ANR Headset Comparison

[pavelump]

I'm thinking of buying an ANR headset. I'm looking at the David Clark 13X, The Sennheiser HMEC450, and the Telex Stratus D-50. They all are right around the same price when you factor in the discounts available.

Now before I get flamed for not doing my research, I have done a search of the forums. And just to put it out there, I can't afford the Bose and I don't want the big purple Lightspeed 3G.

It seems that most are happy with the 13X, but does anybody have any experience with the Telex or Sennheiser. Anybody try more than one of these three models?

I'm flying a relatively loud Swedish turboprop and I'd like that hum to stop...

 

[skid]

I own both the Bose X and the Sennheiser HMEC 200's, I think. I at one point also used the lightspeed 20's, and David Clark ANR,s. Out of all of those nothing compared to the Bose. I know they cost more, but I found it to be worth it.

The lightspeeds broke before the 3rd use. So I sent them back. The DC's were common DC's worked , but heavy and uncomfortable. THE best 2 I have worn were the SEnnheiser and Bose. Both were pretty good initially, that is until I had a mic problem with the Sennheiser's. I sent them back to be fixed and they were returned with more broken than when I sent them off. Total I returned them 7 x's and they even completly replaced them once. That is when I decided to go with the Bose. I purchased them on there 30 day trial and never returned them. They have good tech support and always seem to work. I have returned them once in the 3 years since I bought them. This was to have them cleaned after a Coke exploded on them and to have the newer AA power supply put on. I told them I needed them ASAP and they were sent off on a Monday 2 nd day air and Fixed/cleaned/shipped back to me overnight the same day they received them.


I know this is just my 2 cents and I am sure some of the problems I had are probably not that common, but I have found you get what you pay for. If you want something very lightweight, I would try the lighter weight Sennheiser you are talking about. If you want something that is proven to work well I would suggest the Bose X or may try the telex 50's. Most places do offer a 30 money back trial. So with that being the case try what you want 1st and see how it works for ya, you can always return it and try another.

 

[SiuDude]

I love the Stratus 50D. The headset is somewhat bulky, but there are absolutely no pressure points caused by the headset anywhere on my head. The noise cancellation is second to none. I regularly use a Bose in the King Air, and have found the stratus to be a little quieter and a lot more comfortable. The Bose causes slight discomfort to my ears. If you use alkaline batteries in the Stratus, they should last about 50 hours. Rechargeables last about 25-30 hours. I just bought a 48 pack of AA alkaline batteries at Costco for under $10. They're made by Duracell and are sold under the Kirkland Signature brand name.

 

[GuppyWN]

Buy the Bose. Lightyears ahead of "all of the above", imo. As a bonus, it'll shutdown at the gate all by itself saving batteries. I can fly a month on 4 AA batteries.

Gup

 

[satpak77]

Bose Bose Bose

 

[cjcpilot]

I've heard from FO's also flying one of those "relatively loud Swedish turboprop's" that his set got rather banged up and barely lasted a year.

This also could have been caused by abuse from the jealous capt's.

 

[av8er23]

Why are you bashing the lightspeeds? I have tried the Sennheiser HMEC450 and the Telex Stratus D-50. I was terribley dissappointed with both. the telex is just as bulky as the lightspeeds and the anr box is huge. i think it takes like 4-6 AA. Sennheiser may make good headphones for music but not aviation. Lightspeed has outstanding customer support also. I cannot speak for david clark because i have never used a pair or wanted to use a pair. they look just like all the other cheap ones. And I think that they are terribly over rated. Pro pilot does a headset survery once a year but I am not sure when it comes out. I think it is in the next month or so. last year lightspeed came in second behind the over priced bose X.

 

[DoinTime]

over priced bose X

You get what you pay for. I've been using my Bose X for five years now and wouldn't consider putting anything else on my head. If you can't afford them up front go with the 12 month interest free payment plan. I think its about $84/month. You may have to cut a few beers out of your budget but a few hundred extra bucks is not unobtainable.

 

[Terry Hunter]

You get what you pay for. I've been using my Bose X for five years now and wouldn't consider putting anything else on my head. If you can't afford them up front go with the 12 month interest free payment plan. I think its about $84/month. You may have to cut a few beers out of your budget but a few hundred extra bucks is not unobtainable.

Second-ed.

