Headset confusion

[Shubam Roy]

Hi, guys
I am now about to start flying soon and I am confused about what headsets should I take.
I am stuck at these two 1.DC H10 13.4 and 2.Sennheiser HME 110

Please help me find a nice headset as I am so confused reading all the reviews on these products as they seem all same to me.

Thank you:cool:

[skyhawk_norway]

Bose A20. The best noise reduction I have ever heard.

[rjtjrt]

DC H10.13.4 is very strongly made and has stood the test of many years production. David Clark headsets are always in demand on eBay so good secondhand market. Spare parts are easily available.
I have not used the HME 110 so cannot comment on it, except to say there are many more DC H10's used in general aviation in Australia and US than Sennheiser.
The DC will take a lot of use and not have any problems.

[Baikonour]

they seem all same to me.
That's because they are not that different from eachother ;)
If you are beginning, there is little point in investing in an expensive Bose or other ANR set, which typically also require batteries.
As mentioned by rjtjrt, the basic David Clark has stood the test of time, are easily available and easily fixed if they ever should break - although you wouldn't expect them to.
Once you have gained your license, you can always offload it and upgrade - by then you will know what to look for, have tried on those used by your FI or buddies at the club etc. and will be in a better position to judge what you need/want.

You may also find that your school will have sets you can use/borrow/rent - in my neck of the woods they are almost certainly DCs.

Just to add to the confusion - personally, I use these QT Halo in-ear headset (https://www.quiettechnologies.com).

B.

[maehhh]

I never liked the Sennheiser HME...

If those two are the only options go for the DCs.

If you are confident you will not stop flying in a year or two you should consider some ANR headset (Bose is my personal preference). In my experience they are worth the extra money. :ok:

[mothminor]

I`m looking for a headset to use in my noisy open cockpit (under a leather "hat").
The Halo headset looks interesting, if I could just combine the band/ microphone with a pair of moulded ear inserts (like the F1 guys wear.:ok:


Anyone have anything like this?

[Parson]

Out of those two, go for the DC. Used one for years and they take a lot of abuse. Have recently upgraded to a Bose A20 which is excellent but an ANR headset may not be worth the expenditure if you are just about to start flying and maybe not sure how long you will fly for.

[Glasgow_Flyer]

I know someone who has just started to learn and his instructor told him not to get ANC while he was learning- first I'd ever heard of that, but I can kinda see where he's coming from. It reminded me how I used to always have the squelch turned right down on the intercom so I could hear everything.

[Baikonour]

The Halo headset looks interesting, if I could just combine the band/ microphone with a pair of moulded ear inserts (like the F1 guys wear.)

I'm sure you can go to a suitable hearing centre and get some moulds made, but the FAQ on the QT website actually advises against this:


Do I need custom earmolds?
NO...Custom earmolds are not recommended for the following reasons...

- They take time and effort to get
- A FULL 30% of all earmolds leak somewhat. The noise spectrum that enters the ear canal with small leaks are the low frequencies...engine noise.
- IF you get a good seal, that means it is pneumatic and cannot equalize pressure at various altitudes
- they cost range from $80 to $200 / pair making the experiment an expensive one.

Stick with the foams if at all possible.

I have used mine with the yellow foam inserts in a Tiger Moth and a Waco - without any further helmet/hat on and they happily stay in during aeros whilst my hair blows in the wind :ok:
However, the microphone boom is far less rigid than what you get in a clamping headset, so, especially in the Moth, sometimes the mike catches the wind and bends away from my mouth.

I'm not quite sure how it would work with a hat - you could probably have it on the outside and feed the tubes which connect to the buds in from behind - unless there is a flap over the ears? Probably depends on your hat (if you really need one?). You'd have to try it and see, I think. Unfortunately, since they are in your ear, unless you want to share earwax, you cannot just try on your mate's one - he needs to be happy to sacrifice a pair of foam or rubber inserts.

But they are quite cheap - I bought mine unseen and untested based on their low price and took the risk.

I also spent half an hour in front of the mirror practising putting them in - the seal you get depends on how good you are at getting them in the right place. I now consistently get very good attenuation :)

B.

[Shoestring Flyer]

I would try both Bose and Lightspeed Zulu if I were you. It depends on which is the most comfortable for you. Personally I much prefer the Zulu's they have bigger earcups and don't seem as fragile as Bose. But then that is me. I have two sets of Zulu's.
If you are going to Aero at Sywell next week both manufacturers will I am sure will be there and you can compare fit and feel yourself.

[Shoestring Flyer]

Doh!..Sorry just realised you are in India so disregard the bit about about Aero at Sywell. The rest still applies though...

[PA28181]

+1 for DC, I have had my H10 30's for 25 yrs? now, never a problem.

David Clark H10 30 Headset With Free Headset Case + Cotton Ear Covers (http://www.transair.co.uk/sp+David-Clark-Headsets-David-Clark-H10-30-Headset-With-Free-Headset-Case-Cotton-Ear-Covers+1710)

[Dougie_diesel]

Another vote for the DCs. Good honest reliable headset.

