Headsets for the 200s

C150J

C150J

Well-Known Member
What are the majority of people using these days in the CRJs? How loud are they relative to other jet aircraft? Are my Bose headsets acceptable, or will cockpit conversation take place without an intercom?

Getting way too ahead of myself, but waiting for this class date leaves me thinking about such things!!!!

J.
 
I'm using my Bose in the ERJ, and I love them... but I've been told the CRJ flight deck is much quieter so the Bose may be overkill. The only time we ever really take off our headsets is FL370 and smooth air.

Bob
 
The CR2 and CR7 (and I would guess the -900) are relativly quiet in flight. When they get loud is when you are low do going fast. The biggest loudest noise comes from the avionics cooling fans which *mostly* have to be on to keep the CRT screens from burning out. That said, if they are off it is very quiet. Some of the planes do have a leaky seal around the escape hatch or may have some random air noise though. My company provides all the aircraft with multiple pairs of DCs. I wore my own lightspeed 3gs for a while but got tired of lugging them around. I started wearing the provided DCs (with a healthy dose of antiseptic swabbing. I found them to be really uncomfortable although they did block out most of the noise. I then got a pair of Telex 750s (I know some companies provide their planes with these). They don't really block out any noise but they are much more comfortable to wear. I would like to get a pair of the Telex 850s at some point but I can't afford to do that now. Also, some captains will dump the headsets as soon as they are through 10,000 and some don't use headsets at all.
 
Here is an airline pilot headset review website that might be helpful: Airline Cockpit Noise

I like the Sennheiser HMEC-45KA (ANR) for use in the Citation (550/560). (I don't know how comparable the cockpit noise is to the 200 though.) I picked up a refurbished set from Aviation-Headset.com for just over $350.00 (factory list price is around $790.00). Some guys like the HMEC-25 'cause it has full ear cups instead of the open design. I've heard good things on the Telex 850, but also some rumblings about needing a hot mic to power the ANR(?). Might be more information on that website above...
 
C150J said:
What are the majority of people using these days in the CRJs? How loud are they relative to other jet aircraft? Are my Bose headsets acceptable, or will cockpit conversation take place without an intercom?

Getting way too ahead of myself, but waiting for this class date leaves me thinking about such things!!!!

J.
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In my experience, I compared (with the help of some friendly captains and my spare headsets):

DC 13.4's
Bose X
Bose QC2 setup (U fly mike)
Lightspeed 25xl
Telex 750 (come in planes for jumpseater use)
Telex 850 (noise cx ones)

I am back to using the DC's. I found they blocked out almost all the noise the RJ throws off (which is wind noise when going 280+ :)). It's almost all wind noise save for the fans and it seems the noise cx headsets don't do a very good job at killing it.

That being said, if you already have the Bose X's, you'll find them comfortable and adequate for the noise levels.

I found the cheapest and most noise cx setup was the 750's with the orange ear foam plugs. That works great. Comfy and QUIET! You can buy your own 750 on ebay for super cheap too.

Some captains do take off their headsets in cruise but when they do I put in ear plugs. I'm pretty serious about hearing loss.
 
I use the telex 750s. Brand new they cost close to 200 i think, but i got mine on ebay for 125 shipped (brand new) and others in my class got it for cheaper than that. If i had the money i would get the 850s, you dont need batteries and the seem towork great.

If you already have the bose, just stick with those. i am sure they'll do fine.
 
Thanks everyone -

I was given a pair of 750s a long time ago from a retired 747 Captain... perfecto. Although I have no immediate interest in purchasing a pair, has anyone heard anything about the Clarity Aloft headset? Looks interesting.

J.
 
Two friends of mine use the Bose QC2/U Fly Mike combo on the 200, both have raved about it.
 
I use the Telex 850s. I certainly notice a difference in noise if I take them off or I unplug the mic cord and lose the noise cancelling. I've flown with people who have used just about every headset out there. The only "interesting" data point I have is a captain who's Telex 850s were in for repair and he was using his "old" 750s and hating life.

The 850, for some reason, on some planes, picks up a LOT of background noise when the mic. is hot, which is annoying because you're forever selecting hot mic on and off. But on other planes there's no background noise with the mic hot. Got me.

The 850 noise cancelling works at all times, you don't need a hot mic as somebody alluded to for the noise cancelling to work.
 
