FWIW, I'll throw in what I adopted in the past year, after being a Telex 850 w/ earplugs and DC shipset user forever. Oddly, it took a shift from Boeing to Bus to go ANR. I didn't want to buy one style of plug and then adapt for a new fleet, so I waited. The cheapskate in me just could not fathom a $1000+ investment in something I was uncertain about; expensive experiment. I know there are some returnable options, but I decided to look at terrestrial ANR headset adaptation. I already owned a Bose QC 25 and knew it had great comfort and sound. U Fly Mike was the obvious popular option, but I waited and waited for them to release the TSO version of their latest product. That wasn't happening, and maybe never did (too lazy to look now, because I don't care). Along the way, I came to understand that the TSO factor is not such a big deal. While that certification is technically "required," it seems that within the sphere I operate, nobody cares. Correct me if that sounds fishy, but I believe that's the consensus from similar topic threads here on APC and elsewhere. It's also verified by numerous LCPs and one executive-level Flt. Ops. individual who probably would not want to be quoted on that point. BTW, if the battery dies, you just loose ANR - slight turn of the volume knob, and you're good. That's just my personal justification for throwing TSO to the wind, YMMV. Then I came across the Avee Aviation Microphone kit for the Bose QC 35, a Norwegian company. Available in dual plug and XLR versions. Just under $300 and substantially similar to U Fly Mic, whose warranty reputation wasn't sounding so great at the time.

I received a QC 35 as a present, so I was covered there. Paired with the Avee, it's a very comfortable, even with the longest in-seat times at DAL (I fly the NEO transcon and Hawaiian routes - nearly double the duration of cheeks-to-seat shift as our WB fleets). Admittedly, most often we go topless in overwater cruise, but if I perceive an F/O wants to stick with their Pro Flight or whatever, I'll stay on the clamp and it's not a problem and continental ops with VFH comms make headset use desirable .... cannot imagine a comfier device. As expected, it's super-quiet and has a very clean sound. About five months in, I had a warranty issue; a loud crackling fed into the ACP. Via email, it was nicely resolved. Avee sent me an entire new kit on faith that I would rotate parts individually to ascertain the faulty component. It turned out to be just the cord, but they let me keep the entire new system. Kudos to Avee for responsiveness and great customer service.

Noting that a like-new QC 35 is available for about $60 on FB market, eBay and so on, concerns about fault, failure or loss are minimal. For about 1/3 the cost of premium aviation headsets that are popular and I'm sure very good, I have a set-up that is fantastic and works for me. Great for commute movies and tunes.