David Clark DC Pro-X in louder pistons?

swisspilot

swisspilot

Well-Known Member
Anyone used the David Clark DC Pro-X in high performance pistons?

I need a new headset, I fly over 100 hours a month with days pushing 8 hours in the Amazonian tropical heat and humidity.

I'm currently using a Bose X, it works very well, but I have two main issues I want to address by buying a new headset: The earmuffs only last me about 300 hours and I need to change them (from the sunglasses and my perennial 3 day beard), it`s becoming a real pain since I need to get them shipped here from abroad and they are not cheaper either. The around the hear muffs also make me sweat more then usual.

Many pilots told me to get an in-ear headset, while it seems a good idea, I think it would drive me crazy on days I have to do 7-8 legs, or while flying crew in the Twin Otter and I have to leave the cockpit to address cargo/passenger problems.

I would like to know how well the David Clark DC Pro-X performs, I fly 206,208 and the DHC6, I'm sure in the turbines they do just fine (at least in cruise), in my Bose I don't even turn the ANR on, but I would like to know if they are quiet enough to be used in a loud 206...

anyone tried this in this type of aircrafts; bonanza, mooney,...
 
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I use mine in a 172, Warrior and Mooney and they work great! Every time I'm ready to put them on, I feel the light weight and think, "No way this can work!" I'm happy to be surprised and wrong every time.
 
First off, why would you not use the ANR in a Bose? They have virtually zero passive damping, so without the ANR, you've got a pretty poorly noise attenuating system. All things serious, if you're content with a non-ANR'ing (I think I just made up a new word) Bose, I'd think you'd be happy with anything.

I've flown the DC Pro X in the Lear, and enjoyed it, though it's not as quiet as my Sennheiser HMEC 26-2, which I've used in turboprops with great success.
 
Patrick said:
First off, why would you not use the ANR in a Bose? They have virtually zero passive damping, so without the ANR, you've got a pretty poorly noise attenuating system. All things serious, if you're content with a non-ANR'ing (I think I just made up a new word) Bose, I'd think you'd be happy with anything.

I've flown the DC Pro X in the Lear, and enjoyed it, though it's not as quiet as my Sennheiser HMEC 26-2, which I've used in turboprops with great success.
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I turn the ANR off only in the Twin Otter and in the Supervan, the main reason is the folllow:

I fly over some very remote areas (Amazon Jungle), about half the size of Europe covered in trees, the Bose makes this weird sounds every time a cellphone is trying to connect to an antenna (a friend flying with it told me the DC Pro-X doesn't have this issue), coverage over the jungle is very spotty, so it gets annoying as hell and it cuts out communication (we are responsible for our own separation in IMC).

In both those airplanes the Bose passive works enough.

I still fly a stripped 206 (no sound proofing and very loud engine) and anything is still not quiet or comfortable enough for me, it is also very hot and humid here, something a little less covering would be nice.

We can fly up to 140 hours a month here, without commodities like air-conditioning, auto-pilots...the headset is very important comfort factor.
 
I have the Pro X in a 175 and it works just fine. I used to fly with a Lightspeed Zulu as a jump pilot. It got too hot and heavy. I think the Pro X would feel the same after about 5 hours. I bought a QT Halo. It was perfect for the heat and long hours. Lightweight, doesn't interfere which sunglasses arms, and user replaceable earplugs.
 
wayway8 said:
I have the Pro X in a 175 and it works just fine. I used to fly with a Lightspeed Zulu as a jump pilot. It got too hot and heavy. I think the Pro X would feel the same after about 5 hours. I bought a QT Halo. It was perfect for the heat and long hours. Lightweight, doesn't interfere which sunglasses arms, and user replaceable earplugs.
Click to expand...

I have considered the QT Halo, I'm just not sure about putting in and out several times a day the plugs.
 
When I fly the 210 I use the DC x11. We bought a DC pro to use in it as well. It's ok, but it's no where near as quite as the x11, IMO. I used it in the citation once two, honestly I didn't like it there either.
I would not buy one for use in piston a/c.
 
