Lightspeed Aviation product guide - English

Product GUIDE

Innovation that’s disruptively quietWhen it comes to product development, Lightspeed Aviation operates with a simple strategy: know your customer well and remain committed torelentless product evolution that expands performance to the edge of technological possibilities. This approach allowed Lightspeed to enter themarket already the innovation leader with the K series ANR headset. It was the first aviation headset to use two AA batteries instead of six, the first toinclude a battery level indicator, and the first to use conformal foam ear seals for increased comfort. The Lightspeed Aviation 20K set the standard forwhat was possible in quiet, comfort, clarity, and features.

“Whether outwardly or inwardly, whether in space ortime, the farther we penetrate the unknown, the vasterand more marvelous it becomes.”— Charles A. Lindbergh, Autobiography of ValuesSetting the standard has become sort of a tradition at Lightspeed. After the K series, the XL series introduced Auto Shutoff; the 3Gs brought wired musicand cell phone, along with intercom priority muting. After the 3G, Lightspeed continued its quest to better understand pilots and their passions. Along theway, they assembled the critical mass of top engineering talent required to create Zulu, a breakthrough in ergonomics, audio profile, and advanced features.Today, Zulu PFX isn’t just the pinnacle of the Zulu line or Lightspeed products. It represents the pinnacle of what’s possible when a legacy of innovationand commitment to supporting a pilot’s passion meet. It represents a way of doing business destined to inspire the aviation industry and keepLightspeed the standard bearer for decades to come.

Dear Customer,This year we celebratedyet another milestonein Lightspeed Aviation’scontinuing leadership ininnovation: the introductionof the Zulu PFX ANR headset.More than just a newproduct, we see Zulu PFXas the next manifestationof a set of principles we callThe Lightspeed Way, coreprinciples that we use to setour strategic course and guideour day-to-day activities.They are Personal, Innovative,Nimble, and Precise.At the heart of the Lightspeed Way is the concept of Personal, in what we make and how we serve.Where others might see users, consumers, or departments, we see real people. In the nearly twodecades of our existence, we have worked hard to understand and meet the needs of real people,in real situations. We create wearable technology designed to enhance our customers’ personalpassions, with excellence. Our desire to support your needs is unparalleled, with real phonesupport and creative programs that honor our continued relationship.While supporting your passions, along the way we have made many friends and led the marketwith Innovation that matters to you. We create whole new headset platforms of comfort andfunction at 2-4 times the rate of any competitor. Over a dozen industry firsts and nearly as manypatents have allowed us to redefine excellence for comfort, quiet, clarity, and functionality. The PFXtechnology platform creates an exciting new foundation that will transform your flying experience.Staying entrepreneurial and customer-obsessed, we have been Nimble in creating bothproducts and programs that have built tremendous brand loyalty. The revolutionary PFX noisecancellation system is the definition of nimble: Constantly adjusting to the acoustic environmentto optimize your quieting experience. From trade-in programs and product upgrades to ourrenowned service practices, we’re a highly responsive and caring organization. Those elementsalso speak of Precision, from the intricacy of the product design elements to the ways ourproducts and support are delivered.My personal goal is that you would be thrilled with every element of your experience with us. TheLightspeed Way is part of our DNA and creates sustainable advantages, not just for us, but also foreach of you. While not revolutionary, the consistent application of these principles requires morefocus on people and less devotion to the bottom line than most companies can tolerate. It requiresmore introspection and humility than you will find in a typical boardroom. Sometimes it’s just plainhard work. For us, it’s a labor of love and that’s how we built Lightspeed Aviation into the leaderin headset innovation and a respected member of the aviation community. We are proud of theformer and humbled by the latter.In the years ahead, Lightspeed will continue its quest to better understand you, the person whouses our products. We’ll continue to improve our products and service so that you can focus on thethings that you are most passionate about!Sincerely,Allan SchraderPresident and CEO

“My Zulu is the only headsetthat I’ve ever found thatactually cuts the noise inmy airplane.”Melissa PembertonAerobatic competitor, air show pilot,and 2013 United States UnlimitedAerobatics Team Member

