Headset?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Paris CDG
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Headset?
Hello 
Do you have any idea of which headset I can buy to start a PPL? I was interested to buy the A20 bose but maybe for my commercial. For my PPL I will need a cheaper headset
Do you have any idea of which headset I can buy to start a PPL? I was interested to buy the A20 bose but maybe for my commercial. For my PPL I will need a cheaper headset
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree with StepTurn.
A used David Clark headset will serve you well, and can usually be resold later for what you paid for it.
They provide good hearing protection and clarity of radio, without ANR, and are will not break under even rough use.
If you really want ANR, the same headset can be converted to ANR easily and relatively cheaply, and the after market anr kits work really really well - 90% as good as Bose or Lightspeed headsets in terms of ANR effectiveness.
ANR_kits
A used David Clark headset will serve you well, and can usually be resold later for what you paid for it.
They provide good hearing protection and clarity of radio, without ANR, and are will not break under even rough use.
If you really want ANR, the same headset can be converted to ANR easily and relatively cheaply, and the after market anr kits work really really well - 90% as good as Bose or Lightspeed headsets in terms of ANR effectiveness.
ANR_kits
Join Date: May 2015
Location: London
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a firm believer in buy now, save later.
I bought a David Clark at the start of my PPL (I'm about to finish it!) and have since purchased Lightspeed Zulu 2. The active noise canceling does make a big difference.
I could've saved myself a bunch of cash just buying the Zulu's right out of the gate, although I found the DC's on eBay for £50! I keep them around for PAX now.
Bottom line, if you can afford it, do it.
I bought a David Clark at the start of my PPL (I'm about to finish it!) and have since purchased Lightspeed Zulu 2. The active noise canceling does make a big difference.
I could've saved myself a bunch of cash just buying the Zulu's right out of the gate, although I found the DC's on eBay for £50! I keep them around for PAX now.
Bottom line, if you can afford it, do it.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Belgium
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having a good ANR headset will help you to learn better since you have less noise around. I am very happy with Zulu2. I started out with ATC on speakers and a yelling instructor. Much more relaxed now.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: The World
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just my comment - Your hearing ability is one of the biggest assets you own, don't threaten it by following the cheap-road. If you already had a look at the A20 and like it, go for it, now.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Paris CDG
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I mostly wear a pair of Mendellson own-brand HM40s which are an excellent price and as good as David Clarke's in my opinion, without the high clamping forces. They work well for the environment in which I do most of my flying, and have very good passive noise attenuation. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.
However, it's absolutely true that you can concentrate on learning much better with a lightweight ANR headset like the Bose. I used a borrowed one for my CPL and it made a very noticeable difference when I made the switch. If you are definitely going all the way with your training, then the investment now is a pretty good idea. You'll never prove that, but the odds are that it'll pay for itself in the reduced flying hours to get your licences.
G
However, it's absolutely true that you can concentrate on learning much better with a lightweight ANR headset like the Bose. I used a borrowed one for my CPL and it made a very noticeable difference when I made the switch. If you are definitely going all the way with your training, then the investment now is a pretty good idea. You'll never prove that, but the odds are that it'll pay for itself in the reduced flying hours to get your licences.
G
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: go west
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
something to note about the journey to PPL, especially if you're only just starting it - many people begin the journey, few ever finish it. There are many reasons why people quit their training -some are to do with finances, others with weather, free time, interest, aptitude, health - you name it.. In Ireland, as the grapevine tells me, out of all students who take out their class 2 medicals, 1 out of 7 ever walk away with a licence and from that bunch there's another half who will never re-validate their licences (SEP ratings) after finishing their training.
So statistically speaking you are very likely to end up with a 1k worth of gear that you have only used couple of times and that has lost a good chunk it's value.
If money is no issue, by all means, go nuts. If money is an issue, I would rather borrow headsets for now up until a point where at least you go solo. if you continue your training after reaching your solo, statistically your chances with sticking with flying go up dramatically
So statistically speaking you are very likely to end up with a 1k worth of gear that you have only used couple of times and that has lost a good chunk it's value.
If money is no issue, by all means, go nuts. If money is an issue, I would rather borrow headsets for now up until a point where at least you go solo. if you continue your training after reaching your solo, statistically your chances with sticking with flying go up dramatically
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: England & Scotland
Age: 63
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I began to learn to fly helicopters using Bose X. So good that I fitted them (5 sets) in each of 2 EC120s and an R44 (4 sets). Good cheap deals on e-bay so a fraction of the cost of A20. Spare parts easy to come by. No Bluetooth, but then I don't want to take telephone calls or be distracted by music when I am flying.
I found the ANR sets much lighter on my head, and on long trips after 4 or more hours continuous use that really makes a difference.
I found the ANR sets much lighter on my head, and on long trips after 4 or more hours continuous use that really makes a difference.
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I very much like my Lightspeed Zulu 3. The Bose A20s are very nice but not, in my opinion, worth the extra £250 difference in cost given that the Zulu 3's have the same functionality and having tried both side by side similar ANR capability.
