Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset Review

The Lightspeed Zulu 3 is a high-quality noise-cancelling offering from Lightspeed Aviation. Check out this Lightspeed Zulu review to see if this headset is worth the investment.

Verdict: While on the pricey side for headsets, the features and benefits of the Lightspeed Zulu 3 are worth it!

Introduction to LIGHTSPEED Aviation Zulu 3 ANR Aviation Headset - Premium...

There is a broad range of aviation headsets on the market but Lightspeed claims that the Lightspeed Zulu headset is a high-quality headset that is absolutely unbeatable in terms of its comfort for pilots. Our Lightspeed Zulu headset review will take a look at these claims and see what this particular headset has to offer in terms of headset power, its comfort and many other features.

The Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset was released in 2017 and is the latest offering from Lightspeed Aviation which provides high-end aviation headsets and other supplies for both recreational and professional pilots worldwide. What perhaps sets this headset apart from its competitors, however, is the fact that it comes with a 7-year warranty as opposed to the usual 5-year assistance from other headset manufacturers.

  Let’s delve further into this review and see if this is the next headset you’ll be taking with you into the skies.

 Are Lightspeed headsets good?

  The short answer to this is yes. The long answer to this is that they are more than just good, and many pilots using the Lightspeed headsets would agree. You just need to look at the Lightspeed Zulu review section on the Lightspeed website, here, to see that all 12 pilots that have left a review have marked it as 5 stars. The overwhelming feedback that shows up consistently is just how comfortable the Lightspeed headsets are to use.

  Lightspeed headsets offer active noise reduction (ANR), which is considered by many as absolutely necessary to protect your long-term hearing and provide a more comfortable experience for pilots while flying.

In what can be considered as a huge scalp that can be claimed by Lightspeed, a lot of its users are converted former Bose A20 aficionados with many now preferring the Lightspeed products to its American rival.

  Make no mistake about it, Lightspeed produces a premium offering of aviation headsets that all pilots should consider using.

Features of the Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset

  The first feature of the Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset is its weight. Coming in at just 420g, this headset is extremely light which only adds to how comfortable the headset feels when in use. This is matched with a headband that follows the profile of your head, performance ear seals that fit around your jawline and glasses frames and cup cavities that envelop your entire ear – bringing comfort to the fore of what this headset presents.

  The Lightspeed Zulu is also built to last with flexible cables built around a Kevlar core (used in bulletproof vests) to ensure the durability of this headset and the propensity to withstand harsh environments and the test of time.

  As mentioned previously the Lightspeed Zulu also offers active noise reduction with magnesium ear cups capable of blocking out any high-frequency noise. An ANR headset is good, but they are great when matched with clear communications and the Lightspeed Zulu has a Dual Aperture Disc microphone which is also great at blocking out background noises in environments where there are multi-headsets in operation, meaning plenty of incoming and outgoing communications.

  ComPriority and Auto Shut Off are also two features on the Lightspeed Zulu headset and these are technologies developed by Lightspeed. ComPriority automatically lowers the volume of any auxiliary device and makes priority for any radio or intercom transmissions, with soft mute making any transitions nice and smooth. Auto Shut Off is another great feature that powers off your headset when not in use, saving significant battery power.

A full list of the features on display from the Lightspeed Zulu headset are listed here.

 What is the difference between Lightspeed Zulu 3 and Sierra?

 Lightspeed Sierra is Lightspeeds sister offering to Lightspeed Zulu, but how do they compare? Which is the better Lightspeed headset?

 Firstly, there is no question that the Lightspeed Zulu wins out over Sierra and that is reflected in the price tag. The Zulu firstly has a distinct advantage over the Sierra with superior Active Noise Reduction. As mentioned, the Zulu also has a 7-year manufacturer warranty with the Sierra only producing a 5-year manufacturer warranty. The Sierra is also limited to a dual GA plug configuration, with the Zulu having more versatility with multiple plug configurations available to its users. The cable durability also differs with the Zulu having the aforementioned Kevlar core cables and the Sierra only having PVC which is less likely to withstand the test of flying over a significant duration.

