I have been flying for almost 20 years. Until now, my only idea of noise cancellation was to either put earplugs in before putting on my flight helmet or to turn the radios up a little louder - as for the latter, I am reaching the volume limits. I have just purchased an SR22 and would like to find out what kind of ANR headsets are available and which ones come highly recommended. Thank you for your help.
Hi Ronald,
Congratulations on your SR22!
I personally like the Bose Aviation X’s the best, especially the new ones with the continuously flexible boom (rather than adjustment detents), but my wife adores her Flightcom Denali, mostly, I believe, because it is yellow.
Happy flying!
Ronald,
I think the best thing to do is find a pilot shop (or go to a show) where you can try on a bunch of them. Headsets are a very subjective thing.
As for me personally, I love my David Clark ENC set. I have a pair of Lightspeeds which I’m not so fond of. I’ve never tried the Boses, though.
If you have an unlimited budget, it’s a no-brainer, go for the Bose X. They cost about $1,000 which is about 1/3 more than the next closest competitor. There are several really good ones in the $500-$600 range. I have the Lightspeed 30XL and I like them. They are also great for doing those impromptu Princess Leaia imitations. By the way, I never did learn how to spell her name right. If I had a complaint about the Lightspeeds, I would wish they were just a tad less bulky. The new Lightspeeds have a handy cell phone plug that allows you to talk on your cell phone using the earpieces and the mic, pretty handy for calling home when you get close the home field or picking up a clearance from a non-towered airport.
The best advice has already been given, you should try to get somewhere that has several different ones and try them out. I would bet there are as many headsets sold at Sun-N-Fun and Oshkosh as the rest of the year for that very reason.
.
In reply to:
I have been flying for almost 20 years. Until now, my only idea of noise cancellation was to either put earplugs in before putting on my flight helmet or to turn the radios up a little louder - as for the latter, I am reaching the volume limits. I have just purchased an SR22 and would like to find out what kind of ANR headsets are available and which ones come highly recommended. Thank you for your help.
Ronald:
Just a few additional points that have not been mentioned so far:
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Your new SR22 comes with a 6 pin “Lemo” connector that allows a single point connection to a headset. The conventional headset and microphone jacks are still operative and may be used together with the Lemo connector should you wish to do, as some have, record ATC communications.
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You now have some choice of headsets that use the Lemo connector. Both Bose and Lightspeed sell such models.
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If you order Lightspeed with the single point connector, it is probably simplest to order from their web site, as the single point connector model is not widely distributed. The Lightspeed is also avaialble, for a slightly higher price, at the Cirrus Store on their web site.
I think the Cirrus Store only stocks the 30 model. Lightspeed also sells the 20 model with single point connector on their web site. -
If you order the Bose, you can probably get a 12 month no interest purchase deal from Bose if you ask them for it and order directly from Bose. They will bill your credit card in 12 installments.
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Some people have found the cell phone and personal audio input that the Lightspeed offers to be helpful. I use my cell phone routinely at my home base to get an IFR release. I have no problem hearing the cell phone. I just slide one side of my Bose up and use that ear for the phone. If you fly with teenagers with weird music tastes the independent audio input will definitely be helpful.
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Some people have reported volume differences which result from mixing headset types. Both the Bose and Lightspeed have individual volume controls on each headset so that should not be a problem with them.
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If you haven’t been flying with a good ANR headset you are in for a treat. I started flying the SR20 training in Seattle, WA with Wings Aloft. When I first took off the Bose to put on the hood my first reaction was “what’s that racket?” To my way of thinking it makes no sense at all to spend over $300,000 on an aircraft and not get the very best ANR headsets. These are the Bose. My plane has never had a vibration problem, but on the other hand the noise signature of that IO550 is substantial and you need all the noise reduction you can get. I have made 4 to 5 hour flights in the Cirrus and I have not noticed any lingering effect of the cockpit noise. The knee joints, however, are another matter!
