Which Headsets?
 

I'm looking at buying a pair of headsets, rather than using the ones the flying school supplies. I don't want an expensive pair, but I do want the best quality that I can get (understandably).

I'm looking at spening between $1-$250.... As that's all I can really afford.

Which brand/model would be the best or are they all fairly much the same at the lower end?

haha for that price range, altronics

I owned a set of Altronics from early on in my flying, and they lasted me about 5 or so years, before the wires in the jacks started to play up a little. Could have easily got them fixed, but I figured it was time to upgrade anyway, so went with the DC ANR's. Not a bad headset when you put David Clarke seals onto them, for the price you pay.

morno

Nobody ever regrets buying quality
 

That's the best idea WilliamOK. IMO your headset is an extremely personal item. I never let anyone borrow or use mine. That way the head band/earcups et al are not being distorted by another users' different head size/shape, I don't have to worry about who had what disease that I may pick up from the mic and I know no one else will look after my headset the way I do -it's an expensive piece of kit!

Absolutely understandable. However, for a number of reasons I would recommend you look just a little higher up the food-chain. IMO cheap headsets are cheap because they are, well, cheap. Poor materials and build quality, poor support and worst, poor noise retention.

As an example I had to scrimp & save for ages back around the early 1980's (when headsets were becoming common in GA aircraft) to buy my 1st headset -a DC-H10-40. From memory, I paid somewhere over $600 for it then in NZ. That was a lot of hours lost! I had that headset for over 20 years myself, only gave it away when I traded up to a 10-60, which I still have.

Coming up to 30 years in industry now, I still have no appreciable hearing loss, despite all of that time in GA, much of it in BN2A which many consider one of the noisiest airframes -I put that down to a good headset, properly looked after.

I reckon the price of the headset should be the final determining factor in your decision -not the 1st. Look for decent materials and build, look for support, parts and backup, but above all look at the noise retention. Without your hearing you won't retain a medical. Get the other things right 1st, then worry about which of the best you can afford or are willing to save for. I did, and for sure I have no regrets!

That new DC X-11 is looking pretty damn good just now! :)

Agree that it is wise to buy the best you can afford.
The David Clark 10/13.4 is a good headset. You can get them cheaper via the USA http://www.pilotmall.com/productcomp...p?cat=Headsets USD 265 + USD 30 for post = USD 295 = AUD 373. The same unit is AUD 500 at a pilot shop at Moorabin. Pilotmall have headsets available from USD 110 (but dont appear to carry Altronics). I have bought a headset and a transceiver from pilotmall.
The organisation I fly with have used the Altronics as "public" headsets for some years. They work, although we are patching the headset wires every now and then when they break. The DC headset mentioned is far superior.

So from the looks of it the David Clarkes are the only good ones? Are there any comparable headsets from other manufacturers or are they the best of the best in terms or features and quality?

Cheap?
 

:ok:Started flying in 1988 and bought Altronics. Still using the same headset today!

Replaced more PTT on Control Columns than headsets.

1989 for me with the altronics also - still going today. Nothing wrong with 'em

in essence, whatever you buy as long as you look after it, should last a long time.
if you thrash them around they will suffer. of course in this case a better built set will last a bit longer.

my tip is to save up and shell out a little more for DC 10-13.4's
get them from www.marvgolden.com in the states for $370AUD, call it 420 by the time you get it here- as opposed to $500 from Skylines.
generally the more expensive the item, if you get it from the states the more you save compared to here.

dont base your opinion of Altronics on the flying school loaner pairs!
ive got a pair from ebay and they do the job quite well... no match for the 10-13.4 though, love em!

WilliamOK, I can endorse what Witwi says. I bought DC 10-13.4 in 1983 - although I upgraded to the latest active noise cancelling DCs 5 yrs ago, the 10-13.4's are still going strong.

R:cool:

Yeah, from what I hear the David Clarks are good. So far I have found a pair of headsets, AVCOMM AC747. Any opinions on these? they seem to be about the same as the H10-13.4s in features...

Have used AvComs for several years and found them to be excellent, as good as DC's in my opinion -they should be cheaper than DC's. I believe Angel Aircraft sell them at reasonable prices. Why not look around for a good 2nd hand set of DC's or something within your budget? There are people around giving the game away who need to sell their gear and advertise on club notice boards and the like.

Agreed...buy the best you can afford...also look at eBay and TradeMe (NZ) as there are some good bargins going...but "buyer beware"....factor in an amount to compensate for no guaranttees etc.

I bought a headset from http://www.flighthelmets.com.au/products.htm going on 5 years now and no complaints what so ever!

When I bought it it came with gel ear seals which were (at the time) reserved for the more expensive headsets.

The weight is reasonable, it is very comfortable, doesn't feel flimsey and the flexible mic boom is much better than the hinged set up some of the cheaper headsets out there have.

Discontinued Headsets?
 

Discovered PPRUNE through a Google search for aviation headsets; there's another thread debating merits of new models, thinking this might be the spot for my post.

I'm looking for RACAL Minilites of the type it sounds were standard for air traffic outside the US (where I am) and which were apparently discontinued in the '90s. I don't care if they work, only if they're complete and reasonably intact. I'm thinking that with the quantities of these that were once in place, there must be some available, functional or not.

Hope someone can help!

This may be an odd question, but why do people still recommend DC 10-13.4 headsets over ANR headsets?

If you can find a set of ANR for $250 which was the original price go for it definately. I think if he said I have a spare $1500 then people would recommend ANR.

For $250 though you are unlikely to get a set.

Check out Ebay mate. Seen a couple on the australian ebay that dont look too bad ynd you'll get them a bit quicker than from the states.
As for DC's,well mine are H10-30, have survived 4000hrs of extreme african flying conditions so they are rugged. A bit heavy but work fine. The H10-13.4 are also really nice but the mic boom sometimes gets a bit loose. I agree with paying a bit more for something of better quality.
Good luck

because ANR are twice to three times the price.

Cause the only ANR you will buy for $250 (see original post) is one that has been run over by a bus!

R:cool: