Best Headset for a Twin Otter

[MackenzieMountaineer]

I currently fly a Twin Otter and am looking get a new headset, I've used David Clark noise cancelling in the past and I'm not a fan of it in the Twin, does anyone have any recomendations?

[flap10]

I have the Bose A20 headset. I feel that its well worth the $1271.00.
A friend of my also had the David Clark noise cancelling headset and it wasn't long after that he sold it. He now has the same Bose headset that I have and he said the difference was like night and day. In case your woundering, we both fly the twin otter.

[Lost Lake]

I liked the DC noise cancelling in the twin otter, hated the bose. FWIW

[just curious]

Ditto

[ahramin]

There's only one headset that works well in the twotter:

http://www.marvgolden.com/telex-stratus ... adset.html

[capt.pilot]

okay.. so the only one that isn't in this review is the Lightspeed Zulu... I flew it in the DHC side by side with the David Clark X-11 and they were both equally comfortable but where the Zulu excelled was the length of the battery life. I averaged about 30-40 hours vs 12 -18 with the DC's..

[Airtids]

How about the DC H1030XP that comes standard in the -400? That's my choice! BTW, I've also used the H1030XL for about 10 yrs, including seasons of 5-6 hr legs, and still love it.

[Tuk U]

ask Stacey, I guess he'd vouch for the david clarkes too, cuz he stuck his head out the window and they came off his head and banged against the fuselage till they came loose and departed

[MackenzieMountaineer]

Thanks guy's I might give the new DC's another look, the Bose look like the plastic might be an issue in the winter.

[Lost Lake]

Back in the Dives, I flew max hours (8+) and had no head pressure problems. I hate the 9 volt batteries, but if they quit in flight, I could still other planes and TC. I have older light speed noise cancellers. If the battery goes, so does your hearing. Same for bose.

[bigpinky]

bose a20, forget the rest

[seniorpumpkin]

There's only one headset that works well in the twotter:

http://www.marvgolden.com/telex-stratus ... eadset.htm

+1
Here's a link that will work better:
http://www.telex.com/line.php?line=aviation
I tried the basic lightspeed and had lots of trouble everytime the batteries died, then I bought the Telex 50D and it changed my life! It's a bit heavy, but it suits the DHC-6 well. I have a couple friends who really like these:
http://www.clarityaloft.com/ I couldn't get a good fit with my ears, but it would be worth looking into, especially if you're flying somewhere hot!
A couple of other friends use a bose, but on take-off the noise cancelling can't handle the volume, so it cuts in and out, maybe they've fixed that with the newer ones though.

Edited to add better link

[bigpinky]

There's only one headset that works well in the twotter:

http://www.marvgolden.com/telex-stratus ... eadset.htm

+1
Here's a link that will work better:
http://www.telex.com/line.php?line=aviation
I tried the basic lightspeed and had lots of trouble everytime the batteries died, then I bought the Telex 50D and it changed my life! It's a bit heavy, but it suits the DHC-6 well. I have a couple friends who really like these:
http://www.clarityaloft.com/ I couldn't get a good fit with my ears, but it would be worth looking into, especially if you're flying somewhere hot!
A couple of other friends use a bose, but on take-off the noise cancelling can't handle the volume, so it cuts in and out, maybe they've fixed that with the newer ones though.

Edited to add better link

The A20 is better, no problems on take-off




/

[JerryRig]

ZULU worked fine for me...all the way to the north pole and back!

JR

[Rowdy]

Ferried the twin to and from male with a borrowed lightspeed zulu.. Tried it back to back with the skippers Bose and then my DC's.. the Zulu wins hands down in my opinion. I'd replace my current DC's with em if I KNEW they worked that well behind the 985 in the beav.. but no one else can confirm it for me. Float drivers are too cheap apparently

[twotter]

What you all forget is the all important ability to hear what is happening within your engine(s) and airframe. I have tried many but have yet to find a noise cancelling headset that satisfies my need to hear what is really going on with my airplane. I still go with my old David Clark H10-40 that I've been using since I hung up my H10-30... With gel ear pads it keeps out the noise and is comfortable. My hearing was just checked and I have no problems with it so that must be worth something after 37 years.

[JerryRig]

What you all forget is the all important ability to hear what is happening within your engine(s) and airframe. I have tried many but have yet to find a noise cancelling headset that satisfies my need to hear what is really going on with my airplane. I still go with my old David Clark H10-40 that I've been using since I hung up my H10-30... With gel ear pads it keeps out the noise and is comfortable. My hearing was just checked and I have no problems with it so that must be worth something after 37 years.

WHAT?

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

YAR - I SLEEP TO NOISE YAR!!!


But on a serious note, has anyone tried the zulu and the bose a20? Honestly, did you find the bose that much more quiet? Putting it on in the store does not do justice.... as the zulu is fantastic in a quiet environment. 9so is the bose .. go figure) . Which did you find quieter while operating the ac?

[PanEuropean]

What you all forget is the all important ability to hear what is happening within your engine(s) and airframe...

Without meaning any disrespect at all, what is it that you would want to hear? I was trying to figure out what sounds you might be referring to, but all I could think of is that the engines are adequately instrumented, there's a doorwarning system in case a door comes loose, and if an engine develops a serious problem, the plane will usually yaw (thus providing a visual clue). The stall horn and fire bell can each wake the dead, no noise-cancelling system would block those two out (plus, they both have annunciator lights associated with them).

Michael

[ahramin]

Unfortunately it's a common misconception that noise cancelling cancels out engine noise. NC cancels out a certain frequency of noise. If the low frequency drone of your engine suddenly changes, the NC isn't going to magically start cancelling the new noise out, it only cancels the normal drone.

Because your ears are not fighting the normal drone of the engine, you can now hear what is going on better. All those little sounds that used to be blanked out by the low frequency constant noise are now audible, and you can actually hear a ticking or pinging noise if it starts coming from your engine.

[Lurch]

I own DCs, the old Bose, Zulu's and now the A20s

I love my Old DCS I've had them 14 years and never had an issue with them.

I'm not a fan of the old Bose, I found they worked great in singles but were horrible in twins, they just couldn't seem to keep up with the extra noise and I couldn't hear anything until I throttled back. The biggest issue I have with the old version is the comfort, I can't wear them for more then a few hours before my head starts to hurt, way to much pressure.

I don't have anything as close to the Twotter time as everybody else on here but I used my Zulu's in the Otter and they worked great, 12 hour days and no issues. The only problem I have with the Zulu's is the power button, my headset always seems to be on. They are too easy to turn on and this drains the battery down quicker.

I recently got a pair of A20s and absolutely love them. They are quieter then the Zulu's but not by that much. They are a lot more comfortable then the old version and I can wear them for longer and not have issues. A huge improvement from the old version.

As Ahramin stated I have never had issues hearing the changes in the engine sound with any of the above ANR headsets. I did notice at first with the 20s that I did have trouble hearing when the prop sync was slightly out, but not enough that you wouldn't notice if your engine sounds changed.

The best advise I can give is the Zulu's or A20s but buy whatever fits your head better. I have heard some people don't like the zulu comfort and others that don't like the Bose. If the headset sounds great but hurts your head then they are useless.

Lurch

[cloudrunner]

Agreed. Bose A20's. Awesome headset. I've used the old ones for years and just upgraded 150 hours ago.
The bluetooth is cool when you have a long taxi and feel like making a phone call.
The batteries are good for 40 hours as stated.