LOOP Features

David Clark X11 Headset

David Clark X11 Headset
Price: around £600

WHEN David Clark introduces a brand new headset, it's big news. DCs have stayed the same for years, introducing new technology along the way, but basically the design has stayed traditional. Not any more. The X11 headset is radical.

Gone is DC's usual metal headband and in comes a carbon-fibre frame that looks great and is claimed to be both lighter and stronger.

Look closely and you can see it's really cleverly made. Each earpiece is held by a carbon-fibre 'fork' which is hinged onto the headband and also swivels. The forks are lightly spring-loaded to clamp on the head. This swivel and hinge mechanism means the earpieces automatically find the right position to sit on your ear. To adjust the length of the sides, the top half of the hinge slides in the headband.

The headband itself is finished in glossy 'trick' carbon-fibre check, contrasting with the matt black of the sides. The headpad is a soft quilted material with channels to allow cooling air. Of course, the earpieces are finished in David Clark light green... to change that would be too radical.

The ear seals are left-right shaped, with the mike on the right side as standard. If you prefer it on the left, you'll have to change the ear seals around.

The X11 is fitted with DC's latest Electronic Noise-Canceling (ENC) technology. This senses outside noise and creates an opposite noise to blank some of the noise. Unlike some ENC (also known as ANR) headsets, the DCs are also fitted with standard noise absorption insulation so will provide some protection in event of battery failure.

A 2 AA battery pack to power the ENC is part of the straight cord, with on-off and stereo/mono switches. Batteries are claimed to last 30 hours.

So that's the design, how do they work? Superbly, in a word. They're wonderfully comfortable, sitting naturally on the ear with just the right amount of pressure. There's hardly any pressure from the underside of the headband, and the voice-activated mike was easily adjusted to position just in front of the mouth.

In the air, reception and transmission is superb and communication over the in-cockpit intercom as clear as I've ever heard. Switching the ENC on and off produces a distinct change. Outside noise is hugely subdued when switched on. Interestingly, and I've no idea how they do this, you can still hear things 'out of the norm' such as a change in engine note, or someone's voice.

I'm really glad David Clark has made such a big move and executed it so well. My own pair of DCs is now 12 years old, still functioning perfectly, still comfortable but lack ENC. That proven reliability added to the new construction and ENC would sway me. - Dave Calderwood
W: www.davidclark.com/x11

Now compare them to the Bose Aviation X

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LOOP Features

David Clark X11 Headset