Any Recommendations for Noise Cancelling Headsets?

[Google Madness]

I'm just learning to fly and right now my instructor loans me his set but
i'd like to have my own.
I'd like to keep the expense to a $350 limit.
Can any of you give me a recommendation on...
- Features to look for
- Makes and Models
- Cheapest places to purchase

Thanks,
Gene

[Tim]

Google Madness wrote:
> I'm just learning to fly and right now my instructor loans me his set but
> i'd like to have my own.
> I'd like to keep the expense to a $350 limit.
> Can any of you give me a recommendation on...
> - Features to look for
> - Makes and Models
> - Cheapest places to purchase
>
> Thanks,
> Gene
>
>

I have David Clarks. I am not thrilled with them. They work ok. My
fiancee got lightspeeds. they are really nice.

I do want to know about these...
http://www.clarityaloft.com/

anyone have experience with them?
I think those are going to be my next pair. I am tired of the headaches
after flights - I think it is from the clarks squeezing my head. Not
sure though. I also want less weight on my head and more room above my
head.

[M[_1_]]

http://www.lightspeedheadsets.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6&HS=1

They're selling Lightspeed branded QFR Xcc ANR for $299. I tried the
OEM version of the same thing but I like the Lightspeed branded
better, probably due to the very soft leather head cushion the branded
version has.


On Mar 29, 12:09 pm, "Google Madness" > wrote:
> I'm just learning to fly and right now my instructor loans me his set but
> i'd like to have my own.
> I'd like to keep the expense to a $350 limit.
> Can any of you give me a recommendation on...
> - Features to look for
> - Makes and Models
> - Cheapest places to purchase
>
> Thanks,
> Gene

[buttman]

On Mar 29, 12:09 pm, "Google Madness" > wrote:
> I'm just learning to fly and right now my instructor loans me his set but
> i'd like to have my own.
> I'd like to keep the expense to a $350 limit.
> Can any of you give me a recommendation on...
> - Features to look for
> - Makes and Models
> - Cheapest places to purchase
>
> Thanks,
> Gene

The thing I hate about the headset market is that it's way over
priced. You can buy a set of isolated earmuffs (the kind ground
personnel use) for $20, a microphone for $20, a pair of ipod-esque
earbuds for another $20, and a roll of duct tape for 6 bucks. The
absolute cheapest pair of aviation headsets start at like $300. It
certainly doesn't COST upwards of $1000 to produce these headsets. It
costs that much because headset companies know they can charge those
amounts, and us pilots will buy them anyways. It kind of sucks, but
what can you do?

In the audiophile headphone market, the Sennheiser HD-580's (which I
own) were top of the line just a few years ago, and they cost me $150
when I bought them new. I saw a pair of ANR headphones at the Sharper
Image store a few months for like $25.

I'm hoping someday a company will see that a market exists for cheap,
well made headsets. It's totally possible for a nice DC X-11 quality
set to sell for $200 without a loss.

[Tim]

buttman wrote:
> On Mar 29, 12:09 pm, "Google Madness" > wrote:
>
>>I'm just learning to fly and right now my instructor loans me his set but
>>i'd like to have my own.
>>I'd like to keep the expense to a $350 limit.
>>Can any of you give me a recommendation on...
>> - Features to look for
>> - Makes and Models
>> - Cheapest places to purchase
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Gene
>
>
> The thing I hate about the headset market is that it's way over
> priced. You can buy a set of isolated earmuffs (the kind ground
> personnel use) for $20, a microphone for $20, a pair of ipod-esque
> earbuds for another $20, and a roll of duct tape for 6 bucks. The
> absolute cheapest pair of aviation headsets start at like $300. It
> certainly doesn't COST upwards of $1000 to produce these headsets. It
> costs that much because headset companies know they can charge those
> amounts, and us pilots will buy them anyways. It kind of sucks, but
> what can you do?
>
> In the audiophile headphone market, the Sennheiser HD-580's (which I
> own) were top of the line just a few years ago, and they cost me $150
> when I bought them new. I saw a pair of ANR headphones at the Sharper
> Image store a few months for like $25.
>
> I'm hoping someday a company will see that a market exists for cheap,
> well made headsets. It's totally possible for a nice DC X-11 quality
> set to sell for $200 without a loss.
>

I agree 100%
It's not like they need to get FAA certification or anything. The
technology is no longer new.

[Thomas Borchert]

Google,

> I'd like to keep the expense to a $350 limit.
>

If that is your hard deck, the shop-branded derivatives of the
Lightspeed QFR XCc are what you need. Have a look at Marv Golden or
avshop.net. I'd go for the Lightspeed 20XLc though, which is a little
more expensive.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Thomas Borchert]

Buttman,

> The
> absolute cheapest pair of aviation headsets start at like $300.
>

That's just plain BS. Look again.

Also, passive headsets (your duct tape variant) in a small aircraft
don't make sense.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Google Madness]

The QFR XCc looks to have a db rating no where near the 20XLc. ( Not to
mention they look kinda lame )
But as opposed to the 20XLc, How about the 15XLc to save the $60. What's
the opinion on that option?
Gene

"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
> Google,
>
>> I'd like to keep the expense to a $350 limit.
>>
>
> If that is your hard deck, the shop-branded derivatives of the
> Lightspeed QFR XCc are what you need. Have a look at Marv Golden or
> avshop.net. I'd go for the Lightspeed 20XLc though, which is a little
> more expensive.
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
>

[Jose]

> The
> absolute cheapest pair of aviation headsets start at like $300.

Only if y ou want noise cancelling. Passive ones start under a hundred.

Jose
--
Get high on gasoline: fly an airplane.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[John T]

"buttman" > wrote in message
ups.com
>
> It certainly doesn't COST upwards of $1000 to produce these
> headsets.

As if the cost of production were the driving force behind pricing...

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/blogs/TknoFlyer
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://openspf.org
____________________

[Jim Stewart]

John T wrote:
> "buttman" > wrote in message
> ups.com
>
>>It certainly doesn't COST upwards of $1000 to produce these
>>headsets.
>
>
> As if the cost of production were the driving force behind pricing...

If you spend $1000 on a Bose headset, just think
how much of that money went toward their full-page
4-color ads. They probably spend 5x what Lightspeed
does on ads.