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Headset Buyer's Guide
Shopping for an aviation headset can be a daunting task, with the range of manufacturers, models, features and last, but certainly not least - prices. To start, your budget can help narrow down your options. The variety of models means that even if you're on a limited budget, you can find a very good noise-cancelling headset for yourself and extra basic headsets for your passengers. Use this guide to make sense of the confusing field of model numbers and names.
Headset Comfort
Once you settle on a budget, comfort will probably be your biggest consideration, especially if you regularly fly cross-countries more than two hours long. Comfort means not only how the headset feels on your head, but how much it dampens low frequencies from the engine and propeller that contribute to fatigue. This can be subjective, so ask to borrow your flight instructor's or friend's headset for a flight and see how it fits.
Different headset makers use different materials for the padding and cushion around the ears. Many people think gel pads are the most comfortable, though memory foam padding also rates highly and can provide a softer feel. If you wear corrective lenses or sunglasses while flying, make note of how well the pads seal around the ears and temples. Even small gaps will let in a lot of noise, making the headset much less effective. Pay attention to the headset's clamping force, as well. Does your head feel like it's being squeezed in the vice? Or is the headset so loose that it feels like it might flop forward or backward on your head? A headset that fits properly should rest snuggly across the top of your skull, with no tendency to slip forward or backward. The ear cups should completely encase the ear, not resting on any part of the outer ear.
Noise Reduction
Many headsets on the market use a combination of passive and active noise reduction to cut cockpit noise. Passive noise reduction relies on earcups made of insulating foam or gel, and the clamping force of the headset to tightly seal your ears and block out noise. Active noise reduction (also called ANR and electronic noise reduction/cancellation) uses a small microphone and a processor to analyze sound frequencies and emit opposing frequencies into the earcup to cancel out engine and prop noise. A headset with a larger Noise Reduction Rating, or NRR, will be quieter. But because the decibel system is a logarithmic scale, you can't merely add together a headset's active and passive reduction. The effective noise reduction of a headset with 22 dB of passive protection and 24 dB of active protection is about 26 dB (not 22 dB + 24 dB = 46 dB). Remember, a headset with an NRR of 30 dB will make sounds feel half as loud as a headset with a rating of 20 dB.
Because headsets cut different sound frequencies by different amounts, you may notice more of a noise reduction than the numbers would indicate on headsets with lots of ANR, since that circuitry targets low-frequency sounds that can be the most jarring and fatiguing.In general, headsets that provide a greater amount of active noise reduction will have less passive reduction, and therefore less clamping force and less padding around the ears. Models with greater amounts of ANR tend to cost more. And remember, if the batteries die in flight and you don't have a spare set handy, you'll have only the headset's PNR to block noise.
Here's a rundown and comparison of many of the models available today.
Bose
At the front of the pack, Bose and LightSpeed compete with high-end headsets, both of which tout significant active noise reduction. The Bose A20 Aviation Headset is the newest generation of a line of headsets first released in 1999. The A20 is a favorite of many corporate and airline pilots because its light weight (just 12 ounces) and low clamping force make it extremely comfortable to wear, even after a full day of flying. Bose's long history in high-end audio means that you can expect particularly crisp sound and a broad dynamic range in the A20.
Compared with its predecessor, the Aviation Headset X, the A20 now includes Bluetooth capabilities for talking on your cell phone without having to remove the headset, as well as an auxiliary audio input for connecting your mp3 player. Like other headsets with this feature, the Bose A20 will automatically mute the music when a radio transmission comes through, then resume the music at the end of the transmission. If you don't want the Bluetooth connection, a version of the A20 without Bluetooth is $100 less.
LightSpeed
Lightspeed Aviation first appeared on the aviation headset scene at Oshkosh in 1996. Since then the aviation-focused company has consistently developed new headsets with increasing levels of comfort, communications clarity, innovative features and maintains an award-winning level of customer support. In 2007 Lightspeed changed the market with the introduction of the premium Zulu headset. Zulu was light, quiet, very comfortable, offered superior sound quality, durable by virtue of stainless steel and magnesium construction and it was the first aviation headset to have integrated Bluetooth for phone and streaming music.
Continuing the Zulu as a global top seller, the new Zulu.2 is the current version providing even greater levels of quiet through increased active noise reduction and improved passive attenuation. Zulu.2 is more comfortable than ever with its light weight, reduced side pressure and new ear seals. Additionally, Zulu.2 provides enhanced audio quality, still offers an auxiliary input and remains the only headset able to receive streaming stereo audio (A2DP) via integrated Bluetooth. Zulu.2 is available with straight or coil cords; dual plugs, U174 plug, Lemo plug for panel power; and electret or dynamic low impedance microphones. 40 hours of battery life from two AA batteries. 5-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.
