New headset
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New headset
Hi All,
Newbie here - first post so please don't rip the p155.....
I'm at lesson 11 of my PPL at Northumbria Flying School from Newcastle Airport (and thoroughly enjoying it I might add). The time has come for me to invest in my own headset - the school ones are pretty rubbish and often I'm struggling to hear clearly.
Can anybody suggest a decent pair to get me going? My instructor tells me I shouldn't need to spend any more than about £200. Any recommendations anybody? David Clark seems to be a top brand.
Sorry if this topic has been done before. If so please point me in the direction of that thread.
Cheers
Tim
Newbie here - first post so please don't rip the p155.....
I'm at lesson 11 of my PPL at Northumbria Flying School from Newcastle Airport (and thoroughly enjoying it I might add). The time has come for me to invest in my own headset - the school ones are pretty rubbish and often I'm struggling to hear clearly.
Can anybody suggest a decent pair to get me going? My instructor tells me I shouldn't need to spend any more than about £200. Any recommendations anybody? David Clark seems to be a top brand.
Sorry if this topic has been done before. If so please point me in the direction of that thread.
Cheers
Tim
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Yes, look on ebay. David Clarkes are very robust so second hand ones are normally very good.
Why not put a wanted advert on your flying club noticeboard. Then you can look and try before you buy.
You should pay about half price.
ZA
Why not put a wanted advert on your flying club noticeboard. Then you can look and try before you buy.
You should pay about half price.
ZA
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Bose are very good - but very expensive in comparison.
If you've money to burn - buy Bose. Even second hand they'll still set you back double what a decent pair of DC's would.
I've had my DC's for 6 years now without any problems whatsoever. They've been well used - daily for the last year or so.
If you've money to burn - buy Bose. Even second hand they'll still set you back double what a decent pair of DC's would.
I've had my DC's for 6 years now without any problems whatsoever. They've been well used - daily for the last year or so.
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Headsets
Bose X are a good headset but let's be realistic here, for someone training to fly there's no need for them and at roughly £400 on Ebay that's atleast £250 more that a decent pair of David Clarke H10-13.4's which are more than suitable for all pleasure flying.
Just my 2p's worth!
Spru!
Just my 2p's worth!
Spru!
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I have to say I am disappointed with my DC X11s. I paid 800US plus shipping and wish I'd paid the extra 200 US for the Bose x instead.
True, compared to the ASAs I used previously they are a big improvement. But the audio clarity and comfort of The Boses surpasses them easily.
I think it will be difficult to find a pair of secondhand Bose x as they are too good to be replaced.
Best,
Sicknote
True, compared to the ASAs I used previously they are a big improvement. But the audio clarity and comfort of The Boses surpasses them easily.
I think it will be difficult to find a pair of secondhand Bose x as they are too good to be replaced.
Best,
Sicknote
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Strongly recommend you try and get to a decent pilot shop and spend plenty of time trying on the various contenders. Don't just buy brand X because everybody else does - headsets are very personal things and what may suit one person may be most uncomfortable for somebody else.
With a budget of £200 you will be looking at passive headsets (ie they don't use clever electronics to reduce noise) so the effectiveness of the ear seal is important - especially with glasses. Avoid headsets which have a high clamping pressure to achieve the seal, look for comfort and gel-filled or soft foam seals.
Bear in mind that a plastic seal next to your skin will be sweaty in warm weather, you can get cotton covers which help - but at the cost of reducing the effectiveness of the seal. Some headsets have soft leather over soft foam options (Sennheiser and I believe Beyer), which is my personal preference, but you need to decide which you prefer.
Once you have decided on a specific headset, there is the question of a source - eBay is good for secondhand ones as long as you don't get carried away with the bidding and your local club noticeboard is a possibility too. Alternatively, with the dollar at nearly $2=£1 it may be worth looking at a supplier in the USA, especially if you or a friend are visiting, otherwise add about 20% to the delivered price for import duty etc.
For the record, I use a Sennheiser HME100 SE-2 headset - the SE being the special edition with soft leather ear seals and a bit more headband padding. I'm perfectly happy with that, but of course you may much prefer something entirely different. Final advice - don't rush the decision
With a budget of £200 you will be looking at passive headsets (ie they don't use clever electronics to reduce noise) so the effectiveness of the ear seal is important - especially with glasses. Avoid headsets which have a high clamping pressure to achieve the seal, look for comfort and gel-filled or soft foam seals.