Save yourself a few quid by getting a second hand one and fitting cotton ear covers and a new mic sock.



(and even if you don't like them there's a strong second hand market)

[CruiseAttitude]

I also have the DC H.10-13.4, i've had my set for years and they have never let me down.

[darkbarly]

Sennheiser - Headphones & Headsets - Microphones - Integrated Systems (http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/news-sennheiser-withdraws-from-the-cockpit-atc-business-remains)

Rules that one out then.:ooh:

[India Four Two]

Shubam Roy,

My advice is to try headsets while flying, before buying anything. Wearing a headset for ten minutes on the ground is not the same as wearing one in the air for an hour or two.

DCs are very good headsets, but I find them very uncomfortable - it is like having my head clamped. On the other hand, I love my Lightspeed Zulu headset.

So try before you buy.

[skyhawk_norway]

I know someone who has just started to learn and his instructor told him not to get ANC while he was learning

I can understand that. I usually dont activate the ANR before safe altitude after takeoff, because I think it's harder to hear changes in the engine sound in case of engine problems.

[cessnapete]

If you can afford it always consider am ANR headset first. Much more protection for hearing loss and comfort. I use the Bose, which I find comfortable for long periods and cuts noise induced fatigue.
Re emergency noises or alarms, stall warning etc. Many airlines now mandate ANR(BA, Virgin,RAF Voyager etc.) The noise attenuation is for wind/slipstream and engine noise, completely different frequencies to aural alarms etc.,so no safety worries.
I wish ANR was available earlier in my career, my wife wouldn't keep calling me deaf!!

[mothminor]

Baikonour, thanks for the additional info.
My Wot is very noisy and at the moment use foam ear plugs plus a ww2 leather helmet.


In my (shared) Chipmunk I use DC H.10-13.4 (bought used off ebay), very happy with those.

[The Ancient Geek]

I wish ANR was available earlier in my career, my wife wouldn't keep calling me deaf!!

Thats just gender selective deafness. All men get it after a few years of marriage, the symptoms are that that you can never hear what the wife is saying but you can hear the word "beer" at a thousand yards.

[Curlytips]

There is what looks like a good pair of DC 10-40s on Ebay ending tomorrow (and more later, of course). The vendor recommends fitting new gel ear seals, and that is the set and combination I've used for nearly 30 years. Yes, the DC does clamp a little, but with gel seals it helps (and helps seal out noise if you wear glasses). Best thing about DC is total reliability. My fourpennorth.....

[tmmorris]

Sad about Sennheiser as I love mine - though I think it's a matter of taste as they appear to divide opinion. Maybe I have a weird head.

[BigEndBob]

H10-40 every time.
Perfect headset, mic can be positioned accurate, low head band height, reliable and clear electret mic.
Originally came with foam rubbers which were good, good wires and plugs. They do crack with age (20+ years) between the mic and earphone grommets.
I have had same headset since 1988 in almost daily use, 14k hours

I have used these with all sorts of headsets with students. Still to find better.
Even the noise cancelling annoy me as they seem to use poor mics that pick up a lot of cockpit noise. Which is ok for it's owner :) but not me :(.
Avoid the rubber boom mics they are hard to position next to the mouth for best transmission verse noise and now our DC one's the booms are breaking off at the ear cup. Also avoid tall head bands, they can catch on the ceiling or sun visors.
Noise cancelling are hard for students as they can't hear engine noise feed back.
Also avoid, but it's hard, gel ear seals, they don't last long and burst.
Early ones were liquid which would ruin clothes, the later gel look like snot all over your hands.

[airpolice]

I think that some of the confusion comes from you thinking that you need a headset.

You only need to buy one if the school do not supply them free for use.

The price you pay needs to be looked at in terms of how much training that you could get for that money. Do you feel happy paying the price of an hour in the air to have your own talking hat, or do you feel happy paying the price of ten hours in the air for a talking hat with bells on it?

When you get halfway through your training, I suspect the quality of your hat will be less relevant than the amount of experience you will wish that you had.

[Piper.Classique]

I upgraded my 30yr old DCs with an ANR add on. Brilliant!

[300hrWannaB]

I got a new pair of DC H10-13.4 after many years of playing about with cheaper models. What a revelation!
After that I bought a second hand set off ebay for the passenger. Obviously that was at risk, and there is a tiny amount of microphone whistle on that set. However, the price of having that pair serviced and repaired still left me very much in pocket.
In fact, the guy who did the repairs also sells ANR conversions for the H10-13.4!

[thing]

The best noise reduction I have ever heard.

Er.....if you were in the mob that would be straight in the squadron line book!

I use DC 13.4s. Had them yonks and they do what it says on the tin. I think if I was flying 100+ hours a year I would invest in an ANR set but for the odd weekend bimble I don't think it's worth the extra expense unless you have money to burn. But then if we fly for a hobby I guess we all have that...