We know pilots.Zulu PFX knows you.Meet the new leader in ANR aviation headsets: Zulu PFX. The proprietaryinnovations in Lightspeed’s new PFX technology deliver the quietestheadset available and create a personalized flying experience by activelyconforming to your ears, your environment, and your preferences.Your earsYour environmentZulu PFX adapts to your ears through acoustic responsemapping. This proprietary technology uses sound wavesand advanced signal processing to measure your uniqueauditory landscape,Streaming Quiet ANR allows Zulu PFX to adapt to yourenvironment. Streaming Quiet uses ambient microphones tocontinuously sample cockpit noise before it penetrates theear cup. An internal microphone placed near the ear canalmonitors ANR performance.…adapting the audio response to your ear’s size and shape formaximum noise attenuation, voice clarity and music fidelity.The microphones feed information to the CPU, a powerful digitalprocessor that analyzes a stream of both the external ambient noiseand internal residual noise at a rate of one million times a second…

The Zulu PFX CPUThe cabin-friendly CPU is the nervecenter of Zulu PFX, providingpowerful digital audio processing andconvenient access to key controls.Unique design features make it easyto place anywhere in your cockpit orclip to your shirt.Upgradeable firmware meansunlimited potential for Zulu PFX toevolve with new software innovations.Your preferences…and instantaneously creates precise ANR responses customizedto your dynamic cockpit sound environment.The result is a dramatic extension in the amount, consistency, andfrequency range of noise cancellation—regardless of the aircraft—allowing important communication to come through withamazing clarity and producing music with outstanding fidelity.Personal preferences can be set using the enhanced capabilitiesin FlightLink, the proprietary app developed by Lightspeedfor the Apple iPad ® and iPhone ® . Bass and treble levels of theintercom and auxiliary inputs can be adjusted independentlyand separate intercom priority options can now be set forBluetooth and wired input. The voice clarity option boostsfrequencies common in human speech without impacting thequality of music from auxiliary devices.

Zulu PFX ANR Headset with Bluetooth ®

With Zulu PFX, Lightspeed Aviation has leveraged cuttingedgetechnology, world-class engineers, and superiorcustomer knowledge to leapfrog the competition andproduce the world’s quietest premium ANR headset for aviators.Lightspeed’s proprietary PFX technology creates a uniquely personal flying experienceby actively conforming to your ears, your environment, and your preferences.Streaming Quiet dynamic ANR continuously adapts to your environment, extending theamount, consistency, and frequency range of noise cancellation.Acoustic response mapping measures your unique auditory landscape, adapting the audioresponse to your ear shape and size for maximum noise attenuation, voice clarity, and music fidelity.Personal preferences can be set using the enhanced capabilities inFlightLInk, the proprietary app developed by Lightspeed:• Bass and treble levels of the intercom and auxiliary inputs can beadjusted independently and separate intercom priority options cannow be set for Bluetooth and wired input.• The voice clarity option boosts frequencies common in humanspeech without impacting the quality of music from auxiliary devices.• In-flight recording is now accomplished through a wirelessBluetooth connection.In addition to its advanced personalization features, Zulu PFX also leverages thelatest technological advances across multiple fields.Enhanced durability — Rugged cables, constructed of silver-coated copper alloy wrapped arounda Kevlar core, deliver extraordinary flexibility, strength, and audio quality.Upgradeable firmware — Updates are just a download away, giving Zulu PFX unlimited potentialto evolve with new software innovations.Technical SpecificationsGeneralBattery power supply: 3V, four AA batteriesWeight: 14 oz. (including ear seals and mic boom)Panel aircraft 8-40 VDCHeadphoneTransducer: 40mm moving coilFrequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHzNominal impedance @ 1 kHz:OFF—Mono: 200 ohms, ON—Mono: 280 ohmsOFF—Stereo: 400 ohms, ON—Stereo: 560 ohmsMicrophoneTransducer principle: Noise-canceling electretFrequency response: 200 Hz-6000 HzMaximum SPL (Sound Pressure Level): 114 dBTerminating impedance: 220–2200 ohmsOperating voltage: 8V-16V DCBluetooth Enabled PhoneYesBluetooth Streaming MusicYesBluetooth Enabled FlightLinkYesFirmware upgradeability through PC and iOS platformsMeets or exceeds all listed TSO standardsZulu PFX also includes the award-winning comfort and advanced features that havemade the Zulu family the choice of pilots around the world—made even better.Music fidelity — The Front Row Center feature combined with rugged cables and advanceddigital processing makes the concert-class fidelity even better.Auto Shutoff — In Zulu PFX, Lightspeed’s proprietary Auto Shutoff feature isenhanced, saving even more battery life by automatically shutting down theheadset power when not in use.Cell phone / music connection — The integrated control box auxiliary input forconnecting a cell phone, music player or other audio device now has controlsfor bass, treble, and intercom priority, thanks to the enhanced FlightLink app.Included — Custom molded carrying case, cellphone/music patch cord,cord clip, four AA batteries, foam windscreen.Available configurations:Battery or panel power modelsDual GA, LEMO, or U-174 connectorsStraight upper cable

