RJ headset reccomendations?

[LoadMasterC141]

My cousin just got hired over at Air Whiskey. He was wondering if they supply any type of headset? I told him I did not think so. He kinda figured that too and is looking at a Telex 850. Is this a decent headset? What do others reccomend?

[IFly85]

Air Wisconsin has a spare headset in one of the storage compartments up front but, if I were him I would just get a headset. I got the 850 and so far it is working out well. What is his class date?

[Nick]

I'm in the ERJ, and not the CRJ, which is apparently considerably quieter.

ERJ: fly using the POS David Clark headset that's in the cockpit until you can find something better.

After 1000 hours I have yet to determine what is better but I am now almost about to try the Telex with earplugs.

I wear earplugs as it is so comfort would increase tremendously and volume would stay about the same.

There is very little bass noise and it is mostly wind noise. ANR does less in an RJ than a GA airplane.

[wheelsup]

If he's concerned about his hearing go with the David Clamps or earplugs and the Telex 750. Otherwise anything else will do. The 850's are really expensive even on ebay, $400+, and the times I've worn them in the CRJ they didn't impress me too much.

You can do a 750 - custom ear plug setup for <$250, and it would be much quieter.

I'm thinking about getting custom made ear plugs instead of the orange ones with my 750. I currently use the orange ones (standard plugs) and they start to hurt after more than a few hours.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

If he's concerned about his hearing go with the David Clamps or earplugs and the Telex 750. Otherwise anything else will do. The 850's are really expensive even on ebay, $400+, and the times I've worn them in the CRJ they didn't impress me too much.

You can do a 750 - custom ear plug setup for <$250, and it would be much quieter.

I'm thinking about getting custom made ear plugs instead of the orange ones with my 750. I currently use the orange ones (standard plugs) and they start to hurt after more than a few hours.

Just want to make sure I understand your setup.

You put the orange (or any other kind) earplugs in your ears, and then on top of that you use the Telex 750?

Thanks, I'm mulling the options for my current airplane and possible other equipment in the near future.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Nick

You put the orange (or any other kind) earplugs in your ears, and then on top of that you use the Telex 750?

Yep. As long as you turn the volumes up the sound is crystal clear. The ear plugs seem to keep out the low end noise.

I tried (in varying order)
Bose X
QC2
David Clarks
Lightspeed 25xl
Telex 850
and the 750 w/ earplugs

I liked the earplug setup the best...I can't wait to try the custom mold ear plugs with it, as it should enhance the comfort ten fold.

They sell headsets with speakers embedded into the custom ear plugs, but they are really expensive. I'm not sure if I should go that way or with the 750 and custom plugs yet.

[Nick]

Some guy on another forum who flies a classic 747 posted a way to make your own earplug headset in this style. I'll try and find it again.

I think it would be just as good as the molded ones, IF you are okay with the way earplugs feel. You mentioned that they get uncomfortable after a while so you might be one who would justify buying the custom mold type.

[killbilly]

LM -

I just picked up a used Pilot USA ANR headset and I really, really like it. Airdale has also used this headset and speaks highly of it. Very light and very comfortable and really good ANR.

[PCL_128]

Just use a 750. You don't even need the earplugs. As long as you're not flying around at 310 knots everywhere (and you shouldn't be in an RJ), then it's plenty quiet.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I'm thinking about getting custom made ear plugs instead of the orange ones with my 750. I currently use the orange ones (standard plugs) and they start to hurt after more than a few hours.

Ever tried the squishy yellow ones they sell over the counter?

I used to wear those under my helmet when I was riding motorcycles a lot. Made a huge difference in how I felt at the end of the day. Much, much less fatigue and no ringing in the ears at the end of the day.

Going to try a set myself under my ANR headset and see if things improve at all.

[Tram]

I used my Light Speeds and now have a set of Sennheiser HMEC 25-KA's and they rock..

[Clocks]

I used bose x in the ERJ for about a month, then switched to 750 + free earplugs for the last 2 months. With either setup you hear more through the mic than anything (so be kind to your co-workers, turn off your hot mic when you aren't talking). The $900 price difference (bought my 750s for $89 on ebay) is just not worth it. Flew almost 8 hours today and while my butt was sore my ears were not. I put the ear plugs in as we pass 10k, because it is definitely way too loud to be comfortable for me once we get past 250kts, then I usually leave them in until we're taxiing in to the gate. I type this with a mind boggling 80 hours in the ERJ, so take it for what you will

Side note, anyone know who sells replacement mic covers for the 750?

[ClearedForOption]

I use the Bose X I bought for the Mighty Beech to save my hearing... it works great. Probably not worth the 1K price tag for a CRJ - but was sooooo nice in the Beech and I can still hear (sort of) in the 12K range.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I'm thinking about getting custom made ear plugs instead of the orange ones with my 750. I currently use the orange ones (standard plugs) and they start to hurt after more than a few hours.

My dad uses a pair of custom made ear plugs and he loves them. He says they work well, and are comfortable.

[jtrain609]

I'm rockin' the Telex 750 with ear plugs. One of these days I'm going to get around to getting a pair of custom ear molds done, but right now I'm using the brown heros that you can get at CVS. They're more comfortable than the big orange ones that the company provides, though after 2-3 hours they start to really wear on me. As long as I can get them out for 20-30 minutes during a turn everything is good.

The only problem I've had has been women's voices can be muffeled on some intercoms. I dunno what the deal is, but some airplanes have better, clearer intercoms than others.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

...why do regional pilots use the big headsets? When I see videos of pilots at majors they always have the headsets that look like they're telemarketers.

You know the real light weight ones with only one speaker bout' the size of ear, or smaller with the thin mouth peice.

Why don't pilots at the regional level seem wear those?

[jtrain609]

I wear one of those in the ERJ, but I have ear plugs under it.

If you don't wear ear plugs or David Clarks in the ERJ you'll go deaf fast, and that's not an exaggeration in any way.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

I wear one of those in the ERJ, but I have ear plugs under it.

If you don't wear ear plugs or David Clarks in the ERJ you'll go deaf fast, and that's not an exaggeration in any way.

Yea, those are the ones. I like!

I always equate the big clunky ones to flight training, as I always saw professional pilots wearing the more sleeker looking headsets.

How do you hear, if you have ear plugs under your telex???

[jtrain609]

I've got one with speakers on both ears, but pretty similiar.

You crank the crap out of the radios to hear over the ear plugs, but the ear plugs kill the high frequency noise that will kill your hearing. All the noise in the ERJ is wind noise, mostly because the EMB-145 has an EMB-120 windshield on it and since it has an additional 150 knots of wind hitting it, it's a lot louder than in the EMB-120.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by ASpilot2be

My dad uses a pair of custom made ear plugs and he loves them. He says they work well, and are comfortable.

Good to know...do you know where he had them made, of what material, and about what cost?

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

Good to know...do you know where he had them made, of what material, and about what cost?

He had them made at a place in Juneau. I dont know about the cost, insurance paid for them. I dont know about the material, but they are blue, and fairly flexible.

Keep in mind he doesnt use them with headsets, he uses them in engine rooms of ships. I will ask about them when I talk to him next.

[ASpilot2be]

He did not know of the cost because the State pays for them. He said they are a soft plastic type material.

Every once and a while he will need to get a new pair because the ears change shape, and lose the snug fit, thus the plugs arent nearly as effective.

He said when he is down below when the engines are running he will wear a pair of these over the plugs: