I figured it's time to upgrade from my flightcom I picked up cheaply during my flight training days to something better. I currently have a Flightcom 4dx.

What models would you recommend for this price range ($300)? I'm ok with used if necessary.

I had a lightspeed QFR I liked in that range, an old dc with an anr kit is pretty hard to beat too.

I got a 1st generation Bose with battery pack and charger for $250 on ebay. Love 'em.

Gump

I also had a Lightspeed QFR that worked well although it was rarely used since it was a 'spare' for any passenger riding along. I used it for an upgrade for a Zulu 2. Now I have 2 of the Zulu headsets. I know it is hard to spend nearly $1K on a headset but the better quality ANR headsets are really worth the extra cost.
The only problem I had with the lower grade headsets was they seemed to all give me a headache if worn for more than 45 minutes. They get most of their noise reduction from clamping pressure. As in anything, you get what you pay for and if you can save up some more money you can find the older LightSpeed 20 or 30-3G for not much above your budget. They are very good without the heavy clamping that the cheaper models have.
I have seen them on BS and Ebay for cheap. Buy one and if you don't like it, send it to LS for theit upgrade program.

I also have the QFR XCc (ANR version) and used it as my primary headset for about 5 years with few problems. A plastic piece on the ear band broke once but lightspeed quickly sent a replacement part at no charge... Now I stick to Lightspeed due to their customer service. Actually I think I have a Flightcom 4DX as well, the QFR is way more comforable for me, does not squeeze so tight. The ANR works pretty good. When the ear seals wear out I got the higher quality plusher ones and they are a nice improvement. Eventually upgraded to the Zulu.2 which is really nice. The mic is quite a bit better and if you listen to music their is a big difference in sound quality, though the QFR is perfectly fine for intercom and radio. Since you're in the area if you want to test out the QFR XCc and/or Zulu.2 on a flight let me know. Though I might recommend not trying the Zulu.2 cause then you might blow your budget.

WWhunter wrote:I also had a Lightspeed QFR that worked well although it was rarely used since it was a 'spare' for any passenger riding along. I used it for an upgrade for a Zulu 2. Now I have 2 of the Zulu headsets. I know it is hard to spend nearly $1K on a headset but the better quality ANR headsets are really worth the extra cost.
The only problem I had with the lower grade headsets was they seemed to all give me a headache if worn for more than 45 minutes. They get most of their noise reduction from clamping pressure. As in anything, you get what you pay for and if you can save up some more money you can find the older LightSpeed 20 or 30-3G for not much above your budget. They are very good without the heavy clamping that the cheaper models have.
I have seen them on BS and Ebay for cheap. Buy one and if you don't like it, send it to LS for theit upgrade program.

Thank you, I will consider this. I never did get along much with the noise cancelling headsets for listening to music as after about 45 minutes it held like pressure on my head. It might be fine on aviation.

I'm very happy with my old Peltor set with the headsets inc. ANR kit. Total investment of barely over $200.

I think using any old passive set with a ANR kit is a good inexpensive option. Another plus is they still work ok when your batteries are dead. (Which mine usually are, it seems)

I do enjoy using the fancy Bose and Lightspeed sets when I get to fly with "the other half", but a thousand bucks buys a lot of gas.

The lightspeed 20 and 30 series have waaaaaaay better sound for listening to music, if you can scrape up an extra 150 bucks.
Ac spruce often has used ones for sale at reasonable price too, check there web sight.

Buy a Bose QC15 on eBay for $200-250. Then buy a UFly Mike for $150. Now you have a Bose noise canceling headset that can be used for more than just flying planes. Dee and I both use this setup and love them. Light weight and can wear them for hours.

My plan is to find a clean used pair of DC and put a Oregon Aero comfort kit and a Headsets Inc. kit on them. My current set is Sigtronics with a comfort kit and they are so much more comfortable to wear than before I installed the kit. If the ear cups weren't falling apart I'd just install the headsets inc kit and be completely happy.

A side note: the most comfortable headset I have ever worn is a pair of passive peltors. I don't know the model but I liked them far better than the Lightspeed Zulus I have used frequently.

Grassstrippilot wrote:Buy a Bose QC15 on eBay for $200-250. Then buy a UFly Mike for $150. Now you have a Bose noise canceling headset that can be used for more than just flying planes. Dee and I both use this setup and love them. Light weight and can wear them for hours.

Cory, this option intrigues me but it looks like the prices have changed and you need some patients is in order to find the right deal. The Bose QC15 are $269 brand new and the Uflymike is $225 right now. Ebay is a little slim pickins at the moment. Can you interface your phone with that setup? I'll keep an eye out for the right deal to come along!

