KA-1 General Aviation Headset for Pilots - Mono and Stereo Compatibility, Passive Noise Reduction, Noise Canceling Microphone, Gel Ear Seals, Adjustable Headband & Headset Bag

A review of any product begins with context: I'm a pilot (mostly Skyhawks), typically fly twice a month for no more than 3 hours per hop. I've owned/used the Kore for going on five years now.Initially I bought the core as it was less than $200 back in 2018. Going in as a student I didn't want to spend too much money on a headset as I was just learning, well, everything. Noise cancelling isn't an option in this heads, know this going in as well. But as a student I wanted to be sure to learn the noise of the engine, hear the different pitches with applied throttle. Overall the headphones still cancel out a good amount of noise due to quality of the ear muffs but there's still some noise not surprisingly. Fortunately this does not have any effect upon mic volume/sound.The sound across the radio is clear. I'm not an audiophile but I can clearly hear others in the plane/pattern/ATC and they can clearly hear me. Can't speak for other headsets but I'm the most clear speaking with the mic slightly touching my lips. As long as my headphones are snug on my head, the mic is well positioned I can very clearly communicate with everyone. It's was very reassuring when someone said something over the radio and my CFI would ask "what did they say?" and I could repeat what they said perfectly. I love the individual volume control nobs on the headset, an absolute must for comfort and clarity as when you're flying with someone else (CFI, fellow pilot, passenger, whomever) they might want to turn the overall volume knob up or down rather than fine-tuning their headsets. Had a CFI who would turn down the volume for radio traffic so he could talk but would forget to turn it back up. I would simply turn up the volume in my headset so I could hear what's going on in the background. Safety first, listen to traffic and make your calls airmen!Comfort is good. There's a break-in period not surprisingly but once you get the headset adjusted for your noggin's shape it's no problem wearing the headset continuously for a few hours. In the summer it can be a bit warm, that's perhaps the only time it is slightly uncomfortable but even then it's very trivial. I'm sure there are more comfortable headsets out there but you're also paying a premium for them.If you're looking for a headset for your passengers, a backup headset for yourself, or even a somewhat frequently used headset, this is your best bet. At the price point I can guarantee that you will not find a better one.

I'm an aircraft mechanic and I get to use just about every brand of headset out there; I'll just use a headset left in the plane by the pilot while I do maintenance checks. Keep that in mind when I say for a headset without ANR this is the best I've ever worn.*As a side note if you are in the market for an ANR headset, Bose works the best UNLESS you wear glasses, then Lightspeed wins (Bose ANR makes a slow throbbing noise if the cups aren't sealed perfectly over your ears).~The KA-1 headset fits comfortably on my head with a firm but not too great clamping pressure, and seals over my glasses very well (much better than the new David Clark headset I'd been borrowing).* A note about the ear seals: you MUST get the KORE AVIATION Premium Deluxe Cloth Ear Cover for Pilot Aviation Headset ! Without these the deliciously cool and soft gel ear seals will rapidly become hot and you will steam your ears in a sweaty sauna.~The headband pad must be quite comfortable, but I can't really form an opinion on it's comfort level since it is so unobtrusive that I've never really noticed it up there.~I'd been skeptical about the boom since I preferred the old style wire type that can be tightened as the headset ages, but the microphone is easy to adjust and holds it's position perfectly. The microphone is comparable to any other set without ANR and I can tell no difference between the Kore or David Clark set in audio out clarity.~The sound quality from the ear pieces is slightly better than the DC set, but that could just be from the better ear seals. The individual volume knobs on the ear cups appear useful, but I have yet to find a situation where there is an actual benefit. The ear seals work so well that I cannot just turn down the volume on one side so I have to partially remove one side to clearly hear someone outside the aircraft without a radio during ground operation; that negates the usefulness of the individual volume control. If you change aircraft a lot the twin knobs can be more of an annoyance since you have to manually balance the volume whenever you change it, but if you only fly one airplane you should only have to set it up once.~The case is constructed well and is spacious enough for the headset but not much else. The zippered pocket on the front isn't useful to me because it is too tight to fit anything that isn't flat and larger than an index card.~I've never tried the audio in jack, so I have no clue how well that works yet.I would only change three things if I was the manufacturer.1: Ship all headsets with gel ear seals with the cloth covers.2: Change the volume control. This could be done by: a) leaving the two adjusters but making them have detents so they are easier to balance by feel (just click them the same number of times and you don't lose balance as you change the volume), b) replace the knobs on the ear cups with inline sliders on the cord, or c) remove the individual control and use a single volume knob.3: Either make the carrying case large enough for a few more items or remove the extra pocket and stop pretending you can fit more than just the headset in there.Possible #4: Add a backup PTT switch. I know, that's a feature that's not found on 90% of the headsets out there, but I do love redundancy in communication systems. Maybe when the warranty runs out I'll have the local radio repair shop remove the second volume control and put a PTT switch in it's place.Overall I have to say this is my favorite PNR headset. Rugged construction, light weight, good fit, and great sound quality make this my headset of choice for any aircraft quiet enough that I don't need ANR.