First Headset?
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First Headset?
Hi guys/girls,
This may well be another headset thread but I would appreciate your advise.
I am soon to be starting my first job as a commercial pilot (well, after TR is complete) and wondered what the general consensus is with regards to a good headset to start out with?
Bear in mind I don't have heaps of cash to spend, I would say the upper limit is £600 but anything cheaper that is good value would be preferable.
I know a couple of friends have gone for Bose QC15 + UFlyMike which seems a pretty cost effective way of securing a noise cancelling headset. Is it worth paying extra for a noise cancelling headset just because it is 'designed' for aviation?
Thanks in advance!
This may well be another headset thread but I would appreciate your advise.
I am soon to be starting my first job as a commercial pilot (well, after TR is complete) and wondered what the general consensus is with regards to a good headset to start out with?
Bear in mind I don't have heaps of cash to spend, I would say the upper limit is £600 but anything cheaper that is good value would be preferable.
I know a couple of friends have gone for Bose QC15 + UFlyMike which seems a pretty cost effective way of securing a noise cancelling headset. Is it worth paying extra for a noise cancelling headset just because it is 'designed' for aviation?
Thanks in advance!
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I personally have a Bose A20 (flying a 757/767) yes it's expensive however I bought it as an investment to protect my hearing. I'm in this game another 30 years, but less if I'm deaf.
However I didn't buy the Bose straight away because there was no way I could afford it from day dot.
Several disadvantages of the QC15/ uflymike.
1) Not TSO approved. Not that relevant in the UK, but your employer may object.
2) The mike is on the wrong side for an FO. This makes it very difficult to use "uncupped" when your left ear has to be free. Particularly relevant during startup and during cruise when talking to flight deck visitors (cabin crew bringing you coffee and coming for a natter)
3) when the batteries run out it is unusable. If the batteries run out on an A20 it still works as a non noise cancelling headset. The qc15 stops working all together.
All that said as and when I become a captain I will probably buy the uflymike/qc15 combo and sell my A20 on eBay.
One final reminder for the A20. Again UK only. If your employer does not provide you with a noise cancelling headset HMRC allow you to make a tax claim for the capital expense.
If it were up to me either wait for a year or two when finances are better and bite the bullet for an A20 or make the investment now. In 30-40 years you'll thank yourself.
However I didn't buy the Bose straight away because there was no way I could afford it from day dot.
Several disadvantages of the QC15/ uflymike.
1) Not TSO approved. Not that relevant in the UK, but your employer may object.
2) The mike is on the wrong side for an FO. This makes it very difficult to use "uncupped" when your left ear has to be free. Particularly relevant during startup and during cruise when talking to flight deck visitors (cabin crew bringing you coffee and coming for a natter)
3) when the batteries run out it is unusable. If the batteries run out on an A20 it still works as a non noise cancelling headset. The qc15 stops working all together.
All that said as and when I become a captain I will probably buy the uflymike/qc15 combo and sell my A20 on eBay.
One final reminder for the A20. Again UK only. If your employer does not provide you with a noise cancelling headset HMRC allow you to make a tax claim for the capital expense.
If it were up to me either wait for a year or two when finances are better and bite the bullet for an A20 or make the investment now. In 30-40 years you'll thank yourself.
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Have a few friends on the 737 and all of them (my friends, that is) use the Telex 850.
Pudoc, I use an A20 (still have whirly bits in front of the engines) and I forget that I am wearing it most of the time. Longest sectors would be ~ 3 hours often with very short turn arounds (immediate departure for repositioning) so it could be on my nut for about 8-10 hours a day and I haven't had a problem with comfort.
Battery life isn't the best, but I don't find it bothersome. I always carry a good few batteries in my bag and I get around about the prescribed 45 hours out of them.
Pudoc, I use an A20 (still have whirly bits in front of the engines) and I forget that I am wearing it most of the time. Longest sectors would be ~ 3 hours often with very short turn arounds (immediate departure for repositioning) so it could be on my nut for about 8-10 hours a day and I haven't had a problem with comfort.
Battery life isn't the best, but I don't find it bothersome. I always carry a good few batteries in my bag and I get around about the prescribed 45 hours out of them.
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Thanks for the replies, I'm also going be on the 737 so not too sure what to expect at the moment, but yes I could also be about for 30-40 years also so I will have to switch to something high quality sooner or later!
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The QC15/UflyMike is actually available in a TSO'd version. However one needs to wear additional earbuds which is kinda redundant. No problems on the 737 as an FO with the mike on left side although it worked a tiny bit better on my Sennheiser HMEC 26. I used the Telex 850 but its reduction is actually not good enough, after 5 years of wearing it on the 737 i had a measurable hearing loss and switched to better products. Interestingly enough the company i work for tested several headsets and the 850 wouldn't be allowed under current health safety regulations, on the airbus fleet it would work out though as their flightdeck isn't as noisy.
