Clarity aloft review??
 

So I'm ready to shelf the Clarks. Got the 10-13x (ANR) which i don't even bother with anymore, (paying for batteries)...

I'm tired of the heavy clamp on my head, and i'm looking to change headsets.

I've been looking at the Telex 850s (ANR-panel powered)
as well as the Clarity Aloft (Pro version for the TSO cert).

I've used the Telex and like them, however, never had the op. to use the CA Pro. Does anyone have any feedback?


I fly the Dash8, so as it goes, every airplane I fly in the future will be much quieter, but I've got a few more years on the Dash and want a headset that I can keep and appreciate on this and other aircraft, including GA.

Any suggestions, reviews?

just get two tin cans and some string...

Telex 850
 

I've got the Telex 850s and they are really nice, assuming you are flying something other than an ERJ (or equivalent) or GA aircraft, which it just so happens, that's all I fly :o

I still have to wear earplugs underneath the 850s because the ANR doesn't really do much when it comes to 450 knots true. Same goes for GA aircraft, with that big fan upfront blowing 100 knots of air over the windshield, the ANR just can't cut it out.

Now, on the positive side: It is not a clamp. Its a big improvement from my old Telex which is old enough to almost be my father. Its also a bit easier on the noggin' than the Bose headset, which I had for a six month trial. Cool headset (the Bose) but still a bit heavy and clampy. The 850 is lightweight, fits in my flight kit discreetly (leaving room for GOM revision after GOM revision :D), and since the top part which rests on top of your head is so skinny, you can just reposition the skinny little thing forward or back for instant relief.

In my opinion, I would still with a comfy pair of Clarks or the Bose headset and just keep buying the batteries. But now that I think about it, earplugs are free and the 850 is pretty light. Well, to each his own I suppose. As for the Clarity Alofts, I have no idea.

Oh, I did want to add one other thing: I see a lot of guys who fly 320s and 73s and up with those tiny little headsets, the ones that just hang in one ear and with the tiny little mic. I suspect that once you make it that far in your career, you won't have a need for something like a Telex 850. I know as soon as I get into something quieter, I am ditching any "rest on my skull" headset.

I have used the calritys for several years. and love them. I used them on a King air 200 and now on the Saab, both of which are louder than the Dash, and I have no complaints. I have also used the Bose anr, and I feel that the little extra noise is well worth the added comfort.

As far as the TSO goes, save your money. There is no difference in the head-set. I contacted them to get this varified and the assured me they are the exact same you are just paying for paper work. Most carriers don't care one way or the other and they will never check anyway.

am holding on to my DC's though, they are like a good old friend

I got one about six months ago, and I am pretty happy with it. Here's a good review of it:

Flying Magazine - In-Ear Headsets From Lightspeed and Clarity Aloft

I'm happy with my Clarity Aloft, and with the Bose X. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not crazy about the Clarity in the early CRJ-200's, but works great in a -700 and -900's.

The Bose X is the standard. Not many excuses there. The UflyMike setup needs batteries to work; if they die, you hear nothing. The TSO approval on the Bose and Clarity would not allow that.

That last paragraph made me laugh, you been in the front of a Jungle Jet? It is a lot louder than the Dash in cruise. I used the std Clarity in the 145 for three years, wonderful. I traded that for a TSO'd one to keep my new employer happy, I've used it and the Telex 850 on the -400, also very good. I like having the input on the Clarity though so I can listen to the sweet sounds of (insert your favorite artist here).

The two CA headsets are totally different, and and the TSO is printed on the one that has it. Anybody familiar with them will know which version you have. I've only had one manager ask about TSOs and that was on my Telex!

If you get to fly in cruise with your headset off a lot, you might want to just go for the 850. If you want to have really good hearing when you retire, go with the Bose, if you want to have good hearing and some Franklin's in your pocket, get the CA.

I like mine.

BBFO

Clarity aloft headsets are great. I used to have the bose and I wish I knew about the Clarity aloft headset before I got the bose.

Switched from the Bose X to the Clarity Aloft about 6 months ago and it was the best thing I did. Flying the q400.

Go to a Bose store and try on the QC2's. Very lightweight and comfortable as well as havin excellent ANR. If you like them, get them and a UFlyMike. I have been using one for 3 months now and love it. No headaches after a long day like I had with my Telex Digital ANRs. (Clamp style headset, heavy) The battery issue is a non issue on the QC2s. One AAA battery. I use one a month and that includes using them to watch movies and listen to music on my airline legs and downtime on the job. Yes, I am a frac guy and have 4-6 of those a month. Most ANR headsets use a battery for the ANR and you go through those faster than you do on the QC2. If you use the QC2 for more than the 10 hours after the red light flashes and, heaven forbid the battery dies, every airplane I have flown has this neat speaker overhead that sound comes out of when you push a button. Takes 2 seconds. Problem solved. UFlyMike also makes a TSO earbud mod for the paranoid. Thing is, these are the most comfortable quality headset I have found. You owe yourself the effort to check them out.

