Beating the Headset topic to death

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:05 am

DC's here too.

We have the Bose in one of our planes and I like them since they are lighter on the head, but they don't sit around the ear, they sit on top of it so they hurt a bit after a while. Also these particular Bose have no individual volume controls (in fact they don't have volume at all???) so the intercom vol is the one you're stuck with.

As luck would have it my left ear has worse hearing than my right so the individual volumes is a nice touch. Something about being a night club DJ and standing with my left ear next to four 18" Subs for 2 years straight I guess. Flying hasn't helped.

I did find that in the 100 the DC's had trouble at lower power settings and waw waw aw wa wa wwawa'd a bit on the roll. In the 200 no trouble at all.

V1 Rotate · Post by **V1 Rotate** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:49 pm

Bose.

Light, comfortable and quiet. Just don't let the batteries die. Watch the light carefuly.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:47 pm

V1 Rotate wrote:Bose.

Light, comfortable and quiet. Just don't let the batteries die. Watch the light carefuly.

Funny - after I get the initial red light on my Bose, I get at least 8 more hours out of it... could be more, but didn't wait to see!

ZBB118.10 · Post by **ZBB118.10** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:57 pm

Have the Sennheiser HMEC300, which I believe is the predecessor of the HMEC400. Accidentally had the ANR turned off the other day - switched it back on and suddenly realised how beautifully quiet it became...

Only downside of the Sennheiser range may be the headband - mine cracked on me at about 3 years of use ($80 from Sennheiser Canada for a replacement) Other than that the battery time is average I guess - about 12-15 hours on standard alkalines(?)

Sennheiser battery box is a bit of a pain - quite the tangle of cables!

Corporate Pilot · Post by **Corporate Pilot** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:15 am

Peltors and Sennheiser are great choices. Very popular in corporate - in Europe in particular. I don't think you can even buy the ANR Peltors in America.

I loved my Sennheiser HMEC300 ANR with the Oregon Aero cushions!! And the Peltor 2001 before them. (BTW, my nearly brand new second pair of HMEC300 ANR are available for sale due to my retirement - make me an offer.)

Isn't it odd that the most discussed/desireable headsets (Bose, Peltor, Sennheiser) aren't even on the stupid chart at the beginning of this thread?!

By the way, most pilots only buy green headsets because their instructor had green headsets. Not exactly reasoned choices as neither student nor instructor had enough experience wearing them to know! Self-perpetuating myths.

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:48 am

Everyone has said the Bose is great. However, not being able to afford that, i have flown with a passive DC with the thick extra foam head pad and the newer style gel seals for the last 12 years, and they are still comfortable. however, I am considering an upgrade to the Bose X.

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:37 am

from an earlier thread wrote:I've been using the Sennheiser HMEC 25-KA. It's a super comfortable headset. The noise cancelling is great. I went down to Wally World and bought a AA rechargable NiMH set with four batteries for, i dunno, 20 bucks, and I swap the batteries out a little more then once a week. It works great.

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 11:25 am

Corporate Pilot wrote:Isn't it odd that the most discussed/desireable headsets (Bose, Peltor, Sennheiser) aren't even on the stupid chart at the beginning of this thread?!

Sorry...
This is a list of the headsets that I'm looking at for myself. Not just a list of the most popular. If I could afford $1200.00 PLUS TAX, the Bose would be on the list.

The Sennheiser 25's just don't look like they have the noise attenuating capabilities that I want. They look very comfortable but for the price I can probably get much more noise attenuation from the above choices. The 45 is definately for airline types only. The 300... don't even know where it's for sale.

Corporate Pilot wrote:Peltors and Sennheiser are great choices. Very popular in corporate - in Europe in particular. I don't think you can even buy the ANR Peltors in America.

That's why Peltor isn't on the list.

I'm just looking for advice on a very expensive purchase. Keep the poop flinging to a minimum please?

Thanks for all the advice/suggestions/critiques. I know it hasn't gotten the most votes so far, but I think I'm going with the Telex. Just can't get over the discomfort of wearing my DCs which I guess is why I'm hesitant to go with the 13X.

HT

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:01 pm

The Sennheiser 25's just don't look like they have the noise attenuating capabilities that I want.

