light headset for turboprops
 

Hi guys,
I just want to ask for any recommendation or share experience with headset in SE turboprops. I have Flightcom 5DX, but they are quite heavy and tight (but at least quiet) and after couple of hours I feel like I have elephat ears. I've also tried some Clark's and Boses. A20 are nice, comfortable, but not cheap at all.
So what do you think about Telex 750/850 for example? I dont have a problem with "listening" to the engine (so I dont keen on ANR) :-) But they might be too much light for tuboprop...

I own a slightly elderly Telex 750 which seemed a good idea at the time and mostly resides in a cupboard.

It's very comfortable and the sound quality is excellent, but the noise attenuation is nil. If that sounds right go for it.

If you want any attenuation at-all however, I'd splash out on a Bose. The difference a good headset like that makes to your ability to concentrate is always impressive.

G

Hi!

I have used the Telex 750 for many years in Cessna 421s. It was the ideal headset for that aeroplane which is quiet enough to fly without headset. You really forgot you were wearing a headset after a few minutes. For turboprops and single engine piston aircraft it does not offer enough soundproofing.

Since many years I exclusively use a Sennheiser NoiseGard headset, it must be the predecessor of the current model HMEC 26. It is a lightweigt closed headset with active noise reduction. When flying on propeller driven aircraft I turn the noise reduction on, in the Citation I leave it off. I used that headset also in my brief time flying a turboprop (the Metroliner, probably one of the noisiest civilian cockpits) and found it just sufficient.

i've used just about everything ever made.

Hands down, my favorite is the Bose QC-15 and U-Fly Mike.

Quiet, comfortable, and you can use the headset when you do your walk around if you like. Bonus, you can use them as an audio headset when not flying.

FR

I've been impressed by Lightspeed's Zulu 2. They are light, and offer good noise cancellation. Cheaper than Bose, and their customer service is superior.

You don't really want to listen to the engine...do you?!

ANR headsets
 

From some comments it is obvious that there is a huge misunderstanding about Active Noise Reduction (ANR) Some are frightened they can't hear if a problem in the engine were to happen. The truth is ANR targets the lower spectrum noise whichis mostly generated by the propellors and exhaust. If a problem were to develope in the engine or some other mechanical component you would actually be able to hear it better. There are documented cases where this has in fact been the case.

Used Sennheisers with ANR in KingAirs for a long time. I would never fly a TP without it. The real issue is the long term impact on your ears by higher than necessary noise levels AND fatigue generated by that noise. I nowadays fly mainly a C680 which is not too noisy in the office, nether the less I notice a difference in fatigue on long days with ANR on vs. off. IMO the A/C manufacturers should provide ANR headsets as a standard or at least a standarized power socket...


I sometimes fly a B200 equipped with Bose ANR headsets which do have an annoying sound generated obviously by the ANR electronics. Since I can`t compare this set with another Bose I don`t know wether its specific to that single set....

I think it must be that specific headset. I have flown with several different Bose ANR headsets and they really play in their own league. But a Sennheiser reaches about 80 to 90 percent of Bose comfort levels at 1/2 of its price, so for me the choice is simple...

And what type of Sennheiser are you exactly talking about? Light HMEC 26/46 or "heavier" 250/460?
HMEC 250 looks quite nice...

I use the HMEC 25 which out of production I think. We started with a fully enclosed one (cant remember the models name, it was the first ANR of Sennheiser), but switched to the lighter version many years ago.

Im in with FrankR.... Ive used the telex 750... 850... boseX etc. Nothing... and I mean nothing comes close to the comfort and quietness of the Bose QC15/UFlyMike combo.... Its relatively cheap and is perfect for the jet crowd.

His dudeness: did you switch to lighter version still on turboprops, or on jets? Light version of Sennheiser or Telex looks nice. But I am little bit afraid of noise when flying in turboprops, because they dont cover ears completly.

When on TPs.

I found them a reasonable compromise betwenn comfort and sound dampening.

But I`m talking KingAir 200, no clue how it would work on others.

I use a Bose-X flying a twin turboprop. Stood me well for the last 4,000 odd hours. We fly very long days and they have never been uncomfortable. Split across the hours flown in them I would say superb value!!