Buying Headset

Front. · Post by **Front.** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:23 pm

Hey you guys, I am starting my PPL and would like to buy a headset that is comfortable, and that you know, is good, lasts long. I am indeed going to make a career out of aviation, so i don't want a cheap ass 100 dollar suggestion. Something that is a good spend and is good quality that will last long.

Thanks

ahramin · Post by **ahramin** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:25 pm

First of all, try the search button.

Telex Stratus 50D.

Front. · Post by **Front.** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:29 pm

ooh that looks good, thanks.

gr8gazu · Post by **gr8gazu** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 2:54 pm

Eisa, I don't know how things are done these days but training aircraft are not particularly noisy and headsets can be a pain in the neck if the intercom is questionable.

Check with your training center as to how they operate and delay the purchase until you are a working pilot. Then buy an appropriate headset for the employment you end up in. The right equipment for the job...

wha happen · Post by **wha happen** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:04 pm

DC's - all are good, but id go with the noise cancelling.

floatpiperdriver · Post by **floatpiperdriver** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:20 pm

Here's an option for you:

I bought an avcom AC-900 a few years back and put it through a lot of abuse and it still works like new.

It works darn good and costs a third of one of those noise cancelling rigs.

Positive_Rate · Post by **Positive_Rate** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:43 pm

David Clark or Bose noise cancelling Period ! ...don't go with anything but noise cancelling, the difference is amazing...it helps with fatigue and ofcoarse your long term hearing ....Get on it from the start ! From a Navajo to a turbine it's the right choice regardless of the price ( which is lower everytime I look )

lowlevel · Post by **lowlevel** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:25 pm

positive_rate, noise canceling is where its at now a days!
If it is a career move then I would buy a Bose!
I tried the DC's, Telus 50 D's, and the Bose and the Bose are the best of the bunch!
If u want P.M. me and I can tell u what the pros and cons are of the 3 different sets!

lowlevel · Post by **lowlevel** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:26 pm

Sorry meant to say Positive_rate is right, noise canceling is where it is at now a days!

wannabatp · Post by **wannabatp** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:13 pm

You might also want to consider some of the offerings from Lightspeed.

Good noise cancelling, comfortable, built in adapter for mp3 and cell phone, AWESOME after sale service.

Al little more than half the price of the Bose (which doesn't have the cell/mp3 interface, and whose after sales service sucks).

Your call!

niss · Post by **niss** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:57 pm

I have a set of DC 13.4s

Spokes · Post by **Spokes** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:33 pm

wannabatp wrote:You might also want to consider some of the offerings from Lightspeed.

Good noise cancelling, comfortable, built in adapter for mp3 and cell phone, AWESOME after sale service.

Al little more than half the price of the Bose (which doesn't have the cell/mp3 interface, and whose after sales service sucks).

Your call!

I agree. I got the Lightspeeds from Calgary Pilot supplies (link somewhere on this site) I find they are a bit louder than normal DC's with the noise cancellation off. Incredibly quiet when turned on.

Like the cell phone connection option.

2 AA's NiMH rechargeables last in the 30Hr range. Cost is $600CN no PST. Love ordering things from Alberta.

SkyWolfe · Post by **SkyWolfe** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:42 pm

wannabatp wrote:You might also want to consider some of the offerings from Lightspeed.

Good noise cancelling, comfortable, built in adapter for mp3 and cell phone, AWESOME after sale service.

Al little more than half the price of the Bose (which doesn't have the cell/mp3 interface, and whose after sales service sucks).

Your call!

Im going to totally agree with that - cost me a bit but not TOO much, I don't plan to spend more until Im a little higher up in the aviation world. I think rental will eventually add up to what I paid anyway

quicksilver · Post by **quicksilver** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:41 pm

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... ht=headset

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... ht=headset

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... ht=headset

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... ht=headset

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... ht=headset

First of all, try the search button.

Telex Stratus 50D.

