Headset , Which One To GET?

[fhchiang]

hello ppruners,


i'm about to start my PPL training, and i'm just wondering which Headset to get.

My Club only sells DAvid Clark H10-13.4 , no choice..... so i'm planning to other it from elsewhere as i have heard some really bad comments regarding the Design of it...


Anyone has any recommendation, i came across LightSPEED Mach1 headset.. looks nice...

AH i forgot to mention the Type of Training Craft.

My Training is going to take place on C-172. whihc HS is compatable. please list them. thanks

[flyboyike]

The H10-13.4 is a WONDERFUL headset. It's been with me through all of my training, until I got to the Piper Meridian with its Bose headsets.

[fhchiang]

hmm...

.. also.,. i wear Specs... will it cause uneasiness around the ears?

Clamping too long with specs on?

[soay]

The no-clamp headset: Clarity Aloft (http://www.clarityaloft.com/). I prefer them to the Sennheiser 400 and Bose X with ANR.

[IO540]

Bose X. Nothing comes close.

[hardcase]

i bought my David Clark H10-13.4, 7 years and 1100hrs ago.....never had a single problem; they are light weight, a decent price and the gel ear covers are comfortable even when wearing specs.

:cool:

[maggioneato]

Another recommendation for DC H10-13.4. Bought the first one 10 years ago, a second one for my victims shortly after. Still comfortable, still look like new. Reasonable price, what more could you want.

[Flap40]

I've got Bose-x which broke (mechanically) after 12months, Pilot 17-79 which fell apart after 15 months, a pair of Peltors which still work after 5 years but the volume control is broken and A DC 10-60 which is 17 years old and still going strong.

If you do very little flying and like to pose - get a Bose. If you want a near bullet proof build quality that will last then get a DC. The 13.4 was not available when I bought mine but I have used one and would certainly recommed them.

[englishal]

Bose X. Nothing comes close.
You're right there. I was just flying a Diamond Star with Bose headsets and they are excellent. So good infact I considered buying one until I saw the price though.....:eek: So, I'll have to make do with my cheapo headset until I can convince myself that it is worth paying $1000 for a pair of earphones;)

[fhchiang]

i'm bu8ying headsets not only for training but also for professional use....


i'm currently undergoing PPL training.. then CPL/Ir..

i want to be a Commercial Pilot someday... and i hope the Headset will last...

it's seems that DC h10-13.4 get thumbs up

[Hampshire Hog]

This is a frequently asked question, but worth reviewing regularly - as new product come out.

I have been using a Flightcom 4dlx, which costs a fraction of the DCs at about £100. Very clear and no troubles to date.

HH

[gcolyer]

I have a set of DC10-13.4 and a set of ASA's

I like the ASA more as they sound more clear. The DC's are a little mor comfortable though. I also wear specs and neither set cause issues with specs.

The ASA's are half the proce of DC's

Gary

[GASH !]

I used a David Clark H10 13.4 for 5 years thinking it was a good headset, because people told me they were. Then I tried a BOSE X, the difference is unbelievable. Hideously over priced but certainly the best headset on the market. I'll never go back to the DC's.

[robin]

Just starting a course, I'd suggest a Harry Mendlessohn HM-40DL @£89

www.gps.co.uk

Go for the more pricey ones later on

[boomerangben]

The no-clamp headset: Clarity Aloft (http://www.clarityaloft.com/). I prefer them to the Sennheiser 400 and Bose X with ANR.

Now these look like the dogs wotsits. No hot and sweaty headset compressing the grey stuff and they look like the only thing that will work well with glasses. Do they do a helicopter version?

[HelenD]

My current headset is a Dave Clark ANR one, the previous headset was a cheap make but was very good. I would recommend that you try a few different headsets and go with whatever you find most comfortable since you will be wearing it alot. I was considering the Bose but I found the DC one more comfortable. i believe some of the stores have ones you can try on for feel.

[Rod1]

Bose X. Nothing comes close. It is far beter if you have specs.

Rod1

[Andy_RR]

an H10 13.4 will never be a bad purchase however long or short your flying career is. Well cared for, they'll always return good money on e-bay.

I bought an H10.30 in Australia for $A160 on e-bay. It was only OK, so I left it there for when I go back there to fly. I tried to buy an H10 13.4 on e-bay when I returned to the UK, but the prices came close enough to new prices that I plumped for a new one from my club store.

A

[Blinkz]

Another vote for bose here. Yes they are expensive but you can't put a price on your hearing. Its one of the few senses we have that if it gets damaged theres nothing you can do about it!