I bought them used off of a Beech 99 pilot who had just got on @ Westjet. Both him and his f/o had a set of 25's. They both agreed, after trying many headsets, including the Bose X, that the Sennheiser provided the best noise reduction for them. I was doubtful at first, given the shape and the fact they don't cup your entire ears, but I've had them for a year now and all doubts are gone. Their shape makes them comfortable for wearing glasses as well.

I know there was a rep in Vancouver who was willing to let you take a set out for a test spin.

w squared · Post by **w squared** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:16 pm

I can't offer any informed opinions on ANR, but I will say a thing or two about comfort.

I've got a big melon. It's freaking huge. This makes buying a headset pretty difficult, as most of them exert far too much clamping pressure for me. I found that the DC 10-60's have the ability to adjust clamping pressure to one of three settings. After trying a fair number of different types, I settled on those 10-60's. Even with sunglasses on, I find them to be quite comfortable.

Do any other headsets have the ability to adjust clamping pressure without changing the headband size?

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:39 pm

w squared wrote:Do any other headsets have the ability to adjust clamping pressure without changing the headband size?

The telex does. They call it their "comfort cam". It was a selling point for me too. We'd have to compare, I too have a huge head. The echos in the cavernous voids of my skull is why I need a good headset.

w squared · Post by **w squared** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:55 pm

I dunno about comparing. That's a little bit too close to a dick measuring contest for comfort.

I didn't know about the clamping adjustment on the Telex...that'd be a HUGE selling point for me at some point. I'm sure that I'll eventually look at purchasing a high end ANR headset, but for now my passive DC's are more than enough.

Anyone have any figures on the noise attenuation from the Telex 50 when the batteries go kaput?

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:09 pm

Funny how your mind jumped straight to that.

But anyways...

"The Telex Stratus 50-D is a medium-weight, active noise-reduction headset with
boom-mounted microphone. It provides up to 25+dB patented digital tonal noise
reduction of engine and blade noise, up to 15+dB of analog broadband noise
reduction, and 29+dB of passive noise reduction. At 90 Hz the accumulative total
is 50+dB of noise reduction."

That's from Telex

logicaldisaster · Post by **logicaldisaster** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:31 pm

Telex has a bit better passive than the david clarks, but they should cause they are way bigger.

As far as clamping pressure, the telex was worse than the DC's and I have a small head and the telex was on the loosest setting. You could only tighten it up from the factory default.

DC's were much more comfy than the telex imo. Once again, watch the squealing from the telex. Ohh and another thing I noticed with them is that they created a weird sort of pressure on my eardrum. It was odd, and rather uncomfortable.

duplicate2 · Post by **duplicate2** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:19 pm

logicaldisaster wrote:Once again, watch the squealing from the telex.

I've noticed this squealing effect as well. I've found it can eliminated by making sure the ear cups are seated properly (using all the elaborate comfort adjustments).

Corporate Pilot · Post by **Corporate Pilot** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:36 pm

Hotel Tango wrote:The 300... don't even know where it's for sale.

I guess that's why I included a hot link in my message which lists a whack of places to get them ... click on the link repeated below. (Also note that, while I'm not particularily anxious to sell them, I have a "brand new" condition set for sale as I am not flying any more. PM me if interested. But do it soon as I'm going to be GMT+13 for a while.)

Corporate Pilot wrote:I loved my Sennheiser HMEC300 ANR with the Oregon Aero cushions!! And the Peltor 2001 before them. (BTW, my nearly brand new second pair of HMEC300 ANR are available for sale due to my retirement - make me an offer.)

Just can't get over the discomfort of wearing my DCs which I guess is why I'm hesitant to go with the 13X.

That's a very important observation. Apply your pilot decision making skills.

BTW, the Sennheiser 25's are very nice too. Don't make so many assumptions until you've tried them for yourself (sorry for the abrupt style - I'm just a cranky old pilot who hates to beat about the bush).

El Comat · Post by **El Comat** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 2:05 pm

I own the Sennhieser HMEC 300 and absolutely love it. I've used it in various planes (172, 185, Zlin, DHC2, PC12, BE10) and it does well in all phases of flight. Also, I find it has better passive noise reduction than the H10-13.4, so it's still good with the batteries dead. The only thing that may be an issue is the clamping force. I have a fairly narrow head, so I don't mind it at all. I'm sure you can stretch the headband to fit your head comfortably. I've had it for 4 years now and the only problem I had was when a co-worker dropped the ANR box in the beaver and caused something to short out (sure smelled like it, anyway). I sent the box (without a receipt) to Sennheiser and they promptly sent me a brand new unit free of charge.