Zulu.2 ANR Headset with Bluetooth ®

Experience the remarkable comfort and quiet of theANR aviation headset that firmly established Lightspeedas the innovation leader. The choice of private andprofessional pilots around the world, Zulu.2 is a triumph ofcommunication connectivity and delivers all of the otherfeatures you expect from Lightspeed.“So I made it through another winterwithout any problems with my headset. Itreally is impressive that something of suchhigh sound quality can take the rigors ofhot and cold and operate so flawlessly.”eric SnuggerudAlaskan Bush Pilot for Hageland AviationCast member of the TV series “Flying Wild Alaska”Outstanding noise reduction —Zulu.2 offersexceptional ANR consistency and performanceover a deep, broad range of low frequencynoise. Magnesium ear cups are superior atblocking out high frequency noise.Superior comfort and durability — Weighingin at 15.7 ounces, Zulu.2 features plush earseals, and exceptional fit. A low-profile, stainlesssteel headband provides lightweight durabilityand excellent cabin clearance.Bluetooth connectivity — The Zulu.2’sfull-function Bluetooth connectivity providesenhanced sound quality for voice, Bluetoothenabled phones, streaming stereo music orcompatible audio devices.FlightLink compatible —Capture and retrieveincoming and outgoingcommunications withLightspeed’s FlightLinkrecording app for theApple iPad and iPhone viathe supplied patch cable.Crystal clarity — The patent-pendingDual Aperture Disc microphone deliversunparalleled voice clarity and noisecancellation. The Front Row Center featurebrings concert-class fidelity to music.Cell phone/music connection — Anintegrated control box auxiliary input offers anadditional option for connecting a cell phone,music player or other audio device.ComPriority — Never miss important radiocommunications with patented ComPrioritywhich lowers the volume of any auxiliarydevice automatically during radio or intercomtransmissions.Auto Shutoff — Lightspeed’s proprietaryAuto Shutoff feature saves battery life byautomatically shutting down the headsetpower when not in use.Included — Carrying case, cellphone/musicpatch cords, cord clip, two AA batteries, foamwindscreen.Available configurations:Battery or panel power modelsDual GA, LEMO, or U-174 connectorsStraight or coil upper cordTechnical SpecificationsGeneralBattery power supply: 3V, two AA batteriesWeight: 15.7 oz. (including ear seals and mic boom)Panel aircraft 8-40 VDCHeadphoneTransducer: 40mm moving coilFrequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHzNominal impedance @ 1 kHz:OFF—Mono: 200 ohms, ON—Mono: 280 ohmsOFF—Stereo: 400 ohms, ON—Stereo: 560 ohmsMicrophoneTransducer principle: Noise-canceling electretFrequency response: 200 Hz-6000 HzMaximum SPL: 114 dBTerminating impedance: 220–2200 ohmsOperating voltage: 8V-16V DCBluetooth Enabled PhoneYesBluetooth Streaming MusicYes

Sierra ANR Headset with Bluetooth ®“Why wouldn’t I go with a Lightspeed?”Craig WrightPrivate Pilot

