Best Headsets out there?

[meyers9163]

Currently I'm starting up my PPL and am looking into buying a headset that I can use for instructing and possibly as I move up. What are some of the best ones out there to buy? Any thoughts on this would be great. In addition to that any websites who have them or places one can show me to go to buy a quality headset would be great. Thank you in advance!

 

[jetdriven]

bose. I've used it in light singles, twins, 1900's, and now in the CRJ. 3500 hours on it.

 

[Lead Sled]

I own several good headsets - David Clark, Bose, Telex. They all have certain features that I like and other features that I don't really care for. My favorite set is a ENC David Clark that I've modified with the Oregon Aero ear pads and head pad - you literally forget you're wearing it and that's after 5 or 6 hours.

Bottom line is, like everything else, you pretty much get what you pay for. Buy a good set - you've only got one set of ears and hearing loss is cumulative.

FWIW, I don't believe any company can beat David Clark when it comes to customer service and warranty. Again, you get what you pay for.

'Sled

 

[Fly_Chick]

I love my Sennheisers HME 100, not ANR). Very small, compact, light weight. I had to borrow a pair of David Clarks, and kept wondering what was wrong with the planes I was flying as the engines did not sound right. Here I realized the D.C.s were louder, or at least I was hearing the engines louder.

Also, with Sennheiser one volume control for both ears, the D.C.s had separate volume controls for each ear and I realized I was spending way too much time trying to coordinate the sound.

 

[Ralgha]

FWIW, I don't believe any company can beat David Clark when it comes to customer service and warranty. Again, you get what you pay for.

Lightspeed once repaired my headset over a weekend and had it back to me on Monday (I sent it Thusday or Friday, don't remember exactly). Free and years out of warrenty. David Clark can't beat that.

 

[minitour]

Love my lightspeed.

-mini

 

[Lazy8]

Has anyone tried the new Clarity Aloft headset? I've heard they're really nice.
http://www.clarityaloft.com/

Grove

 

[spudskier]

LOVE my LightSpeeds... good price, 350+ hours with em, very comfy with sunglasses too, ANR=heaven. EXCELLENT customer service too, repaired once, they included free shipping to and from, new ear seals, muff, and brackets when they repaired it, had it back within a week

 

[GotBoost?]

Has anyone tried the new Clarity Aloft headset? I've heard they're really nice.
http://www.clarityaloft.com/

Grove

I've had a set for about a week. Love them so far. Subjectively, they block noise as well as my DCs with the Headsets Inc ANR kit, and you don't even notice they're on your head. They have a jack to pipe in CD or MP3 music, plus there's no battery to worry about.

 

[Lazy8]

I've had a set for about a week. Love them so far. Subjectively, they block noise as well as my DCs with the Headsets Inc ANR kit, and you don't even notice they're on your head. They have a jack to pipe in CD or MP3 music, plus there's no battery to worry about.

Do the canal tips bother you at all? A student of mine has been demoing a pair and he says he likes them, but isn't quite sold on sticking canal tips in his ears. How long do you wear them on a flight? I am thinking of getting a pair but I'd like to hear from people about how they feel after flying 5+ hours per day. I'm kind of in between the Clarity Aloft or just upgrading my DC H10-20's with Oregon Aero ear pads/head pad.

g

 

[GotBoost?]

The canal tips feel just like wearing earplugs. The longest I've worn them so far is 2.2, so I really don't know how they'd feel after a full day, but after 2.2 I didn't even notice them being there.
I bet they're like every other headset- different brands work for different people. If you want to test them out, buy them a week or so before you know you're doing a lot of long flights. Then you'd get the best idea if they'll work & if you don't like 'em you can get your money back (30 day return policy).
A few people in older threads about it said they are relatively more comfortable the longer the flight b/c you don't have the headclamp factor going on, plus there's no extra 14oz or whatever pulling on your head the whole time.

 

[pilotman121]

Bose is best!

If you can afford it, Bose aviation headsets are the best on the market.

 

[dasmith]

Its nice when companies stand behind their product. Great examples of those companies include Bose, Lightspeed, and David Clark. One headset absolutely to stay away from is the FlightCom products, particularly Denali. In my opinion, their technology (NR) is old and from my experience the company does NOT stand behind their product and when you think they might... whatever is wrong with your headset is not covered by the warranty.

FlightCom = BAD

Lightspeed, Bose, David Clark = Good

 

[Goose Egg]

Have a Bose Series II ANR and a LightSpeed 20G. The both the noise cancelling and the comfort level is better with the Bose. The only down side is that they don't sell the Series II any more, and the X's are pretty expensive, although I got my II for free.

If and when I buy another headset, it'll either be a Clark ANR or PNR. I've tried out the Clarks and they just seem to fit my head the best.

-Goose

 

[185'er]

We've had Lightspeeds in the 185 for the past five years. They have performed well and Lightspeed upgraded some of the hardware for free within days (great customer service). Very comfortable, even with some 6.5 to 8.0 hour days. I'd buy them again.