Lightspeed's Sierra headset combines quiet, comfort and clarity in a value-packed form. Sierra is comfortable due to its low side pressure and the ear seals it shares with its high-end sibling (Zulu.2). Its active noise cancellation system unrivaled at its price point, and offers features such as Bluetooth (phone only) and auxiliary input all pilots have come to expect. Sierra is available with a straight cord and dual plugs. 40 hours of battery life from two AA batteries. 5-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.
Beyerdynamic
A selection of four headsets from Beyerdynamic will meet the needs of most pilots, both in terms of budget and features.
The HS200 Trend is the company's most basic headset, but has one of the highest noise reduction ratings of any headset with only passive protection -- 30 dB of noise reduction in a package that's only $259. No audio input here, but it does have volume controls on the cord.
Next, the HS400 Signum also features 30 dB of passive noise reduction, but does it with larger, softer foam earcups for greater comfort. A wired audio input connects your cell phone or music player, and the headset's circuitry automatically silences music when you receive radio transmissions.
If you want ANR, look to the HS600, which provides a combined 40 dB in active and passive noise reduction, using a more advanced algorhithm to ensure that you still hear cockpit annunciator tones, but not engine noise as you throttle up. A small audio box with several cable adaptors lets you connect your music player or cell phone.
The advanced HS800 uses a pair of microphones on each earcup, one inside and one outside the earcup, to determine exactly which frequencies are reaching the headset and passing through it, so that you get the ideal noise-cancelling profile on each side of the headset. Total noise attentuation exceeds 40 dB. A small audio box with several cable adaptors lets you connect your music player or cell phone.
Clarity Aloft
Pilots who want an in-ear alternative to a headset should look at Clarity Aloft's models. The new Clarity Aloft Link has a larger inline audio control box than before that allows it to connect with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and switch between them - a cell phone and an iPod Touch, for example. All of Clarity Aloft's headsets come with several sizes of foam tips for the best in-ear fit and seal, reducing noise by up to 45 dB. A thin boom mic is on the left side, while a narrow wire band around the back of the head keeps the Clarity Aloft secure. For operators who need it, Clarity Aloft offers a TSO-certified model with a slightly different design for the over-ear hooks.
David Clark
The long-time maker of passive headsets with a reputation for high quality and great customer service has lagged in recent years when it comes to ANR features. Even still, its distinctive pale green headsets are a staple at many flight schools because they're rugged and dependable.
The X11 is David Clark's newest headset. At $699, the headset promises a lighter feel and much less clamping force than its other models. It provides 22 dB of ANR and about 22 dB of PNR. Many pilots say it is similar in comfort to the LightSpeed Zulu.2 and the Bose A20. David Clark's H10-13X ($575) and the H10-13XL ($650), provide similar levels of active (22 dB) and passive (22-23 dB) reduction as the X11, but in a form factor more like the company's passive headsets.
Among David Clark's passive headsets, the H10-30 provides the greatest protection, with a 24 dB Noise Reduction Rating. The H10-30S, H10-13.4 and the H10-60 cut 23 dB, and the H20-10 reduces sound levels by 22 dB. The H10-30S is the sister of the H10-30, and features stereo audio for use with newer cockpit audio panels that provide stereo sound for music, as well as a flexible boom microphone instead of a wire frame. While the headsets appear very similar numerically, keep in mind that the decibel scale is logarithmic, meaning that a difference of 10 dB in noise reduction means that one headset cuts twice as much noise as the other. Thus, even a difference of 2 dB in noise reduction will be noticeable.
David Clark's passive models have slightly different form factors (for example, the H10-13.4 has a flexible microphone, while the mic on the H10-30 uses a more rigid wire frame) and weights. Buy the one with the most noise reduction and the lightest weight that you can afford.
Sennheiser
Like Bose, Sennheiser has staked its reputation on high-quality audio equipment, from studio microphones to speakers for audiophiles. Their headsets continue that tradition.
Sennheiser answers the competition from Bose and LightSpeed with its new S1, featuring some of the most sophisticated ANR circuitry on the market. Expect especially aggressive noise cancellation at the peaks where engine and propeller noise is most pronounced, as well as up to 35 dB of noise reduction across the rest of the sound spectrum. Softer foam on portions of the earcups wraps around eyeglasses to reduce pressure and close off gaps that can make noise reduction less effective. And the headband is adjustable to fit your head and relieve clamping pressure. Like competing models from Bose and LightSpeed, the S1 also features Bluetooth to interface with your music player or cell phone.
