ANR headsets

[CTflyer]

Anyone out there use ANR headsets for the A320? I know it is a quiet airplane but I can use all the help I can get. Was concerned about which ANR headsets are compatible with the 320.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[SWA2000]

I don't know much about the 320 but I am using what I think is a great option to a 1000.00 bose headset. One of our pilots made an adapter for the Bose Quiet Comfort II headset. It is an aviation mike that plugs into the Bose QC and you get a stereo ANR headset. The great thing about this option is the versatility. When your up front driving you plug the mike in and it works great. When your in the back on the DH you can use just the Bose QC so you don't have to listen to the guy next to you tell you how he always wanted to be a pilot. The second great thing about this headset is for when you have those long hauls and don't care to listen to the captains lifestory you can plug in an ipod/sat radio staight into the mike. Nothing like flying over the Rockies listening to Freebird!

The total cost for the set up is about 500.00 Bose QC II 299.00 which they will take 12 payments on your CC 0 %

The mike is 199.00 It can be purchased at UFLYMike.com

I don't get paid for pitching this I just think it is the coolest thing out.

 

[FracCapt]

The second great thing about this headset is for when you have those long hauls and don't care to listen to the captains lifestory you can plug in an ipod/sat radio staight into the mike. Nothing like flying over the Rockies listening to Freebird!

Speaking of which....does the XM MyFi receive through the heated windscreens? I've heard from a couple of guys flying various bizjets that it doesn't work through the main screens, but will work through unheated screens...but in many other airplanes it will work through any screen.

 

[SWA2000]

it works in the 737

 

[L1011 Rules!]

I not on the A320 but I would highly recommend the Sennheiser ANR over any other including BOSE.......The only reason why I like them better than bose is the size.....It is much more compact and I don't know any jet other than maybe the 727 which a Bose would be necessary. They are very comfortable, compact, great battery life and the ANR is AWESOME. Here is the link www.sennheiserusa.com. If you are part of ALPA look under your log in for member benefits/Shopping Mall. Here is the info also, but to get the discount which is about $250 you need to enter the web site through your ALAP log on. Hope this helps....I love my head set!

Sennheiser Noise Cancellation Headsets


From the Sennheiser website, ALPA members may view the different types of active/passive noise cancellation headsets available from Sennheiser USA. The Sennheiser USA point of contact is: Mr. Michael Feldbauer, Phone: 860-434-9190 ext. 146, Fax: 860-434-1759, or e-mail: [email protected]. For additional information, view Sennheiser's website.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

I have had good luck with the sennheiser hmec-45. Get the stereo version and you can turn the inboard volume down a bit if you find it necessary. I had a short in the wiring after about 4.5 years of use and had no problem getting it repaired by sennheiserusa.

 

[Occam's Razor]

I use the HMEC-25CAP. It comes from the factory with the 5-pin connector that is compatible with the A320.

Pros: Lightweight, nice ALPA discount on purchase (I paid $582), eliminates all wind noise in the A320 cockpit...including the CRT fans and vent system. The in-line volume control is a nice touch, but I don't use it (set it and use the a/c volume control).

Cons: Batteries. (I use Canon rechargables now). The hassle of connecting and disconnecting. The battery pack is awkward, so my wife sewed a pouch-thingy for mine with a velcro strap. I loop it over the window lever, but it's still a pain.

I think every DC-9 or B727 pilot should own a set. The open-ear style is another option. I just prefer the closed cup.

 

[L1011 Rules!]

Now if only I got commision!

Enjoy

 

[LR25]

Does anybody have any problems with the bose ear buds with hearing the guy next to you?

 

[bbond]

You might try looking into the Clarity Aloft or Mach 1. Earplug style headsets that work better than ANR without the clamp style headset. I've worn mine in everything from jets to pistons, and will never fly with anything else. No batteries either. About 500 bucks. www.clarityaloft.com

 

[Cobraair75drvr]

No wonder we are taking paycuts. Listen to yourselves talking about noise cancleing headsets. Let me guess, instead of going to the bar on layovers you get pedicures and then go back to the room and work on home schooling lesson plans. Do you think our predecessors from the 60s and 70s(you know the ones who went on strike to build the contracts we just gave up and carried that flask of scotch for debriefs) would have used noise cancleing headsets? Hell no. They did not even have wheels on their suitcases until the mid/late 80s. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know they all have tendon damage in the elbows, can't hear (at least they won't have to listen to their wives in retirement) No just messing with you. I know the seinwhatevers are tso'd for use but did not think the bose were.

