David Clark Headsets

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jonconnors514
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David Clark Headsets

Post by jonconnors514 »

Hello,

I am just beginning my education in the aviation industry. My flight school recommend the David Clark headset, specifically the David Clark H10-13.4. With some research some people online are recommending the H10-13s model instead. They almost seem identical except for dual volume control. My question is will the H10-13s model work in all planes the H10-13.4 will work? Are all plug ins the same in all planes for headsets? I am very new to the aviation world so I apologize if it is a dumb question I just want to do my homework before making the purchase.

Thanks for the help!
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WhataYoke
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by WhataYoke »

Welcome to the fraternity.

If you got the money and you're planning to have a lifelong career in Aviation. Invest in a good headset whether it be Lightspeed or Bose, something with ANR. Those long days when your working for a 703 flying thank you earlier self for buying it. If your on a budget any pair of David Clarks are a good buy. Dont bother with anything cheaper than David Clarks are they're just a waste of money imo. I don't know the exact model numbers on DC's but the volume control module seems negligible, id go without it and pocket the difference.

Also all input jacks are the same until you start flying Airbus or rotor.
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TrilliumFlt
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by TrilliumFlt »

I have used various models of DC headsets over the last 40 years and they are simply BOMBPROOF with very good product support from the manufacturer, all else wish they where DC's.
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JasonE
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by JasonE »

I've got a Lightspeed and I can't count the number of times I've thrown it on the backseat for various reasons and grabbed my original set of DC's. They never let me down.
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Bede
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Bede »

Bose are the best for sound quality and noise cancelling (unless the battery runs out and then it sucks). DC are indestructible. I still have my DC from 25 years ago and they never needed a repair. My dad has a DC that fell out of an open cockpit airplane (inverted) and landed in a farmers field. The farmer found it some time later and called the number on the headset. They still worked.

Like other's said, don't bother with a cheap headset.
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C-GGGQ
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by C-GGGQ »

I use the DC one x the competitor to the bose with ANR i find it more comfortable. The bose has a single hinge which can pinch at the top in my experience. The noise cancelling on the newer dc is excellent
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young grasshopper
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by young grasshopper »

If you’re planning on flying for a long time, don’t cheap out on a headset. I currently use a Bose QC35 (non ‘aviation’), with a UFly Mic/adaptor, and find it super lightweight and more comfortable than the Bose A20 that I purchased many years ago (it also happens to be about half the price which was a bonus). It’s also great to be able to use it on deadheads/downtime for music/movies.

Regardless, as others have stated, the David Clark’s are indestructible, but whatever you find most comfortable is the right headset for you!
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Bede
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Bede »

young grasshopper wrote: Sat Jun 26, 2021 6:13 am If you’re planning on flying for a long time, don’t cheap out on a headset. I currently use a Bose QC35 (non ‘aviation’), with a UFly Mic/adaptor, and find it super lightweight and more comfortable than the Bose A20 that I purchased many years ago (it also happens to be about half the price which was a bonus). It’s also great to be able to use it on deadheads/downtime for music/movies.

Regardless, as others have stated, the David Clark’s are indestructible, but whatever you find most comfortable is the right headset for you!
The uflymic setup is great. I use it in the jet but its not good enough for piston airplanes. It does a weird thing on takeoff where it can’t keep up and cycles on and off.
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AirFrame
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by AirFrame »

Lightspeed and Bose make the best ANR, the only distinction being that people who have already bought one or the other will defend it to the death as being the best ever. When the batteries are good, they're great. When they die, they have very poor noise attenuation. Carry a spare set of batteries, or have a LEMO plug installed and run them off that instead.

David Clark makes bombproof headsets, that are called C-Clamps by some people as they find them too tight. I wore a 10-13.4 for 10 years before upgrading to a Lightspeed, and in that 10 years never had a complaint about clamping force. And I have a large head. That's with Gel ear seals and the upgraded head pad. They're now my passenger headset.

