Best ANR headset with glasses

[dogfish]

Hi everyone,

I am about to buy a new headset for my PPL, and am looking for one with ANR. I'm still not too sure whether I want to go
for the CPL yet, so am a little hesitant to invest more than $800 for now. Two particular models that I am interested in are the
David Clark H10-13X and the Lightspeed Sierra. Quality-wise they seem to be quite similar, but I haven't really found much
regarding comfort with sunglasses. Which one would you suggest when taking overall quality/service/comfort into consideration?

Thanks.

[ahramin]

The David Clarkes are ok and will last you forever. Either one is fine with sunglasses, as long as you choose the sunglasses wisely. No headset is going to seal properly with a big pair of Oakleys.

But if you want the best passive and ANR in a comfortable headset with good foam seals for glasses, check out the Telex Stratus 50D.

http://www.telex.com/m/#line/aviation/p ... %20Digital

[cgzro]

+1 the Telex 50D. I have two pairs , one set is 12 years old. I use them in very noisy planes and they are comfortable and work well with my glasses.

[PointyEngine]

Reality is any headset on a long leg will cause discomfort with sunnies on. Even with super slim arms you'll find yourself adjusting the arms above your ears after a couple hours into a flight. I know a guy who wears the earbud style ANR headset, and swears by it. Might be clarity aloft, not exactly sure of the brand? Haven't tried them myself, but he drives the Navajo and the worlds noisiest B200 and seems to be more than happy?

[awitzke]

I use the Zulu 2 with glasses and it's not really noticeable. Plastic frames too, if you had metal frames you wouldn't notice at all.

[Broken Slinky]

I've owned Bose, Lightspeed and Clarks. As stated all headsets will not seal off with big thick framed glasses. I use thin legged glasses that hug the side of my head. That seems to work the best for sealing off. The other trick is to place the legs of the glasses above the seals. If you need to take the glasses off, you're not fumbling with your headset.

[goingnowherefast]

Find a store that's somewhat near and stocks a couple different brands of headsets, take your sunglasses with you and try on each individual headset. If your spending $800 on a headset, an hour drive is a cheap price to pay to ensure you are getting the product you will actually like. For example, Bose will give me a headache after 2 hours. I love my Lightspeed. I know my head is a weird shape, so maybe you'll like the Bose and the Lightspeed doesn't work for you.

[AirFrame]

My first-generation Zulus work just fine with my glasses, but i've always had glasses that fit pretty tight to my head. No headset will fit properly over glasses if you have excessively thick arms, or if they float away from your head all the way back to your ears. If yours do that, you might as well just get a pair of passive DC 10-13's. You'll be disappointed with ANR performance otherwise.

Better solution: Get contacts, then find sunglasses that *do* fit tight to your head.

[Prairie Highway]

I've got a big head (shut up), and big sunglasses to boot underneath my Zulu 2's, and I've never found it at all uncomfortable. Seem to seal fine, too.

[dogfish]

Thanks everyone! I'm not allowed to wear contacts while flying, and my sunglasses aren't as thick as oakleys either. I guess pretty much any of them should be working fine, as long as my glasses don't stick out too much. I'll just go for the one that I can find nearby to try on first. Thanks!

[Redneck_pilot86]

I'll add another in favor of the Zulu 2, I wear it all the time with sunglasses and no pain or fatigue after 8-10 hour days. Spend the money now, you only get one shot at protecting your hearing. With a little bit of upkeep (replacing ear seals) every couple of years they should last until something significantly better is designed.

[Shiny Side Up]

I've got a big head (shut up),

He's like an Orange on a toothpick!

You'll give him a complex!

Ah, he can cry himself to sleep on his giant pillow.

[xchox]

I've owned pretty much all of them.

Sennheiser is the best by far.

Their aftermarket support is amazing... In the U.S... In Canada not so much.
David Clark has always been a winner.

Not a big fan of the Zulus or Bose.

Telex is also good.

It all comes down to personal preference.

[200hr Wonder]

I've got a big head (shut up),

He's like an Orange on a toothpick!

You'll give him a complex!

Ah, he can cry himself to sleep on his giant pillow.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/SJ8Rc98Xs20[/youtube]

[CYCG]

Ive used the bose A20 thus far. I find wearing sun glasses is annoying for the cancellation, although minor. Various glasses, I usually just lean them upwards so they don't disturb the noise cancellation. You can see fine, however might look like a little funny

[JasonE]

Zulu2 here. Sunglasses (even thin ones) interfere a bit and I get some noise. It is still much better than passive.

[human garbage]

If it is really an issue maybe consider an in-the-ear passive (like Clarity Aloft and the like). I prefer passive over ANR personally. Easier to sync props for pax comfort and hear those strange noises that ANR covers. YMMV. With fitted plugs I've got over 32Db of noise reduction according to the audiologist which is good enough for me.

I run an old Lightspeed Mach1 (no longer available) and I couldn't go back to having a headset on. Its awesome for wrap around shades, baseball hats, toques, etc. Much better in hot weather too with no sweaty cups clamped on your melon.

EDIT: I see now that PointyEngine said the same. If you can deal with things stuck in your ears its the way to go. I spent years in trades so ear protection doesn't even register... Drove home with fitted plugs in more than once. Once again, its subjective.

[awitzke]

If it is really an issue maybe consider an in-the-ear passive (like Clarity Aloft and the like). I prefer passive over ANR personally. Easier to sync props for pax comfort and hear those strange noises that ANR covers. YMMV. With fitted plugs I've got over 32Db of noise reduction according to the audiologist which is good enough for me.

I run an old Lightspeed Mach1 (no longer available) and I couldn't go back to having a headset on. Its awesome for wrap around shades, baseball hats, toques, etc. Much better in hot weather too with no sweaty cups clamped on your melon.

EDIT: I see now that PointyEngine said the same. If you can deal with things stuck in your ears its the way to go. I spent years in trades so ear protection doesn't even register... Drove home with fitted plugs in more than once. Once again, its subjective.

I dunno, seems fairly easy to sync props with the Zulu2's. Sometimes after I sync I'll pop my headset off anyways to double check (if it's going to be a long leg, like hour +). Usually it's just fine.

I have a pair of RayBan plastic framed sunglasses I wear regularly when I have my contacts in and while I do notice a difference from not wearing them, the difference is slight and not really an issue. Still a lot better than my old passive DC's.

I wouldn't mind trying a pair of in ears though with custom molded inserts (vs the ones that go right into the canal). Seems like that would be the ultimate set up.

[praveen4143]

www.clarityaloft.com

A former colleague of mine didn't like any of the regular headsets because he felt that the sunglasses he wore always pinched his temples and didn't give the perfect seal so he tried this and I think he still swears by them after over 5 years (I think.. I lost track of him a year or so so)