X-11 is the worst "modern" headset I've ever had the displeasure of trying. DC really did a disservice to their fans with the X-11, and it seems like, made up for it with the new Pro-X.
 
My A20 is great in all the aircraft I fly. The usual suspects plus DHC6, C208, C206, Pitts, Cubs, Luscombes, Husky.... In the Extra/ MX2 and similar I wear a Clarity Aloft and that's only because of the limited clearance between my head and canopy.

The only problem I have with the Bose is when the batteries are low, intermittent ANR is very annoying.
 
swisspilot said:
I turn the ANR off only in the Twin Otter and in the Supervan, the main reason is the folllow:

I fly over some very remote areas (Amazon Jungle), about half the size of Europe covered in trees, the Bose makes this weird sounds every time a cellphone is trying to connect to an antenna (a friend flying with it told me the DC Pro-X doesn't have this issue), coverage over the jungle is very spotty, so it gets annoying as hell and it cuts out communication (we are responsible for our own separation in IMC).

In both those airplanes the Bose passive works enough.

I still fly a stripped 206 (no sound proofing and very loud engine) and anything is still not quiet or comfortable enough for me, it is also very hot and humid here, something a little less covering would be nice.

We can fly up to 140 hours a month here, without commodities like air-conditioning, auto-pilots...the headset is very important comfort factor.
Click to expand...

I have used Bose in my dad's cub while flying around Alaska (which also has very large areas with no cell phone service) and have never experienced this. I'd be surprised if there isn't something wrong with yours.
 
alaskadrifter said:
I have used Bose in my dad's cub while flying around Alaska (which also has very large areas with no cell phone service) and have never experienced this. I'd be surprised if there isn't something wrong with yours.
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I had this issue on 3 Bose X I flew with, somewhere online I read that it has to do with cellphone interference, in fact if you look at the description of the A20 they say they fixed this issue. I don't have this issue when flying alone and I keep the cell phone in flight-mode.

Just go to any online pilot store and you will find in the reviews someone reporting this issue still on the A20.

I did noticed that it has to do with the position of the battery box, I have to keep my phone on while flying because I don't have VHF coverage everywhere. But we have cell-phone antennas at most airstrips we overfly or land.
 
swisspilot said:
I had this issue on 3 Bose X I flew with, somewhere online I read that it has to do with cellphone interference, in fact if you look at the description of the A20 they say they fixed this issue. I don't have this issue when flying alone and I keep the cell phone in flight-mode.

Just go to any online pilot store and you will find in the reviews someone reporting this issue still on the A20.

I did noticed that it has to do with the position of the battery box, I have to keep my phone on while flying because I don't have VHF coverage everywhere. But we have cell-phone antennas at most airstrips we overfly or land.
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Interesting. Our battery is under the rear seat (no box).
 
swisspilot said:
I had this issue on 3 Bose X I flew with, somewhere online I read that it has to do with cellphone interference, in fact if you look at the description of the A20 they say they fixed this issue. I don't have this issue when flying alone and I keep the cell phone in flight-mode.

Just go to any online pilot store and you will find in the reviews someone reporting this issue still on the A20.

I did noticed that it has to do with the position of the battery box, I have to keep my phone on while flying because I don't have VHF coverage everywhere. But we have cell-phone antennas at most airstrips we overfly or land.
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It probably has more to do with the position of the radio/intercom in relation to your cell phone. Older airplanes tend to have less shielding for this type of interference it seems. Try moving the phone around the cockpit when you hear the interference and you'll probably notice it's weaker/stronger in some spots. You probably won't be able to get rid of it completely. Most modern cell phones modulate the internal radio power needs based on signal strength. They use the most power when trying to locate a tower, meaning more likely to get some interference when it's searching for a tower.

I've had the Pro-X for around two hundred hours and love it. Most of the time has been in a Lear 45 but I did use it for about ten hours in a Super Cub and it was fine. I haven't noticed much cell interference. However, every once in a while I'll forget to put it in airplane mode and hear some. I think it has more to do with the older intercom in the Lear not so much the headset.
 
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