We are going to review the Quiet Technologies Halo in this article. The Quiet Technologies Halo is a portable, passive in-ear aviation headset made to rival the active noise-cancelling headsets currently available on the market.
Notice: I have no connection whatsoever to Quiet Technologies. I also wrote an article on some best bluetooth speakers you should know in 2023.
Owner of Quiet Technologies, Phil McCandless, claims that the Quiet Technologies Halo headsets are made in the United States. The company entered the aviation industry about 15 years ago and has since sold thousands of units. The big boy brand ANR clamp-ons are more costly than the Halo, which is a potentially superior option.
First Impressions
When you open the box, the first thing you will notice is how tastefully basic the unit is—they are just not that complicated. There is no need for batteries or outside power. Plus, they are incredibly light (.8 oz) and have a sporty yellow color! Jet black is another color option for them.
In essence, they are pliable, hollow tubes that fit into foam ear inserts. To fit the ear insert into your ear, roll it between your fingers to make it smaller. A lightweight, adjustable head band that fits over your ears and is typically worn around the back of the head, though you can wear them in various positions, holds the tubes for the ear inserts, microphone, and wires.
The ear inserts are the only thing that bothers me a tiny bit. You have to put in extra effort to get them compressed during the cold winter months. Furthermore, it calls for somewhat clean hands, which I do not always have in the hangar following pre-flight. Overall, I do not think this is a deal breaker and it is minor. It is also important to mention that the ear inserts come with extra tips and are easily replaceable for just $1.50 per set.
Unlike my beloved David Clarks, the headset itself is very unobtrusive once it is in your ears, and you quickly forget you are wearing it.
How do they perform?
Noise attenuation-wise, the Halo is on par with my Bose X ANRs. There is no appreciable difference in the clarity and crispness of the noise-canceling electret microphone. Even in my noisy RV-8, the stereo audio is crystal clear. You give up the inconvenient clamping pressure of the standard headset, and since the headset does not interfere like a “conventional” unit, I can wear any kind of hat or sunglasses I want. For me, this is a huge bonus because, on sunny days, I like to fly with big geeky hats on.
Even though it seems wrong to have people sharing ear inserts, I still use the Bose for passengers because it is easier for them to slip on the clamp than to demonstrate how to correctly put on the Halo, which only takes a few seconds. I found the Bose X used on eBay for $500 because I do not think it is right to spend more than $1000 on a headset.
Price
At $359 as of this writing, it is incredibly affordable compared to their closest rival, Clarity Aloft, which I have not yet compared to the Halo. Along with each Halo, Quiet Technologies provides a nice little vinyl case, extra tips, a microphone sock, a 45-day money-back guarantee, and a 2-year manufacturers warranty. This author thinks this is a great value, and you still have money left over to buy some avgas!
In summary
My Quiet Technologies Halo headsets have exceeded my expectations, and if someone is looking for a headset substitute, I would suggest them without a doubt.
