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737 headset advice
- Thread starter AV80R
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Hugh Jorgan
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- Nov 25, 2001
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- 2,307
herb
Well-known member
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- May 12, 2002
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My review of the Sennheiser HMEC25...
I purchased a refurb about a year ago from http://www.aviation-headset.com/.
Be sure you get the extra $25.00 off if you're a corp/airline pilot. Great prices!
Overall, I love the headset. I have had a few problems which I will explain.
When I first got the headset I was flying ATR's. The headset was not working in about 20% of the aircraft. The capt could hear me but I could not hear nothing in the earpiece. No big deal, I just switch to the company supplied Dave Clark(not why I bought the sennheiser though). Secondly, the microphone was intermittent. We'd be flying along fat, dumb, and happy. I'd be in the middle of a story and then bam. I'm talking and nothin' is being heard. A firm press on the mic would correct the problem. I finally sent the headset back to sennheiser. They found a short in the mic and corrected that. However, they could not figure out why the earpiece did not work in some aircraft. They said it met all specs and they could not duplicate the problem. Now I've been flying the EMB-145 for the past several months. Only once have I had the earpiece not work. Still don't know why it does that but it hasn't been a major issue for me since there is always the backup headset available. I have had no further problems the microphone.
Next problem...all my captain's were saying, "it sounds like you're hissing in my ear." They always wanted me to keep my hot mic off. I read the manual and was able to turn the gain on the mic down. This reduced the static considerably but I am also quiet and sometimes hard to hear to the other pilot and sometimes ATC now that the gain is so far down. I occasionaly still get a complaint about the hissing but its rare and I attribute it to the aircraft in most instances. I believe the Dave Clark mic is of better quality.
These have been my only problems with this headset. Despite these problems I would still recommend the headset. It is much more comfortable than a David Clamp. In my opinion it's also more comfortable than the Bose X which I had for several years. Although after 8 hours of flying in a day, the sennheiser does make my ears sore. For the noise protection it provides it's the most comfortable I've ever used.
I purchased a refurb about a year ago from http://www.aviation-headset.com/.
Be sure you get the extra $25.00 off if you're a corp/airline pilot. Great prices!
Overall, I love the headset. I have had a few problems which I will explain.
When I first got the headset I was flying ATR's. The headset was not working in about 20% of the aircraft. The capt could hear me but I could not hear nothing in the earpiece. No big deal, I just switch to the company supplied Dave Clark(not why I bought the sennheiser though). Secondly, the microphone was intermittent. We'd be flying along fat, dumb, and happy. I'd be in the middle of a story and then bam. I'm talking and nothin' is being heard. A firm press on the mic would correct the problem. I finally sent the headset back to sennheiser. They found a short in the mic and corrected that. However, they could not figure out why the earpiece did not work in some aircraft. They said it met all specs and they could not duplicate the problem. Now I've been flying the EMB-145 for the past several months. Only once have I had the earpiece not work. Still don't know why it does that but it hasn't been a major issue for me since there is always the backup headset available. I have had no further problems the microphone.
Next problem...all my captain's were saying, "it sounds like you're hissing in my ear." They always wanted me to keep my hot mic off. I read the manual and was able to turn the gain on the mic down. This reduced the static considerably but I am also quiet and sometimes hard to hear to the other pilot and sometimes ATC now that the gain is so far down. I occasionaly still get a complaint about the hissing but its rare and I attribute it to the aircraft in most instances. I believe the Dave Clark mic is of better quality.
These have been my only problems with this headset. Despite these problems I would still recommend the headset. It is much more comfortable than a David Clamp. In my opinion it's also more comfortable than the Bose X which I had for several years. Although after 8 hours of flying in a day, the sennheiser does make my ears sore. For the noise protection it provides it's the most comfortable I've ever used.
AV80R
I use the HMEC-45. It suits my purpose in reducing the noise on the engine side and allowing me to hear ATC more clearly. I do use the right side when the F/O is getting the ATIS or talking on #2 radio. I have also flown with F/Os who have Sennheiser and we leave the intercom switch on and use it as a hot mike for intercom purposes. It doesn't interfer with ATC, but you have to turn it off to use the PA.