At some point I was given a Softcomm headset, which looked identical to the DC, but had the wire mic boom instead of the black snake style mic boom. It had a push-to-talk on the earcup as well. I upgraded it with DC Gel earseals and head pad, and found it to be every bit as good in terms of comfort, noise attenuation, and audio quality. I always planned to upgrade them with a Headsets Inc. kit if they died, but they never did. My passengers like them.
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young grasshopper
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by young grasshopper »

Bede said:
…but its not good enough for piston airplanes. It does a weird thing on takeoff where it can’t keep up and cycles on and off.
Didn’t realize that! Thanks for pointing that out for anyone flying pistons.
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by vov4ik_il »

DC used to be called "Dual Clamps" for a reason. My first headset was DC and it used to get me tired quite fast. I tried A20 from Bose and never looked back. On the PROS list - indestructible and inexpensive, the CONS - I could not adjust them to be comfortable and the gelly pads were always leaving giant red marks around my ears.
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Cessna 180
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Cessna 180 »

I'd personally spend the money on a Lightspeed or Bose if the budget allows. I've used both and find them comparable, the Lightspeed Zulu 3 I think is a bit cheaper, but has a better quality cable, longer warranty, and has metal ear cups (more durable).

I had a set of DCs as well. Totally fine, but after getting used to an ANR headset, I have trouble understanding radio calls with a DC on. The sound quality of a Lightspeed or Bose is just that much better.

For that matter, I can't stand a Telex in a jet either.
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sarg
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by sarg »

Get a DC ANR as others have attested they're indestructible. Bose are nice but have little value if the ANR quits working, at least with the DC if the ANR quits you still have the standard DC noise reduction from the clamp.

My original 35 year old DC that I kept as a backup still works, I upgraded to a ANR DC and used it for years with never a problem. As you are just starting out a don't know where your career path will take you having a headset that will just work, period, is golden. When you get more established you can buy a second headset more suited for you future be it airline or corporate.
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by C-GGGQ »

sarg wrote: Thu Jul 01, 2021 10:55 am Get a DC ANR as others have attested they're indestructible. Bose are nice but have little value if the ANR quits working, at least with the DC if the ANR quits you still have the standard DC noise reduction from the clamp.

My original 35 year old DC that I kept as a backup still works, I upgraded to a ANR DC and used it for years with never a problem. As you are just starting out a don't know where your career path will take you having a headset that will just work, period, is golden. When you get more established you can buy a second headset more suited for you future be it airline or corporate.
Exactly. When the batteries die its almost the same passive noise cancelling as my original 20 year old DC’s. Except lighter and more comfotable
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JasonE
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by JasonE »

Another blow for my lightspeed....Flew a different airplane yesterday and the intercom only worked on one ear. Tried both mono & stereo settings, no go. One of the 172's I fly it just gives me random squealing. Glad I still have my old DC's.
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AirFrame
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by AirFrame »

JasonE wrote: Fri Jul 02, 2021 6:55 am Another blow for my lightspeed....Flew a different airplane yesterday and the intercom only worked on one ear. Tried both mono & stereo settings, no go. One of the 172's I fly it just gives me random squealing. Glad I still have my old DC's.
Impossible to tell if that's a problem with the avionics or the headset though.
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ReserveTank
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by ReserveTank »

I recommend the 10-30 over the 13.4, simply because the shells and flexible boom on the 10-13 series are trash.
Get the gel ear seals and the headpad upgrades. The gel ear seals seal out high frequencies (wind noise) pretty well and increase the comfort greatly over the stock ear seals. Full refurbs through David Clark are inexpensive even when out of the warranty period.
I recommend an ANR headset for long term piston twin flying, though. Nothing cuts low-frequency droning like an ANR. That being said, DC's will get you through a multi-IFR (and you'll learn to sync props by ear).
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skytramp2800
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by skytramp2800 »

DC’s rock.
Yup, for all you new age shirt ’n tie types with the gold bars, go with the jet set sets.
But.. if you want a bomb proof indestructible headset, DC’s are the way to go. I’ve done the non noise canceling DC’s (pre noise cancelling) with a couple of P&W R2800’s ten feet away, the nc types were a gift from heaven. 3000hours T’wattors of floats, dropped them in the ., they still worked for a few more hours, bloody amazing things. I’m working on my fourth set over 30 years, not that they failed, as much as I just plain wore them out.

