TimSmith

Go to a Bose store and try on the QC2's. Very lightweight and comfortable as well as havin excellent ANR. If you like them, get them and a UFlyMike. I have been using one for 3 months now and love it. No headaches after a long day like I had with my Telex Digital ANRs. (Clamp style headset, heavy) The battery issue is a non issue on the QC2s. One AAA battery. I use one a month and that includes using them to watch movies and listen to music on my airline legs and downtime on the job. Yes, I am a frac guy and have 4-6 of those a month. Most ANR headsets use a battery for the ANR and you go through those faster than you do on the QC2. If you use the QC2 for more than the 10 hours after the red light flashes and, heaven forbid the battery dies, every airplane I have flown has this neat speaker overhead that sound comes out of when you push a button. Takes 2 seconds. Problem solved. UFlyMike also makes a TSO earbud mod for the paranoid. Thing is, these are the most comfortable quality headset I have found. You owe yourself the effort to check them out.

Redman

Clarity Aloft has my vote. I use them in the E-145 and they work great. They're built well and easy to carry around unlike the full headset type that require another bag.

vitusTinnitus

I don't know how Clarity Aloft stays in business. The electronics aren't bad, but that headset is completely unadjustable. They provide you a rubber band if it doesn't fit right. If it breaks while you're trying to adjust it (perhaps bending the cheap metal frame), they won't fix it like DC or another company might... they'll offer you an opportunity to buy another at half price, which is still 8 times more than the materials they use are worth.
Customer service lacks, too. I called for service, and got a message that they wouldn't be able to help because they were at OshKosh. Seriously?
Happier with a Mach 1.
Save your money... CA is good for noise attenuation and light weight, but not adjustable, can be quite uncomfortable on the wrong skull shape, and seems poorly backed by the manufacturer.

DirectTo

Three year old post...I'd like to think he's bought a headset by now.


That being said...if he thinks everything he's going to fly is going to be quieter than the -8, he's in for a sore surprise.

rightside02

Real men use the Bose Q 2 mike . Best headset, and to make them tso approved you just have to have a spake mini headset jack (iPod headsets ) in your bag for spare just in case your batteries go bad .

Good thing about these headsets is they work great for jets , (200,900 etc ) or loud GA airplanes alike .

hemaybedid

Assuming your spare mini headset jack (ipod headset) is TSO'd. Someone mentioned that ufly mic has one TSO'd.

Dashdog

About a year ago, my CA headset had the rubber coating on the mike split open. It didn't affect the performance, but I sent it back and they sent me a brand new one. I'm still very happy with mine.

Banshee365

To anyone thinking about the Clarity Aloft headset, try wearing your sun glasses backwards for a while and see how that feels to you. I bet it will suck like the headset does. The booth at Sun N Fun and Oshkosh is so funny because they are trying to sell you these things and I can't help but laugh every time I put them on.

Colnago

Three-year old thread but I'll chime in.

I fly the Saab and love the Clarity Alofts. You would never think so but the ear pieces are very comfortable. It takes a little* getting used to but they are awesome. The noise attenuation is very good and it's always quiet even through the climb.

I don't have a vested interest in having this opinion. I was able to borrow Bose, Lightspeed Zulus, and CAs for a week each before I bought my last headset and I went with the Clarity Alofts.

You may hear mixed reviews but I think almost everyone is happy with them.

My only complaint? When you see them, you'll shake your head at how a headset like it can cost $550. Excellent headset but a bit steep in price I think.

Save the money on the TSO version. If you have a company guy or an inspector on-board, just use the company-issued headset.

VTcharter

The pro version of the CA doesn't use a rubber band for adjustment and instead relies on a tensioned metal band. It works great. There is indeed a difference between the regular and pro versions besides the "paperwork".