Hello,

As I've done a few hours now and really enjoying it I'd like to buy my own headset. I do prefer the more modern look ones to the usual David Clark style also is it worth me spending the extra on noise reduction ones ?

For standard ones I quite like these,

Denali 30 Passive Headset - Flightcom from Flightstore UK or any Sennheiser ones.

Any suggestions ?

I definitely recommend spending extra on ANR equipped headsets. The particular one you buy is up to you, whichever you can afford. If price isn't an issue, go for the most comfortable. I have a DC that I've modified using the Headsets Inc. kit to ANR spec, and I swear by it. I've also flown with Lightspeeds which are much lighter, and initially more comfortable, but over longer flights I still prefer the DC. I think they're all pretty good (Bose, Sennheiser, Lightspeed etc) but the comfort and fit is key.

I bought a cheap passive headset which ive used for 10 months, and it did what it said on the tin!
I have just bought a pilot pa18-50 anr and the difference is quite remarkable.
So I would say buy anr, the pilot cost £250 so not expensive when compared to bose etc. but it depends on your budget.

I have an ANR David Clark, very useful in the old Lyco C172, but I find myself not using ANR in a Rotax light aircraft as they make much less noise to begin with. When the battery died I simply didn't take the effort to replace it, even though I always bring a spare...

Hello,

So I've been looking at some ANR headsets and couple I do like the look of are the Lightspeed Sierra and the Flightcom Denali 90, any thoughts on these two headsets ?

I'd like to try them on but I don't seem to have and stores that stock both close to my home. Also the Sierra is the absolute maximum I want to spend ! Less would be better :-)

I have a Sierra headset and I also use a Zulu headset in my friends aircraft. Both are very comfortable even for hours on end. The Sierra has less noise reduction than the Zulu and is less expensive. I cannot stream Bluetooth music as on the Zulu, only telephone. You can input music from your tablet via a supplied mini-jack cable.
I have been using Lightspeed since the 20K, then 30-3G and now Sierra. There is a marked improvement in each generation. All problems I had (usually busted cables) were fixed free of charge (you pay one way postage to Germany).

The best recommendation I can give is to actually try the headsets on because some will feel more comfortable than others - I was set up to buy a pair of Sennheisers and found they sort of "perched" on my head, the Zulus fitted perfectly. If you're only ever going to be flying for half an hour or so at a time, you can possibly get away with uncomfortable headsets but I can still fly for hours on end, remove my headset and not have the DC Headache that others have.....

So: try before you buy, if you can......

First, congrats for the decision to buy your own headset! It is a nice thing to have and reliefs one from feeling strange on all the hygienic may-be's ...

As flying is not cheap anyways and we talk about your hearing aids -> go for the most expensive one you can afford! Save on other things and focus on one. Once you have done damage to your ears, almost no money of the world brings back what you lost. My advice, go get an ANR one. Their protection is quite remarkably better. Only if you are really and absolutely short on money, but with a perspective for earning more, you could get a passive one and use it for passengers later on.

You say you have done a few hours now? Do I assume you mean post PPL or are you still in the training environment?
The reason being that if still training there can be the possibility of compatibility issues with whatever headset your instructor is wearing or the intercom setup in the aircraft you are training in. Different makes of headset don't always get along with each other.

If you are post PPL then I suggest you try and visit one of the shows and try a few different sets out before parting with your hard earned. Personally I can't get on with Bose because the earcups are too small for me and I much prefer Lightspeed Zulu.

Hello,

I'm still training/learning towards my ppl and I'm learning in a piper warrior if that makes any differance to headset choice ?

SAW77
It isn't the type/model of aircraft that is the potential compatibility issue.
It is if you and your Instructor are using different make/brands of headset that compatibilily issues can arise. They don't always but in a good many instances it can and will cause problems.
If I were in your shoes I would continue using the training school headsets untill you have your licence.
Then if/when you have joined a group or bought your own aircraft you can then do your own thing and buy a nice headset....Just my opinion of course.

Hi,

I was at my flying school today couldn't fly due to weather though but asked about headsets. Most of the instructors were not using ANR sets and preferred a standard set.

Now I'm not sure if I should just buy a standard set while I'm learning or buy an ANR set and turn off the ANR if I don't like the way it sounds or not sounds ? but that seems a waste of money !

Instructors are sometimes from the old hard cowboy gene-pool ... On many ANR headsets the passive dampening, when power is cut off, is less then a standard passive headset could provide. Some older instructors therefore prefer passive headsets, because they don't have to think of carrying batteries for the ANR - as training machines usually have only standard plugs without integrated power supply.

As a private pilot you either fly less then an instructor, so batteries are not such big issue, or frequently use a plane where power supply for the headset may be available. If you own a plane, most probably you add the headset power supply very quickly ;-) as ANR is a big advantage.

Does the Zulu headset also allow you to wear the mic on your left or right like the Sierra ?

No, the Mic is ALWAYS on the left. However I've never seen this as an issue, even when sitting right..... This applies to the original Zulu and the Zulu.2

Quick question before I order, coiled or stright cable ?

I would go coiled, but it depends a bit on the planes you intend to fly.

I'm learning in a Piper Warrior.

I was all set to order some Zulu's but keep looking at DC H10-13.4

I used one of the clubs ASA headsets for most of my training, then bought a Sennheiser passive one. The Sennheiser was okay for a bit, but now I am flying quite a bit more during my hour building and also wanting to protect my ears and stop getting the "headset headache", so I bought a set of Bose A20's. They are amazing, and I wish I'd bought them to start with.

Lightspeeds are also very good, don't think you'll be disappointed with either.

@SAW77: have you tried out Zulu and DC in direct comparison? If not, do so! They have quite different focus on wearing and my experience is that one of'em will fit and the other not - no way to predict which one in advance, though.