Headset for Turboprop??

[Buss_Driver]

Think Outside the Box

This discussion always seems to get narrowed too quickly. Don't jump on the DC/LS bandwagons too quickly and don't forget to consider your personal comfort and the cost of operation.

After an exhaustive search, I went outside the box and got a set of Pilot 17-79 (Independence Series) and, for almost 2 years now, have never been happier. They are rechargable (30-40 hours), self-contained (battery in the ear cup - no box to stow), as comfortable as the Bose and have excellent passive qualities (especially with the gel seals) for those rare occasions when you forget to recharge them. The downside is that, if you do forget to recharge, you can't just pick up batteries at the airport convenience store. The major upside is that you NEVER have to buy batteries at the airport convenience store - one time cost when you buy the headset! The battery life is supposed to be about 1000 recharges and, despite the quality of construction, I imagine the plastic parts will wear out before you've gone through 2 batteries (I think they replace the battery once for free).

I traded headsets with a rich student for a day. We both agreed that the Pilot was just as comfortable (when you realize that you don't have to make it clamp-tight) as his Bose and had the same (if not better) noise reduction (especially the passive). He also reported that the Bose batteries lasted barely 20 hours.

A friend recommended an ear-plug headset by Quiet Technologies (quiettechnologies.com) which I am tempted to try just because it will fit in my flight kit and probably wouldn't have to be removed just to put on the oxygen mask.

Anyway, remember to try before you buy (even if you have to beg and borrow) or, at the very least, make liberal use of the money-back guarantees until you find the headset that is just right for you.

Good luck.

 

[Lopaka]

Bose, Bose, & Bose

I broke down and got the Bose X and use them in a King Air 200. They are awesome, really comfortable, compact, and you hardly know the engines are running......... until the 9V goes out, and then the engines may as well be inside your head scrambling your brains, so always keep an extra 9V. I'd say one lasts a good 20-25 hrs. Also sometimes you get the radar zapping sound in your ear which is annoying and sounds like a misquito stuck in you headset. I've tried the Lightspeed and like those too, except for how bulky they are. The old Bose you can get for cheaper and those are still top of the line too.

 

[I.P. Freley]

The only person I know who tried the Bose had horrible luck with them. He had the 2nd-gen model and returned it for repair three times in one year before giving up on them entirely and going back to the DC's.

I know not everyone has had this experience, but it's the only one I am personally aware of, so...

 

[IFLYASA]

I have flown with Lightspeed and Bose. If you have the extra money. I suggest the Bose hands down. They give you a free 30 day trial period. Problem is, you won't return them..

 

[Jungle Prop]

I've always had David Clarks, their combination of price, quality and customer service is unbelievable. i would have liked the Bose headsets but the price was a little steep when your instructing. Also something to consider is the Bose don't seem to be very durable because they are so light. I've had my DC's for 5 years and through instructing and tossing them in and out of flight bags at a regional they never wore out. Very durable. Plus the battery life is far superior from what I've heard my Fo's say. Bottom line is everyone has their own opinion and it comes down to personal preferrance.

 

[blott]

I"ve tried a bunch of different ones 'cause I didn't want to spend the money on the Bose. The Sein's were nice, but hurt, like the D/C's, after 2 hours... spend the money on the Bose. interest free payment of under $100 month thru the bose web site. plus you won't believe how music sounds in the Bose....they are true "full range" and rock!

you wanabee's with the telex's kill me...you don't look cool...take out the earplugs...lol. If you want to be cool, get the Panther C.A.T's.

spend the money you cheap bastards, you'll wear them all day, for half a month, (3/4 month at mesa..lol), for many years to come...plus you can write them off.

Bose is all about quality. you can run a knife across the gel earseals and they won't cut-I actually tried it with a spare set of gels. they are super light-you don't understand 'till you try them. I have been using mine for 1.5 yrs now-no problems-I'm not easy on them either. buy two Ni-Mh batteries, and a charger and be done with it-two will last a 5 day trip no problem.

B

 

[IFLYASA]

Actually the ear cups on the Bose X are not gel, they are leather...

 

[Rick1128]

Telex

After using DCs for oh so many years, I finally broke down and got a pair of Telex ANR many years ago when I was flying a Metro. After using them for awhile, I noticed that I didn't seem as tired at the end of the day. I also noticed I could hear passengers talking in the back. Telex support has been fantastic, when I have had to use it. Uses common AA batteries. Comfortable. Wouldn't trade it. Tried a Boze and couldn't see much difference in noise level.

