Faro G2 ANR Headset Review

A pilot’s headset choices have been set by budget for decades, and the Faro G2 ANR Headset disrupts that set budget. Most pilots agree that active noise reduction technology is worth the cost if you’re willing to spend the money.

What if you’re a new student pilot? What would be the best aviation headset for you? Is it worth it to invest $700 or more for an ANR headset when you might only use it occasionally?

Most students opt for a less expensive headset to begin with at least. That usually means giving up ANR tech for a later date.

Thankfully, there are finally some better choices. Faro has come out with a reasonably priced ANR headset that checks all the boxes. So how does it stack up against the passive headsets and the more expensive active ones? Let’s take a look.

Faro History and Mission

Faro Aviation was founded in 1999 by a group of pilots who were fed up with the prices of aviation gadgets. They’re still pilot-owned and operated, and are making a full line of headsets and accessories. 

Their prices and quality have attracted a lot of fans in the aviation world. Student pilots and airline captains use Faro headsets quite often. 

Faro Headset Models

Faro has designed all of their headsets from a pilot’s perspective. They need to be comfortable with state-of-the-art noise reduction technologies. Then, the headsets need to be rugged and lightweight to boot.

The company’s current lineup only has four different models, but that covers pretty much every situation. The most basic G2 headset comes in either entirely passive or active technologies. The active headset is also available in the G3 carbon fiber design to reduce weight further.

Finally, the AIR is an in-ear headset for the ultimate lightweight passive headset experience.

PNR vs ANR Technologies

For students, the first choice to make is whether or not active noise reduction (ANR) technology is worth the price. Faro’s ANR headsets start at under $400, so the answer is probably yes.

You see, an ANR headset works passively and actively.

The passive part is just like any other headset—the design of the headset and seals around your ears keep out noise. But the active headsets also use electronics to produce sound waves that reduce the noise level inside the headset. The result is a surprisingly quiet headset that requires less mass and less clamping pressure on your head.

Faro G2 ANR Review

The G2 ANR is designed for pilots looking for the quietest experience without breaking the bank. The ANR unit in the headsets reduces cockpit noise by as much as 52 decibels. That’s a big deal because it protects your hearing while reducing your fatigue in the cockpit.

Comfort is one of the biggest drivers of design with this headset. While it looks similar to other entry-level headsets, it’s set apart from them by a few excellent touches. One is the extra large and soft cushion on top of your head. The other item of interest is the design of the ear pads, which are plush, faux-leather-coated silicone gel pads.

The G2 is available with the standard GA dual plug for airplane intercoms or the coiled-cord helicopter plug.

Both models include an input for a standard 3.5 mm audio jack if you want to plug in a separate audio source. Unlike higher-end brands, the Faro headset doesn’t include Bluetooth connectivity. 

The ANR unit on the G2 uses two AA batteries which will last up to 30 hours of flight time. It includes a battery low indicator light, and the headset will still work as a passive one when the batteries run out.

Faro also backs the headset with an industry-leading three-year warranty, an exceptional value for a headset at this price level. The headset is well-built, made primarily of metal components that are sturdy enough to handle being tossed around in the typical flight bag. The G2 ANR weighs 13 ounces.

Final Thoughts

So what do pilots have to say about the Faro G2? Almost overwhelmingly, pilots are impressed with this affordable ANR headset. While the overall design is not as eye-catching as the more expensive Lightspeed or Bose units, Faro’s technology seems to keep up. 

Most agree that it’s not as good as those other brands, but for several hundred dollars in savings, the Faro is hard to beat. Anything that a pilot can do to reduce hearing strain and fatigue in the cockpit is a good thing.