I use the Bose X and they are not overkill, just wicked expensive. FWIW, in the two regionals I've worked at in the CRJ I can only count three times that we've gone no headsets and that was due to "chatty" jumpseaters that did not have a headset. Plus that's only above FL180. The routes I've been flying lately we often don't get into the FL's.
 
FO_SHIZZLE said:
I use the Bose X and they are not overkill, just wicked expensive. FWIW, in the two regionals I've worked at in the CRJ I can only count three times that we've gone no headsets and that was due to "chatty" jumpseaters that did not have a headset. Plus that's only above FL180. The routes I've been flying lately we often don't get into the FL's.
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Seems a bit overkill for a CRJ aye?

I've always wondered. Why do regional pilots wear headsets and mainline pilots in like 737's and 757's wear those little telemarketer headsets.
 
I use the Telex Airman 500(?) I got off eBay for $99. I was gonna use my DC ENCs, but there wasn't enough room in the flight bag. So, I got the little "telemarketer headset." I haven't had any problems with it, and it's a lot lighter and more comfortable than the DCs. I've done headsets off about 3 or 4 times in the CRJ, normally on longer flights. Here lately I've been doing flights less than an hour, so the headsets almost have to stay on. :)
 
Bigey said:
Seems a bit overkill for a CRJ aye?

I've always wondered. Why do regional pilots wear headsets and mainline pilots in like 737's and 757's wear those little telemarketer headsets.
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Because a 73 or 75 isn't nearly as loud in cruise. When I jumpseat on mainline I notice how it's not nearly as loud as the CRJ. I know the ERJ is louder, but I'd still say the CRJ is pretty loud.

I have Sennheiser HMEC-25's. If you have the Bose headset I would just use that.
 
EDUC8-or said:
Because a 73 or 75 isn't nearly as loud in cruise. When I jumpseat on mainline I notice how it's not nearly as loud as the CRJ. I know the ERJ is louder, but I'd still say the CRJ is pretty loud.

I have Sennheiser HMEC-25's. If you have the Bose headset I would just use that.
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Agreed. The CRJ is a relatively loud airplane. It has considerable wind noise and the cooling fans are ridiculous (especially in standby). The Bose isn't overkill if you already have it. The people I've flown with who use the Telex use earplugs concurrently. I have my DCs with the aftermarket ANR. They work fine, but they're uncomfortable on long legs and I can't turn the aftermarket ANR on because it has a nasty high pitched whine.
 
kellwolf said:
I use the Telex Airman 500(?) I got off eBay for $99. I was gonna use my DC ENCs, but there wasn't enough room in the flight bag. So, I got the little "telemarketer headset." I haven't had any problems with it, and it's a lot lighter and more comfortable than the DCs. I've done headsets off about 3 or 4 times in the CRJ, normally on longer flights. Here lately I've been doing flights less than an hour, so the headsets almost have to stay on. :)
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The Telex 500 is a smaller earcup design new at Marv's is $450. One of the guys that commutes out of BGR uses them on a CRJ and likes them. I tried them in a 172 with him and they were almost as good as my passive DC H10-20s as far as quietness, and were way more comfortable for a long period of time.
 
I started in the CRJ with the Sennheiser HMEC-25 and found it to be insufficient. That airplane is stupid loud when compared with the DC9 or 737 I had flown previously.

I invested in the Bose X and they worked great in the RJ.

Now, however, i'm in the Learjet which is a little quieter than the CRJ and, unfortunately, a lot more cramped. I bump my head frequently as a result of the Bose X. I've started looking at switching to Clarity Aloft but i'm a little nervous about buying them without trying them.
 
After a year in the -200, I can say that the Bose X do a great job. I'll always be the first to hear avionics fan 1 blow:).
 
ZapBrannigan said:
I started in the CRJ with the Sennheiser HMEC-25 and found it to be insufficient. That airplane is stupid loud when compared with the DC9 or 737 I had flown previously.

I invested in the Bose X and they worked great in the RJ.
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I use the Sennheiser HMEC-25KA on an ATR-72 (and you should hear our recirc fans. They are ridiculous), and it makes that plane very quiet. In cruise, I can't even hear the props. I can't for the life of me imagine how they would be insufficient for a CRJ. Your statement just seems so bizarre to me.
 
P&H said:
I use the Sennheiser HMEC-25KA on an ATR-72 (and you should hear our recirc fans. They are ridiculous), and it makes that plane very quiet. In cruise, I can't even hear the props. I can't for the life of me imagine how they would be insufficient for a CRJ. Your statement just seems so bizarre to me.
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Maybe he means the 45's.
 
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