headset time...advice?

[wingnutt]

I'm a big fan of my LightSpeed Twenty 3G's...AND they have an audio input on the battery box for cell phone or music.

...is this the only headset out with this option? what about you DC guys, any of theirs have such an input???

 

[bobbysamd]

Headsets

David Clark H10-30s (or 40 if you like the noise-canceling mike). Yeah, a lot of people feel that wearing DCs is like clamping your head in a vise. But not really. DCs are bulletproof.

A lot of places sell Brand X or generic DCs. Don't waste your money. Buy the real thing.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[bigD]

Problem is - everyone's head is a bit different. One person will tell you that their headset is the most comfortable out there, and the next guy will call it a vise grip. My ANR DC's have been great for me, and I've done a 7 hour leg with them on without any comfort problems at all. But my buddy can't wear my headset for a half hour before saying that he has a headache.

So...what I'd suggest is find a pilot shop near you with a good selection, and ask to borrow a headset to try it out for a couple of days. The pilot shop here allowed me to use my DC's for a week before buying them. Or just make sure the place you buy from has a good return policy.

 

[dmspilot00]

bigD is right, try to try on the ones you're considering before buying them.

I have a pair that clamp my head quite a bit, but when I tried on a friend's DC 13.4s they were so light they seemed like they were going to keep falling off.

Also, once you get "used" to a certain headset, it will seem different than when you first tried it on.

 

[Sniper Bob]

I used to have a pair of the Telex Echelon 150 ANR. The DC 10-60 w/gel ear seals I have now seem to be just as quiet. Although the Telex seemed to cancel out a low hum that the DCs don't. The Telex seemed to do good for about 20-25 hours on a 9-volt, then started to go down hill. With the battery dead, it didn't seem to passively cancel any noise.

On a side note, I got to fly a 310 that has the Bose with the S-Video-looking connection(no battery required)--Holly Geez!! it was quiet! I think it was quieter with the ANR on and engines running than with no ANR and engines off.


(edited for bad spelling)

 

[bugchaser]

In my opinion, the Bose headsets work great and are light, but just don't hold up. They seem to come apart and are made pretty cheap. I really like the DC ANR's. A little heavier, but they work great and are just about indestructable. For the money, the lightspeed sets are pretty good. As mentioned above, the Headsets Inc. kit works very well. I have one of these setups in my helmet and it makes a big difference in my ag airplane. Before the ANR, I used to have to wear earplugs in addition to a headset or helmet. Now I can enjoy the music from my cd player. To get music into your headset, try a product called the Muse. Think it can be found at Marv Golden. It has a soft mute to allow radio transmissions to get through. Works great. Have that and a Cellset in my airplane. Can talk on the radio, phone and listen to radio/cd's.

 

[pilotshan]

I have a pair of DC 13.4s that have served me well for 4 years, but finally gave in when I started multiengine instruction and bought the Telex Stratus. I really enjoyed the David Clarks, but the Stratus has been amazing. It's unreal how much better you feel after 8 hours of dual given with an ANR headset. It greatly cuts down on fatigue. I got mine off the Marv Golden website and joined NAFI to get the $125 rebate and can honestly say it was worth every penny.

 

[EMcx2]

I feel qualified to toss in on this topic since I spend 5 hours a day in a plane and sell headsets on a daily basis.

BigD is correct, the most important factor is how they feel on your head.

That said, in that price range, I strongly recommend the Lightspeed 15XL or the Echelon ANR. You can get either for about $300. The David Clamps... I mean David Clarks don't even come close in noise reduction or comfort.

 

[Chunk]

BOSE BLOWS!

Every product line Bose makes; headsets, speakers, radios, etc. is nothing more than overpriced marketing hype. Their speakers have a 4kHz hole in the midrange. That's why they sound so "clear" as you're apt to hear soccer moms who've never listened to any serious speaker say while whipping out the Visa in order to keep up with the Jones. The harderst thing for a speaker to do is to drive the midrange without sounding muddled. Bose just decided to say, "screw it" and not worry about the mid-range. But hey, don't take my word for it. Look at their spec sheets (if you can get one). You simply CAN NOT get full fidelity from a 3" paper driver and a "Bass Module" <---their words since it's not truly a sub.

Friends don't let friends buy Bose speakers. Buy Klipsch. The only good thing to ever come out of Hope, Arkansas.

As far as headsets, go with the DC H10-13XL with the new battery box and undercut earseals. You'll never regret it!

Chunk <----Proud owner: KLF-20's, C-7, KSW-12, SS-1's

 

[Mickey]

I couldn't agree with you more. I sold stereo equipment for six years and none of the people who worked there would buy the BOSE. They would sell them to the people who wanted them because they were highly profitable. I would get a free set of AM-5s every year as did most of the other sales people. We would all sell them on the open market and use the money to buy some good speakers. I have a set of the ARs for my satellite system.

B.O.S.E. = Box Only, Sound Extra

Back to headsets. They are a lot like eye glasses. You really need to adjust them for your head to get them comfortable. Good luck.

 

[TheAmazingRando]

go check out anrheadsets.com. Lightspeed has anr headsets (reconditioned) going for $300-$350. Dirt cheap price for a superb headset. Not to sound like an advertisment but, dang, they make a good headset.

