![]() This is intended as emergency power to restore audio and won’t power the noise cancelling circuitry. Should the headset battery deplete, it can be powered by piggy-backing to the control module via its backup power cable. One problem is the boom microphone gets in the way of access, so we suggest mounting it to the opposite earcup. The headset battery and charging port are accessed by a seemingly fragile hinged access door on the earcup, which we are sure to eventually break. The batteries can be charged to 75 percent capacity in less than an hour, and to 100 percent capacity in two hours. It’s maintained through an onboard micro USB charging port, allowing for roughly 12 hours of battery endurance when at full capacity. A 3.7-volt lithium ion (the same type used in the wireless control module) plugs into the left earcup. The added electronics and battery power supply are responsible for the weight gain. That’s not to say the Tango is uncomfortable-its 10-inch head and ear padding is generous-but there’s a comfort price to pay for more weight. If your head is accustomed to a lighter Bose A20 or even Lightspeed’s 14-ounce Zulu 2, the 16-ounce wireless Tango might feel heavy and it’s something we noticed immediately. We used the system in a pocketless Piper Tomahawk and found no place to stash it other than under a thigh. That shouldn’t be too difficult since it’s designed with multiple mounting points. ![]() No map pocket? You’ll need to get creative and mount it somewhere. But, since the module plugs into audio jacks just as a traditional headset does, Lightspeed smartly designed the module with enough cable to stash in a map pocket. The module houses the transceiver, its own power supply and battery, mode annunciation, plus a Bluetooth control and an auxiliary input jack. It has traditional GA (dual plugs) audio cables well-protected in anti-chafe sheathing. The price to pay for a wireless interface is more user controls, which includes an 8- by 2-inch remote control module wrapped in a high-quality nylon sleeve. To watch a demonstration of this product, click here. Overall, we’re pleased with its performance, value and the technological progress it represents, but have a few nits to pick about its user interface. To find out, we ordered the new Tango and put it through the paces in a few different aircraft. Moreover, what problems might a wireless headset create? So as the industry marvels at Lightspeed Aviation’s recently introduced $800 Tango wireless ANR model, we still wonder what-if any-problem this technology solves. When we evaluated the EQ-Link wireless aviation headset a couple of years ago, we struggled to find a $1000 reason to invest in its cordless design, especially since it didn’t have the comfort of even mid-priced traditional models.
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