Author Topic: What's a good aviation headset to buy? (Read 735 times)

Sancho · « **on:** August 12, 2001, 02:04:00 AM »

I need some help from the real life pilots here. Is electronic noise cancellation worth the extra price for say flying a Cessna 172 would it be overkill? Any particular brands that you recommend? Thanks.

Creamo · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2001, 04:36:00 AM »

David Clark headsets are without a doubt what most, if not all commuter (turboprop) pilots use.

Replaced, repaired, and used them exclusive.

That's all ya need if you want a Pro brand.

However, in a 172 cockpit, use yer wallet to decide. How much intercom, and ATC stuff you having to filter out of the engine noise? Not much. A brand they sell at a FBO is pry way sufficient.

David Clark is the good stuff if that's what you wanted to know. Noise cancelation? NAw, the first class cabin 777 BOSE set I used was amazing , but not what you need for flight.

[ 08-12-2001: Message edited by: Creamo ]

Duckwing6 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2001, 08:07:00 AM »

in the Skyvan we use Bose active noise cancellation otherwise 9hours of flying a day would leave you deaf in short order....

Depending on how much time you plan to spend in the plane Sancho i'd definitely go for Active headsets (your a CFI right ?).

Privately i own a set of Peltor 4000s excellent Headsets albeit not active, what i prefere over the D&Cs is that they are not so tight... D&Cs are also commonly refered to as headclamps

(-> they ARE outstanding quality headsets tho).
i'd also consider buying a pad for the head too if you go for a D&C because the have the nasty habit of forming a "hotspot" right on the center of your head.

Cheers
Phil

Toad · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2001, 09:12:00 AM »

ANC is really nice. If you have the bucks and you fly a lot it's probably worth it.

The company gives us a deal on both the Sennheiser and the Bose. Most guys like the Sennehiser.

I don't have either one... my hearing is already shot... but it doesn't have to happen to you!

AKHog · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2001, 11:00:00 AM »

I have lightspeed's ANR headset. Forgot the number, I'll go look later. I think lightspeed is the most comfertable headset for flying with glasses on. Its fairly light and has big memory foam ear pieces, so once it takes the shape of your glasses it stays like that for the flight, rather then trying to push them into your head.
Dave Clarks also make VERY nice anr headsets, but they cost a lot more too. If you get Clarks go for the model they market as there light weight version with ANR, my instructor has em and they are great.
Try to borrow a set with anr and turn it on/off in the pattern. I think you'll quickly decide if its worth one time investment of a few hundred more dollars.

Ozark · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2001, 12:37:00 PM »

We use the David Clark headsets in the airport crash trucks. One set was installed in 1985 and still working well.
Used cheaper headset in the 2nd crash truck and it didn't last 3 years.

Pyro · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2001, 10:23:00 PM »

Creamo, do you know if the David Clark H-10-76(the low impedance military model) can be converted to civilian use? Do you just need an impedance adapter or is it much more involved or not practical?

Jigster · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2001, 02:56:00 AM »

I like yelling at the person sitting next to me.

Besides, if you get a headset you probably won't be using the hand mic anymore. And what fun is that? My favorite pastime was to randomly pick a non-vital channel with one or two people gabbing away, tape the mic button down, and drop it out the cabin window a few seconds...

Duckwing6 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2001, 05:01:00 AM »

no no jigster you look a lot smarter if you wear ultra expensive headsets, turn the loudspeakers to full loud AND use your handset and when someone asks you why you don't use the intercom you answer "cause i don't wanna wear out the plugs"

Animal · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2001, 07:22:00 AM »

Pyro,
I know someone who converted military headset to civilian use. I THINK they cant be used from the factory. Dont take my word for it though.

Sancho,
If you want inexpensive, confortable and good, I recomend what I use

Red Baron (mono)

They work great, and are inexpensive.
But I havent tried the David Clarks, and most people at my school use them and swear by them, so I guess you should buy that. But if you wanna save a few bucks, the Red Barons are excellent. You wont need anything elese for flying Cessna 172 or other small planes.

http://www.softcommheadsets.com/aviation-products/html/Spec_Sheets/c-40-10&20.htm

Creamo · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2001, 09:14:00 AM »

Nope, I do not know. But the manf. manual or avionics / military guys at work may know. I'll ask tonight.

Bluefish · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2001, 12:02:00 PM »

I fly an open cockpit biplane with a VERY loud 540, and have used both a David Clark ANR and an old David Clark with the Headsets Inc. ANR module added (and earplugs too, hehe). The Clark is a bit better for filtering out high frequency noise like wind (it has more foam insulation), but for low freq noise the Headsets Inc. ANR works just as well and is cheaper. Headsets Inc. also makes a complete headset which they claim is basically a Clark "clone"; never tried it though.

FWIW, for flying relatively short hours in a 172 I don't think you really need ANR.

Maverick · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2001, 12:04:00 AM »

Sancho,

Depending on your wallet and what you want it comes down to 2 things. Either passive noise cancelation or ANR. Passive is pretty much all the same. They all claim to filter out about the same number of decibles. Look for the most comfortable one to wear that is in your price bracket. Marv Golden has some good ones fairly inexpensive to boot. I alos have used Flight Com the DLX4 (stereo) and have had them since 93. I have had the cord repaired once by the factory, it was done quickly and inexpensively.

For ANR I have used the Light Speed and think quite a bit of them. They were VERY comfortable on a cross country due to the "overstuffed" earpieces and the soft pad on the top. They were much more effective than I expected them to be for wind and engine noise. The stereo came through nicely from my tape player on them. In a light aircraft I think you can't go wrong with ANR. It does save your hearing. I wish I had taken better care of mine now that I have a 40% loss.

Check them out and buy the best you can afford. If you can't get the one you want get one you can afford and save up. Hell, even passive sets will save your ears while you are saving for ANR.

Mav

Creamo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2001, 05:11:00 AM »

Advice at work is you need a adaptor Pyro. I looked at them online and they run about $70. Seems a bit high to me, but practical if you need your set to be usable for GA, and they are usless to you otherwise. I'll bet someone makes adaptors much cheaper, just not that I know of.

Daff · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2001, 07:33:00 AM »

I got both a Avcomm-900 and a David Clarke 10-30 and while I quite like the Avcomm, it does give me a few problems with some intercomms. The David Clarke one, is great though.
Also, if you ever plan to do aerobatics, get one with a wire-boom, instead of the flex ones, as they tend to flex when pulling G's.

Daff