Just my 2c
Just my 2c
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Barbados
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The David Clark head sets are not "endlessly durable", it depends where you are located.
I live in the Caribbean and the temperature is 26-32C through the day/night - this I believe is the cause of problems with DC head sets - the plastic that molding around the jack plugs and the molding around the the "Y" on the cable "rots" (the only word I can use to describe it), they become soft and crumbly and great chunks fall off.
My jack plugs have insulative tape and a layer of speed tape around them now - and the "Y" junction has just started to crumble. I will post some photos at the weekend once I can retrieve the set from the plane.
To replace the offending parts - two options, one, send to DC (from where I am more than the cost of a new headset for there, back and the repair), two, get the cable US$70-75, watch a YouTube video on the fix and trust one's soldering.
The headset in question is seven years old and the crumbling and softening started about two years ago.
I agree with the comments if one is going commercial - buy what you plan to use, it will be cheaper in the long run and you will have a better experience with the radios.
I live in the Caribbean and the temperature is 26-32C through the day/night - this I believe is the cause of problems with DC head sets - the plastic that molding around the jack plugs and the molding around the the "Y" on the cable "rots" (the only word I can use to describe it), they become soft and crumbly and great chunks fall off.
My jack plugs have insulative tape and a layer of speed tape around them now - and the "Y" junction has just started to crumble. I will post some photos at the weekend once I can retrieve the set from the plane.
To replace the offending parts - two options, one, send to DC (from where I am more than the cost of a new headset for there, back and the repair), two, get the cable US$70-75, watch a YouTube video on the fix and trust one's soldering.
The headset in question is seven years old and the crumbling and softening started about two years ago.
I agree with the comments if one is going commercial - buy what you plan to use, it will be cheaper in the long run and you will have a better experience with the radios.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Faversham
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DC forever
I know I'm a bit of a Luddite, but you really can't go wrong with a decent DC. Just sold one of my spare sets on *B*y, and I know the buyer will be pleased. 30 years old but functioning like new (H10-40) and he only paid £83 for it.
At that price, you will never lose money, whether you carry on, and eventually replace, or give up and just sell it off.......
Whichever you do, PiwiOPL, enjoy your training, and welcome!
At that price, you will never lose money, whether you carry on, and eventually replace, or give up and just sell it off.......
Whichever you do, PiwiOPL, enjoy your training, and welcome!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
Age: 74
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
I found that DC had too much of a 'clamping' force which gave me discomfort. Additionally, the older examples have brass plugs which get corroded and make noisy electrical contact - the newer ones are chrome. My Lightspeed Sierra is a good compromise for ANR at about half the cost of Bose. I've done around 700 hours with them now, still excellent. I've replaced the ear cups and mic cover once, but these are 'consumables'. Good battery life and Bluetooth connectivity, works well with my phone.
I see SEHT are marketing a really inexpensive ANR, might be worth a look. They've been really helpful to me keeping our Club headsets going, but I haven't tried their ANR.
ANR is always going to be the better option, if the headset is designed from the ground up for it. The reason is that the headset can be made so much lighter and less fatiguing to wear - see my comment about DC above.
TOO
TOO
I see SEHT are marketing a really inexpensive ANR, might be worth a look. They've been really helpful to me keeping our Club headsets going, but I haven't tried their ANR.
ANR is always going to be the better option, if the headset is designed from the ground up for it. The reason is that the headset can be made so much lighter and less fatiguing to wear - see my comment about DC above.
TOO
TOO
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Strathaven Airfield
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whatever happened to using the school's headsets - our instructors use the same ones as the students.
That's how important we rate people's (instructors and students) hearing!
That's how important we rate people's (instructors and students) hearing!
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Glasgow
Age: 36
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another vote here for David Clark.
I bought a second hand one and put a new mic sock and cotton ear covers on.
I tried an A20 in the 152 I was learning in and didn't like it, there's some thing re-assuring about being able to hear the engine in a SEP!
I bought a second hand one and put a new mic sock and cotton ear covers on.
I tried an A20 in the 152 I was learning in and didn't like it, there's some thing re-assuring about being able to hear the engine in a SEP!
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: The World
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are able to spend the extra money, go for BT - if you ever encounter a total loss of electrickity and use a BT enabled phone, you'll be able to make a call using the headset - made my life easy once.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: The Home of the Gnomes
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
I have various these days but I bought two Softcomm C-40s (cheap DC copy) in 1991 when I did my PPL and used the surviving one today as a back up set.
£80 or thereabouts at the time. Still going.
£80 or thereabouts at the time. Still going.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not convinced that ANR necessarily offers better hearing protection- after all the headset is pumping even more energy into your eardrums. Contentious point but not unfounded . I've tried all sorts of hearing protection, including ANR in a far noisier environment than an SEP. My current solution works as well as any other - moulded ear plugs with filter and passive headset. Bose (used to?) have very poor passive protection. DCs are very popular in FW world but I would go for a Peltor. Better passive protection, lightweight decent quality. Cheap.