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If you are partial to David Clamps you can also get the green ones in an ANR model! My CFII bought that one, mostly because he flies a lot of different aircraft and has to use the battery model. The one advantage of the DC model is that the difference between the noise level with ANR on and ANR off is much less. If you fly with the Bose or Lightspeed battery models and the battery goes out, you will definitely notice it.
In reply to:
I have been flying for almost 20 years. Until now, my only idea of noise cancellation was to either put earplugs in before putting on my flight helmet or to turn the radios up a little louder - as for the latter, I am reaching the volume limits. I have just purchased an SR22 and would like to find out what kind of ANR headsets are available and which ones come highly recommended. Thank you for your help.
I like the Bose X so much I bought four of them. I suffered with David Clark “brain squeezers” for 25 years. In addition to great noise cancellation, the Bose are super light and they don’t squash your head!
This is not an item I’d economize on. For comfort on long flights I don’t think there is anything else that will give you more bang for your buck. Plus you can try them for free. I don’t think they get many of those free trials back!
Do a search on the Forums for “Bose” and youi’ll find about a zillion threads. The search function is your friend here.
Does anyone know of a place in Southern CA to try on the Bose, Lightspeed and Flightcom ANR headsets? I have the DC ANR’s and literally can’t use them as they’re so uncomfortable.
and I’ll complete the set, I have lightspeeds and love them. BoseX just don’t seem to
work for me, I must have a funny-shaped head, every time I move my head they
unseal and the noise gets in.
I love my old DCs as well, I converted with with an ANR kit, pretty easy and works
surprisingly well.
Roland
note that lightspeed now makes a version which can be powerd from the power
adapter in the plane but I’m on my second set of batteries in 5 years so I didn’t
bother.
I agree. Bose noise cancelling is superb, but the small ear cups put pressure on my (admittedly large) ears and cause ear burn after a few minutes.
I’m partial to the lightspeed, with big ear cups. If I had small ears, though, I’d wear the Bose.
In reply to:
- If you order the Bose, you can probably get a 12 month no interest purchase deal from Bose if you ask them for it and order directly from Bose. They will bill your credit card in 12 installments.
Also - FYI … the Cirrus Store (Lovely Barb) has a really super deal on Bose Headsets that is unadvertised but available ( just tell her I told you about it privately)
Before I knew about Barb’s special Bose price I purchased mine from King at $795 ea. So far in four years I have purchased 14 Bose headsets…I always sell them with each airplane (except 998CD) for …yep $795[:)]
In reply to:
- If you are partial to David Clamps you can also get the green ones in an ANR model! My CFII bought that one, mostly because he flies a lot of different aircraft and has to use the battery model. The one advantage of the DC model is that the difference between the noise level with ANR on and ANR off is much less. If you fly with the Bose or Lightspeed battery models and the battery goes out, you will definitely notice it.
But consider the Sennheiser 306 instead of the Divid Clamps,
They can be ordered with LEMO connectors, are in the same price range, and are great on both ANR (less than Bose) and passive (much better than Bose) noise reduction (I’m not connected in any way to them) I have the Sennheiser HMEC 25KAS for one of my kids and this is a 6 ounce headset great for small ears.
I called CD Connection and their “special” wasnt much of a special. Can u PM bout ur deal? Thanks
In reply to:
Does anyone know of a place in Southern CA to try on the Bose, Lightspeed and Flightcom ANR headsets? I have the DC ANR’s and literally can’t use them as they’re so uncomfortable.
You can get a free trial of the Bose directly from http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=headsetx_headset_index&src=CC201&alias=anrheadset.bose.com>Bose.Lightspeed does that, but they are typically more accessible at resellers.
You might contact Marv Golden sales at MYF in San Diego to see what they carry for trial.
At one time Lightspeed had a competitor trial offer. THey shipped me a Telex, a Denali and a Bose along with Lightspeed. THey only partially won since I liked the BOse but my wife liked the QNR Cross Country since she wears earrings.