The HMEC 26-BV-K and the HMEC 26-T variant are designed with commercial pilots in mind. Sennheiser sells 13 different panel connectors, and for pilots who frequently fly several aircraft with different headset connections, the HMEC 26 models allow you to change cords by simply loosening two screws. The HMEC 26-series headsets feature a headband design different from many others, with two narrow bands and relatively thin padding, designed to evenly distribute the weight and pressure of the headset across a broader area of your skull. The earcup without the microphone attached can swivel out of the way, letting you talk to someone else on the flight deck without having to remove the headset. The HMEC 26-T variant includes a pair of microphones mounted on the outside of the earcups and a special switch that activates those microphones, letting you talk to other crew members without needing to activate the cockpit intercom, and while continuing to cancel out engine and wind noise. Both versions of the HMEC 26 weigh about 7.5 ounces and provide a total of 38 dB of passive and active noise reduction.
Sennheiser offers several different ANR headset models geared for general aviation pilots as well. The HMEC 460 reduces clamping pressure by 30 percent compared to the older model it replaces, while including stereo volume controls and the ability to listen to music and cell phone calls simultaneously. It provides 25 dB of passive and 16 dB of active noise reduction.
The HMEC 250 has a slimmer, more compact profile, taking up less space in the flight bag but still providing large amounts of noise reduction: up to 34 dB passive and 25 dB active. Like the HMEC 26-T, the HMEC 250 includes the talk-through feature, letting you hear people around you while keeping the ANR active.
Finally, Sennheiser's passive headset, the HME 110, provides up to 40 dB of noise reduction, far more than most other passive headsets on the market.
Telex
The Telex Stratus 50D is a smart choice for the pilot who wants high levels of active noise reduction, but can't afford some of the more expensive David Clark, LightSpeed and Bose models. The Stratus 50D packs in up to 39 dB of passive and 47 dB of active reduction. At 90 hertz, a very common engine noise frequency, the headset cuts 50 dB total. The 50D lets you plug in a cell phone and music player at the same time.
PilotMall.com Sound Silencer
That's right, PilotMall.com now has our own headsets, perfect for student pilots or your passengers.
The Sound Silencer Passive has generous foam around the earcups and under the headband, blocking a mighty 25 dB while weighing in at less than 14 ounces. Dual volume controls and a switch let you choose mono or stereo sound, depending on which kind of audio panel your aircraft has.
Want ANR in a compact and inexpensive package? The Sound Silencer ANR provides 12 dB of active attenuation, in addition to 25 dB of passive attentuation to block out a wide range of engine and propeller noises. And it includes an audio jack for your music player, all for just $239.
Flightcom
For pilots who demand maximum style, the Flightcom Denali II is it, sporting a bright yellow or blue-purple body that stands out in a crowd. The passive version of the Denali reduces noise by 21 dB, while the ANR provides 21 dB of noise cancellation. The headsets are designed to more closely fit the shape of one's head and ears, so the ear cups are canted and take a little bit of tweaking the first time you put them on to get the best fit.
The 4DLX Classic is a passive-only model, providing 24 dB of protection. While it has separate volume controls on each earcup, you cannot connect a cell phone or music player.
Pilot USA
Three models from Pilot USA aim to meet the needs of most GA pilots. For those on a budget, the PA-2170T provides 26 dB of passive protection in a compact headset with very little clamping force.
The PA-1771T and the PA-1779T are Pilot USA's two ANR models. The PA-1771T provides 25 dB passive and 22 dB active reduction. When the battery for the ANR starts to run low, the headset emits a slight whine to let you know.
The PA-1779T is one of the few headsets that has a rechargeable battery to power its ANR circuitry. The battery is built into one earcup so there is no external battery box, and Pilot USA says a full charge will provide up to 50 hours of noise cancelling power.
ASA
You may associate their name more with ground training materials, but ASA also sells a low-price headset ideal for student pilots. The AirClassics HS-1 provides 23 dB of passive noise reduction, putting it on par with several David Clark models, but at less than half the cost. Volume control dials on the outside of each earcup let you set left and right volume without having to grope around.
Softcomm
Pilots on a tight budget who want their own headset can look to Softcomm, which offers a range of reliable units that can easily do double-duty for use by your passengers. All Softcomm headsets provide cell-phone connections.
Only the C-200 and the C-300 provide active noise reduction. Both provide 24 dB of passive and 19 dB of active reduction. The C-300 accomplishes that without needing a battery pack or a special panel power plug, one of the few headsets on the market to do so.
Softcomm's passive headsets provide varying levels of noise reduction. At the top end, the C-60 and C-80 provide 24 dB of noise reduction; the C-80 weighs an ounce less. The C-20 and the C10 block noise by 23 dB, though the C-20 is about one ounce lighter. The C-40-20 also reduces noise by 23 dB, but has a stiff wire adjustable boom mic and weighs slightly less than the C-20. Finally, the C-45 is one of the few sub-$100 headsets on the market and provides 22 dB of passive protection.
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