What headsets do you use when flying???

[Pumbaa]

I'd like to hear from others as to what headsets they use.  What they like and what they dislike.  If you could include the purchase price that would be great.

I flew over 50 hours this summer on CD missions alone.  Add in another 15 hours for training and SAR missions.  I had a good year.  Next season I plan on doing 100 hours CD.  So I wanted to get a new set of headsets for comfort and better noise reduction.

I currently use the Peltor Nordica's  I got them for about $110.  I can jack in my cell phone and my satellite radio(iPods too) into them.  Sound quality is OK, a little hollow sounding, noise deadening is Okay as well, NRR 23 dB.  Comfort 9.8 ounces... is fair to middling, I will be adding a sheepskin panel to the top band.  Built very rugged.. I have owned regular Peltor ear protectors for shooting, etc... so these are built just like them.



I want to keep these as a back-up once I get my new ones.

Today (11/28) I got a great deal on active noise canceling headset.  Brand new from ProTravel gear... for under $100 due to a 40% discount they were offering. And I believe they priced them wrong as they were listed on the main page for $499...  After I spoke to the owner they raised the price on the website!  Looks like I did a great deal!

20Hz – 600Hz Attenuation Capability: 18 – 21dB on the active.  Passive is supposed to be 36-42 dB.  In other words pretty quiet!!!  Will let you know how they feel etc. when I get them..

[Eclipse]

Old Dave Clark's which are spares in the airplane.

I keep meaning to get my own, but as an active GIB, I still don't really fly enough to justify the expense when there's a good pair waiting for me.

[Trung Si Ma]

Bose for me, my old DC 13.4's for the passenger.  I'll probable add a second Bose this next year

[O-Rex]

My trusty veteran Mil David Clark H10-76 with GA Adapter. It's been been updated and tricked-out with undercut gel earseals, the split headpad (they installed them when I sent it back to DC for overhaul-their cust service it great!) and modified with an aftermarket ANR kit from anrheadsets.com, and all mil-spec hardware to include mike boom and all-metal metal mount (standard DC rigid boom does not have a fully articulating ball-and-socket swivel) and a lip-light (there's nothing like having a friend who works in an Army or AF life support shop: a case of beer goes a long way!) 

I thought about getting a Bose X or DC X-11, but I'm really attached to my old one: it's reliable, comfy, sweet and has sentimental value. 

[Climbnsink]

An old pair of DC 10-86's with plug adapter or an even older pair of telex E-952's kinda sputnik-esque but they still work, are light and were a gift from my Dad in 1985.   I have no problem using whatever is in the plane and sometimes don't bother switching out CAP's DCs.

[Pylon]

Sigtronics S40


They do a decent enough job for a non-pilot type.

[Pumbaa]

I guess I am a Felix Unger... I could never use someone else's headphones.  Just the thought that their mouth was on the mic... and sweat on the ear and head pieces...

[Short Field]

Lightspeed 20 3G ANRs.  Great headset but I am upgrading to the Lightspeed Zulu headset for Christmas.  

[dbarbee]

I have the Lightspeed Zulu ($850)

ANR, VERY comfortable, bluetooth and cable interfaces for cell phone & MP3 player.

[MSgt Van]

Bose

[O-Rex]

I guess I am a Felix Unger... I could never use someone else's headphones.  Just the thought that their mouth was on the mic... and sweat on the ear and head pieces...

I'm kinda picky too, on the very few occasions I lend my headset out, I have cloth earseal covers (I always have a spare) and alcohol wipes for the mic.

[bosshawk]

Have flown with the Bose for the past two years: wouldn't go into an airplane without it.  Had a Lightspeed 25(?) before that: no comparison, Bose is on a level by itself.  Had Peltors for about 15 years and they were(are)better than the Lightspeed.  I have all four in my airplane: palm the other three off to pax.

[SilverEagle2]

Bose, hands down. 

[KyCAP]

Had a pair of David Clark's that were non-ENR and now own Bose.   Never worn another set of ENR headphones.   So, I don't know if it is "Bose" or just "ENR", but that's the way to go (keep spare batteries or change regularly).

[Pumbaa]

Seems Bose is the popular one.

So I guess indirectly you are saying they are worth the $1000 price?  Compared to the ones that are around $500 is there that much of a difference?