I use the HMEC-45. It suits my purpose in reducing the noise on the engine side and allowing me to hear ATC more clearly. I do use the right side when the F/O is getting the ATIS or talking on #2 radio. I have also flown with F/Os who have Sennheiser and we leave the intercom switch on and use it as a hot mike for intercom purposes. It doesn't interfer with ATC, but you have to turn it off to use the PA.
NZCHooverboy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2004
- Posts
- 22
Sennheiser HMEC 45-KA
Been using this for two years on the 737-800. I find it comfortable and very useful in the -800 since the noise level in an aircraft designed for .74 is higher in one that cruises at .78. I'm in the left seat so I turn down the volume on the right side and have no problem hearing my FO. The headset also is great to listen to your stereo with.
BC
Been using this for two years on the 737-800. I find it comfortable and very useful in the -800 since the noise level in an aircraft designed for .74 is higher in one that cruises at .78. I'm in the left seat so I turn down the volume on the right side and have no problem hearing my FO. The headset also is great to listen to your stereo with.
BC
Here goes. I just purchased the Telex 850 from Spinnerspilotshop.com for $420, plus $3 shipping. It came with a basic headset pouch thrown in for free.
I have only flown one trip with it, but can make the following observations:
1. It does work on the 737-300 at SWA, and by inference, it will also work on the -500 and -700. The -200 I don't fly anymore, so won't comment, but rumor has it that it might not work as well.
2. No batteries is the way to go. I have flown at SWA for 4+ years now and have watched lots of captains fiddle with the battery pack, turning it off and on and what not. Plus the added recurring expense as well as the need to remember to always carry spares makes it a pain.
3. The noise reduction worked pretty darn well. I used to hate flying certain tail numbers of the -300 because of the constant background squeal in the comm system, let alone listening to the VOR idents or FM radio bleed over even when I didn't have those systems monitored. I didn't hear any of that with the Telex 850.
4. The flexible mike boom is great, as it allows the headset to fold easier as well as really customizing the position in front of your mouth for speaking clearly.
5. The Telex 850 has an On/Off switch for the ANR, which you obviously need to leave in the ON position. As for the volume control, I leave it in low for best results, because that allows me (in the 737) to turn up individual comm panel radio volumes as desired, so I don't have to hear company yacking to someone else too loud if I don't want to. When I tried the switch in High, I couldn't fully turn down radio volumes I was monitoring but didn't want to hear too loud.
Overall, it works as advertised. It is taking a little getting used to though, as I used to wear the single side molded ear piece. Having both ears covered is new again, but the padding is very soft.
Just a thought and my two cents worth.
I have only flown one trip with it, but can make the following observations:
1. It does work on the 737-300 at SWA, and by inference, it will also work on the -500 and -700. The -200 I don't fly anymore, so won't comment, but rumor has it that it might not work as well.
2. No batteries is the way to go. I have flown at SWA for 4+ years now and have watched lots of captains fiddle with the battery pack, turning it off and on and what not. Plus the added recurring expense as well as the need to remember to always carry spares makes it a pain.
3. The noise reduction worked pretty darn well. I used to hate flying certain tail numbers of the -300 because of the constant background squeal in the comm system, let alone listening to the VOR idents or FM radio bleed over even when I didn't have those systems monitored. I didn't hear any of that with the Telex 850.
4. The flexible mike boom is great, as it allows the headset to fold easier as well as really customizing the position in front of your mouth for speaking clearly.
5. The Telex 850 has an On/Off switch for the ANR, which you obviously need to leave in the ON position. As for the volume control, I leave it in low for best results, because that allows me (in the 737) to turn up individual comm panel radio volumes as desired, so I don't have to hear company yacking to someone else too loud if I don't want to. When I tried the switch in High, I couldn't fully turn down radio volumes I was monitoring but didn't want to hear too loud.
Overall, it works as advertised. It is taking a little getting used to though, as I used to wear the single side molded ear piece. Having both ears covered is new again, but the padding is very soft.
Just a thought and my two cents worth.
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