subject: How To Buy Aviation Headsets [print this page] How To Buy Aviation Headsets How To Buy Aviation Headsets
When you learn to fly, you would naturally want to own a pair of good aviation headsets. Buying a headset is a personal matter and a decision must be taken after weighing several factors like comfort, cost and compatibility. The first factor is comfort. You could well be flying for hours and you do not want your headsets to bite into you or flop around when you turn your head. Although it is true that lightweight aviation headsets are more comfortable, it must be remembered that the lightweight design might not offer effective noise reduction. Larger earcups prevent sound interference. However, keep in mind that large earcups invariably mean more weight. It is best to look for headsets that offer a Noise Reduction rating of 20-24 decibels. Advanced aviation headsets are designed for extreme noise reduction. These headsets are made to cancel any noise interference. If the intelligibility of your communication cannot be compromised, noise reduction aviation headsets are a must. These headsets are more expensive. When it comes to cost, you must decide for yourself. If you spend many hours flying, then, it is in your interest to invest some money in a comfortable, high quality headset. Budget headsets are available for less than $50. But at such low rates, you may face issues with performance. Even if performance lives up to expectations, you may have to compromise long term comfort and clarity. The more expensive headsets are a good investment because they offer good value for money. When you fly long hours, you need headsets that are designed to withstand the rigors of professional flying. You might also need to make up your mind about buying an electret or dynamic microphone. Dynamic microphones are low impedance microphones but are commonly found in military applications only. Electret microphones generates signals on their own and do not require pre-amplification. The aircraft intercom can accept signals from the electret or the dynamic kind of headset. Last but by no means the least important, is the compatibility issue. It is not possible to say whether one headset works with another or not. The aircraft radio and installation of the intercom decides whether one device is compatible with another. However, high quality aviation headsets are generally compatible with the systems in the aircraft. One of the best ways to buy an aviation headsets is to try the headset before you buy. If you are happy with the quality and performance of the headset when you try it, you can but it by all means.