 

[McNugent]

Bose X = the best $1,000 I ever spent

 

[Cloudroller]

Bose X's suck when the battery gets low or dies. I would get the DC's

 

[Flapjack]

Hey, I have a Dick Clark ANR that I will sell you cheap. I'm ex-Mesaba, now at FedEx, so no need for the skullcrusher anymore. The headset has the new battery pack (9v) and an Oregon Aero headrest (nice and squishy).

I know the Bose is a great product, but the DC's are probably second best in terms of ANR, and you can't beat 'em for being ridiculously rugged. Even if you can bust 'em, they are known for good customer service. These have seen many battles in the mighty Saab, let's just say they show less wear than I did after 7 years at XJ.

I will ship them to you (lovingly packed in bubblewrap) or deliver in person if you are in MEM or MSP.

JM

 

[Shobra]

Thumbs up for the lightspeeds. Try to find a set of 25xl they are grey and you can update them with a new cord from lightspeed for $75 if you want a music/cell phone interface. Also check out www.uflymike.com for bose on the cheep and more versitile.

 

[DrewBlows]

I love it. Every time someone posts that they are looking for a headset but cannot afford the Bose, there are ten replies saying "buy the Bose". Tells you something about the headset doesn't it?

By the way, buy the Bose.

 

[Lear.70]

You fly a turbo-what? Get the telex-850...they are wonderful. Oh, by the way, get yourself a jet, while you're at it.

 

[BenderGonzales]

BoseX

Add my vote for the Bose X. (if you ever get over to Clermont County airport near Cincy, sporty's will let you try them on a test-bench against other ANRs)

I did the payment plan. I think it was around $84 a month on my credit card. Before I knew it they were paid off.

I've had them now for about 3 years. The AAs will last about 2 months (we fly about 50 hours a month). I find rechargable batteries die quicker so I just went to Sam's Club and bought a giant-sized pack of batteries. That was about 2 years ago, and I havent had to buy any more batteries yet. Maybe another year or so.

If the batteries die in flight, yes they are lousy headsets. That is not how they were designed to work. So I slip an extra couple of batteries in my flight bag. Once in a blue moon I might do an in-flight battery change.

The headsets have been sent back to Bose twice for minor write-ups. Each time they are returned within a week and while they were gone they replaced EVERYTHING that wasn't bolted on. The head-pad, the microphone condom, the earseals, the battery cover. Everything.

I've been very, very impressed with the Bose.

When people here tell you that they're the best, it's no lie. When you say you can't afford them -- that's not true. You simply don't WANT to afford them.

At $85/month i'd say you can't afford NOT to invest in your hearing. Most of us have another 50-or-so medicals until the day we retire. Might be nice to pass those last few.

 

[Propnose]

I used the Bose X when I was towing banners & flying frieght. I am now in a jet, so I use lightweight headsets - but I love my Bose. It was totally worth the $$. I just bought the new lightspeed Mach1 lastnight, so I look forward to seeing how good they are.

 

[saviboy]

I just bought a refurbished Lightspeed 20xl from the factory for 300 dollars. I had a chance to compare them with one of my Captain's DC ANR and they are more comfortable but do not reduce noise as well as the DC.
The reason why I bought the lightspeed versus anything else is obviously the price. But again if you can , buy the Bose, I tried them once, my lightspeeds 20 are no match.

 

[CubanSmoker]

I'd be very leary of buying anything, especially refurbished or used, from Lightspeed. In 2 years, I had 3 different models of their headsets (thanks to their upgrade program) and had sent them back a total of 8 times. The newest one at the time was the 25xl and I sent back the first two of them because they didn't work at all right out of the box. To be fair to them, I heard their quality control is better now, but I had so many problems for so long that they actually sent me a check for the full purchase price of the 25xl which, at the time, was $600.

I took that check and dropped another $600 to buy the Bose which at the time were $1200. It was the best money I have ever spent without question. There is a reason everyone is telling you to buy them; they are THAT good. I've sent mine back only once for a software update and just like someone else stated, everything was new that could be replaced. They switched form the dense foam to the nice fake sheepskin head band pad, new mike muff, etc. When I upgraded the 9v to the AA, there was a delay in shipping. So out of the blue, I received a pair of the $250 ANR headphones and an appology letter for the delay! Find the extra cash somewhere, be a manwhore for a few times if you have to. The Bose are worth it.

Oh yeah, and buy the Bose.

 

[NYCPilot]

Can't front...I've also heard nothing but good about Bose except that they're terrible when they die. This shouldn't be a big issue if you have spare batteries, which you should.