EC

Phillips66 · Post by **Phillips66** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:52 am

I've experienced the crackling on takeoff as well.

I own a Peltor 8006 that I put an ANR kit into.

I thought the crackling was a problem with my headset (a blown speaker) as it first happened after I had put a lot of use on it over a coulple years.

I have discovered that the crackling is caused by low power to the ANR unit or not ensuring you have a good seal around the ears (wearing sunglasses that break the seal on your ears).

I had been using rechargeable NM 9 volts and after awhile the batteries just couldn't put out the power that was needed on takeoff.

New batteries and always ensuring a good seal around the ears (I wear my sunglasses up over my earseals) solved the problem. (I also replaced some of the wiring).

Glad I discovered this as I was just about to buy another ANR kit to install.

I have experienced the crackling on a David Clark unit that was hardwired to the aircraft and now I suspect it was a wiring problem as well.

BTW, I have the Oregon Hush kit on my Peltors and like it, however I think I'm going to put my old Peltor earseals back on (but keep the rest) - the Peltor seals seem more comfortable.

Corporate Pilot · Post by **Corporate Pilot** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:53 pm

Four people have sent me messages about my headsets. A lucky Islander pilot in Vancouver bought my HMEC300 for $500! I paid over $1000 for them (taxes in etc.) and did not have 10hours on them. (They were my second pair).

I sincerely recommend making an investment in your hearing and check out the Sennheisers, Peltors, Bose, etc. When it is too late - it is too late.

Dog · Post by **Dog** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:31 am

Phillips66 wrote:I've experienced the crackling on takeoff as well.

I thought the crackling was a problem with my headset (a blown speaker) as it first happened after I had put a lot of use on it over a coulple years.

I have discovered that the crackling is caused by low power to the ANR unit or not ensuring you have a good seal around the ears (wearing sunglasses that break the seal on your ears).

New batteries and always ensuring a good seal around the ears (I wear my sunglasses up over my earseals) solved the problem. (I also replaced some of the wiring).

I have experienced the crackling on a David Clark unit that was hardwired to the aircraft and now I suspect it was a wiring problem as well.

Phillips, the crackling sounds is the sound wave output of the ANR amplifier clipping. Clipping is what happens when an amplifier reaches it's maximum output and clips the tops off the sign waves. Putting fresh batteries in your headset will slightly increase the amp output but only slightly (I use ELT batteries). In fact, it sounds exactly like a speaker with a burnt voice coil (blown) and continued use of a speaker with clipped input will burn the voice coil as it will not take the D.C. voltage.
Like you mentioned, better sealing out the outside noise will reduce the demands on the amp. You might also try a higher voltage (NiMh 9v bateries are actually only 7.3 volts) by using six cells to make 9 volts. A multi cell battery pack will not drop voltage as much under a high demand (take off). I use retired ELT batteries and a bonus is they last about 500-1000 hrs and are free.

critical engine · Post by **critical engine** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:31 pm

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:34 pm

Just an update for you guys.
Thanks for all the advice and sugestions. In the end I did buy the Stratus.

So far so good. The ANR works amazing and the Passive reduction is as good as any passive headset. Has the built in MP3 and Cell hookup. No buyers remorse so far.

For anyone else who's interested in the Telex, the company is offering a $125 US rebate for American instructors. I spoke to a customer service rep and talked him into giving me the rebate as well. So if you have a valid instructor rating the $675US headset is gonna only cost you $550. Pretty much the same as the DCs, lightspeeds etc. but a much better bang for your buck. In my opinion.

They are a bit big and ugly. But they work.
THe old 3 year warranty is now uped to 5 years so keep it in mind. I like it, and it's cheaper than the Bose by a LOT

HT

scm · Post by **scm** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:09 pm

i know it's a bit late, but for anyone else reading this thread looking to buy a headset - bose gets another vote.

don't see why its crappy passive attenuation keeps getting mentioned. i keep a set of 4 batteries in the headset case, and always have a small pack of 29db earplugs available. at worst one could wear earplugs under the headset and just crank up the volume.

telex would be choice #2, but i couldn't find any local suppliers.

Beating the Headset topic to death

Recommend an ANR headset please!

headset