Good starter headset.

youngflyer · March 15th, 2008, 18:58

I have started my private pilot training and I was curious of what you guys think would be a good starter headset. I have used the schools David Clarks Passive noise reduction headset but it cuts sound out intermitenly and is kind of annoying. I want one before I solo, turn 16 in may and hope to solo then. I was thinking the lightspeed 30-3gs. My parents are paying half so i guess I have a budget of $600 total. What are some suggestions for a headset to try out. The david clark feels alright, not great, but not bad for sure. Would ANR be worth it?

sdfcvoh · March 16th, 2008, 01:06

I really think that you should look at the headset as a long-term investment.

There are, of course, two main types: Passive and Active noise reduction...

My recommendation would be going toward Active NR. Reducing those low freq db's will really clear up the clarity of comms, and also save your ears for several years.

The downside of Noise Reduction is that in most cases, breaking the seal with temples from eyeglasses does reduce the active noise reduction.

I have been using David Clark X11's throughout my training. They are amazing for 1) not even knowing I am wearing them.... and that is for quite a few 8+ hour days. 2) DC designs their headsets to mil-spec. that means you can throw them on the ground, slam them in the door, smash the wires, etc.... and they will not be hurt. If they are hurt then the warranty is infallible.
Downside of the X11's is that since they are so "light" on the head, you cannot (note - cannot) wear sunglass temples underneath them. But seriously, I am more than happy that I made the decision to buy them. Shop around.... try to get better prices than listed.... you can!

I have only had on other experience with NR headphones, and that was with Light-speeds. The ANR was awesome. I WAS able to wear my glasses underneath them... BUT they were clamping on my head within one hour.

My advice: try as many as you can. Avoid the Bose hype. Buy Noise reduction. No matter what... buy Noise Reduction. Your ears will thank you. I've talked to people who did without NR throughout training, and they respond with "what?" after many questions.

Texguy · March 16th, 2008, 02:46

On the other hand, you could always just get something basic for now. I have 3 headsets and haven't paid more than $85 for any of them. I got 2 of them used. I haven't lost any hearing. They get the job done just fine. Once you finish your PPL you'll want more than 1 headset so you can take up friends. The first one I got was a Softcomm Prince.

Doug Taylor · March 16th, 2008, 02:47

I'd heavily suggest, as a bare minimum, a David Clark 13.4.

madmax · March 16th, 2008, 03:45

I used a pair of DC13.4 for my PPL, then "upgraded" to Lightspeed 20-3gs. Both are excellent headsets, although I began wearing earplugs under my DC's for a little more noise protection.

Ask around your flight-school and see if you can barrow some headsets to get an idea of what you like.

MQAAord · March 16th, 2008, 09:22

Invest in a decent pair.

I have a DC H10-13.4, and I love it. It costs more than the gray Softcomms my dad has, but those things pinch and hurt so bad I will go headset-less before I'll wear his spare Softcomms.

JDMcFly · March 16th, 2008, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texguy

On the other hand, you could always just get something basic for now. I have 3 headsets and haven't paid more than $85 for any of them. I got 2 of them used. I haven't lost any hearing. They get the job done just fine. Once you finish your PPL you'll want more than 1 headset so you can take up friends. The first one I got was a Softcomm Prince.

"I haven't lost any hearing." You hope.

blee256 · March 16th, 2008, 13:00

I think the Lightspeeds are great value. You should be fine with them. But my favorite are the Flightcomm Denalis. I thought they were awesome, light and comfortable and the ANR was great. But they cost a pretty penny. DCs and lightspeeds are probably the most common.

Micaoct · March 16th, 2008, 14:02

I have the David Clark 13.4 and love them. They are superbly well built and last long and they are very comfortable for me. I tried the Lightspeeds and Avcomms for one flight or so and they did not sit well for me. If I don't have my DC's I ain't going.

I might have to take a look at the DC's ANR headset. But if you ask me, David Clark all the way! The service is unparalleled too.

Lead Sled · March 16th, 2008, 14:33

Yeah, I've been really impressed with my 13.4 set. If you've got $600 to spend you'd get a great set that will last forever plus a lot of extra cash in your pocket for those pricy lessons (heck you could almost buy two headsets). And if you "upgrade" one day you'll have that 13.4 for the rest of your life to lend to a passenger. Flying around in a C-172 without ANR has not been a problem for me at all. But that's just my opinion...keep trying out sets and find the one that is you.

March 15th, 2008, 18:58	#1
youngflyer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: KSYR Posts: 416	Good starter headset. I have started my private pilot training and I was curious of what you guys think would be a good starter headset. I have used the schools David Clarks Passive noise reduction headset but it cuts sound out intermitenly and is kind of annoying. I want one before I solo, turn 16 in may and hope to solo then. I was thinking the lightspeed 30-3gs. My parents are paying half so i guess I have a budget of $600 total. What are some suggestions for a headset to try out. The david clark feels alright, not great, but not bad for sure. Would ANR be worth it?

