# Aviation headsets **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435 "2011-09-24T05:36:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/1 "2011-09-24T05:36:55Z")
I have three David Clark H10-40 headsets – one was dad’s, mine has a helicopter cord, and a spare. Good headsets, but apparently not made anymore. Anyway I was reading a review of the H10-60 from a guy who didn’t like it: > [@](#): > > If you’re new in aviation and just started out, don’t buy a headset without noise cancellation - that should be your first priority when buying an aviation headset. Really? OK, yes; I know that active noise reduction is better than passive noise reduction. But I did just fine in a 172 with the overhead speaker and no headset at all. It was The Way It Was Done in the early-to-mid-'80s. My H10-40 was perfectly fine in a helicopter, and quieter in a Cessna. I’ll never fly a plane with a cockpit so quiet I could use a lightweight headset, but I can’t imagine me flying an airplane where I would ‘need’ ANR. So what do you think? Are ANR headsets ‘all that’? Or is it more about bragging rights? ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/2 "2011-09-24T06:48:41Z")
I’m very sensitive about my hearing, having done enough damage in the 80s to make me more cautious now. I flew 172s, and had the Lightspeed something-or-other, either their top-of-the-line model or near it. I loved it; it was magical. Compared to the David Clarks I had been borrowing, they were substantially quieter, comms were much easier for me to follow, and the clamping pressure was much lower since the seals were less important relatively. Were I to take up flying again, I would go ANR again, no question. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/3 "2011-09-24T15:31:04Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > I loved it; it was magical. Maybe it’s like a lot of things, where you don’t know what you’ve been missing until you try the New Thing. I’m sure a lot of people didn’t see a need for microwave ovens 40 years ago. I’m only planning to fly once or twice a month (we’ll see hot _that_ works in the rainy season), so I’ll use what I have. I do remember the clamping on the trips from SoCal to Southern Oregon. Long trips are not going to be an issue nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/4 "2011-09-25T02:59:38Z")
I read this question to my husband (an EMS helicopter pilot) - he says he won’t use ANR because it is too important to be able to hear what the rotors are doing. A good headset will protect your ears without keeping you from hearing what you need to. Unless you are flying an S-61 or S-92 you shouldn’t need ANR. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/5 "2011-09-25T03:58:37Z")
Yeah, I’d listen to the rotors during autorotations. I made sure to listen to the engine today, since I posted this thread. Old School works for me. I haven’t actually checked prices on ANR headsets, but I think I happened to see a Bose set for about a kilobuck. You know… If I don’t buy 25 of them at that price, I could get a plane! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/6 "2011-09-25T06:41:39Z")
I have the DC-h10-60 headset which I bought many years ago. They held up well and I added more sound insulation from a kit. I also bought a set of ligthspeed active noise cancelling headsets. They didn’t last long. For some reason they continued to reduce noise level but over time I found it hard to hear voice frequencies. I then bought a noise canceling kit for the DC’s and was extremely happy with it. I plan on buying another kit for the other 10-60 I have. a buddy of mine was equally impressed with the kit compared to his noise canceling headsets. To me, noise canceling headsets are as desirable as a GPS in an airplane. I don’t NEED to have them but it adds significantly to the enjoyment and safety of flight. Loud noises and bad radio transmission is an unnecessary distraction. the only thing I didn’t like about the kit was that you had to solder directly to the board and I would have preferred they pre-wire leads to it. I almost burned off the contacts because of a crappy soldering iron. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/7 "2011-09-25T17:00:24Z")
Like all equipment, you need to know when to use it & when to not, or take off the head set and LISTEN. For example, full electrical failure in an old C-150 on final and we won’t talk about the flashlight. Got to be able to hear those wings talking to you. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/8 "2011-09-25T17:29:45Z")
ANR is a boon to C-130 crew members, especially those that are in the older models. The J-models are much quieter, but if you get anywhere near the prop line you’re in for some pain without it. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/9 "2011-09-26T02:50:23Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > I read this question to my husband (an EMS helicopter pilot) - he says he won’t use ANR because it is too important to be able to hear what the rotors are doing. A good headset will protect your ears without keeping you from hearing what you need to. Unless you are flying an S-61 or S-92 you shouldn’t need ANR. I generally agree with this, and it’s why I don’t use noise cancellation. I have a pair of standard David Clarks, but I changed the ear pads for better ones. The muffling effect is good enough that I don’t even feel the need for noise cancellation. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-headsets/597435/10 "2011-09-26T03:26:01Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > I generally agree with this, and it’s why I don’t use noise cancellation. I have a pair of standard David Clarks, but I changed the ear pads for better ones. The muffling effect is good enough that I don’t even feel the need for noise cancellation. I’ve tried both extra sound insulation and noise canceling circuits in my DC h10-60’s and I much prefer the noise canceling unit. I can hear sounds that are drowned out by the engine and voice communication is substantially better.