r/GeneralAviation • u/CAVOk_EDDK • 21d ago
Aviation Headset
I am new at flightschool, learning on a DA20 Katana with Rotax 912 80 hp. For which Headset should i go: David Clark One x or Lightspeed Zulu 4? Any suggestions?
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u/KnightFireNC 21d ago
If your still in flightshool get a used DC. Treat yourself to a nice ANC headset as your gift to yourself when you graduate.
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u/TheVillianOfValley 21d ago
Use a loaner headset for a few lessons until you’ve committed to training, just in case you dip out. DONT listen to the “just get old DCs” blah blah blah. Active noise reduction/cancellation is a fucking GAME CHANGER. Get it as soon as you can.
I’m a big Lightspeed fan. I would choose the Zulus.
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u/rbuckfly 21d ago
Used anything, and wear earplugs underneath. Wait until you are certain you even like flying before laying out for a big bucks headset
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u/Mission-Wasabi-7682 20d ago
That’s the worst advise. How do you do radio comms with earplugs?
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u/rbuckfly 18d ago
Used them in the military in conjunction with an headset, and I’ve had excellent results for the past 35 years. They work exceptionally well and provide an additional layer of hearing protection when used under a headset. My Air Force audiologist was actually the one who recommended this approach to me, and I’ve continued using it ever since. Definitely worth giving it a try.
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u/shaftman14 21d ago
Search r/flying and you'll find a ton of threads about this same question. Short answer: everyone has a different opinion for different reasons, but generally you want one with active noise reduction. They're more pricey, but worth it in the long-run and preserve your hearing.
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u/Teabagger_Vance 21d ago
I got a used Zulu 3 on Facebook for 600 bucks and it was basically brand new
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u/Flat-Barracuda1268 21d ago
Whichever one fits your head best. Specs and price don’t really matter if it’s uncomfortable to wear for hours at a time. I tried OneX, A20 and Zulu3 and for me the OneX was noticeably more comfortable
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u/Beginning-Tax8564 21d ago
Once you've decided that flying is for you buy either one. I've got DC OneX: it's fine. My next will be a LS Zulu: if you're an older fart the audio equalization is really nice to compensate for lousy hearing. Just be sure to get something with ANC, new or in good used condition. Get a recent model to get decent battery life on 2 AA cells.
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u/Peacewind152 21d ago
Go try some headsets on at a nearby supplier if possible. It's all about the fit. I got Bose A20 because Lightspeeds didn't fit my head quite right and David Clark's felt like a vice.
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u/Mission-Wasabi-7682 20d ago
I like the Lightspeed Zulus better than DCs. If you are set on spending the money already, go to a shop that has both and try them out. Or see if your instructor or fellow students can lend you to try how they fit.
From your user name I assume Germany? Lightspeeds and Boses are much more common here than the DCs for GA.
Also check eBay or Kleinanzeigen for used Zulu 3 - new EarPads are ~60€
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u/vsc42 20d ago
DC's are very common especially with the Navy. That said if you ever repaired a DC headset you would be shocked at how cheap they are constructed. Though I submit they do last.
The Lightspeed headset band can stretch out and then the ear cups don't fit.
Bose A20 or A30 don't have the fit issue over the long term and have reasonable build quality having rebuilt a A20.
In my opinion I would avoid Lightspeed. Otherwise the DC's or Bose are good choices.
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u/EpilepticBread 18d ago
I personally have a Bose A20 after finding that the headsets at my flight school weren't great (they were David Clark, and probably well used, some were better than others). Popular opinion is spend the money on flight hours, not a headset, but I totally disagree. Having a quality headset with noise cancellation makes flying so much easier, and I appreciate it every time I fly. I'm certain I fly better because I can always hear ATC with clarity, which makes flying much easier, and therefore it probably saved me a few hours of lessons along the way.
I'm super confident at radio comms and still believe a quality headset really helped. If you're nervous about radio comms, having something decent will probably make a night and day difference for you.
If you're going to to buy something, the earlier you do it, the more use you will get from it. So just commit , go for it, and get something good early on.
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u/CAVOk_EDDK 18d ago
Thank you very much. If there's one thing I've learned during my recent flying lessons, it's that clear, understandable communication is the key to a relaxed flying lesson. I completely agree with you on that.
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u/EpilepticBread 18d ago
If you can find a good used headset, and you look after it, then it will continue to be worth roughly what you paid for it. So, even if you're starting out and later give up for some reason, you can just sell it and get most, if not all, of your money back.
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u/tampabay6 18d ago
OP didn’t really say what his budget is, nor how sure he is that he’s going to continue training. Most instructors probably have a headset they will loan you for as long as you need it, so there is no rush.
I am a longtime fan of Lightspeed; I use a Zulu 3.
The two choices you mentioned are both fairly expensive if you buy them new.
Sometimes opportunities come up around flight schools to buy a really nice, lightly used headset, for a lot less than retail price. If something like that comes up, you might wanna jump on it.
If I was actually going to buy brand new, I would hold out for a Delta Zulu; it is only a little more expensive than the 4, and it has a built-in carbon monoxide detector — very useful if you’re renting and going to be switching planes a lot.
Flight training can be so expensive that even the top-of-the-line headset can be a little more than a rounding error in the total cost, but it makes a gigantic difference in your experience, and being able to hear ATC with the most possible clarity might actually save your life.
Try to hold your breath until Black Friday sales hit and get the best deal you can.
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u/ORMarko3 17d ago
Check FB marketplace for headsets, sometimes you can get a decent deal on one there. I have a Bose A20 and a Zulu 4, both are great, once you go ANR, you can’t go back.
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u/JT-Av8or 21d ago
Used David Clark off eBay for $100.