Headset recommendations

[Blueontop]

Hello everyone!,

Looking to upgrade from the ol' David Clark and looking for recommendations. Looking at ANR and best bang for the buck. The clarity aloft has caught my eye but not sure and would like to hear from anyone that has used it. I also have looked into Bose and light speed but was wondering if there are any hidden gems out there I may not be aware of. All recommendations welcome, Thanks!

[Chris M]

Best bang for buck, if you're willing to do some fiddling, might be a set of DC 13.4's with an ANR kit added (see Headsets Inc.). Being a passive headset it has better physical noise attenuation, and then adding ANR to it you end up with something that actually cuts noise to a lower level that the high end products from Bose, Lightspeed, etc.

[skypirate88]

What ever headset you pick, be sure to try it on for a while. When I was headset shopping I found that I didn't like the ear cup fit and feel of the Lightspeed. I also wasn't a fan of not being able to switch the side the mic was on. I ended up picking the older Bose model. That was back in 2009. While it isn't in the best shape, I have logged about 4000 hours with it and for now it is still working.

[Prairie Highway]

I'm on the other side of the fence. I've got a big head, and I found the Bose A20 to be quite uncomfortable, so I bought the Lightspeed Zulu 2's. That was about three years ago, and I'm still very happy about my purchase. Skypirate is right though, make sure you try them all on and wear them around the store for a bit (sure you'll look like a dork, but...), You'll end up saving yourself some headache in the end. I've also owned multiple David Clarks, including a pair that I had an ANR kit installed in, and in my opinion they just don't compare to my Lightspeeds. Bluetooth is a definite bonus for long flights when you don't have much going on.

[goingnowherefast]

See if you can find a pair to borrow and wear it on a 2 hour flight.

I wore the predecessor to the Bose A20, and it was great for 45 minute flights, but gave me a headache beyond about 1 hour. I can wear my Lightspeed all day long with no problems. Everybody's head is different, so see what is most comfortable for you.

[schnitzel2k3]

Working in the north in a noisy prop, I always loved the Zulu's. Amazing warranty program.

Something quieter, like the QC15s with the new mic setup, so it doesn't drop off on you mid transmission is always an affordable and comfy proposition.

All the best.

S.

[Kabloona]

I just went through the headset shopping process and I agree with the try it first suggestions. They all fit, feel and sound quite different. In the end I stayed with my Telex 50D but miss some of the connectivity features the others had to offer. A relatively unknown product out there is the AKG AV100 made by Harman Kardon, it's up there in price and the fit wasn't for me but it had fantastic sound quality and a great mike. When you decide to buy choose a retailer that has a thirty day return policy, worked for me.

[Rowdy]

Smaller heads seem to enjoy the Bose, bigger fatter heads like mine the lightspeed. DCs give me a headache after more than a half hour. I had a sennheiser too and it's junk. Never thought much of the clarity aloft. A number of the more frugal friends used the uflymike and qc15.. but I see that isn't much of an option now..

[ahramin]

If you don't mind a bulky headset that eats batteries, and want something super quiet under all conditions try the Stratus 50D

http://www.telex.com/ca/aviation/produc ... gital/1080

Very durable and quiet.

[cgzro]

For very noisy envoronments the Telex Stratus 50d works very well both active and passive. i have two sets and they are very ruged and extremely comfortable.

[C-GKNT]

IMHO, best bang for the buck...Lightspeed Sierra.

I have a lightspeed Zulu 1, Zulu 2, Sierra, Bose X and Bose A20. My headset of choice is the Zulu 2.

The Zulu 1/2 are better than the Sierras. The Bose A20 might be a bit better than the Zulu 2 but value for $$$ I think the Sierra wins.

Cons to the Sierra's, there is more plastic in them and are not as durable. My son sat on his Sierra's and broke the headband. Lightspeed fixed it at no charge even though it was well out of warrantee. Excellent service.

As others have mentioned, YMMV depending on the size/shape of your head.

Glenn

[AirFrame]

A Lightspeed rep told me that "on average" the Sierras fit women better than men, if that helps. I bought my Zulu before the 2 came out but I have no desire to upgrade. I still wear my David Clark from time to time and still find it comfortable. Never had an issue with either my DC or my Lightspeed.

[Blueontop]

Thanks for all the info posters! Lots to think about and anyone else out there I'd love to hear from still!

[bbingham]

I picked up a set of Lightspeed Zulus used for about $500 and absolutely love them. I used to have a set of AvComms that I had ANR put into but, at the end of the day, they were just too heavy and made my neck a bit sore after a 14 hour day. I fly Metros and find that the Zulu has alright passive when the batteries die (ie I can still understand the radios and the person in the other seat). I use a set of cheap rechargeable AAs with a spare set in my pocket. Battery life is probably about 15-20 hours, even with the Bluetooth running.

[BibleMonkey]

https://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/a ... -16042.php
Faro
Best of the "budget" priced anrs. 3 yr warranty Great customer service-didn't need customer service, but I checked customer service by email pre-purchase via email, seem to be good hand lickers.

Comfortable, quiet-600 -700 more gets you a little quieter, those other two more common over 1 k anrs. I put the 500 difference into fuel instead-satisfied.
Use good batterys, good battery life (forty plus hrs I think on the fancy priced lithium aa) remember to shut these off after master off.
50-100 hours year, bugsmasher

[Blueontop]

Thanks again everyone!