March 16th, 2008, 01:06	#2
sdfcvoh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: That one Posts: 872	Re: Good starter headset. I really think that you should look at the headset as a long-term investment. There are, of course, two main types: Passive and Active noise reduction... My recommendation would be going toward Active NR. Reducing those low freq db's will really clear up the clarity of comms, and also save your ears for several years. The downside of Noise Reduction is that in most cases, breaking the seal with temples from eyeglasses does reduce the active noise reduction. I have been using David Clark X11's throughout my training. They are amazing for 1) not even knowing I am wearing them.... and that is for quite a few 8+ hour days. 2) DC designs their headsets to mil-spec. that means you can throw them on the ground, slam them in the door, smash the wires, etc.... and they will not be hurt. If they are hurt then the warranty is infallible. Downside of the X11's is that since they are so "light" on the head, you cannot (note - cannot) wear sunglass temples underneath them. But seriously, I am more than happy that I made the decision to buy them. Shop around.... try to get better prices than listed.... you can! I have only had on other experience with NR headphones, and that was with Light-speeds. The ANR was awesome. I WAS able to wear my glasses underneath them... BUT they were clamping on my head within one hour. My advice: try as many as you can. Avoid the Bose hype. Buy Noise reduction. No matter what... buy Noise Reduction. Your ears will thank you. I've talked to people who did without NR throughout training, and they respond with "what?" after many questions. __________________ I want to die like my grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in terror like his passengers.

March 16th, 2008, 02:46	#3
Texguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: KAUS Posts: 850	Re: Good starter headset. On the other hand, you could always just get something basic for now. I have 3 headsets and haven't paid more than $85 for any of them. I got 2 of them used. I haven't lost any hearing. They get the job done just fine. Once you finish your PPL you'll want more than 1 headset so you can take up friends. The first one I got was a Softcomm Prince. __________________ Leonard Nimoy singing The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

March 16th, 2008, 02:47	#4
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 39,830 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Good starter headset. I'd heavily suggest, as a bare minimum, a David Clark 13.4. __________________ Doug Taylor http://76school.flyblog.com (old!) http://30west.flyblog.com (updated 11/28)

March 16th, 2008, 03:45	#5
madmax Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 293	Re: Good starter headset. I used a pair of DC13.4 for my PPL, then "upgraded" to Lightspeed 20-3gs. Both are excellent headsets, although I began wearing earplugs under my DC's for a little more noise protection. Ask around your flight-school and see if you can barrow some headsets to get an idea of what you like. __________________ "I wish people would stop using "national security" when they mean "fear" or "downright stupidity"." - Chief Captain If you're not cheating, you're not trying

March 16th, 2008, 09:22	#6
MQAAord Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 8,814	Re: Good starter headset. Invest in a decent pair. I have a DC H10-13.4, and I love it. It costs more than the gray Softcomms my dad has, but those things pinch and hurt so bad I will go headset-less before I'll wear his spare Softcomms. __________________ PPL SEL 100-ish hours TT Former American Airlines F/A (12 months) Former Simmons/Eagle F/A (6 years) Former Eagle ground school instructor (1 year) Former Eagle IOE instructor (3 years)

March 16th, 2008, 13:00	#8
blee256 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: lower canada Posts: 1,604	Re: Good starter headset. I think the Lightspeeds are great value. You should be fine with them. But my favorite are the Flightcomm Denalis. I thought they were awesome, light and comfortable and the ANR was great. But they cost a pretty penny. DCs and lightspeeds are probably the most common. __________________ According to a report by Goldman Sachs economists, "the most important contributor to higher profit margins over the past five years has been a decline in labor's share of national income."

March 16th, 2008, 14:02	#9
Micaoct Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: KGFK/KPDX Posts: 281	Re: Good starter headset. I have the David Clark 13.4 and love them. They are superbly well built and last long and they are very comfortable for me. I tried the Lightspeeds and Avcomms for one flight or so and they did not sit well for me. If I don't have my DC's I ain't going. I might have to take a look at the DC's ANR headset. But if you ask me, David Clark all the way! The service is unparalleled too.

March 16th, 2008, 14:33	#10
Lead Sled Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 65	Re: Good starter headset. Yeah, I've been really impressed with my 13.4 set. If you've got $600 to spend you'd get a great set that will last forever plus a lot of extra cash in your pocket for those pricy lessons (heck you could almost buy two headsets). And if you "upgrade" one day you'll have that 13.4 for the rest of your life to lend to a passenger. Flying around in a C-172 without ANR has not been a problem for me at all. But that's just my opinion...keep trying out sets and find the one that is you.

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