Flightcom, a manufacturer long known for their headset and communications products for airport ground crews, has recently upgraded their lineup of GA headsets with the “Denali” model. Targeted at the low cost section of the market with pricing ranging between $250-$430, these headsets seem poised to provide good value for pilots just getting into aviation. In this review, we take a look at the Flightcom Denali 50 model, which provides passive noise reduction for a very low price.
Flightcom Denali D50 Features
The Denali D50 ANR headset offers a very basic set of features to justify its low price.
- Price (Mid-2017):
- Active Noise Reduction (ANR) powered by a 9V battery rated at 25 hours of battery life.
- Stereo / mono mode.
- 3-year warranty.
- Twin-GA (PJ) connectors only.
Flightcom Denali D50 Review
The ear seals on all Denali headsets are exceptionally comfortable.
The Flightcom Denali D50 is a spartan ANR headset that offers a nice upgrade path for those who like the Denali D30 but want ANR. Like the Denali D30, it has a very basic, lightweight plastic construction. The headset feels sturdy when holding it, though it probably would not survive a ton of abuse being made primarily of plastic. The ANR controller takes a 9V battery and reportedly lasts for up to 25 hours.
I personally found all of the Flightcom Denali models to be extremely comfortable, and the Denali D50 was no exception. The earcups are extremely soft with a lot of foam padding – so much so that I worry for their durability. Fortunately, they are replaceable at $42 for a pair. As mentioned, the headset is also very light on the head – a “feature” that is often overlooked. The headset is adjustable via a plastic rail that expands or contracts on each side. Some owners of Denali’s have complained that attempting to tighten this rail once the Denali is on your head causes the earcups to pull away, creating an imperfect seal.
The microphone is of fairly basic construction. A muff is included with the headset. Users have complained of the mic boom coming lose and falling away from the mouth during flight.
The headset is not TSO certified and should not be used for commercial flying.
We were not impressed with the noise reduction afforded by the ANR in the Denali D50. While it did reduce cabin noise somewhat, it is nowhere near the reduction you see with competitor headsets from all the other major manufacturers. Fortunately, this headset is nearly identical to the Denali D30 and thus offers excellent passive noise reduction.
Conclusion
The Denali D50 is a very comfortable, basic headset for a good price. Unfortunately, we don’t really think it fits in any niche particularly well. Those looking for a cheap headset would be better off getting the Denali D30 or searching for a higher-end headset on eBay. If you are looking for the noise reduction advantages of ANR, we recommend you look elsewhere – check out our huge list of ANR headsets for some other options.