headset time...advice?

[Wang Chung]

Sennheiser!

I have a pair of light passive Sennheiser HMEC 300's and I love them. They're cheap ($230 I think, and I got a $50 factory rebate on top of that). They won't let you plug in a cd player or anything.

A must-have are Oregon Aero earseals. I'll NEVER buy another headset without adding these things - love 'em.

I've used the Sennheisers on 7-hour flight days (including one trip that was 7 hours straight nonstop) and they've kept me confortable and headache-free.

I could never deal with Clarks. They've always seemed too heavy and uncomfortable for my sensitive little skull for some reason.

Wang.

 

[wxman13]

I'm a big fan of my LightSpeed Twenty 3G's. I got them for around $470 from Marv Golden, and I've been really happy with them. Yeah, they are pretty big and goofy-looking like LightSpeeds tend to be, but they are super comfortable AND they have an audio input on the battery box for cell phone or music. The whole thought of using a cell phone while actually flying a plane is a little scary sounding to me (just look at all those drivers out there...), but music is a plus. The LightSpeeds have built-in circuitry to mute the music when you receive a radio transmission. LightSpeeds are definitely worth the price. I know some people have had problems with them breaking, but mine have been fine so far, and from what I hear their customer service is also excellent.

Peter

 

[Skaz]

over in darkest africa our range is a little more limited than what you guys canget in the states...Avcom is a cheapie, and your ears and head feels it after an hour or so...not good noise reduction and the thing feels like a benchvise

Ive had my DC13.4 since I started flying in 97, not one problem, slammed the cord in a BN2's door, luckily it has a type of wirewound armour and the cord dint get damaged, after 4 years of bushflying they were still going strong, untill they got stolen.
Now got DC13X...very very comfortable, new deep earcups, good passive NR, and when you sitch the ENR on.....for a moment I panicked and couldnt understand what happened with the engine noise....BUT, if they get a little knock, like taping it against the window while turning your head or somebody taps you on the ear, they make an annoying 'whining electronic thud', and that gets a little irritating. but all in all, very comfortable, very good enr

one thing I found out, the enr in a C208 only works while transmitting, so if you leave it on, the enr kicks in every time you press the ptt (with the electronic noise accompanyment)

in c402 with hotmike it works fine

 

[Mickey]

I miss the ole twin Beech. I had a pair of AvComms I added ANR modules to and that solved my problem. The AvComm has over 4000hrs on it and still works great. The ANR modules are from Headsets Inc. and cost about $170 to add to your headset. You get new cords and new speakers with it. The other option is they offer a complete ANR headset for $399 and it is very nice. It has the Oregon Aero soft top and a flex boom Mic. I've tried them and was very impressed. A friend has them and loves them. I can't justify buying a set because mine are still working fine. Where are you based? You could try mine if you'ld like.
As I've said many times on this board, stay away from the BOSE. I've had too many friends have problems with them and they just aren't worth $1000. Most people who paid $1000 for them are reluctant to admit it, even after they send them in for repairs the second or third time. Take care.

PS It's a lot easier to enjoy this career if you keep your financial debt to a minimum or better yet, zero.

 

[gubernator]

Denali

Don't confuse light with cheap on the Denalis. I have a blue ANR set. They felt cheap to me too at first, especially compared to my DC 13.4s, but after owning them for a couple of years I can say that they are well made. The Denalis aren't actually mine. I bought them for my wife to wear, but when she's not flying with me I usually take the Denalis and leave the DCs at home.

I've only had one problem with the Denali. If I remember right, the headset is directional, which means it can only be worn with the mic boom on the left side of your face. I tried to wear it the other way around, and stripped the piece that holds the mic boom in the process. I sent it back to the factory and it was repaired, no cost or questions asked.

 

[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.