Step up to the world of premium ANR headsets with thevalue-priced Sierra. Picked as the “hands-down favorite” inAviation Consumer’s real-world test of budget ANR headsets,Sierra delivers the comfort, quiet, and advanced featuresyou’ve come to expect from Lightspeed.Quiet — Active noise cancellation over a broadrange of low frequency noise brings state ofthe art technology to Sierra.Comfort — Equipped with plush ear sealsand weighing in at just 16 ounces, Sierra isremarkably comfortable, even during long trips.A unique design allows microphone placementon the left or right.Bluetooth connectivity — Allows wirelessconnection from Bluetooth phones. Stereostreaming (A2DP) is not available with Sierra.Music connection — An integrated controlbox input allows you to connect a music player.ComPriority — Never miss important radiocommunications with patented ComPriority,which lowers the volume of any auxiliarydevice automatically during radio or intercomtransmissions.Included — Soft shell carrying case, musicpatch cord, cord clip, two AA batteries, foamwindscreen.Available ConfigurationsBattery Power (2 AA) / Dual GA plugsTechnical SpecificationsConnectorDual general aviation connectorsGeneralBattery power supply: 3V, two AA batteriesWeight: 16 oz.HeadphoneTransducer: 40mm moving coilFrequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHzNominal impedance @ 1 kHz:Off—Mono: 180 ohms, On—Mono: 300 ohmsOff—Stereo: 250 ohms, On—Stereo: 600 ohmsMicrophoneTransducer principle: Noise-canceling electretFrequency response: 200 Hz-6000 HzMaximum SPL: 114 dBTerminating impedance: 220–2200 ohmsOperating voltage: 8V-16V DCBluetooth Enabled PhoneYesBluetooth Streaming MusicNoFlightLink CompatibleSierra is now compatible withFlightLink, the first in-flight cockpitrecording application for the Apple iPadand iPhone. The free FlightLink appworks seamlessly with Sierra headsetsto capture and retrieve incomingand outgoing communications.

Customer Commitment, the Lightspeed

WayTo most companies, customer support means an efficient call center.At Lightspeed, we define customer support more broadly.Sure, we are very proud of our customer service team, whose expertise,promptness, and attitude have contributed greatly to the reputationand success we enjoy, but that’s just the start.At Lightspeed, customer support means sharing the passion pilots feelfor flight; it means actively engaging with pilots at every opportunityto understand not just their needs, but why they fly; It means workinghard to be an active part of the aviation community, doing our part tohelp it thrive through a variety of activities.For example, each year Lightspeed provides both cash and in-kindcontributions to a variety of aviation events and organizations. Some ofthese are large and well-known, such as AOPA, EAA, ALEA, NAFI, SAFE,AirVenture, and Sun ’n Fun. Others are smaller efforts, like AeroAngel,whose contributions may be less far-reaching, but no less important.Another example, Lightspeed Liveprovides pilots and aviation enthusiaststhe opportunity to visit with LightspeedAviation in a casual setting and learnabout the heart and culture of thecompany, along with our products. Justas important, it allows us to meet ourcustomers face-to-face, giving us the opportunity to take the pulse of theaviation community in the most direct, personal way possible.Perhaps the most well-knownexample of our participationin the aviation communityis the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation, which in its first four years hasdonated nearly half a million dollars to organizations supporting thefoundation’s core values of growth, awareness, and compassion. Thefoundation was established in 2010 to serve the aviation communityby promoting a vibrant and growing pilot community. Each year theLightspeed Aviation Foundation recognizes a select group of non-profitorganizations that have made significant contributions to the growth ofaviation or used their gifts within the aviation community to serve othersfor the betterment of our communities and world. In another example ofLightspeed’s innovative and customer-centric approach, the Foundationawards monetary grants based on voting from the pilot community. Anypilot or aviation enthusiast can cast their vote for The Pilot’s Choice Awardvoting simply by going to LightspeedAviationFoundation.org.The next time you hear a company promoting its outstandingcustomer support, you might consider just how far this support goes.At Lightspeed, we see it as a commitment to our individual customersand the things they are passionate about. Our goal is to create anexperience that is so amazing that our customers will be advocates ofnot just our products, but our way of doing business.“Everything I can see about Lightspeed is that theyare very much about giving back and that’s criticallyimportant to me in any product I buy.”Doug StewartExecutive DirectorSociety of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE)6-time Master Instructor

High FlightOh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds...and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air.Up, up the long, delirious, burning blueI’ve topped the windswept heights with easy graceWhere never lark, or even eagle flew.And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trodThe high untrespassed sanctity of spacePut out my hand, and touched the face of God.— John Gillespie Magee, Jr.Lightspeed Aviation6135 Jean RoadLake Oswego, Oregon 97035sales@lightspeedaviation.com800.332.2421 toll free503.968.3113 tel503.968.7664 faxLightspeedAviation.comLightspeedAviationFoundation.orgCopyright © 2013 Lightspeed Aviation, Inc. All rights reserved. iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of AppleInc. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth SIG. Specifications are subject to change without notice. 7/13