Does somebody need a hug?
As mentioned in several previous threads, the ufly has a mic gain adjustment that is all the way down on my headset. Anyone who has a bad hiss in theirs either doesn't know about that or doesn't care. Just two trips ago I had a FO comment that he couldn't believe how quiet my ufly was. The A20, which it seems like 70 percent of our pilots wear, gives the other guy a loud hiss, mouth noises, and tons of background noise. I think it sounds like garbage. You can't hear it when it's you. The only headset that sounds worse is the company one. The A20 are also maintenance nightmares. I used to have one. Cord gets messed up super quickly and results in crackling where you have to jack around with the connections. Mic gets loose. Head hurts.
I grew up a long time ago, but so did my giant head. This is the only headset I have found that I can wear all day with no issues. I keep it in good working order and keep the mic gain turned all the way down. That doesn't stop about half of my flying partners from keeping their hot mic turned on accompanied with all the hissing, chewing, breathing, and even sneezing right into the mic.

 

Been flying with Clarity’s for about 15 years, they have always been good and quick when there was an issue (normally caused by me). I don’t have sensitive ears but they have always worked great. I have the TSO’d version as the wiring to the plugs is a bit more robust. Have been thinking about the Linx set next for blue tooth capabilities as now I have a ghetto setup that works but not ideal. I used them in a nasty turboprop for years and now in this beast and am content with the noise. The ANR on most headsets I’ve tried gave me a headache because of the attenuation. YMMV. Not for everyone but I’m content and won’t be going back to over the ear any time soon.

 

The amount of ambient noise that Bose microphones pick up, without the ability to adjust, is the only hesitation I have with buying one. Notice the same thing with the DC's. I adjust the gain on my ufly harmony to where you can't tell if the hot mic is on or off unless I talk.

 

Dont. Just talked to Clarity Aloft. They've got a TSO'd headset with Bluetooth going to market this summer.

 

thank you, I’ll hold out, I am not in a rush!!!

 

Do you guys not get annoyed with the in-ear setup? AirPods tend to drive me nuts after a couple hours.

 

That is my concern as well, but airpods are solid plastic where as the rest of these seem to be soft foam or rubber. I have heard great things in regards to the Card Works or whatever they are called. I think Zap uses them.

 

Honestly they don't bother me, and hard plastic Airpods drive me crazy too. (The Airpods pro with the rubber tips are better.)

The foam tips used on the Clarity Aloft are much softer. Soften than foam earplugs, even. They really don't bother me at all, and I love being able to just leave one ear out during pushback. Much more graceful than the crooked-headset maneuver.

They are a consumable, as they eventually degrade a bit and start letting a bit more noise in. That's when I change them; they usually last a couple of months for me. You can buy them from Clarity, which I did for a while, but I found these on Amazon which fit the same screw threads: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VNB0UC/ Same foam, same threads, same everything, but $16 for six pairs instead of $35+shipping.

 

This is the brand I heard great things about. Havent used.

https://cqheadset.com/about-us/

 

Also you can go to any hearing aid store and get custom molded in ear plugs that works well with Clarity Aloft. Obviously has a good fit since its made just for you and doesnt really enter the ear canal.