Headset
 

I’m an Airbus guy, and have just used the ship’s headset for years. But, given recent, um, events, I’m considering just springing for my own.

Recommendations?

UFlyMike is closed UFN, so while that’s been recommended by someone I flew with, not a near-term option. Plus, they’re not TSOd.

The other three I see recommended the most are DC Pro-X, Bose A20, and in a distant third there are some Clarity Aloft fans.

Telex 8. Get the Ga plugs and the Abus adapter.

you don’t need batteries for the anc

Really?

I thought I read somewhere that all ANR headsets used on Delta's Airbii needed batteries...something about cheaping out with unpowered ship connections?

the telex 850 uses mic bias to power ANR. It’s okay, but not as robust as a real ANR headset. Probably good for the bus cockpit. Insufficient for a 737 or 7ER, in my opinion

Some ANR headsets will not need batteries. The common Telex 850 / Airman 8 series gets it's power from the microphone bias, so even the dual 1/4 inch plug going through a XLR dongle should still power the ANR.

Other headsets that require a powered plug will not be powered on Delta's 320's. I don't know how the 330's and 350's are set up. The Bose A20 will use ships power if it can find it in the XLR plug, and revert to the battery when it can't find power elsewhere. This is managed by a miniature Elf who has a sign with "protect essential" over his tiny little desk.

I'd give the Airman 8 the nod if buying today. My head clamp David Clarks and Bose A20's cause male pattern baldness. This is proven by the fact my hair was thick and brown when I bought them and is now thin and gray. Correlation = causation.

This might be the best headset recommendation ever written!

If the Telex 8 isn’t so great on non-airbus equipment, is there any point in getting the two prong plus adapter? Should I just get the bus compatible one?

my opinion is, that even if it doesn’t work great in other non Airbus, I have a headset until I figure it out.

I bought the Telex 850 when I was on the 73. Huge difference. I couldn’t even hear the capt trying to talk over the cabin noise not using the hot mic. Moved to the 320 and bought the adapter. Makes a huge difference compared to the ship set Telex.

Even before all this started going down, I couldn't understand how anyone used those ship headsets. I'm far from germaphobic, but I was disgusted just wrapping up the cord on those things to put them away, let alone putting one on my head.

I currently use a Clarity Aloft, but I used a Zulu Lightspeed for years before I got that with zero issues. Both are great. Any Telex, Bose, or even the newer DC's should work great too.

Even before all this, I always gave them a wipe down, but kept thinking “soon...I’ll look into a headset soon...”

Soon, of course, never really came. But I’ve suddenly found new urgency, and wish “soon” had been last year.

UFlyMike is open for business...
https://uflymike.com/blogs/news/covid-19

I can't recommend UFlyMike enough. Outstanding quality and durability. Ive had mine for 10 years now with zero issues.

FYI I wouldn't let the non-TSO be a factor in your decision. Mine are but I have never once been asked if mine were in 10 years. (FAA Observations, Line Checks, Sim Rides included).

When mine finally decides to quit I won't be looking anywhere else for a new headset.

I echo the comments about UFlyMike. Their boom mike is only $275 and can be paired with an infinite supply of Bose QC headphones that can be had on eBay for next to nothing. The package ends up much cheaper (less than 1/3 cost) and much LIGHTER that the Bose QC20 which is the only product equally as good. Been using mine on the 737 for many years at DL.

A-20 is what I think you mean. Been using my QC-25 and uflymike combo for years in my GA (much louder) life for years. Great investment.

Purely anecdotal here, but the mic on the uflymic headset seems to produce more ambient noise to the other pilot in a hot mic configuration than some others. I have an A20 myself, as do the majority of the folks I fly with, and listening to other headsets has seemed noticeably more noisy. No idea if newer versions are different than older ones.

That and if the person doesn’t place the mic closed to the mouth, it can’t be heard properly. :(

Just got a set of DC Pro-X on order.

Trying to save cash now, but not using ships headset might be worth some $$.

I had the same issue with pilots using the Uflymic to the point I had to ask one pilot to use the ship set. He was not happy but it was a huge improvement for me.

I have been using the Crystal Mic Pro paired with a Bose QC25 headset and am very happy with it. The setup allows the mic to be placed easily on either side of the headset and no problems with sound quality.

I’ve never heard of the Crystal Mic but I read some bad reviews of the new Harmony UFlymike.

Has anyone used the NFlight Nomad Mic or the AvMike from Leosounds?


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Thanks for all the replies.

I'm leaning toward giving the Telex 8 a try first, since it comes with a 30 day money-back from Sporty's. If the UFlyMike doesn't work out so well, the return process is a bit more convoluted, as appealing as the versatility of it is.

Thanks to the posters here. I'm new to the 320 and just decided to go with Telex Airman 8 with the dual GA plugs and an optional Airbus converter. About $410 for the headset, and $30 for the converter. Shipped just under $450. Should get it in a few days.

Now, hopefully, I'll get a chance to use it.

Thanks.

