Sennheiser HMEC 25-KA Headset Review
Posted by Jeffrey on September 18th, 2008
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If you fly the CRJ, or any jet for that matter, and you are looking for a new headset, consider the Sennheiser HMEC-25-KA ANR Headset.
No doubt that the deep technical specifications are important but for me the technical specs go way over my head but the quality, comfort, and price of this headset puts it way above the rest.
Now there are a lot of different types of aviation headsets by Sennheiser.
I’ll tell you right now, the Sennheiser HMEC-25-KA ANR Headset is the one that I own and the one I think you would be most happy with.
For the MOST part, they are essentially the same:
- light weight (7 oz. or 170 g)
- extremely comfortable
- outstanding Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)
- compact
- adjustable headset
- adjustable microphone
The differences are either the NoiseGard™ power supply for the headset or the microphone/headset connectors.
So let’s get started.
The Microphone
The –CA series use one cable, the XLR-5, connector for both microphone and headset, whereas the –KA series uses two connectors (normal configuration for most jets), one for the microphone and one for the headset.
Both the –CA and –KA microphones get their power by using either 24V DC or the 12-35 V DC from the airplane internal power supply and provide crystal clear communications.
The Headsets
The –CA and –KA both use a power pack that require 2 x AA batteries to power the noise canceling feature of the headsets BUT it is not required if you don’t want to use it.
In order to use the NoiseGard™ on the –CA and –KA versions you have to turn on the battery pack, which has a two-color LED (Power On (Green)/Low Battery (Yellow) indicator); however I very rarely use it in the CRJ200, CRJ700, and CRJ900. The quality is so good, that even without the NoiseGard™ on, the interference is substantially reduced and the headset provides extremely clear communications.
Often, I find that when I get in the CRJ, I have to turn down the intercom volume from the previous captain because their headset didn’t filter out the ambient noise. There are times though when I do turn the NoiseGard™ on because either the airplane ambient noise requires it or there is too much static over the airwaves or I am going into a terminal area where I don’t want to miss a single communication.
By turning NoiseGard™ on, the clarity of radio communications improves 10-fold.
Fun Facts of Know-and-Tell
Did you know that when people use headphones, they tend to choose a higher volume than they would with loudspeakers. As we all know, listening with high volume levels for a longer time can lead to permanent hearing damage. As pilots, permanent hearing damage could seriously reduce the number of years you could fly. Because the NoiseGard™ circuitry reduces the ambient noise, the headphones can be set at a correspondingly lower level leading to more comfortable hearing conditions and thus protect your hearing.
How does the NoiseGard system work?
The headphone is a Sennheiser NoiseGard™ system. It is a dynamic headphone system which, in addition to reproducing the original audio signal, electronically cancels the low frequencies of ambient noises. This active noise compensation operates on the principle that sound and ”anti-sound“ (in phase opposition) cancel each other out. Like matter and anti-matter. The NoiseGard™ compensation circuitry in the headphone requires an extra power supply, hence the battery compartment has been integrated into the headset cable (see illustration on the right), but like I said above I hardly every use.
Clearly intelligible communication is ensured, and the pilot no longer has to turn the volume up to overcome ambient noise.
Conclusion
The Sennheiser HMEC-25-KA ANR Headset is a great headset! The Sennheiser HMEC-25-KAS is the stereo version. It is more expensive and all you get is the ability to control the volume on the headset which no one ever uses, so why pay for it? All the other headsets in Sennheiser series are a bit too expensive for me or don’t have the proper configuration for the CRJ200.
The Sennheiser HMEC-25-KA is light weight, affordable, and extremely comfortable. I’ve had mine for over five years and have never had a problem with it and it fits easily into my flight bag as well. This headset absolutely pays for itself over time.
Who is this headset NOT right for? Well if you fly piston airplanes there headset is not for you. If you are new to flying this headset is probably not for you either. I recommend going with a less expensive headset for now.
So if you want to pick up either a new Sennheiser HMEC-25 headset or a refurbished Sennheiser HMEC-25-KA ANR Headset, just click on the links and you’ll be taken directly to MyPilotStore.com where you will get the best deal possible on this headset.
To Your Flying Success (and hearing comfort)…
Jeffrey
P.S. Here are two related posts you may be interested in:
- My Aviation Headset Review of The Two Best Headsets Available
- Tips on Buying Pilot Supplies for New Pilots
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October 1st, 2008 at 11:41 am
[...] HMEC-25 KA and I fly the CRJ200, CRJ700, and CRJ900, and I wrote a review of it on my blog, Sennheiser HMEC 25-KA Headset: What Is So Great About Them? Almost the Speed of Sound. Strictly speaking, an ANR headset is nice on the CRJ but not required. A lot of pilots use the [...]
October 10th, 2008 at 6:23 am
[...] replaced. I wrote a review of the different versions of Sennheiser headsets available at my blog: Sennheiser HMEC 25-KA Headset: What Is So Great About Them? Almost the Speed of Sound Good [...]
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
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