I went years and years without headsets they did not seem to be as available as now. Used to be quite happy with hand mike when there was a wireless oops, I know old fart. Strangly ones ear quickly becomes atuned to a particular noise such as an engine and will detect things like carb ice quite efficiently.Only after many years of instructing did I sucumb to head sets out of necessity, I find some head sets do enhance certain noises and the detection thereof but,A.N.R. no thanks.I also find in older a/c both open and closed cockpit where there is a lot of background wind noise rattling and vibration that a good helmet or head set helps one listen to the bit that makes the most noise. bye bye