Also, those of you using the Bose are you pilots or just aircrew?  I think that would also make a difference considering that you are in the cockpit a lot more that typical aircrew.

[isuhawkeye]

In short YES.

as a pilot who had been out of the seat for a few years I was looking to replace my old headset.  My father in law has two bose headsets.  They are the best headset I have ever warn.  Unfortunately the price tag is a little steep for my budget.  I ended up getting the DC 10-13.4 which has been a great headset for me. 

[dbarbee]

I've used both Bose and Lightspeed Zulu on long trips. I found them to be very comparable in comfort, sound quality, and noise reduction. The only thing that tipped me toward the Zulu's is the bluetooth interface and the slightly lower price.

[airdale]

http://www.clarityaloft.com/

They are competitive with ANR sets at lower frequencies and much better across the spectrum.    This is important because the frequencies associated with speech recognition are out of the band where ANR is effective.   They are so lightweight you don't even know you're wearing them.  The audio quality is simply stunning.  ATC is much easier to understand.  "30 day Money-back warranty. If you are not satisfied with your headset for any reason, return it in good condition for a full refund of your purchase price."

[Pumbaa]

Interesting... the Clarity's look a lot like my Solitude earphones (Listening to my satellite radio only) I use while flying commercial passenger or mowing the yard .  They have 36dB noise reduction.  Soft cell ear piece that pushes into the ear.  Sound quality is excellent and they are inexpensive technology.  Replace the ear piece when it gets grungy.

I am surprised at the price of the Clarity's though.  $500- $700 for a non ANR headset.  I could build a set of those for under $100.

[airdale]

my Solitude earphones ...I use while flying commercial passenger ... have 36dB noise reduction.

Yes.  I have these:  http://www.complyintheear.com/noise-reduction-earphones/nr-10-noise-reduction-earphones/  I think some of the attenuation numbers are liar's poker but the attenuation on mine is so good that I don't hear the cabin announcements.  Which was not the case when I used hard-plastic custom molded earplugs.

I am surprised at the price of the Clarity's though.  $500- $700 for a non ANR headset.  I could build a set of those for under $100.

It looks that way, doesn't it?  I know a little more about the headset than is published.  The "speakers" were developed by a hearing aid company and one of their major applications is army helicopter pilot headsets.  The noise canceling mic is the same one used in high-end/high fidelity stage mics for entertainers.  Those components are the key to the high quality sound and they for sure can't be bought for under $100.

All that said, here is an interesting post: http://www.cozy1200.com/geeklog/article.php?story=20070427102533266 

[Mustang]

David Clark H10-13XLs (ANR) here, with an Oregon Aero sheepskin headpad--indispensible for those of us who are "follicly-challenged". I fly for a living now, so ANR is a sanity saver as well as a fatigue fighter. I've flight-tested these against the Bose X and find the DC's ANR every bit as good. The main difference for most is comfort, for which the Bose generally wins, but I have the right sized melon for the DCs and don't find them uncomfortable at all.

Where the DCs win out is in durability and build quality. They are built like a tank, and after over 900 hours on them, the only problem I've had was a section of the cord between the battery box and the plugs go flaky earlier this year, and DC replaced the cord free of charge despite the heatset being 2 years out of warranty.

The DCs' lack of an auxiliary audio input is about the only shortcoming where I'm concerned, as being able to listen to music would make the long stretches of boredom pass more quickly. I've tried the simple audio adapters but the impedance mismatch requires an amplified audio source to be effective. Thus, my options are to pick up something like PS Enginnering's "The Muse", or switch to the DC X11 or Lightspeed Zulu.

Where CAP is concerned, however, I don't think I could justify the expense of a personal headset were I not a pilot; CAP is expensive enough as it is. I'd just buy a box of alcohol prep padsn keep a few packets in my flight gear, and clean the ones in the airplane before use.

[Al Sayre]

Sennheiser HME 110.  Got lucky at a going out of business sale and picked them up for $100.  Love 'em.  Good noise reduction, light weight and comfortable.  The David Clark's always give me a headache after a couple hours.  I've also got a couple of Warren Gregoire's that I use as loaners for Cadet O'rides, and other passengers that don't have their own.  They are a pretty good deal for ~ $70.00 a set.