 

[ProLine4]

Bose, DO NOT buy Lightspeed

I agree with everything that has been said so far about LS and Bose. I had a pair of 20XLs and they broke FOUR times....3 for ANR earcup circuitry, and once because the headband literally shattered as I was putting it on one cold morning. I was picking up cheap plastic off the floor for 10 minutes. The comments about not suitable for heavy use is exactly correct, they're just not made to withstand being used on a daily basis in 121/135/CFI use. Also at my home airport pilot shop, I spoke with the mgr earlier and he said that he has had four LS Thirty3G returns within the month of August due to faulty ANR. Almost everyone claimed of a horrible squealing and or prop sidetone that sounded like when your props are not synched.

Each time in my case the people in Customer Service were very quick and courteous, but I really got tired of them breaking nearly every three months. After the last repair I sold them on Ebay as is and got nearly full value ($350, normally retails around $400).

I then purchased the Bose and will not look back. They're worth the cash, and with zero interest and $84 a month even I can afford that. Yes, it does suck when the battery conks out in the middle of a flight, but you either carry a spare or just turn up the intercom. Bose just came out with the X Advanced that has new 40-hr AA batt power instead of the current 9V (I can get 20-25 hrs out of a 9V) and a much smaller control box. I think there's a few other improvements too, but I can't remember them. For those of us that have the current 9V setup and want the AA retrofit, I called Bose and they said it would be around $120 as soon as the parts are in. I think I may get it because I can then quit buying a 9V every 1-2 weeks at a cost of $4-5 per battery.

Hope this helps.

 

[Q200_FO]

My Clarks...

I still have the first headset I've ever owned, a DC H10-30 cost me $250 (this was when they pretty much first came out) about 7 years ago. That headset has been through shoving in and out of flight bags every other day, dropping them out of the airplane onto solid concrete, dropping the in a puddle of water, and having the gel filled ear seals fall off a couple of times. (The gel still hasn't leaked either!) I've looked at the bose, but I really don't want to have to carry extra batteries with me and have to make extra trips to the store on my way to work 'cause I forgot to get one the night before. I just grab a pair of the same earplugs the rampers use before I get on the dash and use them with the headset. No problems with them ever. Very durable.

 

[jetdriven]

I bought a BOSE headset X in April 2002. I have worn it for about 1300 hours in the 1900 and it tames the noise. I borrowed a friend's QFR headset and although the noise factor was about the same the comfort was terrible! 2 captains I flew with also bought them in april and have not had a writeup yet.

Bose may not look durable but at least 4 or 5 times they have been dropped from the glareshield of a 1900 to the deck, and that's he!! on anything. I have also hung the cord on my foot getting in the seat and caused them to fall. I have not had ONE isssue with the headset.

I ordered the new AA battery pack, 40 hours on 2 AA and auto shutoff. Plus a redesigned microphone.

There is no comparison to these headsets. If you want to shop price, buy cheap shampoo. It's your hearing and if you're wearing something 1000 hours per year make it the best.

 

[Stick Man]

best headset ever

You definately want to check out www.quiettechnologies.com. For less than $375.00 you can have headsets that never cause headset hair, weigh less than half an ounce, and attenuate more noise than every commercially available headset on the street (in the air) today. They take up minimal space in your flight bag/case and look professional unlike the ear enclosing type of headsets (D.C.'s and L.S.'s). For the record - i still own a pair of DC's and whenever I take my friends and family flying - I knock the dust off and bring them out of the bag. Otherwise - its the auricomms from Quiet Technologies. QT offers great support and they are a great help on the phone. Good Luck!

 

[Blah Blah Blah]

I use the DC H20-10 XL. The best headset I've ever used. I used to have the non ANR model, but it didn't quite cut it when I started flying an EMB 120. It's a bit pricey, but I like it better than the bose. I used a captains headset for a bit that was a bose, and I was surprised. I think that my DC's have better noise reduction than his, but pretty comparable. I did the same thing with some lightspeeds, and I couldn't believe how loud they were compared to mine.

Later,

Blah

 

[HatWearer]

FYI:

I called Bose today about the Aviation X headset and they said about two weeks ago they took away the payment option. You must now apply for a Bose credit card in order to use a payment plan or just pay for it outright. I guess that "subject to change without notice" in 4 point font at the bottom of their recent ads is there for a reason...

 

[jetdriven]

the bose CC has one year no payments and no interest.