Anyone recommend a good headset?
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Anyone recommend a good headset?
Hi chaps,
I'm well into my PPL now and thought it would probably be a good idea to get my own headset. Before parting company with the hard-earned readies, just wondered whether there were any recommendations out there? I'm not necessarily looking to buy new (eBay etc), but just want a good, reliable (and comfortable) set. Are they all much of a muchness, or is it a case of you get what you pay for?
Many thanks in anticipation.
HW
I'm well into my PPL now and thought it would probably be a good idea to get my own headset. Before parting company with the hard-earned readies, just wondered whether there were any recommendations out there? I'm not necessarily looking to buy new (eBay etc), but just want a good, reliable (and comfortable) set. Are they all much of a muchness, or is it a case of you get what you pay for?
Many thanks in anticipation.
HW
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Bose X without a doubt. Nothing gets close for comfort and performance. Just be careful who you lend it to 
If you want to look at something different try the new Mach 1
http://www.anrheadsets.com/products-mach1.asp
If you want to look at something different try the new Mach 1
http://www.anrheadsets.com/products-mach1.asp
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Just ordered one from the USA. Should know when it arrives; there is a backlog of 1-2 months.
Informal reviews from the USA suggest that the mach1 will be better than any non-ANR headset (which it is, believe it or not) and as good as the majority of ANR headsets.
Anything which goes right inside the ear has the potential to be very very good, on every front.
One can also fit specialised custom-made earplugs to this. There are outlets in the USA doing these.
ANR is also very easy to implement and would be much more effective, due to the very small cavity that's left.
Informal reviews from the USA suggest that the mach1 will be better than any non-ANR headset (which it is, believe it or not) and as good as the majority of ANR headsets.
Anything which goes right inside the ear has the potential to be very very good, on every front.
One can also fit specialised custom-made earplugs to this. There are outlets in the USA doing these.
ANR is also very easy to implement and would be much more effective, due to the very small cavity that's left.
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But if loads of cash is not readily available, I picked up a David Clarke on ebay that had barely been used, and for £70 less than in the shops. It's unispiring, but does a fantastic job.
There must be something about David Clarke quality, as virtually all the schools I've been to use them!
There must be something about David Clarke quality, as virtually all the schools I've been to use them!
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Beware when buying second hand headsets. I bought a second hand david clarke H10 30 from an instructor who was moving on to pastures new. I thought it would be good to have a spare pair.
I dont know exactly whats wrong with them but all is well until you get some engine power on then you get horendous noise and distortion which stops you being able to talk to ATC, this is true even if a pasenger is wearing them.
needless to say, the person I purchased them from is no where to be found, I wish I had paid a bit more and got new instead.
Incedentally the instructor was from america, so I guess was the headset, could that be the problem?
I dont know exactly whats wrong with them but all is well until you get some engine power on then you get horendous noise and distortion which stops you being able to talk to ATC, this is true even if a pasenger is wearing them.
needless to say, the person I purchased them from is no where to be found, I wish I had paid a bit more and got new instead.
Incedentally the instructor was from america, so I guess was the headset, could that be the problem?
It's often, I believe, the aircraft intercom that causes problems. I've got an old DC headset which I love and which works perfectly well except on one or two aircraft when you plug something different into the right hand set of plugs.
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I am an electronics engineer with tons of audio analog design experience (including 400W power amps with 0.01% THD) but the way aircraft "intercoms" are often bodged baffles me completely.
The proper intercoms are also incredibly expensive. Retail about 20x the manufacturing cost.
The proper intercoms are also incredibly expensive. Retail about 20x the manufacturing cost.
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If you want a passive set, probably one of the DC H10-13.4s on ebay just now are your best bet.
If you want an ANR set, then definitely try before you buy if possible. I recently bought a Bose X set and got rid of it within a month (sorry IO540) because I thought it massively overpriced for what it did. Sennheiser are probably worth looking at but DCs pretty much cover all the bases. On a direct comparison (swapped headsets with copilot in the cruise) there really wasn't much difference between the Bose X and the DC H10-13X. Bose slightly lighter, DCs better passive attenuation.
If you want an ANR set, then definitely try before you buy if possible. I recently bought a Bose X set and got rid of it within a month (sorry IO540) because I thought it massively overpriced for what it did. Sennheiser are probably worth looking at but DCs pretty much cover all the bases. On a direct comparison (swapped headsets with copilot in the cruise) there really wasn't much difference between the Bose X and the DC H10-13X. Bose slightly lighter, DCs better passive attenuation.
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Got some sennheiser HMEC25's ANR. they are the dogs,changed becuase my pilot communications headset gave me a headache.Sennheisers are light as a feather and although they are for jet cockpits the ANR makes them quiter than my old ones when flying GA.
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Just an update on the Lightspeed Mach 1 headset. Mine arrived this week.
Pluses:
Very light, hardly know it's there. The best sound quality of ANY headset, and the mike quality is even better. There is an adjustment for mike gain which is really handy. Mike noise cancellation is the best I've seen by far. Glasses don't affect the attenuation. Very well made, not a cheap job.
Minuses:
As expected, attenuation is critically dependent on correct insertion of the earplugs. One can play with different types (they are easy to change) and I haven't really done that. But catching the cable on something will easily dislodge the earplug(s) and suddenly you get a load of engine noise. So one needs to get the cable sorted out, clipped to the seat belt with the clip provided, etc, so nothing is pulling on the headset. This is much less of a problem for a passenger than for the pilot, and this will be especially relevant for a "lady passenger"; I am sure they will really like this headset.
