Headsets ! What a minefield
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Headsets ! What a minefield
Greetings all
As most traineee pilots wonder, is it worth geting my own headset? Well I have decided to invest...yippeeeeee! decision made then, no problem!
But Wait, which one and how much money do I want to spend?
Help please ! Looking round I could pay for DCs etc at big money compared to things like Skylite or Cobra now I assume that you pay for what you get but does anyone have any experince of these 'cheaper; headsets and could point me in a suitable direction.
Thanks all
Stuart
As most traineee pilots wonder, is it worth geting my own headset? Well I have decided to invest...yippeeeeee! decision made then, no problem!
But Wait, which one and how much money do I want to spend?
Help please ! Looking round I could pay for DCs etc at big money compared to things like Skylite or Cobra now I assume that you pay for what you get but does anyone have any experince of these 'cheaper; headsets and could point me in a suitable direction.
Thanks all
Stuart
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
Please can you start your investigations by typing headset into the Search function (use advanced and specify Private Flying forum only).
SD
SD
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cashquest
Give us a clue! You planning on hiring and flying 12 hours a year, going commercial or getting your own machine and doing 100 hours a year? As a general guide, if you plan on flying just a few hours buy cheap, if you are flying a lot go expensive but avoid the ones in the middle. A second hand Bose X is around £400, this is a vastly better bet than a cheap DC new.
Rod1
Give us a clue! You planning on hiring and flying 12 hours a year, going commercial or getting your own machine and doing 100 hours a year? As a general guide, if you plan on flying just a few hours buy cheap, if you are flying a lot go expensive but avoid the ones in the middle. A second hand Bose X is around £400, this is a vastly better bet than a cheap DC new.
Rod1
Having repaired a lot of headsets over the years its fair to say you get what you pay for. The quality of the wire used is of particular importance as it gets some rough treatment, especially from the jerks who rap it tightly around the headset. Cable breaks are nearly always shear breaks i.e. caused by tension. DCs are of a high build quality with excellent quality wire that I can't find anywhere other than to purchase a new DC cable loom, fortunately they seldom break. I have a cheap "Pilot" headset that has an ever decreasing cable length as it periodically fails where it enters the earpiece.
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Head set makers come and go with these forums full of storys about the latest fantastic product on the marketbut the one name that has stood the test of time is DC...............the reason for this is supplied so eliquently by Whopity in the post above.
Personally I'd recommend buying one of the following:
(1) Harry Mendelsson HM40 budget Headset
(2) David Clark DC10
(3) Bose-X
(4) Bose A20.
Decide on how many hours per year you're likely to fly, and your budget, and pick one of those. They're all excellent headsets, but you get what you pay for.
G
(1) Harry Mendelsson HM40 budget Headset
(2) David Clark DC10
(3) Bose-X
(4) Bose A20.
Decide on how many hours per year you're likely to fly, and your budget, and pick one of those. They're all excellent headsets, but you get what you pay for.
G
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5 years ago...
...I bought 2nd hand DC (h10-13x) off of ebay for around £200.
I'm still wearning them, they're still as comfortable as the first time I put them on.
I've flown in them for 3 hours straight, 40 hours total a year, and still not really felt them on my head.
The Bose-X does seem to be the rolls royce of the headset world. My own personal view is don't buy cheap.
I'm still wearning them, they're still as comfortable as the first time I put them on.
I've flown in them for 3 hours straight, 40 hours total a year, and still not really felt them on my head.
The Bose-X does seem to be the rolls royce of the headset world. My own personal view is don't buy cheap.
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I'm with GtE 
All excellent headsets of which I have significant first hand usage of and the Bose X and Bose A20s are the one I've been happiest with (despite the big price!)
All excellent headsets of which I have significant first hand usage of and the Bose X and Bose A20s are the one I've been happiest with (despite the big price!)
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I bought a couple of DC H10-13.4's back in the mid-90's, flew 1000's of hours instructing with them, with only a few new mic. socks and a new set of ear seals. They are a well engineered and put together product.
A couple of years ago I was in Florida, when the £ was pushing towards $2 and got a DC X11, wasn't that enamoured with it to be honest. Somehow I managed to break the head band, emailed DC in the states, they gave me their UPS account number to arrange collection, sent me a brand new headset within a week and paid shipping both ways. Can't fault DC's after sales customer service.