CW

for what it's worth, i have a pair of QC15s and I took them flying just to see how they did on their own. I didn't think they had enough passive noice cancellation for my plane, but my plane is pretty noisy. I'm sure in a more quiet plane they would do just fine.

clippwagon wrote:

Grassstrippilot wrote:Buy a Bose QC15 on eBay for $200-250. Then buy a UFly Mike for $150. Now you have a Bose noise canceling headset that can be used for more than just flying planes. Dee and I both use this setup and love them. Light weight and can wear them for hours.

Cory, this option intrigues me but it looks like the prices have changed and you need some patients is in order to find the right deal. The Bose QC15 are $269 brand new and the Uflymike is $225 right now. Ebay is a little slim pickins at the moment. Can you interface your phone with that setup? I'll keep an eye out for the right deal to come along!

CW

My memory may have been off on the UFly Mike price. Well with it though. Very well built.

The UFly Mike has a jack on it that will take iPods, iPads, phones, etc. I was looking about three months ago and the QC15s were all over in the $200-250 range. The older model, QC2, also work. I've used them in C150s, C172s, C182s, RV-9, my C205, and others I can't think of right off hand. The noise canceling works well. If you have bulky sunglasses, it will break the seal, but that is true of any headset. Find someone with some and try them out. That way you'll know before you buy.

I like that it is dual purpose. I take them for my commute to work and when flying for fun, if I want to watch a movie or listen to music in my tent without disturbing others, I can with something we great sound.

It's an older C-172, so even though it has minimal noise insulation, it's certainly not as loud as most things in the sky. The QC15 might work but don't they go dead if you let the batteries lapse?

I will try to find a pair to try on. I've used them on an airliner, but never in a piston single.

Am I the only one with David Clarks?
http://www.davidclarkcompany.com/aviation/
Used them since day one...no complaints.

what about sigtronics headset's?... ( i'm clueless on headset's )

Beamer pilot wrote:Am I the only one with David Clarks?
http://www.davidclarkcompany.com/aviation/
Used them since day one...no complaints.

I used David Clarks for a while. The squeezing is annoying though. My wife got bad headaches from them. So I now have a set of Zuly 1s and she has a set of Zulu 2s. DCs are now for the backseat users when the seat is in.

David

Beamer pilot wrote:Am I the only one with David Clarks?
http://www.davidclarkcompany.com/aviation/
Used them since day one...no complaints.

I've had DCs for the last 20 years. Noise cancelling and they have been great headsets. Then I got my first QC2/UFly Mike setup, which became Dee's primary headset. Whenever she wasn't with me though, I'd use them. With the acquisition of my QC15/UFly Mike, my DCs are now a spare in a bin in the hanger. The battery pack of 6 AAs broke right about the same time. For about $120 I could send them in to get refurbished with the 9V box, and at some time I probably will. However, they don't come anywhere near the comfort and weight of the UFly Mike setup so they are probably destined to be a backup/guest headset from here on out.

River rat wrote:I had a lightspeed QFR I liked in that range, an old dc with an anr kit is pretty hard to beat too.

I agree. I had been pretty happy with my DC 13.4s (I have 2 of them). But after a full day of flying, I would feel the clamping pressure. So several years ago, I modified both sets with Oregon Aero comfort and hush kits. That solved the clamping pressure problem and improved their performance.

But a few years ago, as my hearing continued to deteriorate, I decided I needed ANR--I was having trouble understanding ATC some of the time. But rather than spring for a $1,000 solution, I converted my oldest 13.4 with the Headsets Inc. ANR kit. It works beautifully--excellent ANR, quality speakers which provide good music performance, and relatively inexpensive. I have compared mine directly with the last generation Bose Aviation X (not the current A20) in my airplane , and in my opinion, mine provides as good or better ANR performance. Not mentioned in its literature is that in addition to providing passive performance if the battery runs down, if you switch it off and then back on, it will continue to provide ANR for nearly an additional half hour.

So if you already have a headset that you like, my suggestion is modify it with the OA and HI mods. Starting from scratch, that would exceed your $300 limit, but with a starter headset to work with, the OA mods run about $103 and the HI kit is $169-$210 depending on what options you choose. I went with all of the extras except a panel plug, so that I could still use it in others' airplanes because it is battery powered. The auto shutoff battery box is essential--ol' dummy here often forgets to turn it off, so it has saved me lots of $$$ for replacement batteries.

Cary

Ooops, forgot to put the company in: http://pilot-usa.com/headsets.html

I had one of these guys ANR sets for years. The only issue is since the battery is in the headset and not the line, they were heavier than the Lightspeed or Bose. They worked really well.

Their customer service is top notch and really no frills. Got a problem....send it back..we fix it or replace it.

I also think they still make them in the USA unlike Bose or LightSpeed.

TD