Lightspeed Delta Zulu

[mfdutra]

Maybe @mdutra will let us know if there have been any problems with the DZ or A30 in Cirrus aircraft.

I’ve never used the DZ. I’ve used A20 and A30 both in the Cirrus and in the Diamond. They just work.

[Rich]

Unique experience today. A firmware update (???) for the Delta Zulu

I decided to check CO history. It peaked somewhere at 8 PPM. But it never shows that high when I check it in flight. I'm guessing it happened sometime when idling on the ground where the exhaust isn't ripped away with the slipstream.

[Boatguy]

I decided to check CO history. It peaked somewhere at 8 PPM. But it never shows that high when I check it in flight. I'm guessing it happened sometime when idling on the ground where the exhaust isn't ripped away with the slipstream.

With my keyfob CO sensor I would see it peak when I opened the canopy after shutdown, especially if there were other aircraft engines running in the area. They are amazingly sensitive.

[Rich]

Unique experience today. A firmware update (???) for the Delta Zulu

Well, now. My flight a few days ago found the headset repeatedly saying "Battery Charge Full". Annoying - like "are we there yet?" It used to just do this once per startup. I queried LS, and wadda-ya-know:

There have been a handful of reports from pilots with Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset with LEMO plugs of a repeating "battery charge full" update happening throughout their flights after updating to the latest firmware. Currently, the only solution that has been found is to use your headset without the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery installed in the controller of the headset.

They're working on a solution. In the meantime I'll just pull the battery pack out.

[jast]

Hi!

I bought two Lightspeed Delta Zulu’s for my DA62 since my Zulu 3 and the Lightspeed support were phenomenal in the past. Unfortunately the headsets were almost unusable. With two headsets connected it was even worse than with one. There were all kinds of squeaky high pitch induced noises which just got worse when both headsets were connected. I tried all kind of combinations with and without battery and all different switch settings. Once I managed to get both working but I wasn’t able to reproduce it. I’ll contact support now, but was wondering if anybody else had this issue already and solved it before? Likely I’m going to send it back and get Bose A20s or Zulu3s. Unfortunately the A30s don’t work either in a DA62 without batteries…

Regards,
Jan

[Rich]

Hi!

I bought two Lightspeed Delta Zulu’s for my DA62 since my Zulu 3 and the Lightspeed support were phenomenal in the past. Unfortunately the headsets were almost unusable. With two headsets connected it was even worse than with one. There were all kinds of squeaky high pitch induced noises which just got worse when both headsets were connected. I tried all kind of combinations with and without battery and all different switch settings. Once I managed to get both working but I wasn’t able to reproduce it. I’ll contact support now, but was wondering if anybody else had this issue already and solved it before? Likely I’m going to send it back and get Bose A20s or Zulu3s. Unfortunately the A30s don’t work either in a DA62 without batteries…

Regards,
Jan

The only other problem I have experienced was a "popping" sound that materialized on a single Young Eagles flight in June. It was caused by one of the volume sliders somehow having been bumped to max output. Putting it back halfway where it belonged cured it. So in my plane, no problems at all. Of course it's a DA40 and we know of some kind of characteristic of the DA62 makes it incompatible with some types of headsets, so my experience is likely not relevant to yours.

In general, getting the volume/squelch audio outputs (headsets vs audio panel vs radios vs iPhone/iPad) all set to perform the compatible symphony one needs can be a challenge.

[Boatguy]

In my DA62 I've been using a DZ, while my wife uses a Z3, for over a year, both LEMO powered, no batteries. We have had no issues with extraneous noise. Both are always set at max volume.

[ThrottleMaven]

Hey Boatguy, it's awesome to hear your experience with the Lightspeed Delta Zulu! It's great that the headset is helping with clarity, but it's understandable that hearing new sounds from the engine can be unsettling. It sounds like the equalization function is really doing its job in highlighting those previously unheard noises. It's possible that your engine did indeed sound that way all along, and you're just more attuned to it now. Maybe give it a few more flight hours to get used to the difference and see if there are any consistent changes. Keep us posted on how it goes! Happy flying!

[Boatguy]

I ended up returning it, then when I got the 62 I purchased again, with the LEMO plugs. I've been using it for 200+hrs in my 62 and it's all good.

[Jetblast]

I use a Delta Zulu on batteries without problems. The others are the Sierra for the passengers. The owner has an A30. No problems whatsoever. If anything, the owner often complains about his A30. I'll get him a Delta Zulu with the equalizer.