Took one minute to find this, and I didn't try hard at all. ahramin was right, now you try.

quick

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:15 am

A lot of people here are VERY loyal to DCs and for good reason, but I started off with a set of DC 13.4s, served me very well through training and instructing. Once I got my first turbine job however, the noise as well as the need to wear the things for hours and hours on end made me decide to upgrade. The noise was higher and after hearing stories from older flyers who are starting to suffer from hearing loss I decided to go for an ANR headset and as far as comfort goes, the DCs will clamp the heck out of your head, especially if you have a big one like me.

After all the research and searching I went with the Telex Stratus 50-D or 50 Digital as it's now called. It is suppose to be just as good (if not better) in active noise reduction as the Bose and decent passive noise reduction like a non-anr headset. I've taken off and flown for quite a while before I noticed that I didn't turn the headset on. Once the ANR is turned on you'll hear the prop noise start to disapear in two steps, first as the Analog circuit kicks in and then the Digital circuit. Next thing you know all you hear is a slight whoosh and your MP3's! It doesn't clamp your head as much as the DCs either, I like the soft pillowy foam ear seals, HOWEVER I wish the hole in the middle for my ears was a little bigger, I sometimes feel like I have to fold my ears in.

Also... the big one... $$$$... You're gonna spend a lot on your training and you're not going to make any good money for a long time... spending $1200 on a Bose might not be feasible. The Stratus is substantially less and for anyone with a valid instructor rating, you get $125 US back.

If you can't afford ANR, go DC 13.4, cheap, gets the job done well, when you upgrade later, it'll make a great backup set. But don't count out the other brands. Go try them on at a place like Aviation World and see how they feel.

HT

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:55 am

If it's going to get bumped around a fair bit, avoid the bose. It's the best in every respect except durability. If you know you will never drop it, bump it, or that someone else will not bump it or drop it, then bose would be the choice if you can afford it. the service is great, and they will fix it if it breaks, but I hate having to be without my headset for 2-4 weeks while it is being fixed.

Lightspeeds are too heavy, IMHO, plus they're crap if the battery dies. Music jack is nice, though. Not a bad choice, just not the best IMHO.

DC's are heavier than the bose, lighter than Lightspeeed, and i personally find them very comfortable. I have had a non-ANC DC for 12 years, and it still works as new. I am going to upgrade to the DC ANC in the next little while.

-wp

ttx15 · Post by **ttx15** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:28 am

You seem to be an optimistic guy and kept going that way, but you should get an avcom 900 for about 250$, then after you got your first job secure, invest in a better quality headset that will fit with the type of flying you will be doing. This year I invested in a set of telex stratus 50, and it works incredibly well in a Norseman.

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:23 am

http://www.canada-shops.com/Stores/vipp ... 271.2.html

Flychicka · Post by **Flychicka** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:04 am

Has anyone heard back from DC yet about the X11?

http://www.davidclark.com/X11/index.html

mduffy · Post by **mduffy** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:53 am

I bought my first and only headset about 8 years ago and have used them nearly every day since. They have taken me from the bottom to the top of my career and never complained, despite all the complaining the rec'v and transmit.

Regardless of what you choose, I would suggest you get the best you can afford and plan on keeping them for many years. That quiet cockpit might not come as quickly as you'd like, so try to make the loud ones more comfortable and save your hearing!

bobcat18 · Post by **bobcat18** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:19 pm

Yes the X-11 looks like DC finally released a headset with all the feature people want.
But here is my two cents on this subject.
If you are going to make this a career get a good noise cancelling headset. By protecting your hearing very well from the start you will extend the length of your career by several years. I have a noticible hearing loss now due to flying and every time I switch one the ANR I kick my self in the ass for not going with it about 5 years earlier.

Front. · Post by **Front.** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:57 pm

rgr thanks you guys.

quicksilver · Post by **quicksilver** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:29 am

I want an x-11 now. Anyone have one that has something positive or negative to say?

quick

Hoser · Post by **Hoser** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:54 am

Has anyone had any luck with the in ear headset models. I know Lightspeed just came out with ta new one and they boast equal noise reduction qualities to ANR headsets

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:20 am

http://www.clarityaloft.com/