[soay]

Now these look like the dogs wotsits. No hot and sweaty headset compressing the grey stuff and they look like the only thing that will work well with glasses. Do they do a helicopter version?
Can't help but agree with your sentiments about the Clarity Aloft headset, but don't know the situation regarding a helicopter version. I've found their response to email enquiries to be helpful, so I suggest you email them on the address here (http://www.clarityaloft.com/contact.htm), and let us know what they say.

[soay]

Another vote for bose here. Yes they are expensive but you can't put a price on your hearing. Its one of the few senses we have that if it gets damaged theres nothing you can do about it!
Several pilots on the Cirrus forum (http://www.cirruspilots.org/) have admitted to using earplugs with their Bose headsets for just that reason. They don't clamp hard enough to block out the white noise that is at too high a frequency for ANR to attenuate, so earplugs are used to provide that effect, and the volume has to be turned up to compensate. As Bose don't publish any performance figures for any of their kit, who knows if this Heath Robinson solution is necessary? The easy answer is that, at that price, they must be good!

[Genghis the Engineer]

Ahhh, the monthly "which headset" thread.

I'm not going to contradict anything anybody's said above (although I use a different type to anything mentioned so far and think that they're great!).

However, if you're about to start your PPL training, use a club headset for a while. You won't get any half decent headset for less than £80 at the very cheapest and could easily spend many times that. Don't do so until you're sure that you are going the course.

G

N.B. Okay, I'll say what I use - Harry Mendelsson HM40 (http://www.gps.co.uk/htmfiles/headsets/hm40hset.shtml), which is cheaper than anything else, very clear and comfortable, and seems to be compatable with anything (unlike some Dave Clarkes).

[DB6]

As Genghis says a well worn thread, but always worth an update.
As you're in Malaysia I don't know if there are any shops you can try some headsets out in, but if not you can look at www.transair.co.uk (http://www.transair.co.uk) or www.flightstore.co.uk (http://www.flightstore.co.uk) or www.gps.co.uk (http://www.gps.co.uk) .
If you're looking for a non-ANR headset then the DC 10-13.4 will take a lot of beating, however the Sennheiser HME100 is worth a look as well. If you want ANR then the Bose-X is top of the range HOWEVER it has two major faults in my opinion: firstly it has very poor passive noise attenuation so does very little to block high frequency hiss/wind noise etc; secondly it is massively overpriced. Also they fall off if you do aerobatics. I have a Sennheiser HMEC-400 and it soundly whups the Bose on both those counts (used in both light piston and regional turboprop aircraft) and stays on during aerobatics. Other ANR sets worth considering are DC 10-13X, Sennheiser HMEC 350/450 and possibly Lightspeed Thirty-3G.
If you do a search on this forum you will find a few threads on this subject, all worth a look, but the best advice I can give is try before you buy if possible.

[fhchiang]

thanks fellas...

but i doubt i can try before i buy..

after all... stuffs related to aviation ARE not readily available here.

.. the Headsets were brought in by the Club CFI, who is An Airline Captain.

[Cha]

H52 only cost around US$170
Does anyone know any info about Peltor Nordica Sport Headset. I heard that Peltor is replacing H52 with Nordica Sport which is same looking but without cell and MP3 interface. I have been searching information but no info found relating to Nordica Sport.

[RatherBeFlying]

I've had one of the early GA models and am happy with it. All the electronics are in a box with integrated PTT not much bigger than the usual PTT that straps on the the yoke. An acoustic tube conveys the audio and mike via an earpiece -- watch the connection here. I took advantage of a kit to take molds of my ears which keeps the noise down a bit. These days, I'd check in with a hearing aid shop for ear molds or the replaceable foam tips other headsets are using.

[razzele]

No one seems to have mentioned Lightspeed ANR headsets. I have a 3g20 and its got great sound quality. A little cumbersome though.

[cosworth211]

http://www.transair.co.uk/headsets.asp
Good comparison of headsets. I personally have the Sennheiser HME 100, it is lighter, cheaper, and has a far superior noise reduction to any David Clarke headset. In fact I don't understand why people would choose the DC over this headset in this price range, the HME 100 is far superior. I've used many different headsets and went for the best performing head set not the most popular brand.

[IO540]

In that Transair comparison table, the attenuation figures have come from the marketing data, and a lot of that has always been bogus.

Have a look at the abnormal figure for the HME100 for example. 40db??

[cosworth211]

In that Transair comparison table, the attenuation figures have come from the marketing data, and a lot of that has always been bogus.
Have a look at the abnormal figure for the HME100 for example. 40db??

From personal experience I feel confident in stating that the Sennheiser has the best noise attenuation by a long shot in this price range, the main reason I bought it. However, this can be a disadvantage with a quiet stall warner, though I am yet to fly an aircraft fitted with a stall warner inaudible from this headset.