  The Sierra is a solid choice for those younger aviation fanatics or perhaps those that are on more of a budget. It’s still a good headset and will do exactly what you require it to do, however, the Zulu does entail more luxuries with better versatility, delivers consistent performance, extended manufacturer warranty and longevity being the advantages it holds over its sister headset., though they are both premium headsets.

  There is a fantastic blog post from Lightspeed that covers the differences between the Zulu and Sierra more comprehensively that can be found by following this link.

How do you pair Lightspeed Zulu Bluetooth?

 The Lightspeed Zulu 3 has Bluetooth connectivity to connect your headset to one of your devices. It is a straightforward process to connect your headset to your device, however, if you do run into issues then contact Lightspeed directly who should be able to assist.

 Steps to connect your Lightspeed Zulu Bluetooth to your device;

1.     Firstly, turn on your headset using the power button and ensure that the green LED is flashing. The Bluetooth feature should be turned off – there should be no blue or red LED flashes.

2.      Hold the Bluetooth button for 5 – 10 seconds until the LED starts flashing blue and red in a continuous fashion. Your headset is now in discovery mode which will last for approximately 2 minutes. You can only pair your device during this timeframe, so move on promptly and complete the remaining steps.

3.     Whichever device you are pairing your headset to, open the Bluetooth discovery page and search for the headset.

4.     You should see Lightspeed-V and then a sequence of numbers that will be specific to your headset. Go ahead and select your device.

5.     If you have to enter a pin or password, then enter 0000. Your headset should now be connected to your device.

REMEMBER: When you turn on your headset, it will automatically pair with the last device that it was paired with.

 As always, there is a YouTube tutorial showing you how to do something. Here there is a tutorial showing you to connect your Lightspeed Zulu headset to your iPad.

Where to buy the Lightspeed Zulu 3 ANR headset

 What review would be complete without telling you where the best place is to buy the product that is being reviewed, and this Lightspeed Zulu review is no different.

  Now, you usually can’t go wrong with buying the device direct from the manufacturer themselves. This can give peace of mind when it comes to the manufacturer warranty and you will know in no uncertain terms that the device that you are getting is the real deal! Prices are usually pretty competitive though and you can also buy it through Amazon below.

 If you are in Australia and would like to support Australian business, then head over to Flight Store, you can buy them here too. Buying Australian is at a premium though, with the Zulu coming in slightly more expensive than buying from the manufacturer direct. See if the difference in shipping helps with the price.

What features are most important in an aviation headset?

If you’re looking at various options and not sure what to decide upon or what features are most important as inclusions, you might want to consider: noise cancellation, battery life, sound quality, ear space, contoured ear seals, how easily will it receive critical audio alerts, weight and side pressure, does it come with standard cables, connectivity to aviation apps, does it have rich audio, does it have excellent call clarity, ease to retrieve incoming calls as well as the prices and quality of other ANR headsets.

There are some that suit smaller head shapes, some that have stereo crossfeed technology, user adjustable mic gain, kevlar core, wireless access and music fidelity.

It is important of course, to do your own research into what headset is best for you.

Lastly, do you have a backup headset? This is always a good idea just in case things go wrong.

Summary – Lightspeed Zulu headset review 

The LIGHTSPEED Aviation Zulu 3 ANR Aviation Headset - Premium... is one of quality and a fantastic addition to the headset market from these Canadian manufacturers. The ANR coupled with fantastic durability, greater noise cancellation, better battery life, unsurpassed comfort and some smart features makes this headset a great and lasting choice for pilots worldwide.

  The 7-year manufacturer warranty is an extremely generous advantage given by Lightspeed and shows the complete faith that they have in their product here. It gives peace of mind for hobbyists and professional pilots alike and instills confidence in a superior product that will last for years.

 Hopefully, this review has given you some clarity around your next choice of headset. You can look at some other headsets I have reviewed in my article here.

Have you tried the Sierra or the Zulu, or a similar audio device? How do you think these Lightspeed aviation headsets compare? Let us know in the comments!