P.S. Please don't let me know if I could have got it cheaper somewhere else. :rolleyes:

I believe marvgolden.com has a better price. I think they don’t charge taxes on it neither, just shipping.

I’ve been buying from them for years, never had a issue.

That's where I ordered mine. Not sure about return policy.

Has anyone used the Bose ProFlight Series 2? I'm curious about opinions vs the Telex Airman 8.

My first concern is comfort for long periods while wearing glasses. The single ear DC is BAD in this regard.
Secondly is one better in a non intercom cockpit? I'm not a big fan of the off ear technique.

The mic on the uflymike does introduce a significant amout of hiss and background noise to the intercom. There is a mic bias adjustment on the side of the control box but if you adjust the bias to be low enough to reduce the background noise it reduces the mic gain so much that ATC can have trouble hearing your transmissions. In my opinion it's not really a great setup. Additionally all the components (mic boom, control box, cords and plugs) seem cheaply made and somewhat fragile.

If you already have a compatible Bose n/c headphone the uflymike add-on is an ok solution. If you don't already have a Bose headset I wouldn't recommend buying one and the uflymike system, I'd recommend getting a real aviation n/c headset. The uflymike system is not very robust, and inferior in almost all ways.

Just my opinion, based on using a QC35/uflymike setup on the 737 for 6 months. YMMV.

The UFM boom mic is VERY directional. If the little dot isn’t pointed directly at your mouth, it does pick up other noise and make your voice hard to pick up. Adjustment is important

Yep. I'm always twisting the mic to realign the white dot. The boom tends to try to point it straight up, so much and so often that I am concerned it will eventually disconnect or break. Even when it is perfectly aligned the mic performance is less than ideal.

As I said, in my opinion the uflymike system is ok, but inferior to a dedicated n/c aviation headset.

Yes. And since it's not TSO'd, it's an illegal headset so you're well within your right to ask him to stop using it.

I bought it immediately when it was released last Sept for my previous carrier. We did lots of long haul and I struggled to find something that worked in a noisy cockpit for long flights. It is by far the best headset I have used to date. Expensive, but IMO it’s by far the most comfortable I’ve used.

I’ve used the UFlyMike, A20, and about every Telex there is. I hate on ear and over ear because they always feel like clamps after a while. Clarity Alofts we’re going to be my next attempt until these came out.

Can’t compare it to a Telex Airman 8, used a Telex 5X5 prior (yeah I was old school). Bought the Bose ProFlight at the end of last year and have to agree, it’s probably the best headset I’ve used.

I wear it on transcons (6 Hour block) and never had an issue. I wear glasses and have no issues with them and the headset. No hotspots, no headache, nothing. There is no conflict between the headset and glasses.

We don’t have intercoms either, supposed to be retrofitting them but we’ll see. I have had no issues with wearing it and hearing the other guy. Actually makes things easier because I can have a normal conversation with the guy and hear the radios no problem. Just blocks the noise. Think of it as the best, clearest radio while wearing earplugs and cutting the noise. I’ve flown with a few ‘low talkers/mumblers’ who are difficult to hear, but they would be difficult to hear regardless.

What is nice, if you decide you want one ear open, you can pull the bud out and hang it on the headset out of the way.

I will say it is a little more involved with setting up/putting up, but not that big of a deal. Highly recommend it.

Another reason to own your own quality headset is the ship sets often have mics gummed up with 20 years of spit and dust. If you ever wonder why a foreign controller can’t understand you look no further than the mic on the ship set. Pilots flying with me using a good quality headset are night and day more clear on the ICS. Most pilots don’t notice because they still pick up the bulk of conversation hearing the other pilot normally. Put on a really good over the ear head set with high outside sound suppression and the crappy mics become very apparent. Delta does not track the ship sets or send them at for cleaning and refurb at the recommended intervals.
Cheaper headsets have cheaper mics that as mentioned have issues with background notice and squelch. I have poor hearing. When I see the other guy pull out a Bose A20 I breath a sigh of relief.

I totally agree with this entire paragraph. Why professional pilots don’t use professional headsets is beyond me. I love my Bose A20. It’s comfortable, clear, and quiet.

Bid the A350 or A220 then. Those only have a year or two of spit and dust. Controllers find their communications very clear. 😁

The Bose proflight looked very slick. Also more than 2x the Telex, and I don’t know if it’s 2x as good. Maybe it is?

I used a set of the Bose in-ear noise canceling for time in the back as the IRO, relief pilot. As good as the A20's. Really nice and cheap. Then I started using them in the cockpit over water. Same. Then I started using the Telex cockpit installed mic, with the Bose in-ear.
Over the next 3 years about 30% of the folks I flew with did the same. Then Bose came out with a 1200 dollar copy of my damn invention. I guess the horse already left the barn on that patent.

I like the new Bose in-ear aviation headset. Except I was doing the same thing for 4 years for 900 dollars less.

Another vote for the Bose Pro Flight. I’ve been using it on the 320 for months and I’ll never go back.

When I go to Bose website via Deltaperks it says employee discount doesn’t apply to aviation headsets— anybody else had better luck?