry I use as a second source for ForeFlight already does a CO warning…. So, back it goes.
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by Colin »

I love my Lightspeed headsets and I love the company.

I believe that it is probably emblematic of what has happened to a bunch of American companies, though. They started by designing and engineering their own products but over time the offshore companies that were doing the manufacturing offered more and more services and it was impossible to match those prices. Need a new battery case designed for the top of the line model? We can send you shop drawings and then sample manufactured pieces. Need a circuit board designed for the new bluetooth feature integrated into your active noise cancelling? We've done that dozens of times.

And they have amazing customer service, their repair rates for me have been totally reasonable. But I don't think that they are really connected with the process of creating a product anymore, which is unfortunate. I don't think that's how you make the best stuff.
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photoSteveZ
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by photoSteveZ »

nworthin wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 1:54 am i bought the Delta Zulu even though I have 2 A20’s and 2 Lightspeed Zulus in the plane already but had to have the “latest thing”. Been very disappointed. Two in a row, when plugged into the LEMO port, immediately start squealing at a high pitch (which I can easily hear without any equalization!)
Norm, did you try the Delta Zulu with the disposable battery case installed (without batteries, since the LEMO jack provides ship power to the headset) rather than the rechargeable battery case? In my DA62, the latter injects a squeal into the headset most of the time (but not always, which is odd/interesting), while the former has never injected a squeal.
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Rich
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by Rich »

LS is now offering $400 for trade in of Zulu 3 so I thought I'd give it a try. In summary the LEMO version with Li battery pack works great in my plane. I did the nearing adjustment and I do seem to be able to hear/understand radio calls much better. I monitored Seattle Center while flying to check this out, as there is always plenty of chatter to be heard. There was none of the squealing audio reported elsewhere, but perhaps it's audio panel dependent. I have the ancient GMA340. ANR seems to be a bit better than my other headsets, but I'd ned to do in-flight swaps to be sure. I'd say the overall remaining ambient noise is different. The engine noise is kind of a low-frequency rumbling. For sure it screens out high-frequency noise better to the point where open air vents only sound like air coming in, no accompanying "static-like" side notes.

The Bluetooth connection to my iPhone is solid. I didn't play with the app much, but did check out the CO level, which showed as zero PPM. One anomaly is that when I shut off the avionics bus, which cuts off the power feed to the LEMO, it doesn't automatically switch to battery power. You have to manually turn it on. Not a biggie, but this is different than all my other headsets. Another difference is that bluetooth comes on when the headset powers up. No need to manually turn it on.

The delivery process was kind of comical. I ordered it last Friday. I figured it'd ship Monday so I should get it Tuesday. (Because of our relative locations I typically get one-day shipping via free ground shipping from LS.) Monday comes and goes. OK, no biggie. I'm not in a big hurry. Tuesday at 9:30 I get an email that the package has been shipped UPS ground. I look at the tracking number. It doesn't look like a UPS number and indeed UPS has no record of it. Hmmm. At 11:30 Tuesday (2 hours after the email) a FedEx truck shows up with the headset :scratch: I double check the invoice and indeed it did ship Monday and it says UPS Ground. I plug the tracking number into FedEx tracking and it shows as having been delivered. None of this is important, just one of life's little curveballs.
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nworthin
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by nworthin »

photoSteveZ wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 7:43 pm Norm, did you try the Delta Zulu with the disposable battery case installed (without batteries, since the LEMO jack provides ship power to the headset) rather than the rechargeable battery case? In my DA62, the latter injects a squeal into the headset most of the time (but not always, which is odd/interesting), while the former has never injected a squeal.
Yes, I did this and it did correct the squeal. Then, when flying with 4 in the plane, the headset just completely cut out. Luckily I had a fifth headset floating around.

So, back it goes again! A shame because when it works, it's really great. Comfortable and the best audio of all of the Bose and Lightspeed headsets I have.
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Rich
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by Rich »

nworthin wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 10:40 pm Yes, I did this and it did correct the squeal. Then, when flying with 4 in the plane, the headset just completely cut out. Luckily I had a fifth headset floating around.
When you say "cut out" does this mean loss of ANR/BT, dropping to a passive, but usable, mode or did it completely die? Were all 4 headsets on ship's power?

This caused me to inquire of LS how much power these things use - no response so far. I haven't yet used more than 3 LEMO headsets at a time - all prior to the DZ, of course.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rich
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by Rich »

Several flights now and it's working great for me. I definitely more clearly understand others' transmissions and even the intercom works better. I also like that normal operation of the DZ requires no interaction at all with its control box. This LEMO panel powered variant automatically turns on and off with the avionics bus - including BT function - and keeps its onboard battery charged.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by nworthin »

Rich wrote: Wed May 24, 2023 6:48 pm
nworthin wrote: Fri May 12, 2023 10:40 pm Yes, I did this and it did correct the squeal. Then, when flying with 4 in the plane, the headset just completely cut out. Luckily I had a fifth headset floating around.
When you say "cut out" does this mean loss of ANR/BT, dropping to a passive, but usable, mode or did it completely die? Were all 4 headsets on ship's power?

This caused me to inquire of LS how much power these things use - no response so far. I haven't yet used more than 3 LEMO headsets at a time - all prior to the DZ, of course.
Complete cut out with some background "fuzz". Tried disconnecting and reconnecting. Same result. Note that I am now running with no batteries in case (to eliminate the squeal problem) so I suspect some sort of interaction with the with the DA62 provides voltage on the LEMO port with 4 connected.
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Rich
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Re: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Post by Rich »

Got this response from LS regarding power draw:

For both headsets, typical Consumption is <600mW or ~50mA at 12V Panel power. While charging the battery typical is < 3.5W or 250mA at 12V Panel Power.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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