Earplugs and Headsets

[SkySteve]

Has or does anyone wear earplugs (foam or others) while wearing an ANR headset? If so, what is your experience, good or bad?

[Russway]

I don't have any recent experience in an airplane, but in my military days, I always wore earplugs. In some airplanes it was essential, but in all the types I flew it was very beneficial because most of them didn't have insulation. Creature comforts like insulation, comfy seat cushions, and carpet unnecessarily adds to the gross weight of an aircraft! Anyway, the earplugs cut out most of the unwanted ambient noises. You have to turn your headset volume up, but the intercom and radio sounds you want are much crisper and understandable. I've been using earplugs for years while riding my motorcycle too. I do have an ANR headset embedded in my helpmet connected to music, an intercom, a CB, and a talking GPS. Listening to music is the best way to tell the difference. Try listening to it in any noisy environment, and you lose some of the frequency range making the songs sound twangy. Put in the earplugs, turn up the volume, and the music sounds just like music again. The only problem with earplugs though, is that wearing them alot can make your ear canals kind of raw. Hope this helps.

Russ -- No kitfox yet, but still dreaming.