A couple of years ago I was in Florida, when the £ was pushing towards $2 and got a DC X11, wasn't that enamoured with it to be honest. Somehow I managed to break the head band, emailed DC in the states, they gave me their UPS account number to arrange collection, sent me a brand new headset within a week and paid shipping both ways. Can't fault DC's after sales customer service.
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endurance test
1980-1991 1031 hours flown in GA aircraft 2 cheap headsets trashed BER.
1991-to date 2980 GA hours flown DC headset working as well as the day I got it, cost of ownership one set of ear pads.
So to put is another way you can expect about 515 hours use from a cheap headset and that headset would have to be 5.7 times cheaper to mach the cost per hour of the DC that is still running well today.
As the old Arab proverb says Cheap is not so cheap.
1991-to date 2980 GA hours flown DC headset working as well as the day I got it, cost of ownership one set of ear pads.
So to put is another way you can expect about 515 hours use from a cheap headset and that headset would have to be 5.7 times cheaper to mach the cost per hour of the DC that is still running well today.
As the old Arab proverb says Cheap is not so cheap.
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I've recently bought a Bose A20 and it is way the best there is. Significantly better than the Bose X, of which I still have three.
The X is comparable to the Lightspeed Zulu in performance.
A Bose would not last in a "club" environment, and you have to carefully brief passengers to treat them gently. They need to be either hung off the yoke, or carefully wrapped up in their carrying case.
If you plan to fly long-term, buy a Bose A20. One can always flog Bose headsets on Ebay for reasonable prices.
The X is comparable to the Lightspeed Zulu in performance.
A Bose would not last in a "club" environment, and you have to carefully brief passengers to treat them gently. They need to be either hung off the yoke, or carefully wrapped up in their carrying case.
If you plan to fly long-term, buy a Bose A20. One can always flog Bose headsets on Ebay for reasonable prices.
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I've used Bose-X - they are very nice to wear, but I'm not sure how durable they are.
I bought a DC-13.4 a very long time ago (probably early to mid 80s). Ten years or so ago, I had Richard Holder convert it to ANR. A few new mike socks and earpiece covers, and it still looks and works as well as new.
The ANR conversion was VERY worth doing.
I bought a DC-13.4 a very long time ago (probably early to mid 80s). Ten years or so ago, I had Richard Holder convert it to ANR. A few new mike socks and earpiece covers, and it still looks and works as well as new.
The ANR conversion was VERY worth doing.
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Another thing to note in the Uk is that headset services who fix DC under warranty has some very old fashion views on customer service.
I have only had 2 dealings with them and its been an absolute pleasure talking to them and both times have been utterly suprised at the service they have provided.
You get to talk to the technicians if you want.
Your headset comes back as new.
And its all done in a very short time frame.
And I would agree the X11 is pants, but the old ANR DC 10's just keep going and going. Only thing I would like is to get back the old bat pack on them so I can use rechargable AA's. The 9V rechargables are actually only 8.3V and they don't last very long compared to a 9V disposable.
I have only had 2 dealings with them and its been an absolute pleasure talking to them and both times have been utterly suprised at the service they have provided.
You get to talk to the technicians if you want.
Your headset comes back as new.
And its all done in a very short time frame.
And I would agree the X11 is pants, but the old ANR DC 10's just keep going and going. Only thing I would like is to get back the old bat pack on them so I can use rechargable AA's. The 9V rechargables are actually only 8.3V and they don't last very long compared to a 9V disposable.
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Thanks to all
after reading your posts I bought a pair of DC 13.4 wit a free bag at Aero Expo for £230 I think I got a good deal. Will try them for first time this Sunday.
Once again thanks all
Stuart
Once again thanks all
Stuart
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Keef,
Is Richard Holder still doing conversions and if so could you let me have his contact details please?
If not, could anyone recommend someone else?
Is Richard Holder still doing conversions and if so could you let me have his contact details please?
If not, could anyone recommend someone else?
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Ive got a set of DC H10-40 that I bought 21yrs ago when I was learning to fly. I replaced the foam ear seals for the latest oil filled version almost that day I got them. A few years ago I tried a set if Zulu Lightspeed and was mighty impressed, until I saw the cost, For a fraction of the cost I bought a ANR kit, new head pad and new ear seals, installed it myself and its going great still. They are a touch heavy after a few hours tho, so am now looking to upgrade to something lighter., because I can, not because I fly long hours really.
Lancair
Lancair