 

[jetdriven]

In my opinion, the Bose headsets work great and are light, but just don't hold up. They seem to come apart and are made pretty cheap.

bugchaser, have you everowned a set of BOSE headsets?

I thought the same thing at first, but after 1200+ hours in the last 15 months and 8 legs a day in the 1900 the only thing I have had to do is change batteries. PLus they look just as new as when I bought them.

A lot of people bash the bose bewcasue theyre so expensive. Real truth is a lot of people havent used a set, therefore they have to bash them. There is no other headset produced which has the same noise reduction rating with only 11 ounces. lightspeed 25XLs come close, but therer is no equal.

 

[Chunk]

I have used the Bose X headset. One distinct downside is the lack of passive attenuation. Batteries go dead? Tough.

As far as the money, I have spent enough on HT that I don't have to envy anyone's pricetag.

Chunk

 

[ProLine4]

Lightspeed

go check out anrheadsets.com. Lightspeed has anr headsets (reconditioned) going for $300-$350. Dirt cheap price for a superb headset. Not to sound like an advertisment but, dang, they make a good headset.

I agree, not to sound like a commercial, but Lightspeeds are great headsets. I've had my 20XLs for 3 years now and the ANR is incredible. The new generation Lightspeeds and the 20XL2's have the aux audio input for cell phones. I swapped 2 days ago with my friend for his DC 13.4s on a 2 hr flight and wanted to shoot myself. It hurt my ears and felt like my head was in a vise. He loved the LS and said I could keep the 13.4s. I'll never buy Greendomes or go non-ANR. The only drawback to the LS is that you look like a dork wearing them.
I've tried on the Bose in the store and thought they were just as good as my LS. Of course, a 5 minute lobby try-on is not the same as 8.0 in the plane, but it's still something I might invest in sometime down the road.

 

[generaltso]

I use the ANR David Clarks 13.4 for one job, and the Bose headset for the other job.

Bose is nice for long trips because it is very light, and has very good noise reduction. Also, music sounds great on the bose. The only downside I see is yes it is not built as solid as the DC's (although we have had no problems with it breaking), but also the mic won't hold position. I find myself having to move it closer to my mouth each time I talk.

I use the DC while flight instructing and it is amazing. It gets it's ass beat day in and day out but it keeps coming back for more. It is comfortable for bits a time (after about 3 hours nonstop use I find it gets uncomfortable, unlike the bose), and the ANR is decent. But I mainly bought it because I know of the build quality and customer service at DC.

 

[JediNein]

ANR Headset

I've put three batteries into my Bose X (~120 hours inflight time). I've gone half an hour on three flights before realizing I forgot to turn on the noise cancellation as the headset is quieter than my old DCs.

I bought them because they were best for me. I got to try the various other headsets (ANR DCs, Denalis, Lightspeed, Sennheiser) as students bought their planes with those other sets installed. It was a toss-up between the Sennheiser and Bose until I closely examined the Sennheiser and took em on a flight test. 1. That little wire holding on the earcups wouldn't last in my flight bag. 2. They are heavier than the Bose.

For customer service, Bose installed the microphone assembly into the right side BEFORE shipping my headset, only because I asked. If I had a problem with this set, I know I can call, email, or talk to their reps at a tradeshow (talk, not scream), and my problem will be solved. Like any company, I'm sure Bose has bad eggs working for them. The solution is to end the call and call back. So far (2 months), the headset had held up well with zero problems.

Next report at 1000 hours head time.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[bigD]

I've gone half an hour on three flights before realizing I forgot to turn on the noise cancellation as the headset is quieter than my old DCs.

Has Bose changed their headset at all lately? The pair that I tried didn't have any passive attenuation at all, and if you turn off the ANR - it's pretty much like not wearing any headset at all.

 

[Chunk]

None of the Bose have any passive ability, they don't even pretend to market that they do.

Chunk

 

[Mickey]

How do the bose hold up? Yesterday I went flying with a friend and he had to use his old AvComm because the Bose X he got for Christmas had a dead mic. Two other friends who collectively have six sets of the Bose Xs currently have two not working. They have already had to send sets in three or four times. They're finally tired of sending them in. What a pain! A couple of months a go in Professional Pilot magazine, some pilot was saying how much he liked the Bose and then followed it up with the remark that he had to send them in three or four times for repairs. Do people realize that if a headset is GOOD, you shouldn't have to send them in all the time.
Take care.

 

[Galaxy]

I used DC's till I got into a jet then I went with the telex 750's. I had the opportunity to use a pair of Sennhauser 45's and loved them so I much I bought a pair. They work great and the ANR works great and I use rechargable batteries to keep it going. Batteries usually last about 15-18 hrs of "On" time. As for the music I am not sure what kind of plane you are in but I use a connector found off the Sim Com portable intercomm site. It is a patch cable that takes me from my MP3 player to the O2 mic. When I want music I turn the mic switch over and if the FO wants to hear (Provided they like Jimmy Buffett)I turn on the intercomm switch so they can hear. The only downside is I can't transmitt without switching back to my mic so I let the FO handle the radios or I just get some good switching time in. I have seen a box that sold for about $150 that allowed you plug your headset into it then it pluged into the mic jack and you coud plug a double 1/4 inch male from the music device to the box. It would also turn the volume down when someone talked on the radio. A little high just to hear some tunes--Good luck!