[stratoflyer]

Avcom. Only advice I can offer is get gel inserts for the ears...otherwise after a few hours it starts to hurt.

[O-Rex]

Thus, my options are to pick up something like PS Enginnering's "The Muse", or switch to the DC X11 or Lightspeed Zulu.

Does anyone out there have a "Muse?"  If so, how's it working for you?

I saw one at my local FBO and was enticed, but with a sticker price of 2 benjies, it's not what I would call an impulse-buy.

[caprr275]

I currently use Flightcom 5DX
http://www.flightcom.net/headsets/5dx-headset.php

i am looking into getting something new but i think i will just wait untill im at a regional next year

[rightstuffpilot]

I wear the David Clark H20-10.  It is a "newer" model that is all composite.  By new, I mean I've had it for 5 years.  Sporty's want's $327.  I like it EXCEPT, it falls off my head all the time(particularly during head down moments like IFR short final).  I have it on the smallest notch.  DC does not make a pad to make it smaller because they told me they have 95% men purchasing the headset, making it not economical to cater to the 5% of women--not really the best answer.  I'd like to look into getting a Lightspeed Zulu some day when (if)I have money.

[Pumbaa]

I just received my AV-X's and it seems I will have the same problem as Heidi.  I have it on the smallest setting and it is just a few mm's too large.  I am going to add the sheepskin topper I am going to make and perhaps double it up to give me a bit more on top.

[es_g0d]

I have a set of Bose X, and an old Dave Clark H10-60 that I've had since I was a student pilot.  When it came time to buy another headset, I bought a Dave Clark 13.4.  Its tough as rocks, has a great warranty, won't run out of batteries, has great passive attenuation...  Its not as fancy as my Bose X, but I can throw it out the window into the float pond and after it dries out it will still work.
Good luck and good hunting,
-Scott
www.CAP-ES.net

[isuhawkeye]

David Clark 10-13.4

[Pumbaa]

We just had 2 pair of DC 10-20's donated to the squadron from a retired CFI.  our old headsets for O-Flights were getting beat to crap.

[Trung Si Ma]

Does anyone out there have a "Muse?"  If so, how's it working for you?

I have one and used it on all X-C flights until I bought my own plane and put a PS Engineering 8000B Audio Panel in it, which has the same capability in a front mounted plug.  My mechanic now has the Muse and he uses it a lot when ferrying aircraft.

The only down side of it is that there is a lot of cable hanging around when you use it with a Bose headset.

[FastAttack]

Bringing this back from the dead.. didn't want to start a new topic , as I need to get some feedback

My headset:

Anyhow I have a Lightspeed Zulu.. I tried both the Zulus and the Bose.. both performed really well , but i must say the Lightspeed felt more sturdy than the Bose.. 2nd I got sold on the Blue tooth feature of it.

I flew as a passenger on a Bonanza on a 3 hour flight and man o man was it great to be able to talk to on the phone and hear music via the bluetooth feature.

My first headset was a light speed 25XL as a student pilot and it was a great headset. I highly recommend Lightspeed's ANR headsets. Especially the Zulu.

Going to why i resurrected the topic.. I've noticed that all the CAP aircraft do not have extra headsets in them.
Now how do you handle O-rides if there are no headsets or if you decide to take other seniors up with you? .
Myself and the other pilot in our squadron are thinking of purchasing a "squadron" headsets but due to the limited funds of the squadron has we can't go out spending a lot of money in them.

I know that the word "cheap" and "reliable" shouldn't be mixed but in this case we want a mixture of both worlds.. what do you guys recommend?

thanks in advance.

[Short Field]

Ask for headset donations.  There are a lot of folks who have upgraded and still have their old sets. 

[EMT-83]

Now how do you handle O-rides if there are no headsets or if you decide to take other seniors up with you? 

Remember, according to the new 52-7...

"Orientation flights are available only to current CAP cadets under 18 years of age. Senior members are not authorized to participate in flights being conducted as Air Force-assigned missions unless they are serving as the pilot in command or escorting a cadet who requires special assistance."

[PHall]

Now how do you handle O-rides if there are no headsets or if you decide to take other seniors up with you? 

Remember, according to the new 52-7...

