News

Rather noisier than your usual mobile phone environment?

Actually, it looks more like a stylised "head of Grommit" than a record-breaking boat, but a boat it is: and fast. And noisy. Enter Sennheiser...

Apparently, the noise levels on board Earthrace (the name of this biodiesel-driven power boat) are such that conversation is impossible. You need noise-cancelling headsets and microphones; and Sennheiser is sponsoring the crew with these.

Illustrated, the Sennheiser HMEC 450 Professional NoiseGard Active Noise-Reduction Aviation Communications Headset. That presumably makes it rather more professional than a simple Bose device for listening to music from your iPod, which explains why Sennheiser isn't telling us the price. I shall, nonetheless, insist on having one to test.

"We're delighted Sennheiser is upporting us," explained Earthrace Captain Pete Bethune. "This project wouldn't have been able to happen without their support."

The HMEC 450 is a pilot's headset with closed ear protector headphones and NoiseGard™ active noise compensation for use in helicopters, propeller and turbo-prop aircraft. Impressive... but I bet it can't cope with trying to talk to an ordinary cellphone while walking down Oxford Street, London, past red buses, in a wind.

But it's the boat, really, isn't it? Below is a shot of it at speed. And if you want to see that picture in all its high-res glory, click on the picture...