Quite damage-prone (due to various parts which stick out) so needs to be carried in the hard plastic carry case provided. Definitely not something one wants to lend out, even before considering the earplug hygiene aspect.
Overall, attenuation with the standard earplugs is about the same as most headsets, but nothing as good as the Bose X. I am sticking to the Bose X but my girlfriend is going to like the Mach 1.
I am sure one could improve the attenuation past even the Bose, using proper custom-made earplugs, but the issue of it getting pulled out as one moves about in the cockpit will always remain.
Pluses:
Very light, hardly know it's there. The best sound quality of ANY headset, and the mike quality is even better. There is an adjustment for mike gain which is really handy. Mike noise cancellation is the best I've seen by far. Glasses don't affect the attenuation. Very well made, not a cheap job.
Minuses:
As expected, attenuation is critically dependent on correct insertion of the earplugs. One can play with different types (they are easy to change) and I haven't really done that. But catching the cable on something will easily dislodge the earplug(s) and suddenly you get a load of engine noise. So one needs to get the cable sorted out, clipped to the seat belt with the clip provided, etc, so nothing is pulling on the headset. This is much less of a problem for a passenger than for the pilot, and this will be especially relevant for a "lady passenger"; I am sure they will really like this headset.
Quite damage-prone (due to various parts which stick out) so needs to be carried in the hard plastic carry case provided. Definitely not something one wants to lend out, even before considering the earplug hygiene aspect.
Overall, attenuation with the standard earplugs is about the same as most headsets, but nothing as good as the Bose X. I am sticking to the Bose X but my girlfriend is going to like the Mach 1.
I am sure one could improve the attenuation past even the Bose, using proper custom-made earplugs, but the issue of it getting pulled out as one moves about in the cockpit will always remain.
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Final choice
After much deliberation and borrowing different headsets I have ordered a Pilot 17-79 DNC-XL headset.
I have had a set on permanent loan since September and they are the best I have tried.
This will be my Christmas present from Mrs N,probably my birthday as well!
Lister
I have had a set on permanent loan since September and they are the best I have tried.
This will be my Christmas present from Mrs N,probably my birthday as well!
Lister
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Don't want to offend anybody but.............back in the real world
It's hard for me to understand why people waste so much money on headsets.
My original Harry Mendellssons (sp?) are ten years old, have always worked perfectly in any a/c . Never even had to clean the plugs. Perfect hearing protection and good sound quality even in the noisier cockpits. Cost the minimum. I bought a second pair a couple of years back, same story so far.
If you're not doing thousands of hours a year, why not spend the saved money on flying?
regards
HnH
It's hard for me to understand why people waste so much money on headsets.
My original Harry Mendellssons (sp?) are ten years old, have always worked perfectly in any a/c . Never even had to clean the plugs. Perfect hearing protection and good sound quality even in the noisier cockpits. Cost the minimum. I bought a second pair a couple of years back, same story so far.
If you're not doing thousands of hours a year, why not spend the saved money on flying?
regards
HnH
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If you do a lot of flying (^50hrs/yr) then buying a very good headset is not a waste of money in any way. There are appreciable differences between the "budget" models and the ridiculously expensive versions.
I value my hearing and my sanity and whilst I do significanlty more than 50hrs a month, the same applies to all pilots.
With Hire rates generally over £100/hr even something as expensive as the Bose X is not that far away and in the long run your ears will thank you!
I value my hearing and my sanity and whilst I do significanlty more than 50hrs a month, the same applies to all pilots.
With Hire rates generally over £100/hr even something as expensive as the Bose X is not that far away and in the long run your ears will thank you!
Avoid imitations
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We use Bose-X, as a replacement for the DCs we used to have in our helis.
From experience: The Bose-X is not nearly as robust as the DC. Mine is presently away for repair to the plug at the aircraft end of the pigtail, which fractured internally. Looking at the remains, there isn't much strength or size in the plastic material where mine broke.
I have been obliged to go back to using a DC for a couple of weeks. It is nowhere near as quiet and at the end of my 13 sectors my headache told me I definitely missed the Bose-X.
From experience: The Bose-X is not nearly as robust as the DC. Mine is presently away for repair to the plug at the aircraft end of the pigtail, which fractured internally. Looking at the remains, there isn't much strength or size in the plastic material where mine broke.
I have been obliged to go back to using a DC for a couple of weeks. It is nowhere near as quiet and at the end of my 13 sectors my headache told me I definitely missed the Bose-X.
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Hireandhire - you obviously haven't tried a decent headset, and you must have bionic ears which will never degrade through long term noise exposure
It's true the Bose X (aircraft powered version) has flimsy plugs. They are made by LEMO who make a huge range of connectors; I use them in products I design. Some plastic, most metal. The very specific plug that Bose use is part of a standard LEMO range (with varying pin numbers available) but the plug with that exact number of pins is not available from anywhere I've looked. I wonder if Bose did a deal with LEMO to not sell that plug to anybody else... anyway, it should have been a metal version. Other than the plug, the Bose can't be faulted. However - we are talking about the aircraft powered version here, most Bose X users will have the standard twin jack version which doesn't have this problem.
It's true the Bose X (aircraft powered version) has flimsy plugs. They are made by LEMO who make a huge range of connectors; I use them in products I design. Some plastic, most metal. The very specific plug that Bose use is part of a standard LEMO range (with varying pin numbers available) but the plug with that exact number of pins is not available from anywhere I've looked. I wonder if Bose did a deal with LEMO to not sell that plug to anybody else... anyway, it should have been a metal version. Other than the plug, the Bose can't be faulted. However - we are talking about the aircraft powered version here, most Bose X users will have the standard twin jack version which doesn't have this problem.