Headsets GA vs 121
 

The previous thread I saw on this was locked due to the forums distaste for the OP, so I'd like to reopen the topic for discussion. Currently I'm a CFI with about 3 months left until meeting ATP mins and will make the transition to a 121 regional. My entire flight career I've used the standard Davey Clark marshmellow model and am looking to upgrade.

I've heard mixed reactions about purchasing the a20's strictly for 121 flying, but it also seems that the qc15's have their own issues(especially with GA cockpit noise levels).

I'm looking to purchase something now, with 4 months left in a GA cockpit, before beginning 121 flying. Are the a20's worth the price tag with what little GA time I have left before transitioning to a 121 role?

Are the a20's too big and cumbersome for a 121 flight bag?

It doesn't seem like there is a happy medium between GA and 121.

Thanks in advance,

Bones.

I had the A20's left over fromGA after I made the switch and found the ANR unnecessary in the CRJ (you can't hear ANYTHING) and they felt to bulky after a long day of flying. I went with the telex 850's and I love them but they wouldn't work for GA. The David Clark on ear headphones pro-x I think they're called, would be a good balance between the two.

I've been using the same pair since I was a student pilot it cuts back on the noise. Regional jets are not as quiet as people make them out to be

Hadn't seen the DC Pro-x before, those look like they have potential to be a nice hybrid. Thanks!

Do the 850s have an audio aux jack for music, iBooks, podcasts, etc.?

I run the A20's in the CRJ, and I love them. I won't use anything else. Absolutely silent up front.

Nope. They're pretty bare-bones. They do manage ANR without batteries though which to me feels like witchcraft.

What about comfort level and portability in the flight bag?

Plenty of people fly with the A20s. They are big, but they sound great. I felt like they were too hot for me, so they went back. Chucking them in my flight bag with charts and manuals didn't work, but with EFBs out there for most people that isn't a concern. A ton of guys also fly with the regular old David Clarks from their CFI days.

DC ProX work well for some, not for others. There is definitely a sweet spot they need to be in to be nice and quiet. I like mine. Comfortable, nice Bluetooth function as well. I also fly a 172 occasionally and they work well there as well. Not as quiet as the A20s in jets or props, but also nowhere near as much money or as hot as the A20s.

I also had the uflymike setup for a while. It was great. No complaints. Not quite as quiet as the ProX (but close), also worked fine in GA aircraft. Nice and comfortable and could be used on deadheads. Audio input for music etc sucked though, and unless you also wear earbuds they die when the battery dies and are not TSO approved. Some airlines require TSO headsets. Mine does and I only had once time in a couple thousand hours that a check airman made sure I had the TSO version, but I'm glad I did because he would have made my life difficult.

Keep in mind that not all jets are quiet. The 900 is loud, just the way the fan setup is, if you turn them off it gets quiet, but you're not going to be flying like that. 200 is much quieter until you hit 300kias, then it's still quieter but the wind noise picks up. From time on jump seats, the 175 and 145 are in between the CRJs as far as noise level goes.

I can Tetris my A20 into a standard sized flight case perfectly. Anything bigger wouldn't fit. Now, once we drop the paper manuals and I can downsize to a EFB, I'll pick up a smaller headset.

Telex 850 ANR were fine for RJ series. No battery pack needed