Which headset do you prefer more for helicopter pilots, David Clark or LightSPEED?

Question

I want to get a headset for my boyfriend for his birthday but I can only spend around $300.00. I've searched both brands of headsets, but which brand is generally better? Also, which is better, passive or active noise reduction headsets ? Is the David Clark H10-36 any good? Or is it cheap? I know its a lot of questions, and I appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

Answer 1

David Clarks are very rugged. Their passive sets are very good. I can't recommend their active noise reduction (ANR) headsets; the audio quality is not what I think it should be. This was also the conclusion of Aviation Consumer mag.

Lightspeeds are also very good. If you can, try to get an ANR headset for him. I know you're on a budget but the difference is worth the extra expense. The review on the Lightspeed Lightspeed QFR XCc was pretty good. Not a bad ANR for the money.

I have had both and I definitely prefer ANR. You might want to look at Telex headsets also. They make an ANR that is a little more reasonable than some.

Answer 2

I have the H10-36 and they get the job done every time. The price was great too. I like the mic on the H10-13H better, though, and if I were going to get a new set I would probably get those. I think they run about $60 more.

Every pilot I know uses the David Clarks, so I can't give you any feedback on the Lightspeed. The Lightspeeds may be better, I don't know, but you won't go wrong with the David Clarks. The only other ones I see anybody use are the $1000 Bose.

Answer 3

I like lightspeed

Answer 4

I prefer the Dave Clark because they are rugged durable and reliable.  The Dave Clark headset I have now and use the most I bought about six or seven years ago.  Right now in my closet I have a set of FlightCom, Softcom Telex another set of Dave Clark and at one time I had a set of Bose headsets.  The Bose were comfortable and light weight, but they were not built rugged enough and after a couple of years of use they broke and became unusable.

Dave Clark headsets works well in both an airplane and a helicopter.  A couple of weeks ago I fly my Cessna 150 to Rancho Murrieta (KRIU) to go flying in a Bell 47.  I used my noise canceling Dave Clark headset with no problems in both the airplane and the helicopter