![]() We wonder just how many features are too many to build into a headset. The power LED flashes red when batteries are low, but will operate for five more hours. To save power, the headset will automatically power off approximately five minutes after it has been removed from the head. If you forget to charge the lithium-ion pack (it can be charged in flight if you have a power bank or panel power port) and it goes flat in flight, keep the AA pack handy and you’ll be back in business. The battery cartridges slide on to the rear of the set’s control module and they are easy to swap out on the fly. The set can be recharged while it’s in use, and there’s a version with a 6-pin LEMO audio plug for connecting with ship’s power. The headset’s control module has a UAC (Universal Accessory Connector) for charging and data connections, and all Delta Zulu sets come standard with a USB-A to UAC cable (other cable options, including Lightning and USB-C, are available). Another power option (it comes with the unit) is an interchangeable quick-release AA battery pack for 15-20 hours of endurance. Need something longer? Lightspeed said it can custom build it.įor powering the set, the Delta Zulu comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that has roughly a 30-hour endurance. This makes it easy to stash the control module in an interior map pocket. The upper cable (from the top of the control module to the headset) is 48 inches and the lower one is just over 21 inches. The Delta Zulu’s audio control module seems just the right size, and so are the audio cables. ![]() There’s also a user-adjustable mic gain (under the mic’s windsock) to balance loud and soft voices in a multi-headset environment. There’s nothing more annoying than a headset’s mic boom dropping out of position, but the boom on the Delta Zulu holds solid. The set’s dual-aperture disc microphone is easily adjustable and holds firmly where you put it. What we really like about the Delta Zulu is the Kevlar-core-covered audio cables that promise long-term durability. We think they got it right and that’s a good thing because the performance of any headset’s ANR circuitry depends on a good seal, especially when worn with eyeglasses. The ear seals are big, and the company said the goal was to design the cup cavities so that the entire ear fits comfortably inside, and so the ear seals efficiently hug the curve of the jaw for a natural fit. Lightspeed worked on styling, too, and the headset’s outer ear cups have an attractive two-tone finish. Overall, the Delta Zulu has a high-end feel as you would expect from a model at the top of the price category. The set has a stainless steel headband that’s designed to follow the curve of the head for a better distribution of weight and side pressure. We tried the set with and without a ballcap, with and without eyeglasses and even with a pair of Foggles view-limiting glasses and found it to be comfortable, although a couple of people commented that it had a slightly higher clamping force than the Bose A20 they are used to. Instead, Lightspeed gets credit for cranking out a fresh clean-sheet model at a time when few manufacturers are bringing anything new to the market no thanks to the choked supply chain.Īt 14.9 ounces (which is just slightly heavier than the Zulu 3), the set should offer a good, comfortable fit for the majority of wearers, although our caveat is the same as it is for any headset-try it first. The Delta Zulu isn’t a refresh of the successful and good-performing $899 Zulu 3 ANR model, which will live on in the Lightspeed lineup, along with the $699 entry-level Sierra. Here’s an overview of the new set that was announced this past September. ![]() Plus, with a feature called HearingEQity, the Delta Zulu is also marketed to aging pilots who struggle with hearing loss. Lightspeed markets the set as a “safety wearable” because it has a built-in CO detector that integrates nicely with Lightspeed’s smartphone app. Still, after spending some time with the feature-rich Delta Zulu, we think it hits enough high points to attract the attention of some buyers who might otherwise spend their money on a Bose A20. Lightspeed knows its new $1099 Delta Zulu headset won’t appeal to all buyers, especially those needing a budget-priced set. ![]() At $1099, it will compete directly with the Bose A20. Lightspeed’s clean-sheet Delta Zulu, main image, has good fit and finish and a generous electronic control set.
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