Tell Me About Your Headset

Bose QC 25 + Ufly Mike. Works great flying with the windows down in the Ercoupe. The “Velcro” boom attachment is a little finicky to get placed right but other than that, I’m happy.
 
WDD said:
I found using it was a bit of a pain as well.
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That tends to be one of the two main issues with in-ear. Dome headsets pop on and off. In-ear requires patience rolling and inserting properly. Unless it's in the Diamond, if I'm instructing and it's going to be one of those typical 1-1.5 hour sessions, I'll usually use my Lightspeeds.

The other is that some people just don't like the stuffed-ear feel of in-ear headsets.
 
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I really liked the idea of the clarity alofts when I tried them, but man I do NOT like flying with the sensation of two fingers in my ears.

I don't like airpods/buds either. Doomed to listen to things via giant princess leia cans I suppose :D
 
schmookeeg said:
I really liked the idea of the clarity alofts when I tried them, but man I do NOT like flying with the sensation of two fingers in my ears.
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I got over that feeling quickly sleeping with them all the time as my wife snores.
However, the moulded silicone pieces I use with the Clarity Aloft now, I don't notice at all and no pinching or rolling required.

Regarding the DC ONE-X, how does the cup size compare to the A20s?
 
My headset’s name is David. David has spent many years with me and I’ve taken care of David along the way. David’s no longer all original, several pieces have been replaced along the way. David still works just fine and isn’t looking for a new owner.

What else would you like to know about David?
 
schmookeeg said:
I really liked the idea of the clarity alofts when I tried them, but man I do NOT like flying with the sensation of two fingers in my ears.

I don't like airpods/buds either. Doomed to listen to things via giant princess leia cans I suppose :D
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Several years before I committed, I tried a set of Clarity and felt exactly the same. Then when I decided I really needed in-ear for the Diamond, it was the only airplane I used them in. Then I got used to them and love 'em.

Funny thing though, I much prefer over-the-ear for music to earbuds. Basically, I have a set of earbuds I use as IEMs for webinars. Otherwise over.
 
Spinka said:
Regarding the DC ONE-X, how does the cup size compare to the A20s?
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mmm I feel they're rounder? but very slightly, vs the A20. I don't like the folding mechanism as much, it seems less robust than the magnesium stirrups on the Bose. But of course, they haven't broken yet so who knows?

They fold down WAY smaller and I think I would enjoy that over time. The A20 bag is a flippin purse.

I'm rougher on my stuff than the Mrs. Could be i would get a pair and crush them to powder in a few checked bags worth of abuse :)
 
First headsets were Softcom noise cancelling. Loved them, they were fine...but the noice cancelling circuitry stopped working, and the company is no longer in business. I still may try to repair them sometime. But in the meantime, bought...

Second headset, Pilot USA noise cancelling. They worked. Did not work as well with foggles on, probably because the electronic noise cancelling wasn't all that great. Mid-way through IFR training, when I couldn't hear ATC well and my flight instructor thought I had a hearing problem (or intelligence problem!) we tried switching for a flight. Night and day. So...

Current headset, A30. Way better than the PUSA in pretty much all aspects, as it should be for the cost being higher than some vehicles I've sold. It's also nice because of the bluetooth pairing with the phone. But honestly, if I were just flying VFR and didn't have to listen to the rapid fire NY style ATC stuff, I'd probably still have the PUSA ones. And I'm keeping the PUSA for passenger use. Only drawback for me of A30 is the clunky inline battery holder, but I don't see any viable alternative, and I'd much rather have the weight there than on my head. And I do like that it's regular AA's.
 
TCABM said:
My headset’s name is David. David has spent many years with me and I’ve taken care of David along the way. David’s no longer all original, several pieces have been replaced along the way. David still works just fine and isn’t looking for a new owner.

What else would you like to know about David?
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What is David's number?
 
Lightspeed Zulu 3's if you have large ears. The Zulu has longer cups than the Bose. On a long trip the Bose killed my ears and required frequent adjustment.

The noise cancellation of the Zulu's is comparable with the Bose A-20's, but I've give the Bose a slight edge, especially during ground ops.

I was a long time Bose user and found every model I owned had to be returned to Bose for repairs. So far the Zulu's are more reliable.
 
Jim_R said:
I don't know what tips Halos come with by default these days, but if you don't like those yellow foamies (which can be a little fiddly to get into the ear for a good seal, and can gunk up with earwax), you also have the option of these eartips which are easier on both counts:
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That's a great example of the "different strokes" principle. The yellow foamies go in the easiest and give me the best seal of any of the half dozen tips I've tried.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Sounds like a few of you need to learn how to clean your ears
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What?! (Probably funnier in person)

I do know some guys used to double muff - ear plugs + muffs - when shooting centerfire pistol. For younger folks flying loud airplanes that might make sense.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Clarity Aloft with Big Ear molded inserts in summer.