I use a Telex 850 and foam or silicone earplugs.
Bought the 850 used but freshly factory overhauled.
Was meant to be a temporary thing but going strong for 2 years now.
Bought the 850 used but freshly factory overhauled.
Was meant to be a temporary thing but going strong for 2 years now.
I use a Bose QC 25, (note 25, not 15), with a UFlyMike.
I found you can easily wear the headphones backwards, which puts the mic (and cable) on the right hand side for an F/O.
Make sure you measure accurately the length of mic boom required when you are ordering. Slightly too long is better than too short, (ooer missus!), since you can bend the gooseneck to put the mic against your lip.
If the battery runs out, the QC25 headphones and mic all still work. You lose the active noise cancelling, but having full ear cups, you still have some passive noise reduction.
The QC25 is a very good and very comfortable noise cancelling unit, if you can find a set.
I think UFlyMike produce a mic for the QC35 now?
The combination is a hell of a lot cheaper than the A20, and the A20 is also very bulky and heavy by comparison.
PS, you have to pay duty when importing the UFlyMike, which being an American company, they don’t know about so they can’t tell you. And it costs more than the headset. However, it is a very well engineered and well produced product, and the after sales service is excellent. I fully recommend them.
I found you can easily wear the headphones backwards, which puts the mic (and cable) on the right hand side for an F/O.
Make sure you measure accurately the length of mic boom required when you are ordering. Slightly too long is better than too short, (ooer missus!), since you can bend the gooseneck to put the mic against your lip.
If the battery runs out, the QC25 headphones and mic all still work. You lose the active noise cancelling, but having full ear cups, you still have some passive noise reduction.
The QC25 is a very good and very comfortable noise cancelling unit, if you can find a set.
I think UFlyMike produce a mic for the QC35 now?
The combination is a hell of a lot cheaper than the A20, and the A20 is also very bulky and heavy by comparison.
PS, you have to pay duty when importing the UFlyMike, which being an American company, they don’t know about so they can’t tell you. And it costs more than the headset. However, it is a very well engineered and well produced product, and the after sales service is excellent. I fully recommend them.
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I use a Bose QC 25, (note 25, not 15), with a UFlyMike.
I found you can easily wear the headphones backwards, which puts the mic (and cable) on the right hand side for an F/O.
Make sure you measure accurately the length of mic boom required when you are ordering. Slightly too long is better than too short, (ooer missus!), since you can bend the gooseneck to put the mic against your lip.
If the battery runs out, the QC25 headphones and mic all still work. You lose the active noise cancelling, but having full ear cups, you still have some passive noise reduction.
The QC25 is a very good and very comfortable noise cancelling unit, if you can find a set.
I think UFlyMike produce a mic for the QC35 now?
The combination is a hell of a lot cheaper than the A20, and the A20 is also very bulky and heavy by comparison.
PS, you have to pay duty when importing the UFlyMike, which being an American company, they don’t know about so they can’t tell you. And it costs more than the headset. However, it is a very well engineered and well produced product, and the after sales service is excellent. I fully recommend them.
I found you can easily wear the headphones backwards, which puts the mic (and cable) on the right hand side for an F/O.
Make sure you measure accurately the length of mic boom required when you are ordering. Slightly too long is better than too short, (ooer missus!), since you can bend the gooseneck to put the mic against your lip.
If the battery runs out, the QC25 headphones and mic all still work. You lose the active noise cancelling, but having full ear cups, you still have some passive noise reduction.
The QC25 is a very good and very comfortable noise cancelling unit, if you can find a set.
I think UFlyMike produce a mic for the QC35 now?
The combination is a hell of a lot cheaper than the A20, and the A20 is also very bulky and heavy by comparison.
PS, you have to pay duty when importing the UFlyMike, which being an American company, they don’t know about so they can’t tell you. And it costs more than the headset. However, it is a very well engineered and well produced product, and the after sales service is excellent. I fully recommend them.
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For europeans there is also this one:
https://avmike.leosounds.de/en-gb/home
No TSO. Said to be more robust than the UFLyMike but also heavier adding more disbalance to the QC25. Maybe less "pro" looking as well.
RHS mount with longer cable available.
https://avmike.leosounds.de/en-gb/home
No TSO. Said to be more robust than the UFLyMike but also heavier adding more disbalance to the QC25. Maybe less "pro" looking as well.
RHS mount with longer cable available.
