When to buy headset?

youngflyer · April 30th, 2008, 18:13

Once again I am in another agrument with my parents. I think that I should get my headset asap and they say that I should just keep borrowing the flight schools crappy headset. I was thinking of getting the headset for my birthday with me paying about half. What are some good reasons of getting the headset before the training is done?

JA Yawd Bwoy · April 30th, 2008, 18:36

Well to me it would not hurt to save your hearing atleast for one more year when you are 80. If the headsets are as bad as you say, then deffinetly get some that you are comfertable with and most of all PROTECT YOUR HEARING TO THE FULLEST!!

charlie1017 · April 30th, 2008, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngflyer

Once again I am in another agrument with my parents. I think that I should get my headset asap and they say that I should just keep borrowing the flight schools crappy headset. I was thinking of getting the headset for my birthday with me paying about half. What are some good reasons of getting the headset before the training is done?

I think that getting a headset is an investment you'll have to make. Being a student, you don't need the fancy David Clarks... I still use my trusty cheapo Flightcom headset from my private training...

JDMcFly · April 30th, 2008, 22:28

Fancy David Clarks?

DCs would be the absolute cheapest I'd go, but that's me. I finally settled on some DCs because they were like $260 bucks at sportys. I find them very comfortable, I actually never though to reevaluate whether I liked them or not.

SteveC · April 30th, 2008, 22:35

"When to buy headset?"

When you've saved enough money to pay for them.

taz · May 1st, 2008, 04:13

are the headsets at your flight school so crappy that it actually distract you in the cockpit? i never like the idea putting on something that's been sitting on another person's head, too close to my comfort zone.

scooter2525 · May 1st, 2008, 04:27

I bought mine after I got my private. At that point, I was at a milestone, and I would have a good grasp if I REALLLLLLLY wanted to make aviation a career or if that was as far as I would go (little boy dream did become a reality, but I tried to keep an open mind) . If your going to buy one, make it a smart worth while decision. I bought a lightspeed XLC15 (I think i paid around 400 at the time) and I have put about 1,200 hours on them in the past two and a half years... hope that helps.

ASpilot2be · May 1st, 2008, 08:06

I bought mine before I started training. I actually bought mine from a guy here on JC who has since vanished in Peaknuckle land.

Boris Badenov · May 1st, 2008, 08:59

"when you have the money" is the correct answer.

That said, I bought mine while I was still a student pilot, somewhere back in the mists of time around 1993. They are still my primary (and only) set. Say what you will about DCs, they last.

Speed Pilot · May 1st, 2008, 09:37

Yeah when you have the money. When I was a student and wanted my first headset I started looking on ebay. I found a nice set of DC20-10's with ANR for $170. Only draw back was they had the jumbo battery pack but I still have them and they work great.

Cessnaflyer · May 1st, 2008, 10:21

Buy a pair of ASA Air Classics, made with the same parts as David Clarks and only cost $99 at most stores. You can then add the soft top and gel ear seals and you have a DC headset for $150 with a lifetime warranty! I still have my first pair that I bought and now use it as a passenger headset.

TXaviator · May 1st, 2008, 12:22

just for the hygiene issue, id want my own ASAP.

i dig my DC's.... solid built, no complaints, takes lots of abuse in my backpack/flight bag/banging around the cockpit

modest price, no fancy ANR stuff, but gel ear seals get the job done.

beechpilot84 · May 1st, 2008, 12:31

Don't buy a cheaper headset like flightcom or air classic you will regret it in the future. Buy the DC 13.4 and it will last a long time plus the are very comfortable. Then when you start flying a few hours a day (CFI) get an ANR and you will still have a good backup or for passengers.

Maurus · May 1st, 2008, 12:33

Whatever you do, don't get cheap vice grips. I have a headset that after wearing it for an hour you feel like your head is about to cave in. I now use DC's.

killbilly · May 1st, 2008, 14:32

I bought one the night of my first lesson with my instructor. He has a deal where he can get discounts, so I got a basic AvComm for $105 and a set of gel earseals. It's pretty comfy for a low-end headset.

I've since purchased a used Pilot-USA with ANR that I like a lot, but it does need a bit of refurb work. Debating between keeping that as a backup and buying a Zulu (so that I have 3 headsets) or refurbing this one and having two.

I tried on a Zulu. Man that thing was comfortable.

ready2fly · May 1st, 2008, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

"When to buy headset?"

When you've saved enough money to pay for them.

Seconded!

Cessnaflyer · May 1st, 2008, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by beechpilot84

Don't buy a cheaper headset like flightcom or air classic you will regret it in the future. Buy the DC 13.4 and it will last a long time plus the are very comfortable. Then when you start flying a few hours a day (CFI) get an ANR and you will still have a good backup or for passengers.

Why does it matter when they are made in the same place with many of the same parts? The only thing that is really different is the plastic and the color.

JDMcFly · May 1st, 2008, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cessnaflyer

Why does it matter when they are made in the same place with many of the same parts? The only thing that is really different is the plastic and the color.

I've worn cheap PNR headsets.

There is a huge difference.

It doesn't take more than 1.0 to figure it out.

Maybe I am just a sensitive pansy. But I do like my hearing.

troopernflight · May 1st, 2008, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by beechpilot84

Don't buy a cheaper headset like flightcom or air classic you will regret it in the future. Buy the DC 13.4 and it will last a long time plus the are very comfortable. Then when you start flying a few hours a day (CFI) get an ANR and you will still have a good backup or for passengers.

I've been using a cheapo flightcom set since I started training in a DA-20. It's not great, but does the job for now. Are you saying that hearing damage could result from using this headset? Because the decibals seem to be fine to me. I don't ever have any of that "after rock concert" feeling in my ears after I fly. Just curious if this is a known fact and whether I'm at risk, or if that is just your opinion. Thanks.

SteveC · May 1st, 2008, 19:23

The cheap ones will give you enough hearing protection. The problem is that they won't hold up as well and/or they won't be as comfortable as a quality set. I'll second the David Clark 13.4 as a really good value. Durable and, at least for me, very comfortable. I think you can buy a used set for about the same price as buying a new cheap set.

dashdriver · May 1st, 2008, 22:03

I'll third the David Clark 13.4. I've had mine for about four years for now and they're very compfy, reliable and durable. Go with a David Clark headset, before I got the 13.4's I had another DC headset for about four and a half years and I have no complaints. If they're going to go half way with ya see if you can get them to get a set of Bose

AngelFuree · May 2nd, 2008, 00:11

I highly recommend a good headset during your training. My first headset was an ANR. It definitely makes training more enjoyable, and now that I fly several times a day, I DEFINITELY welcome the quiet comfort of them. Of course, I realize that it might be a few more bucks to buy a good headset.