"Orientation flights are available only to current CAP cadets under 18 years of age. Senior members are not authorized to participate in flights being conducted as Air Force-assigned missions unless they are serving as the pilot in command or escorting a cadet who requires special assistance."

You might want to read the line you quoted a bit more closely...

[EMT-83]

I wasn't sure that I read it correctly, but thought that I'd mention the update.

[Al Sayre]

Bringing this back from the dead.. didn't want to start a new topic , as I need to get some feedback

My headset:

Anyhow I have a Lightspeed Zulu.. I tried both the Zulus and the Bose.. both performed really well , but i must say the Lightspeed felt more sturdy than the Bose.. 2nd I got sold on the Blue tooth feature of it.

I flew as a passenger on a Bonanza on a 3 hour flight and man o man was it great to be able to talk to on the phone and hear music via the bluetooth feature.

My first headset was a light speed 25XL as a student pilot and it was a great headset. I highly recommend Lightspeed's ANR headsets. Especially the Zulu.

Going to why i resurrected the topic.. I've noticed that all the CAP aircraft do not have extra headsets in them.
Now how do you handle O-rides if there are no headsets or if you decide to take other seniors up with you? .
Myself and the other pilot in our squadron are thinking of purchasing a "squadron" headsets but due to the limited funds of the squadron has we can't go out spending a lot of money in them.

I know that the word "cheap" and "reliable" shouldn't be mixed but in this case we want a mixture of both worlds.. what do you guys recommend?

thanks in advance.

Last year Wing bought some of these:  http://www.warrengregoire.com/aviation-headsets.htm They are cosmetic rejects for $69.95 each, 1 per aircraft.  They aren't fancy, but they are cheap, work fine and are reasonably comfortable for a 2-3 hour flight.  I own a pair myself that I use for passengers.   

[FastAttack]

Bringing this back from the dead.. didn't want to start a new topic , as I need to get some feedback

My headset:

Anyhow I have a Lightspeed Zulu.. I tried both the Zulus and the Bose.. both performed really well , but i must say the Lightspeed felt more sturdy than the Bose.. 2nd I got sold on the Blue tooth feature of it.

I flew as a passenger on a Bonanza on a 3 hour flight and man o man was it great to be able to talk to on the phone and hear music via the bluetooth feature.

My first headset was a light speed 25XL as a student pilot and it was a great headset. I highly recommend Lightspeed's ANR headsets. Especially the Zulu.

Going to why i resurrected the topic.. I've noticed that all the CAP aircraft do not have extra headsets in them.
Now how do you handle O-rides if there are no headsets or if you decide to take other seniors up with you? .
Myself and the other pilot in our squadron are thinking of purchasing a "squadron" headsets but due to the limited funds of the squadron has we can't go out spending a lot of money in them.

I know that the word "cheap" and "reliable" shouldn't be mixed but in this case we want a mixture of both worlds.. what do you guys recommend?

thanks in advance.

Last year Wing bought some of these:  http://www.warrengregoire.com/aviation-headsets.htm They are cosmetic rejects for $69.95 each, 1 per aircraft.  They aren't fancy, but they are cheap, work fine and are reasonably comfortable for a 2-3 hour flight.  I own a pair myself that I use for passengers.

thank you very much sir.
This will defintely work. most FBOs here in sfl the cheapest headset we could find was $150.00 we had 1 donation already we just needed 1 more headset.

[noturusernamebutmine]

Bose - absolutely love them.  I also have a pair of DCs H20-10 which are ANR/ENC which I used prior to buying my Bose.  The Bose are amazing - lightweight - great ANR - clear sounding - great mic.....though for the large price tag they are missing some features that should in my opinion be included (which is the selling point for the Zulu headset).  The DCs are great - though in comparison to Bose there is a huge difference.  Though if you can't afford the Bose (which I couldn't for the longest time) then the DCs are great headsets.  For me paying the extra $$ was sure worth it!  Protect your ears....you only have 2!

[Pumbaa]

I "loaned" 2 Dave Clarks to our Plane. Those were given to me by a retiring CFI. One of our pilots also "loaned" a couple of headsets a couple years back but those are getting a little long in the tooth.  That gives us 4 loaners.

I say "Loan" as it has become a PIA with inventory requirements when someone 'donates'.  We are placing little stickers on them saying "On Loan From...."

