Buying a headset

[Skywalker1978]

Hi there, I'm thinking about buying a headset David Clark H10-13.4 for my PPL studies and possibly later for use on my CPL/IR/ME upgrades.

...any sugestions where to buy? Transair, AFE?
I am bit worried about shopping on line - how is it with warranty when buying from these online guys?
Thanks for any response.

[lazy george]

I'm thinking of getting a new headset myself and have been advised to buy from america as the pound to dollar is so strong. Its just finding a reputable firm which is hard for us over here and also not getting hit hard with the postage.
I'm in the middle of it so i'll keep in touch if i get any news

[Irish_Stu]

Shouldn't be any problem with warranty when buying online. Just keep your receipt and you'll be entitled to the same cover as if you'd bought it in a shop.

I bought the DC H10-13.4 as well, seems spot on for my PPL training. I've never used anything else though so have nothing to compare it to. I got mine in America for about $310, not sure how that compares to UK prices...

[IRISHPILOT]

hello there,

Chances are you will not need the warranty, as the DC headsets are amazingly well manufactured.

If you go on to Turboprops, you may decide to use it for much longer than the training (possibly adding a noise cancelling device later).

The GBP150 as Irish says is about correct if bought overseas (not sure how the warrany works there though).

cheers IP

[MIKECR]

I've used my trusty Dave Clark H10 -13.4 for a number of years now and find them good value for money. They've never let me down and are comfortable to wear.

I have recently been using a set of BoseX gold plated jobs though and all I can say is WOW!! very very VERY expensive but the quality is amazing. The ANR is fantastic, even with with 2 big TP's giving it wellie in the background

[macflea]

if you can get it with stereo the sound quality is so much better. with my dc 10-13 the atc controllers seem away in the distance when they are talking to you , i tried a mates headset with stereo you swear the atc controller was beside you in the aircraft.just my opinion.

[nick14]

Howdy,

Bought my David clarks in 2005, done PPL, IMC and now doing CPL with them, they have never let me down, quality is top notch and very affordable.

I would definatly get gel ear seals as the foam gets a might uncomfortable after a while, but with gels i hardly feel them.

perfect starter headset.

and yes i bought mine online from flightstore no probs

Nick

[A and C]

Twenty years and 5000 hours on and my DC is doing just fine so I don't think that quality (or lack of it) is an issue with DC.

Most aircraft audio problems are due to the aircraft radio/audio interface and so the expensive stereo headsets are unlikely to be able to perform as well as they can in your average training aircraft that is not equiped to supply the headset with high quality audio signals.

[IRRenewal]

if you can get it with stereo the sound quality is so much better. with my dc 10-13 the atc controllers seem away in the distance when they are talking to you , i tried a mates headset with stereo you swear the atc controller was beside you in the aircraft.just my opinion.

Since aircraft radios are exclusively mono, I can't image why a stereo headset would make any difference.

I think your mate just has a better headset than you have. The fact that it is stereo has nothing to do with it.

Buy the best headset you can afford. Apart maybe from some ANR models a good headset is less than the price of an hour of ME/IR instruction. If you get a partial instead of a full pass on your IR because you didn't hear an ATC instruction you pay dearly for your budget headset.

Good headsets also tend to have better microphones, ie less noisy. This means you can leave the intercom live rather than rely on the squelch and it will greatly improve your ability to communicate with your instructor/examiner (except of course when your instructor turns up with a lousy headset with noisy microphone).

For those with an older DC headset, invest 25 pounds every couple of years in new ear seals. Makes it feel and perform like new, and greatly increases their comfort.

[Fitter2]

The advantage of buying from a pilot shop is that you can try a set on and make sure they are comfortable, and seal well (preferably trying with the sunglasses you wear). Not all headsets fit all heads very well - not implying you have an oddly shaped head ;).

Otherwise, shop around on-line. David Clark have a long track record, but there are other reputable makes (e.g. Sennheiser) which give 10 year guarantees.

If you really want to splash out on a headset for life, have a look at the Lightspeed Zulu.

[zk-npr]

hi all,
Am I right in assuming that pilots once flying commercially for airlines and such have headsets provided in the aircraft or do some of them use their own?

I'm starting training in August this year and looking to get a headset while Im still working to minimise the financial strain but wanted to know if a personal headset is something used just for training or into your commercial career also?

Any info much appreciated

NPR

[fanda78]

Thanks for all comments!
Received my very own DC H10-13.4 yesterday afternoon and going to use them today :D
I beleive that I will have good use of them.

to ZK-NPR: I used club headset for all flying (6hrs so far) but my first impresions from my new headset are:
- gel earseals are much softer than foam ones
- noise protection from outside is remarkable better
- lighter
- and MY OWN :ok:

Go for it - if you will go for PPL only, it will serve you at least half of your flying life and if you want to go proffesional you wil use tham during whole training at least - who knows - in my case I do not want to fly airliners but would prefere to fly with company like SoundAir in your homeland.

