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I am in the market for a new headset. Any advice? I know everyone has an opinion, but headsets aren’t cheep so opinion are welcome. Thanks

So I started with this cheep ANR headset that I rather liked. The SkyCom II from Aircraft Spruce
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... mIIANR.php

They worked good and got me though my primary training. I have upgraded sense my check ride and have handed the SkyComs to my wife. I upgraded to a Clarity Aloft headset and I really like my choice. They were only about $500 and they work really well. I like that I don't have any thing over my head as the Clarity Aloft goes around the back of your head. This really helps in keeping your head cool. These are not ANR but they work just as well to reduce the noise. Check them out.

http://www.clarityaloft.com/purchase.htm

I hope that helps.

-Will

_________________
Learning to fly is a lifelong project. Every time you start the engine or hook up a tow line you begin a lesson.

pilotwill@sbcglobal.net
http://web.mac.com/pilotwill/Site/Home.html
http://pilotwill.libsyn.com/

I've tried a couple, but really think that for long cross-country flying trips, you can't beat the lightweight Clarity Aloft headset (http://www.clarityaloft.com). Good mic, great sound, and 40dB of attenuation in many frequency bands.

You can buy a bulky ANR headset, replace batteries, get sweaty ears, and a sore neck, or you can finish a 5 hr X-country feeling like you weren't wearing a headset.....that is, if you can keep it away from the wife. My wife prefers the "lighter, hair-friendly headset", so if I'm flying with her, I don't get to use it.

I love the Lightspeed headsets. I started with a 25XL and then bought a Twenty 3G. I've been tempted by the Clarity Aloft, but I've never had the problems with overheating, clamping pressure, or any of the other complaints you hear from pilots who are using regular headsets. You can get decent ANR Lightspeeds in the $300-400 range.

Incidentally, a pilot on a local email list just sold his Clarity Aloft set because he determined that the Bose headsets that came with his Cirrus were more comfortable and user-friendly.

I have to say that I haven't bought a new headset for while, which I guess is a good thing...I love my Lightspeed.

Hey also I should have noted something in my other post about the SkyCom II's I talked about.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... mIIANR.php
I understand this head set is really a LightSpeed QFR Cross Country 2C Headset.
http://spinnerspilotshop.com/cgi-local/ ... 1111563667
I think LightSpeed makes them but SkyCom sells them for less then the LightSpeeds. Check it out. They may not be the best but they got me though my training and they are making a great second "loaner" headset.

-Will

_________________
Learning to fly is a lifelong project. Every time you start the engine or hook up a tow line you begin a lesson.

pilotwill@sbcglobal.net
http://web.mac.com/pilotwill/Site/Home.html
http://pilotwill.libsyn.com/

Currently I use the Sennheiser HMEC-400 ANR headset. The complaints I have are that the leather ear seals it comes with are awful. A short 39.00 gets you the Sennheiser Gel-seals and voila! Problem solved. However, they tend to break a lot. I have to send them back like once or twice a year to have them repaired, but then again they get used between 6 and 8 flight hours per day, six days a week.

Oh, and I use Energizer rechargeable AA batteries and I have to put them on the charger every night before I leave work.

I'm really intrigued by the Clarity Aloft headsets...I'm just skeptical that they would withstand being put on and taken off ten times a day.

_________________
Inst: "So how far out so we make our initial call-up?"
Student: "10 miles"
Inst: "OK, let's make that call"
Student: "Airport Traffic, Cessna 172, 3 miles east..."

I bought a pair of DC PNR headsets when I began my flight training, and those worked really well throughout. For passive reduction, they did pretty well, and I never experienced the clamping pressure problems that other pilots report with them. When I earned my PPL, my mentor gave me a set of Bose X's as a gift, and wow, what a difference! They are very lightweight and have great noise reduction. If you have the money, that's a good place to invest it.

_________________
-PJ

PPL ASEL as of 8/15/2007

"Flying is a lot like riding a bicycle, it's just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes!" -Captain Rex Kramer, from the movie "Airplane!"

dang PJ you need to introduce me to your mentor!

_________________
Everyone must believe in something, I believe that I will go flying.

Well, I'm trying to talk him into taking his Bo up to Gaston's next year .

Seriously, it was very unexpected and when I unwrapped it I almost needed a putty knife to scrape my jaw off the floor. Interesting side-note... he used an old sectional as wrapping paper, which I thought was an awesome idea and a nice touch. I think I'll be doing that with any gifts I give from now on .

_________________
-PJ

PPL ASEL as of 8/15/2007

"Flying is a lot like riding a bicycle, it's just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes!" -Captain Rex Kramer, from the movie "Airplane!"

Plain old Clarks for me. They do the job and are a reasonable price. I really enjoyed using a Bose headset in a friends plane but cannot get myself to spend that much money.

I recently bought a Telex Stratus 50D. It has very good noise reduction and I don't feel any discomfort, although I have taken it on any long flights.

It has a kind of bulky box for the ANR system, but as long as you have a side pocket in the plane nearby it is not a problem.

Compared to the passive David Clarks I used in training this headset sounds awesome. Everything just seems so much smoother and calmer.

There are two versions of the clarity headset,
Clarity Aloft® Aviation Headset for $525.00 and
Clarity Aloft® Pro Aviation Headset - TSO Certified for $695.00.

1. Does anybody know, if the differences are relevant for private pilots and justify the price difference?
- fully TSO approval
- Lighter and more flexible Stainless Steel wire band
- Thinner, more supple cording

2. In my understanding ANR reduces the (most annoying) low frequencies,
while the Clarity Aloft headset is plugged into the ear and thereby reduces the whole audio spectrum.
So, are there differences between both headset types in the audibility of stall warnings?

Rolf-Rainer

I won't attempt to answer your questions, but there is another less expensive option to the Clarity Alofts, the Quiet Technologies Halo. I've heard some very good things about them from people I know. Most all have said they are better than standard ANRs, and that's in noisy homebuilt aircraft.

_________________
Brad
RV-7: RV7Factory.com
Blog: PilotBrad.com

So far I haven't seen a post about using the Headset, Inc mod for converting any headset to an ANR unit. Believe me, it is one of the best options you can consider. I converted my DC 13.4 over six years ago with the kit from Headset, Inc and it is better than a Boise X.

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Tom Gilmore MCFI