 

[StripAlert]

Here's a second recommendation for the uflymike.com adapter ($195) for the Bose QC2. Give them a call--I think they have a model specifically designed for the Airbus.

I agree with everything SWA2000 posted about the setup. In addition, it's a lot smaller than the Bose Aviation X headset, and the uflymike adapter fits right in the QC2 case, which easily slips into a flight bag. The single AAA battery disappears into the headset, so there's no bulky box dangling from the cord like on the Bose X or a lot of other aviation ANR headsets. I usually get about 4-5 eight-hour flights out of a single battery, and it's easy to carry a small stack of AAA's to replace them. (That's in a very noisy 747--in a quiet cockpit like the A320, you're probably looking at even longer battery life.)

The QC2 is actually better as an aviation headset than for its intended purpose, due to the fact that it seems to let voices through. That's great for chatting cross-cockpit, but hurts its effectiveness in keeping the crying baby sounds out of your ears on the deadheads. For that, I recommend earbuds from Shure, which, even when they're not connected to an audio source, work better than earplugs. I usually don't hear a dang thing on a flight until I feel the pressurization change in the descent--no "Folks, we're now level at 35,000 feet" or "the captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign" yadda yadda crap. They're a bit on the expensive side, typically priced at $99 (e2c), $179 (e3c), $299 (e4c), or $499 (e5c), but you will forget all about that the first time you use them to make a loud baby or PA-lovin' captain disappear on a deadhead. (I have the e2c, and they work just great.)

As for TSO, I don't know about the regs, but an FAA inspector that rode with us recently thought the uflymike adapter was the greatest idea ever and asked for the website. He had been using his QC2 headset with the standard cord and plug adapter for listening only.

If you're going to buy the Bose QC2, you can get it at Crutchfield for the same price as Bose ($299), and, if you haven't purchased anything at Crutchfield before, PM me for a code for 20% off. Also, don't get the newer QuietComfort 3 headset--it's an on-the-ear not over-the-ear model so it won't work as well for the low-frequency noise in an airplane, and the uflymike adapter reportedly doesn't work with it either.

 

[SoCentralRain]

Anyone out there use ANR headsets for the A320? I know it is a quiet airplane but I can use all the help I can get. Was concerned about which ANR headsets are compatible with the 320.

Any help would be appreciated.

Have you tried turning off the cabin blower? I've heard it called "whisper mode." It's nice.

Cheers,
SCR

 

[flythere]

I don't know much about the 320 but I am using what I think is a great option to a 1000.00 bose headset. One of our pilots made an adapter for the Bose Quiet Comfort II headset. It is an aviation mike that plugs into the Bose QC and you get a stereo ANR headset. The great thing about this option is the versatility. When your up front driving you plug the mike in and it works great. When your in the back on the DH you can use just the Bose QC so you don't have to listen to the guy next to you tell you how he always wanted to be a pilot. The second great thing about this headset is for when you have those long hauls and don't care to listen to the captains lifestory you can plug in an ipod/sat radio staight into the mike. Nothing like flying over the Rockies listening to Freebird!

The total cost for the set up is about 500.00 Bose QC II 299.00 which they will take 12 payments on your CC 0 %

The mike is 199.00 It can be purchased at UFLYMike.com

I don't get paid for pitching this I just think it is the coolest thing out.

When the batteries on the Bose die, do you lose your ability to hear? I've heard that when the batteries go, the headset is usless until the batteries are replaced??

 

[Gorilla]

When the batteries on the Bose die, do you lose your ability to hear? I've heard that when the batteries go, the headset is usless until the batteries are replaced??

The QC2 uses a single AAA alkaline in the right ear cup. No dangling control boxes at all, which I really like.

I finished 3 two-day trips on a single aaa battery. There's a little LED on the right ear cup which starts to blink when it's time to change batts. I've had mine blink for 4 hours and it kept going, but I did change it out when I picked up some AAA's in KDEN.

Yes, the headset dies with no battery, but there's a nice little pouch in the QC2 case which can hold a few. It's really a non-issue.