F

[mad_jock]

Go for the ANR early ie from the outset.

I know its more expensive but just wait until you go for an audiogram and you have a wacking great drop in your hearing just at the pitch of the props.

You will start to struggle hearing people who speak in monotone or mumble with any background noise.

Do companys provide? In my experence it is a mixture of both. Ie some companys provide others do not. Or if they do provide they are utter crap.

Personally I have 2 DC H10-13X's why you might ask. The first one had a fault after 2500hours of flying and I couldn't stand flying with a normal headset while it got fixed free of charge. Now I carry two because the FO usually has a crap company set or a none ANR. They then get the second pair and life gets an awful lot easier. Matched impedences on the intercom, little background noise on the intercom, everyone alot less tired.

Its worth it to me to provide another ANR for the FO for the improvment in my working day. Although it doesn't take long for them to justify getting one after flying a few days with me then having to go back to the crap.

BTW had a shot of the new DC's ANR's utter crap. Virtually no passive noise protection. Frame made out of plastic to reduce weight it will break. And for all its light weight etc after 8 hours flying it still gave you sore ears.

If your worried about the price of 9V bats.

I use this company http://www.battery-force.co.uk and the procells and one box lasts 6 months plus

[HappyFran]

Were did you get your DC's from?
I am interested in buying a pair, but not sure were to purchase them
many thanks
Fran:)

[Lawn Mower]

Regarding buying in America, beware of import duties!

I bought a gps recently on the net from a US online shop, which on the face of it was a lot cheaper. By the time the stinking dept of Customs and Excise had taken their cut I may as well have bought it in the UK.

Regarding which headset to buy, I decided to opt for a basic Seinheiser as everyone seems to have a Dave Clarke. Its pretty comfortable and I reckon a bit more solidly built than a DC. Price wise they're about the same.

[beprest]

the HME95 looks nice
any used it?

[Philpaz]

Personally I have 2 DC H10-13X's
BTW had a shot of the new DC's ANR's utter crap
Md Jock,
Are you talking about the new 13X or other DC ANR's as being crap??

If you really want to splash out on a headset for life, have a look at the Lightspeed Zulu.
Fitter2,
Have you got a set of these then? Are they better than the DC's?

[virginpilot1087]

stop Messing Around Here

get The Bose X!

bose Only Make One Headset Because Its The Best!

i Have It And Anyone Who Fly's With Me With Any Other Headset Always Ask If They Can Try It Because They Know Its The Best Too!

bose X

[Parson]

Whats the Bose like for aeros then?

[mad_jock]

13x are fit for the job at a reasonable price you can get spares with no problem the service support by headset services in my experence is top notch.

They are a robust headset which does survive living in a flight bag, getting dropped, sat on, crushed by the fanny running the xray machine who can't be bothered putting flight bags through on a tray.

And the biggest plus is that if you run out of battery (usually on approach where you have no chance of swapping it).guess what?

It turns into a very capable passive dc headset a quick readjust of the intercom and rx volume controls off the minimums which they are usually at. And no problems


its the x11 which I didn't think were up to much

[preduk]

You should check out Firefly Aviation headsets... I know one of the agents who let me try them on and they were very good, the best part is they are only 80 quid!

[mad_jock]

They are used through out the UK by flying schools for that very reason that they are 80 quid. And they usually get replaced on a yearly cycle.

The headset which have been mentioned on this thread are in a completly different league to those.

The headsets being discussed are an investment for your health and for the quality of enjoyment of your hobby or professional life.

[lc_aerobatics]

I bought that http://www.flyingshop.com/proddetail.asp?modelno=Clarity%20Aloft from them.

Fantastic little headset, great for Aeros , Cessna , Seneca and other bigger stuff.

stop Messing Around Here

get The Bose X!

bose Only Make One Headset Because Its The Best!

i Have It And Anyone Who Fly's With Me With Any Other Headset Always Ask If They Can Try It Because They Know Its The Best Too!

bose X


I would say that 4 or 5 out of 10 sold Boss headsets were coming back for repair also passive nosie protection is really bad so maybe not best after all.

HMEC250 is what I would try instead of Bose.

Cheers.
LC

[Irish_Stu]

Heard good reports about the Aloft technologies one mentioned above. Doesnt look like a lot for 350 quid though..
Maybe nice if you're flying somewhere really warm and humid though...

[mad_jock]

Had a shot of the HS460 and it was pretty good I proberly would have got one but for the price.

One of the lads at work has the HS260 and again it suffers from not very good passive protection.

Its a nightmare getting a headset its all so personal. Whats good for one pilot is a form of torture for another. How anyone can spend that amount of money without trying them out in anger is beyond me.