best value headphones....
 

Hi all:
doing a bit of research here, looking for your opinion on the best value headphones in the market for an airline cockpit environment, hopefully I get advice based on experience, since a good set can set you back quite a bit these days...
cheers and thanks

Depends what kind of aircraft you are flying. There are a number of good ANR sets, for example the Bose A20 and the Lightspeed Zulu 2. I would prefer and choose the latter because of the extra features, better value and better if not equal ANR.

Other types are good if you are looking for the lightweight, small cup style ANR headsets such as the Sennheiser HMEC 26 but it is known to have some discomfort due to the pressure on your ears if you have the headset on for a long time.

I think headset value is a very subjective matter, as the previous poster mentions, type of aircraft you fly is a big factor, some of the headsets available are not approved by the aircraft.manufacturer or airline, then there's ANR versus standard passive.

Headsets that go over the top of your head can be a nuisance, and the types that fit into the ear canal can also cause ear discomfort, so I think the ultimate value is the one that works best for you.

Cheers, D.L.

I've been flying the noisy 738 for the last 2 years and still can't justify the expense of buying a flashy ANR headset when my old passive David Clark H10-60 pair does the job perfectly well. I say H10-60 but to be honest I have no idea what model it is because the writing has worn off. But it looks similar - adjustable and quite basic.

I see a lot of guys wearing Sennheiser 'on the ear' headsets and I admit to being very envious. However, spending the equivalent of a month's mortgage payment on a 'better' headset when the old DC does the job perfectly well is something that I've yet to bring up with my accountant (wife).

It's like cars: Most get you from A to B. What you buy reflects your enjoyment of driving, love of gadgets, or sense of practical purpose.

Horses for courses and of course manufacturer compatibility are the main drivers, I would agree.

I use the "uflymike" with a Bose QC15 headset - smaller than the Bose X, lighter and cheaper as well. Works well for me in a G5

Thanks for the advice, this is for 777 which I understand is one of the noisy ones, having only flown boeings I have little capacity to compare, and always used a company provided telex headset, thanks for the advice

In the UK you can claim back your upper rate tax on a new headset.

Its pretty easy to do. And I think you can buy one every 5 years.

Quick Caveat on that. Only if you're company do not provide one (either a personal one or one fitted to the aircraft) and you have to fill out a tax return to claim it back . If you buy one on the 6th of april 2011 you can only claim it back after the 5th of april 2012.

I personally use a bose A20 on the on the 757. I have sector lengths up to 6 hours, and at the end of those i do need a break from the weight. However the noise cancellation is amazing.

I did consider the Uflymike and for a captain it's a fantastic solution. but for an f/o (i.e. me) not so good as the mike (can only be fitted to the left ear piece on the qc-15) prevents easy off-ear communications (i.e. in my case before engine start or conversations with people not on the intercom such as cabin crew or jump seating crew)

I spent many years without noise cancelling, and with it (even though my hearing is probably slightly worse) I miss less ATC calls, i turn the volume down much more, and i feel more refreshed at the end of a 12-14 hour day.

Best value headset? Speaking as a guy with permanent hearing damage from may years around noisy aeroplanes I'd say the best value headset is the one with the most effective noise attenuation - regardless of cost!

Of course it has to be comfortable too because, if you don't wear it it can't protect you.

Happy landings

3 Point