[PilotDAR]

Last summer, I changed the prop on one of my planes, I'm told it's quieter outside, but it is louder inside So, I went headset shopping. I borrowed a set of Bose A20's (which I have used many times before, and quiet like) for the flight to the avionics shop, so I would have a baseline opinion of it's noise cancelling quality. I tried three types of headsets at the avionics shop, I band new brand, whose name I do not remember, the Steinhausser, and the brand new David Clark "One-X". Historically, I'm a David Clark fan. That said, I have an older David Clark ANC noise cancelling, which is disappointing. But, the One-X sold itself to me, when I tried all four in a test in my running plane on the ramp. I like it's small size, and the noise cancelling feature works really well. The bluetooth is excellent too.

But, after a few hours flying, it was still not having the noise attenuation I sought for my louder prop. I called David Clark, and we had a long talk. They explained to me that the One-X is not the maximum noise attenuation of all of their products, but it has the nicest sound in a medium noise environment. So, I revived a David Clark helicopter headset I have had for a while, so it worked in the plane. It has superior noise attenuation, but not as nice a sound.

So the One-X gets used in my 150, and other "normal" planes I fly. Also, for it's excellent noise cancelling quality, combined with bluetooth to my Ipod, I use it on long airline flights. I probably look like a geek wearing a David Clark in 17A, but who cares, the sound is perfect!

The older David Clark was improved (the ANC) by a shared cost credit toward replacement of the two modules, which did improve them. They're spares now.

We flew 31 hours in Europe in the 182 last summer, each with a Bose A20. We started with fresh AA cells, and they were exhausted at the end of the trip a week later. The two AA's in the David Clark probably have 50+ hours since last summer, and are still going strong.

So, the lesson I learned is to refine what you want the headset to do most - noise attenuation may be better accomplished with a non ANC headset with the best noise attenuation quality. "Regular" flying is adequately served with a regular ANC headset of your preference. My preference is the DC One-X, for function, quality of construction, and the excellent experience I have had with David Clark product support in the past.

The Bose A20 seems great too. The other lesser known brands are too much a risk for me considering their >$1000 cost, so I'll stick with companies I know will support their product.

[milotron]

PilotDAR,

I still get bad ringing in my ears for hours after flying with my Bose A20. I was thinking of your exact set up to improve this situation.
Interesting that the helo headset was the best. What model was it and what ANC system was added?

[Cessna 180]

I have a pair of Lightspeed Zulu PFXs. Wear them for at least 8 hours a day in a piston single doing pipeline work. Worth every penny. Had to send them off for minor repair (mic boom was loose), and they're replacing all the non-warranty soft parts (ear pads, head pads, mic muff) for free (expensive to buy). Super quiet, Bluetooth works great, super comfortable.

I've been wearing my old David Clamps's for the past week while I'm waiting for the repair, and I have no idea how I used them before. They push right on the pressure point above your jaw, are noisy as heck, and the microphone sounds way worse than on my Lightspeeds.

Guys at work seem to like their Bose too. We're about 50/50 Bose-Lightspeed.

Overall I would go for the Zulu's based on their warranty and support.

[Adam Oke]

I'm seriously considering picking up a Clarity Aloft set. Most pistons and turbines I either wished I was wearing ear plus (even with ANR), or I wore ear plugs underneath my headset or helmet. I think this headset can be used in a wide variety of aircraft .... that being said, I've yet to try out the headset. Everyone I know that owns a Clarity Aloft headset loves it.

[Cessna 180]

I'm seriously considering picking up a Clarity Aloft set. Most pistons and turbines I either wished I was wearing ear plus (even with ANR), or I wore ear plugs underneath my headset or helmet. I think this headset can be used in a wide variety of aircraft .... that being said, I've yet to try out the headset. Everyone I know that owns a Clarity Aloft headset loves it.

I believe there are some good alternatives to the Clarity that don't cost an arm and a leg.

http://www.faroaviation.com/in-ear-avia ... adset.html

I've heard really good things about this headset, but the aux in and volume controls on the Clarity and the Faro are interesting: http://www.quiettechnologies.com/index. ... duct_id=51

I might pick one up in the summer. We'll see.

[plhought]

via Imgflip Meme Generator

I prefer the old passive method.

I always take those multi-coloured mushy pills to keep down the sound. The ones you get from 3M. But they never seem to work

[Captain X]

Lightspeed Zulu 2, if space is not an issue in your flight bag
U fly Mike with Bose QC headset if you need something more compact.

Both are good, the Lightspeed is a tad quieter.

[JasonE]

Lightspeed I found not so good for larger heads....I won't buy another. I tried on the Bose and it seem to fit much better, although I can't justify the price.

[nbinont]

I'm seriously considering picking up a Clarity Aloft set. ... Everyone I know that owns a Clarity Aloft headset loves it.

I have the Clarity Aloft Link; got it almost 5 years ago. Love the thing .

Pros: With my previous DC headset my sunglasses arms would always make gap in between my head and the ear seal and let in noise. Not an issue with the Clarity Aloft's in-ear design. I tried some ANC headsets, but always found they did a very poor job with the high frequencies; I opted for the better passive attenuation instead. It doesn't mess with your hair (apparently that's important to some people...). I'm not always replacing batteries, as there's no ANC.

Cons: If you enable Bluetooth, the noise floor is noticeably increased (even more-so when the lights flash). Thankfully leaving the Bluetooth link off brings the noise floor back down. The Bluetooth link was a good idea, but poorly executed. I leave it off 99% of the time (probably why my batteries last so long)! Also, the ear tips really expand in your ear. It takes a while to get used to it, and even after you do, after 4 hours or so it gets irritating. For an occasional flyer light myself, it works.

Some technical reading: http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article ... uide-2015/ YMMV.