OT - REAL PILOTS - Headset question

[Jeff S KDTW]

For those real pilots amoung us (Tom, Lou, ?), I was hoping you could give me some advice on purchasing a headset.
I am planning on starting PPL training in the spring, which will be used initially for pleasure purposes and then for the eventual practical purposes with family (short trips, etc.).
I am the type of person who likes quality items and would rather buy something good now that will last, rather than upgrade later. I have tried ANR headsets, and am a BIG fan.

Buying requirements:

Active noise reduction
comfortable (especially while using glasses)
no more than $700US.

Bose, Lightspeed, Dave Clarks, etc.????????

Any ideas, guys? (please excuse the cross posting to a couple forums. )


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[Hakan_Olsson]

I've always used PELTOR because of their ruggedness. But I havn't tried them with noice reduction

By the way thanks for your Baron panel, its great !

Hakan

[pclark]

Personally, I've always liked the Bose headsets, but that's just me.

Take care!
P

[biggles70]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-04-02 AT 10:41AM (EDT)[p]Personally Ive had one set of David Clarks DC-H10-40, not ANR but very quite, bought just after getting my Private Licence in 1990. Still working. Never missed a beat.

Go for oil filled ear seals for glasses. At least that what I have. For my sunglasses anyway, I dont wear optical correction glasses.

[AirbusAces]

David Clarks is a good safe bet, that's what I use anyway and get the Gel filled ear seals :-)

[Lou_Betti]

Jeff, forget the DCs, nice, but old news. Get the Lightspeed, that's what Tom Main has, and I will be upgrading to the same. :-) More comfy, very durable, and the best ANR.

Regards,
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[bruceriggs]

I second the DC thought, because that's all I've used! But really, you might want to check the rec.aviation.* newsgroup archives for ad nauseum discussions on this topic. Having never used ANR's (just DC H10-60's for about a year), I probably don't know what I'm missing. Being only a 120 hr. new pilot, I like being able to hear the engine as a frame of reference for normal operations, not sure what an ANR would let me hear. I have flown the DC's for many 2-3 hour X/C's, and have not ever had a comfort problem (maybe too hard a head!) For me, the sound quality is just as important as the comfort and noise reduction, and DC is the tops here from the several I have tried. Best wishes on your PPL!

Bruce Riggs

[KenG01]

That's what I told him in his post over in the FS2002 forum. I love mine and they weren't all that expensive for the comfort and ANR feature.

-----
Ken :-wave

[Jeff S KDTW]

Thanks Bruce and everyone else for your suggestions. They are very much appreciated!!!

Bruce, I have used a ANR headset and had no problem hearing the engine and the slipstream. I was able to click the button to turn the ANR on and off, and found it MUCH easier to hear voices (pilot and ATC) with it turned on.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share the thought. ;-)

Thanks again!

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[Tom_Main]

Jeff,

I got a set of the Lightspeed 15XLs for Christmas and absolutely love them. These are the lower end model that Lightspeed has but they reduce the engine noise with blocking it at all. Flew 1.9 the other day with these on and it was a complete joy. You can see the difference between the instructor and his "normal" headset and me with the ANR. I was a bit "fresher" without that slight ringing confused state of sitting next to an engine :-)

Lou and I enjoyed the ANR from Bose on a 777 to and from Europe last summer and we both loved them. Yes flying in the cabin is very different than 2 feet behind a recip engine, BUT, when was the last time you got off of a seven hour flight and felt completely relaxed and not punked out.

I have flow with DCs and Peltors in the Air Force and if I was to get a non ANR set, I would definitely reccommend the Peltors as we were able to wear them for some very extended missions. Had to wear them on the way to Turkey on one trip and had them on the head for 15 hours that day with only a slight break in Spain (about an hour and a half) and they NEVER got uncomfortable. With over 600 hours on the Peltors, I only wish I could rig the Miltary plugs to work in the Cessna when I take a friend along, he could ride in comfort also.

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[Lou_Betti]

Yeah, Tom, the ANR was a nice touch, but I would dare say the sleeper seats, Caviar cart, Champagne and Brandy did not hurt us either!

I mean, it was pretty quiet as it was in row 1!!! ;-)

Notice how they were sure to pick those headsets up an hour before we landed? At $300 a piece, they did not want those things walking off the plane!

Of course, the best part was what we paid for those seats. I think some folks in coach were paying more than us! :-lol

Ahhhh....the "good 'ol days", of just a few months ago. ;-)

Oh well, looking forward to photo trip down to visit you and, of course, the E3 trip this May, for another round on the QM, and I can finally cash in those Delta miles for another flight in row 1! ;-)

Regards,
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[Jeff S KDTW]

Tom-

That testimonial was exactly what I was looking for -- first hand experiences.

I will certainly say that those Lightspeeds are on the "short list" now. :D

Thanks guys. I hope one day I can return the favor. ;-)

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