Nothing requires you to go topless.

I use my Bose. Mainly because I got tired of going into the jungle and constantly asking “what did they just say?” It’s one thing to have the language barrier and another to have the cockpit noise on top of that. No XLR plugs though. And some of the planes, the GA plugs don’t fit right.

Just make sure that, when using your own headsets, as a courtesy please leave the ships set unplugged for the next guy.

unplugged, wrapped up, and a half bottle of water in the side pocket

While we’re at it, maybe have the awareness that 319 pedals don’t come hither when you pull the handle, so leave them all the way out instead of all the way in so that the next guy doesn’t have to go diving under panel to get the rudder pedals in place.

That’s 20 minutes of better hearing protection and radio clarity without community headsets. I’ll take it.

It’s been mentioned a couple times, but to reiterate for anyone contemplating buying a headset: Several makers offer an option for an “Airbus plug” which our aircraft don’t use. If you have a headset that has the Airbus plug (round, about a nickel in diameter with internal pins) you can get an adapter to the two plug style on eBay for about $12

I use the Telex 5x5 Pro with a custom molded earpiece. There is nothing on top of your head and nothing at all rapped around to the other ear. I literally forget it's there sometimes. I have used it in the 757 and DC10. I wouldn't have anything else.

The A320 series is very quiet and you don't need a full-covering headset like you do in a regional jet. This is exponentially more quiet than any of the regional jets.

I tried the ship’s headset at first but found the clarity to be terrible. As you will take the headset off at 18 K I didn’t want to spend the money for a Bose for example. It’s not a noisy Boeing after all. So I got myself a Telex Airman 850 ANR for about 400 $. I’m very happy to have it below 18K. And it doesn’t need so much space as an A20 in your flight kit.

If anyone is thinking of getting 850's, the Telex Airman 8 is the updated version. Better noise cancelling (still doesn't need batteries) and it seems to be better constructed. 6.7.0