Bose A20 in winter
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Similar to my set up. Cool weather: DC One-X, the other 9 months in Florida: CQ in-ear headset with custom molded ear plugs.
 
Had the Zulu 1 and 2. Traded both for Z3s and they work perfectly. Good with both sunglasses and O2 cannula.

Also have 2 ancient DC 10-30s. Both went back to the factory for refurb, and came back as new. Installed the comfort kit on both (padded headband and gel ear cups), and put in an ANR kit in one that works great.
 
Albany Tom said:
What?! (Probably funnier in person)
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What I meant was in response to those that commented about their in-ear device getting clogged with earwax. I’ve gone 34 years with my right ear stuffed with some sort of headset every day and never once had it get clogged with earwax. I also commit the cardinal sin of using Q Tips after every shower.
 
DC one x for the last decade,I had A20 for a year, but really prefer the DC as it's smaller, folds, and they do stand behind the product for decades. I still have original DC circa 1984 for the odd (very odd?) pax, which they refurbished very cheaply. I live in Vegas which can be a tad warm. During those few (7?) months, I use Halo to avoid sweaty head/ears etc. No idea why, but my Halo mic never moves - I know others have that complaint though - they are insanely light and really do eliminate 'ick' in warm weather.
 
Alien Mind said:
No idea why, but my Halo mic never moves - I know others have that complaint though
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I think the older Halos had a shorter mic and that was also an issue. I had the longer newer version; I just let the rear of the headset settle naturally to its lowest position via gravity, then held it so it wouldn’t move and adjusted the mic. Never moved from there.
 
Zulu 3. And a still have an original Zulu for the copilot/passenger. It fits, it works. The main thing is active noise cancellation. Never going back to passives.
 
Depends on what I'm flying.

My general preferred headset is an almost 20 year old DC H10 ENC. That's what I've found works best in multi-engine radials like the Beech 18 and B-25. The newer style DC One XP ANR sucks bad in radial airplanes.

Prefer Clarity Aloft for open cockpit stuff.
 
I have a DC H10-13 built into my leather helmet for open cockpit flying. Been thinking about doing the CEP mod but the Headsets Inc ANR sounds interesting too.
 
I fly old airplanes, with old engines and old airplane problems. The last thing I want is noise cancelling.
Being able to hear things make non-standard noises has probably saved me from injury, a few times.
Plain old Dave Clark for me.
My wife uses the expensive Bose set.
 
Shepherd said:
I fly old airplanes, with old engines and old airplane problems. The last thing I want is noise cancelling.
Being able to hear things make non-standard noises has probably saved me from injury, a few times.
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If anything, I have been able to hear more "non-standard noises" *because of* the noise cancelling. You can actually hear something beyond the big low rumble. And, I'll be able to hear it much later in life thanks to active noise cancelling.
 
I bought a gently used Bose A20 from a kind member here recently because Dave Clark One-X's were out-of-stock for a while, which was my first choice (it's said they were moving the factory). I was hesitant to go with Bose because of the expense and frankly all the hype around them. Now I have one, I don't regret it. It actually lives up to the hype and is simply amazing. The ANR is so good when it's on that it's actually hard to hear the stall warning horn on my Cherokee. That's something to be aware of when operating near the stall speed. My experience with a Lightspeed Zulu 3 was not particularly positive, the ANR did not work and I had to return it. I know another Zulu user who had the same issue (random and often lound crackling noises). Perhaps we were just unlucky.
 
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flyingcheesehead said:
If anything, I have been able to hear more "non-standard noises" *because of* the noise cancelling. You can actually hear something beyond the big low rumble. And, I'll be able to hear it much later in life thanks to active noise cancelling.
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This has been my experience as well. I've never noticed a problem with hearing the odd noises with noise cancelling.

Now, where I have found noise cancelling to be useless is open cockpit stuff. Every open cockpit I've tried it in from biplanes to T6 with canopy open, the noise canceling fights the wind buffeting and is counterproductive. My HGU-55 helmet that I wear flying the TBM has Lightspeed Zulu headphones and has an ENC function, but the ENC only works when the canopy is fully closed.

I suspect flying something like a Cub with the window open may have a similar effect.
 
I have an A-30, and it's fine. I never had an A-20, so I can't compare, but with Bose no longer supporting out of warranty A-20's, it's either going to be a problem for a lot of folks, or it will create headset refurbishment businesses.

I had a Lightspeed Zulu 2, but after a particularly awful customer service experience, never again. I won't support that company.

I do want to try the Clarks....
 
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