Bear in mind that a plastic seal next to your skin will be sweaty in warm weather, you can get cotton covers which help - but at the cost of reducing the effectiveness of the seal. Some headsets have soft leather over soft foam options (Sennheiser and I believe Beyer), which is my personal preference, but you need to decide which you prefer.
Once you have decided on a specific headset, there is the question of a source - eBay is good for secondhand ones as long as you don't get carried away with the bidding and your local club noticeboard is a possibility too. Alternatively, with the dollar at nearly $2=£1 it may be worth looking at a supplier in the USA, especially if you or a friend are visiting, otherwise add about 20% to the delivered price for import duty etc.
For the record, I use a Sennheiser HME100 SE-2 headset - the SE being the special edition with soft leather ear seals and a bit more headband padding. I'm perfectly happy with that, but of course you may much prefer something entirely different. Final advice - don't rush the decision
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Firefly
I haven't tried this one, or even seen it, but I seem to remember reading a review which said it was quite good, and at £80 you can probably afford to take the chance http://www.firefly-aviation.co.uk/pr...5&cat=0&page=1
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A second vote here for the Sennheiser SE 2. Comfortable, good sound and does good job of cuting down the external noise. In fact Sennheiser claim 40 db, more than is claimed for some ANR sets. Have sent you pm.
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I'd also strongly suggest you pop to a shop and try some on. I found DC's a bit overrated and not as comfy or balanced (weight-wise) as the Sennheiser HME100 which I got & have been very happy with.
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Thanks for all the advice people
Whereas Bose X would be the obvious choice if money were no object I don't want an "all the gear, no idea" situation.
Good suggestion re. trying out as many as I can before I buy, I'll make that a priority.
Thanks again.
Tim
Whereas Bose X would be the obvious choice if money were no object I don't want an "all the gear, no idea" situation.
Good suggestion re. trying out as many as I can before I buy, I'll make that a priority.
Thanks again.
Tim
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Get passive DC's - when you have a few hundred hrs in the logbook and know you will keep flying then splash out on a ANR set if you so wish - the DC's will come in handy then for your passengers! I paid $316 for my DC's and only got them after I got my PPL - used a free (ghetto!) set from the school before that.
Just my 2cents!
Just my 2cents!
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In threads like these, many people often give the advice to buy a cheap headset, and buy a better one "after a few hundred hours".
I switched from a cheap headset to a Lightspeed 25XL when I had flown about 15 hours. And the difference was very noticeable. The lower noise levels and the higher clarity in the RT traffic made me much less stressed in the cockpit. I felt less exhausted after my lessons and could pick up the RT much more easily.
So maybe it's the opposite, use a great headset to start with, and use a poor one once you become experienced?
I've tried many headsets and I really like the better Lightspeed ones (25XL and up). And in my contact with Lightspeed they've been great.
I switched from a cheap headset to a Lightspeed 25XL when I had flown about 15 hours. And the difference was very noticeable. The lower noise levels and the higher clarity in the RT traffic made me much less stressed in the cockpit. I felt less exhausted after my lessons and could pick up the RT much more easily.
So maybe it's the opposite, use a great headset to start with, and use a poor one once you become experienced?
I've tried many headsets and I really like the better Lightspeed ones (25XL and up). And in my contact with Lightspeed they've been great.
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Could not agree more with Lightspeed, I got mine in the states. I think the Bose are great but have one or two drawbacks, no Passive noise reduction, for when your batteries fail and they look a bit flimsy and are expensive.
I have the lightspeed 30 3G for me it does the trick, very comforatable, made of plastic and therfore light and no clamping, my old dc10-13's gave me a headache after an hour or two of flight.
lightspeed are here: http://www.lightspeedaviation.com/products30-3g.asp
I have the lightspeed 30 3G for me it does the trick, very comforatable, made of plastic and therfore light and no clamping, my old dc10-13's gave me a headache after an hour or two of flight.
lightspeed are here: http://www.lightspeedaviation.com/products30-3g.asp
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What about the Sennheiser HME 95? The local flying club offers them in the starter package for student pilots...
Noob question: whats the different between active and passive headsets?
Noob question: whats the different between active and passive headsets?
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I also agree with Lightspeed - they do a model with both passive and active sound management and, for me, it represents the best f both worlds. I think it is called CC or crosscountry..
I bought mine in the states (through a friend) and saved loads
regards
I bought mine in the states (through a friend) and saved loads
regards