And yes, I can still hear the dickie birds in the morning as I enjoy my morning coffee on the deck.
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cdnpilot77
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by cdnpilot77 »

Buy the best headset you can afford…

https://skiesmag.com/features/right-fit ... q9BsCTrpZ8
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Julian.B
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Julian.B »

I had a DC for my PPL / CPL. Once I got my first job flying, I bought a Bose A20. The problem with DC headset is that after 2 / 3 hours of flying my head started to hurt from the pressure on the years / skull. It's fine if you do a 1 - 1.5 hour flight, but anything over that, it's too much, especially flying 7 / 8 hours in a one day. (Yes, I know it may sound absurd to you, but once you get that first job, you'll be doing it too).

If you're just planning to fly privately, a DC will be just fine.
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Squaretail
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Squaretail »

I have found the opposite of most, the DCs I have have been way more comfortable than the Bose. The ear cups fit better and the hinge doesn’t ride on my head. Try several sets, and get the one most comfortable. Even one hour in an airplane with a bad headset is unbearable. I will say also that the Bose, while lighter, has almost no passive protection unlike the DCs, so if the NC fails/ battery runs out, you get the full noise. Which always happens at the worst time (short final).
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I'm not sure what's more depressing: That everyone has a price, or how low the price always is.
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Julian.B »

Squaretail wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 3:22 pm I have found the opposite of most, the DCs I have have been way more comfortable than the Bose. The ear cups fit better and the hinge doesn’t ride on my head. Try several sets, and get the one most comfortable. Even one hour in an airplane with a bad headset is unbearable. I will say also that the Bose, while lighter, has almost no passive protection unlike the DCs, so if the NC fails/ battery runs out, you get the full noise. Which always happens at the worst time (short final).
You know, you do have a light that flicks: green, orange and red. If you see orange, it's time to change your batteries. Even then, you'll have at least 2 / 3 hours of flight time. No excuse. The only thing that I must caution with noise canceling headsets is to get a think pair of (sun) glasses (the part that goes behind your ear needs to be thin. Seal must be achieved for it to work properly.
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Squaretail »

Aware of that, but have started flights where it’s green assuming I got lots of juice left, and I will confess I don’t typically monitor it in flight, tucking the dongle usually out of sight. Not my usual set either, my main pair is a pair of DCs, but had to use the Bose in a few instances, and they’re not my favourite. I found the extra passive protection of the DCs (with anr) simply protected better all round. That’s my comfort and opinion.
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by Julian.B »

Of course. You have to use what works for you, however you are the first person I've heard (read) saying that you rather have a DC than a Bose. Nothing wrong with that.
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Re: David Clark Headsets

Post by C-GGGQ »

Squaretail wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:55 pm Aware of that, but have started flights where it’s green assuming I got lots of juice left, and I will confess I don’t typically monitor it in flight, tucking the dongle usually out of sight. Not my usual set either, my main pair is a pair of DCs, but had to use the Bose in a few instances, and they’re not my favourite. I found the extra passive protection of the DCs (with anr) simply protected better all round. That’s my comfort and opinion.
I use the one-x after upgrading from the standard 10-13.4. We keep bose a20’s in the back for the medical crews. Tried one for a flight. Not as comfortable imho. Pinched at the top. I also agree with the passive comment. I’ve forgotten to turn them on before only noticed when takeoff power was applied. Had them die in flight/ on approach and if I couldn’t reach my spare batteries at the moment (pilot flying) it wasn’t a big deal
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