Clarity Aloft has my vote. I use them in the E-145 and they work great. They're built well and easy to carry around unlike the full headset type that require another bag.

I don't know how Clarity Aloft stays in business. The electronics aren't bad, but that headset is completely unadjustable. They provide you a rubber band if it doesn't fit right. If it breaks while you're trying to adjust it (perhaps bending the cheap metal frame), they won't fix it like DC or another company might... they'll offer you an opportunity to buy another at half price, which is still 8 times more than the materials they use are worth.
Customer service lacks, too. I called for service, and got a message that they wouldn't be able to help because they were at OshKosh. Seriously?
Happier with a Mach 1.
Save your money... CA is good for noise attenuation and light weight, but not adjustable, can be quite uncomfortable on the wrong skull shape, and seems poorly backed by the manufacturer.

Three year old post...I'd like to think he's bought a headset by now. :p


That being said...if he thinks everything he's going to fly is going to be quieter than the -8, he's in for a sore surprise.

Real men use the Bose Q 2 mike . Best headset, and to make them tso approved you just have to have a spake mini headset jack (iPod headsets ) in your bag for spare just in case your batteries go bad .

Good thing about these headsets is they work great for jets , (200,900 etc ) or loud GA airplanes alike .

Assuming your spare mini headset jack (ipod headset) is TSO'd. Someone mentioned that ufly mic has one TSO'd.

About a year ago, my CA headset had the rubber coating on the mike split open. It didn't affect the performance, but I sent it back and they sent me a brand new one. I'm still very happy with mine.

To anyone thinking about the Clarity Aloft headset, try wearing your sun glasses backwards for a while and see how that feels to you. I bet it will suck like the headset does. The booth at Sun N Fun and Oshkosh is so funny because they are trying to sell you these things and I can't help but laugh every time I put them on.

Three-year old thread but I'll chime in.

I fly the Saab and love the Clarity Alofts. You would never think so but the ear pieces are very comfortable. It takes a little* getting used to but they are awesome. The noise attenuation is very good and it's always quiet even through the climb.

I don't have a vested interest in having this opinion. I was able to borrow Bose, Lightspeed Zulus, and CAs for a week each before I bought my last headset and I went with the Clarity Alofts.

You may hear mixed reviews but I think almost everyone is happy with them.

My only complaint? When you see them, you'll shake your head at how a headset like it can cost $550. Excellent headset but a bit steep in price I think.

Save the money on the TSO version. If you have a company guy or an inspector on-board, just use the company-issued headset. :p

The pro version of the CA doesn't use a rubber band for adjustment and instead relies on a tensioned metal band. It works great. There is indeed a difference between the regular and pro versions besides the "paperwork".

Indeed, the TSO version is quite comfortable. My only complaint; after washing the foam tips, the amount of noise reduced by the foam decreases dramatically compared with new tips. Have any CA owners found a way to rectify this?

I dont wash the tips I just replace them when they need it.
(Note to self.....change head set tips.)

X1000 for Clarity Aloft non-tso

I'm too po' to change them whenever they get dirty

I have a Lightspeed Mach 1 that I really like. It works great in all of the planes I've flown - pistons and noisy turboprops. I assume it would work well in pretty much anything. Its definitely a lot better than the David Clark I replaced with it, and I prefer it over the Bose headsets that are in some of the planes I fly. It is much more comfortable than the old David Clarks and the noise reduction is better (my DC was passive noise reduction). I would say the noise reduction falls somewhere in between a passive headset and an Bose. Buy the clarity aloft ear tips - they much quieter and better than the Lightspeed ones, and connect to the lightspeed just fine.

My only complaints with the lightspeed are: The earpiece with the mic doesn't always want to stay in place, that can get annoying. Also, he headset seems flimsy and has had to be repaired once, and I'm probably going to have to send in again because one of the clips is broken and it is driving me crazy. Lightspeed is great about fixing it, but it is kind of frustrating because I feel like I'm very careful with it.

I tried the Clarity Aloft at Oshkosh and I really liked it too. It was a bit heavier than the light speed, but didn't seem to have the flimsiness issues that the lightspeed does. IMO, it is probably not quite as comfortable as the lightspeed, but I wouldn't have the issues with the mic earpiece like I do with my lightspeed. Personally, if I need to replace my Lightspeed I would consider the CA, and I would prefer the CA or Lightspeed over Bose any day.

I used to rock Bose. Made the change to Clarity and boy its been night and day difference. I give Clarity a big A+ for comfort and functionality.

I also used the Bose and u fly mic for a couple of years. Switched to the clarity and like them much better. Way more comfortable and better noise reduction. I called the factory direct and told them I am an airline pilot. They knocked $75 off the price and I had them in 2 days. Took a couple of flights to get use to and now I can barely tell I am wearing anything.