Now.. RANT ON!

I have my own set of ANC Headsets (Never Loan out) and also another personal set, which I was using as a loaner when not flying in our group aircraft, but after what happened this weekend, I no longer will loan out my personal set.

For folks borrowing stuff, it is a MAJOR sign of disrespect if you abuse the trust that someone puts in you when you borrow their equipment/ tools.  Thankfully my set was eventually found, but not after a lot of.. "go talk to" and they in turn would point back to the other person. 

So from now on if someone asks me for my personal set I will say: "Kish Mein Touchess"

[flynd94]

Nothing but Bose X on my head.  Their ANR is second to none, plus they are super light weight.  I fly professionally so, this is a big deal to me.  DC's have too much of a clamping feel on the top of my head.

[PHall]

Nothing but Bose X on my head.  Their ANR is second to none, plus they are super light weight.  I fly professionally so, this is a big deal to me.  DC's have too much of a clamping feel on the top of my head.

Say what you will about the DC's, but, I flew for over 28 years in noisy military aircraft and did not suffer any hearing loss.

[FastAttack]

I "loaned" 2 Dave Clarks to our Plane. Those were given to me by a retiring CFI. One of our pilots also "loaned" a couple of headsets a couple years back but those are getting a little long in the tooth.  That gives us 4 loaners.

I say "Loan" as it has become a PIA with inventory requirements when someone 'donates'.  We are placing little stickers on them saying "On Loan From...."

Now.. RANT ON!

I have my own set of ANC Headsets (Never Loan out) and also another personal set, which I was using as a loaner when not flying in our group aircraft, but after what happened this weekend, I no longer will loan out my personal set.

For folks borrowing stuff, it is a MAJOR sign of disrespect if you abuse the trust that someone puts in you when you borrow their equipment/ tools.  Thankfully my set was eventually found, but not after a lot of.. "go talk to" and they in turn would point back to the other person. 

So from now on if someone asks me for my personal set I will say: "Kish Mein Touchess"

well i went through the same thing loaned it to a senior member not from our squadron during a training mission long story short.. i lost the anr feature of my xl 25's forcing me to upgrade to a zulu as the repair was as much as an upgrade to a zulu.
even though i made out good on the end , i will not loan out my personal headsets especially now when owning such an expensive set.

this why i am looking into get some squadron headset so this will never happen again.

[Mustang]

I own both the Bose X and the David Clark H10-13XL (ANR).  The Bose has been relegated to passenger use.  I concede that the Bose is more lightweight and comfortable overall, but I apparently have that magical melon shape for which the DC is not UNcomfortable. The Bose is also more fragile; I've put over 1000 hrs on my DCs and they are bombproof, and I don't have to worry about breaking anything. I, too, fly professionally and the reliability factor is huge for me. 

The DC's ANR is every bit as good as the Bose, IMHO. I also prefer the volume controls on the DC's earcups, though I wish one were master volume and one a balance control rather than independent L/R volume controls. 

Additionally, I far prefer the DC's hybrid boom  (half wire frame, half flexible boom); it easily swings out of the way to take a drink or cough or whatever, and more importantly, goes right back where I want it much more readily than the all-flexible-boom varieties.  Its only shortcoming (also shared by the Bose): no MP3 or cell phone input jacks, as on the Lightspeed Zulu.  The DC X11 has that feature, but it has a full flexi-boom.   

Lastly, being somewhat follicularly-challenged cranially, the Oregon Aero sheepskin headpad on my DCs puts them over the top.  I know Oregon Aero makes a sheepskin headbad for the Bose, but it jacks with the top hinge and isn't nearly as substantial (or comfortable) as the one they produce for DCs.  With that headpad in the mix, it's game, set, match for the DCs.

[Captain Morgan]

Bose.  I just broke the yoke that holds the earcup and Bose fixed them and totally refurbished the headset for free!  :clap:

[Check Pilot/Tow Pilot]

I've used DC's since the 80's.  Returning to power flying, after soaring for years, I bought a pair of David Clark H10-13XL head clampers.  Aftering hearing all the stories of Bose comfort and ANR performance, and trying on a pair, I purchased a used pair.

WOW!  Comfort and quality....  When my wife comes flying with me, she gets the head clampers