I searched the posts to try and find an answer to this question but came up unsuccessful. Anyone have any suggestion on headsets for the regionals? Can you use the Bose headsets on an RJ? I'm thinking of getting one, any thoughts, comments concerns?

 

Telex 850...

 

Pretty much anything will work. In an ERJ (the CRJ is supposedly not as loud) you are probably going to want a headset with some good passive noise reduction like what you wore flying GA pistons. You definitely do NOT need ANR or anything fancy like that. The Bose seem to be more trouble than their worth. Most guys wear David Clarks or the Telex "in-the-ear" type headsets. Weight, size and comfort are the most important things IMHO since you are going to have that sucker on your head A LOT.

 

We use telex 750 in the Gulfstream and Lear. They work really well. Not sure how much you would need the noise canceling in a jet.

At another company I worked for they had the bose in a B737. They were too heavy and really uncomfortable.

 

I'll second the telex 850. Remember loss of hearing is cumulative over time. After 10 years of flying, I have ringing in my ears at night.

The Bose headset is nice if you have the money to spend, but the 850 would work just fine in the CRJ (don't know about the ERJ).

 

I don't know anything about flying "quiet" airplanes like some of the regionals do, but if you are going to go into the ERJ or any t-prop, I do not agree in the least that the Bose is not "more trouble" than it's worth. Most guys that fly with standard headsets either have the Bose or want the Bose...and as far as weight, size, and comfort go, the Bose wins hands down. Plus, if you decide you don't want it, you could easily sell it for $850 on Ebay, even if you've used it for a while, and go buy something more suitable.

 

Plus, they're TSO'd, don't require batteries, and you can find them new for around $400.

 

If you do a search on "headset" you should get lots of threads on this topic. I use a Sennheiser with active noise reduction (ANR) and am happy with it. Comfortable and quiet. Most people I have flown with have a Telex of one kind or another so I assume they are good though I see some wearing earplugs underneath. I would definitely get ANR though. The less noise that comes in means the less volume you need both means you can keep your hearing longer. I have found I don't need earplugs with ANR. I tried a buddy's Bose briefly and it was comfortable and quiet too.

 

I have permanent tinnitus (ringing of the ear) in my left ear from shooting clays...anyway, I want to get the telex 850 but the noise reduction is 12 db. where as passive is much more like 23 db. Is there any way to put additional ear cups to seal out the noise (make it passive reduction as well)? The ear cups only go on the outside of the ear thats why there is no passive reduction. Any ideas please!

 

I fly the CRJ and I've searched for the perfect headset. Started off with the David Clarks'. They were great, built like a tank had a volume control, and I used to take it back to the factory in MA and they'd rebuild it for FREE - new ear seals, mic, head pad, and mic muff. I wish the ramp would send theirs back for rebuilds. Half of them don't work. DC's are bigger and heavier than I wanted though.

I then tried the Telex 750's that we carry in the aircraft for jumpseaters. Almost no NR and most everyone I see wear them uses earplugs. There's no volume control on them either.

Next was the Telex 5x5. I had a custom ear mold made and used it for a week trying to get it to my liking. No volume control on this headset either.

Next up was the Sony earbud headset I borrowed from a friend. It was O.K., but no volume control and no NR, and you couldn't wear ear plugs with it because it is just like a walkman with the discs that go a little ways into the ear canal.

Next, I tried the Telex 500 with ANR. This is the headset I've been using for 5 years now. You have to replace the 9v battery every 40 hours or so, but the NR is good because the ear cups cover most of the ear. I just replaced the worn out ear pads and I was amazed at the difference in NR with the new ones. The ANR works well, but it's not really needed in the RJ. I eliminates a low frequence rumble and quiets things down a bit, but I find myself forgetting to turn it on and I don't even notice it's not on. Best of all, it has a volume control knob. This is important because if you don't have it, there is no way to control how loud the warning, caution, and aural warnings are in your ear. If you turn down the volume of the voice on the audio control panel, the aurals don't get any quieter. With the 5x5, 750 and Sony, these chimes were ear splitting.

I've flown with some FO's that have the Telex 850's and most are happy with them. There have been a couple of cases where I've found that the headset would bleed the #2 radio over to the #1. Switching to the spare headset stopped the problem, and I think they sent them back for repairs. I don't have a good impression of this headset mostly for this reason, but others like it.

The Sennheiser looks like a great headset, but I've never tried one. I don't like the Bose because of the size, but I've heard they're great too. These are top of the line headsets and you pay for it, but they seem to be worth it.