I need a headset!

[airforceusaf]

I am in the market for a headset. The problem is i dont know a good brand from a bad one. So i thought i would take a poll on what are good headsets and why. Also if you could give the price and a place were i can purchase one that would be great.

P.S If you have a good headset that you dont use i may be interested.

Cheers!:beer:

 

[sstearns2]

I had an F/O that got a refurbished ANR headset from Lightspeed pretty cheap. Definetely get an active noise cancelling headset. People that have the Bose like them, but they are way $$$$$.

Scott

 

[PHX767]

The type of headset you will need is dependent on the plane you will be flying. Provide some more info and we can make a better reccomendation.

If you are a student, I would try an inexpensive David Clark, the H-10-30 (?). I've used mine for 10 years in piston, turboprop, and now again in a noisy bizjet. Try Marv Golden aviation supplies. If you like it, try the sheepskin head pad, and the gel filled ear muffs. Get a cheap bag from a discount store to carry it in.

 

[AirBadger]

If you're just starting your training, I cant see anything wrong with a pair of David Clarks.

 

[Morettis]

My first headset was an Avcom AC-900. I really liked that headset, lasted quite a few years & is still working. Then I bought a Lightspeed 3G-20 & it was a great headset, super quiet, but it gave me a headache after about an hour of wearing it. I exchanged it for a Pilot USA 1779. I've had it for a little over a year & probably around 1000 hrs of 135 flying every day & it does great. Still looks like new except for a few scratches on the top. I highly reccomend it if you want an ANR. it's got the batteries built into it.

Good luck, & be sure to buy from a place that allows you to exchange it if you don't like it! I got mine from Marv Golden in San Diego

 

[xshuttlefa]

Make sure you try on a couple of pairs before buying if you can. If you aren't against buying things online, try www.mypilotstore.com. I've made quite a few purchases with them and have always been satisfied with them. They tend to have very low prices too. Mostly every store allows you to return items, so if you buy one and don't like it, you can send it back. Of course, headsets are up to the individual, since not everyone has the same size head, hearing,etc.

I have a pair of cheap, non-ANR Lightspeeds that I love, except the boom mic won't stay in place. I bought them a few years ago, supposedly Lightspeed has better quality now. I have a pair of Pilot Avionics non-ANR that are OK and a pair of Softcom that were the first set I bought. Still work, not very comfortable though and rather "clunky"

I too am in the market for some ANR headset. I'll probably go with the Lightspeed 20 3G. I almost bought the Bose, but $1000 is just too much money for right now.

 

[Four Strings]

I never cared much for David Clark. To me it was like putting your head in a clamp and tightening it a quarter turn every hour. I used a Peltor for about 8 years in Cessna, Piper, Embraer 120, and 145. Good headset. Light weight and did not squeeze my skull. I just use the company Plantronic with my custom earmold in the B737.

 

[DrewBlows]

Your headset choice needs to be based on what equipment you are going to fly, how much you will fly, comfort, noise canceling ability, and how much you want to spend. If you plan on flying a lot (twice a week or more) or you can afford it then you probably want to invest in a good headset. If you only fly occasionally, you can save some money and still get a decent headset.

I can comment on the two headsets that I have used, though I suggest that you try several brands before you buy. Call the manufacturers and see if they will give you a loner or two to test.

At the top of the line is the Bose Aviaition Headset X. It is one of the lightest and most comfortable headsets made, and the price reflects it ($1,000). It is active noise canceling and runs on two AA bateries. They advertise that the batteries will last for 40 hours, my experience has shown that they last much longer (I keep the volume at the lowest level though). If you forget to turn it off it turns off automatically after a while (I've had it shut off on my head on several occasions, at the end of a long day when neither the Captain nor I had anything to say for a while). The sound is clear and music sounds great through them, though you will need some sort of adapter to use your ipod (I have the PS Engineering Muse, it works well). That's the one gripe I have with the headset, not built in adapter. Overall you can where it all day long with no discomfort. I have a small head, so no headset hurts me very much, but the Bose is the best I have used by far. I've used the Bose in small piston singles, twins, and two regional jets, and can say that it works well in all. I bought mine through Sporty's with my AOPA credit card and saved 5% immediately. Bose has a finance option as well.

The other headset I used on a regular basis was a David Clark H-10-13.4, which is David Clark's entry level headset. For the price it's a decent headset, though I think there are ANR headsets available from other manufacturers for about the same price and I would be inclined to buy an ANR if I had to buy my first headset again. Anyway, the David Clark does a reasonable job of passive noise attenuation, but it does it by forming a tight seal between the ear cups and your head. If you are going to be flying more than a few hours per day, you will be uncomfortable at the end of the day. Gel earseals and a sheep skin head-pad make this headset more comfortable. I paid $279 for this headset in 2000, I think new prices will be between $289 and $300 today.

Once you find a headset that you like, you might consider purchasing one on eBay. You can get a pretty good deal on one if you know what you are looking for. Personally, I would invest in new earseals and microphone cover on any headset I bought used, these are relatively cheap items though.

Good luck, let us know what you end up buying.

 

[g4800xp]

My employer give us Bose X, noise cancelling to use and they are the best. Light, quiet, in fact so quiet I seldom us the head set turned on, and they are now quite durable. They give great service, 3 years now without a problem but had growing pains the 2 before that.
You can not beat a Dave Clark for price and durability, built to last. I beat the tar out of my H10-60 for years and they look and work like new. my 2 cents.

 

[sleddriver71]

For the money, I think the David Clark H-10-13.4 is the best headset. I have the active noise cancellation version of that headset and I wish I would've just got the H-10-13.4.