Comparison
David Clark H10-13.4 vs KORE KA-1 (Updated October 2026)
Choose the David Clark H10-13.4 if you want a certified 23 dB NRR, FAA TSO approval, and David Clark's service record. Aircraft Spruce listed it at $375. Choose the KORE KA-1 at $224.95 if you want to spend less and you want an AUX jack, dual volume controls, and a mono/stereo switch. Both are passive gel-seal headsets with 5-year warranties. Neither has ANR or Bluetooth.
· Prices and specs checked
On this page
Our picks at a glance
| Category | Pick | Price (USD) | Why this one | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick: Choose the H10-13.4 if | David Clark H10-13.4 | $375 | Certified noise rating, TSO approval, Comfort Gel seals, and an M-7A microphone. | Higher price, no AUX jack, and a single volume control on the mono model. |
| Choose the KA-1 if | KORE Aviation KA-1 | $224.95 | About $150 less, with an AUX jack and separate volume controls. | Passive only. No ANR and no Bluetooth. The 24 dB NRR is KORE's figure. |
Specs checked October 26, 2026. List prices and retailer prices change. Noise figures are manufacturer-stated unless a cell names a certified NRR.
Top pick
David Clark H10-13.4
Bottom line Certified noise rating, TSO approval, Comfort Gel seals, and an M-7A microphone.
16.5 oz without the cord · 23 dB certified NRR, David Clark · Dual GA on the standard mono model · 5 years · $375 · checked October 23, 2026
What we like
- Passive mono headset
- Comfort Gel ear seals
- An M-7A microphone
- FAA TSO approval
- A certified 23 dB NRR
What we don't
- Passive only
- No ANR
- No Bluetooth
- No AUX input on the standard model
- Single volume control on the mono H10-13.4
Who it's for Pilots who want a certified passive headset with a long service record
Skip it if Higher price, no AUX jack, and a single volume control on the mono model.
See price at AmazonChoose the KA-1 if
KORE Aviation KA-1
Bottom line About $150 less, with an AUX jack and separate volume controls.
1.34 lb (about 21.4 oz) with cable · 24 dB NRR, KORE stated · Dual GA · 5 years · $224.95 · checked October 26, 2026
What we like
- Silicone gel ear seals
- Dual volume controls
- A mono/stereo switch
- A 3.5 mm AUX jack
- 5-year warranty
What we don't
- Passive only
- No ANR
- No Bluetooth
- The 3.5 mm cable for the AUX jack is not included
- NRR is the manufacturer's figure, not a David Clark-style certified sheet published on the product page
Who it's for The best passive pick, and the student value pick, when gel seals and an AUX jack matter
Skip it if Passive only. No ANR and no Bluetooth. The 24 dB NRR is KORE's figure.
See price at Amazon| Spec | David Clark H10-13.4 | KORE Aviation KA-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $375 | $224.95 |
| Type | Passive | Passive |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Noise | 23 dB certified NRR | 24 dB NRR, manufacturer stated |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Power | None | None. Passive headsets do not use batteries. |
| Plugs | Dual GA on the standard mono model. Helicopter model is the H10-13H. | Dual GA |
| Weight | 16.5 oz without the cord | 1.34 lb (about 21.4 oz) with cable. Headset without cable 1.16 lb. Cable 0.18 lb. Bag 0.4 lb. Headset plus bag 1.74 lb. |
Specs checked October 26, 2026. Source: manufacturer pages and named retailer prices. This site did not measure these figures.
This is a passive-versus-passive comparison. If you already know you want active noise reduction, stop here and read Bose A30 vs Zulu 3. Neither of these headsets will become an ANR headset with an accessory.
Where the David Clark wins
David Clark publishes a certified 23 dB NRR for the H10-13.4, with an attenuation table by frequency, and lists FAA TSO approval. The ear seals are Comfort Gel with an undercut shape. The microphone is the M-7A. The warranty is 5 years. Weight is 16.5 ounces without the cord. The standard mono model uses a straight cord, dual plugs, and one volume knob. There is no Bluetooth and no AUX input. Aircraft Spruce's price for this update was $375. David Clark's own model page does not show an MSRP.
That is the headset to buy when you want the noise number to be a certified rating and you expect to keep the same headphone for a long time. The homepage ranks the KA-1 best passive, on price and features, and keeps the H10-13.4 as the certified, most proven alternative. The KA-1 is newer. Its 24 dB NRR is KORE's figure. The H10-13.4's 23 dB NRR is David Clark's certified rating, and the service history is longer.
Where the KA-1 wins
KORE lists the KA-1 at $224.95. The feature gaps versus the H10-13.4 are the 3.5 mm AUX jack, independent volume controls, and the mono/stereo switch. The warranty length matches, at 5 years, serviced in the United States. KORE states a 24 dB NRR. One decibel on an uncertified sheet is not a reason to call the KA-1 quieter. KORE weighs the KA-1 at 1.34 lb with the aircraft cable, about 21.4 oz. That is the figure used in this comparison, and it is heavier than the H10-13.4's 16.5 ounces without the cord.
The KA-1 is passive only. It has no ANR and no Bluetooth. The AUX cable is not included. Those limits stay in the verdict even though the price is the friendlier one for a student.
Gel seals are not the tie-breaker
Older copy on this site treated gel seals as a KA-1 exclusive against the H10-13.4. David Clark's current H10-13.4 description includes Comfort Gel seals. The P1 and the RA200 are the headsets in this set that still use foam as standard. Compare them on the under $200 page if foam versus gel is the actual question. The P1 is the budget pick. The RA200 costs less and the warranty is longer.
A practical split
Buy the KA-1 if the airplane is a light trainer, you want ForeFlight audio through a wire, and the $375 David Clark price is the part that hurts. Buy the H10-13.4 if you want the certified rating and you will not miss the AUX jack. Buy an ANR headset if the cockpit is loud enough that a passive seal in the low 20s dB is the thing you notice after an hour.
Questions pilots ask
Is the KORE KA-1 better than the David Clark H10-13.4?
It is better for a pilot who wants the AUX jack and the lower price. It is worse for a pilot who wants a certified NRR and TSO approval. Both are passive, and neither has Bluetooth.
Does the David Clark H10-13.4 have gel ear seals?
Yes. David Clark specifies Comfort Gel ear seals on the H10-13.4. Gel seals are not unique to the KA-1. The KA-1 uses silicone gel seals.
Which headset is better for student pilots?
The KA-1 is the best passive pick and the default student pick in this comparison because of the price, the gel seals, the per-ear volume, the mono/stereo switch, and the AUX jack. The H10-13.4 is the better pick when a certified NRR and a longer service record matter more than $150. The KA-1 is newer, and its 24 dB NRR is KORE's figure. See the student guide for the budget split. The P1 is the budget pick. The RA200 is the lower-price, longer-warranty alternative.
Does the KA-1 have Bluetooth?
No. Neither headset has Bluetooth. The KA-1 lists at $224.95 and has a 3.5 mm AUX jack, while the standard H10-13.4 has no AUX jack.
What is the warranty on the KA-1 and the H10-13.4?
Both warranties in this comparison are 5 years. The KA-1 lists at $224.95. Aircraft Spruce listed the H10-13.4 at $375.
Will the KA-1 or the standard H10-13.4 plug into a helicopter?
No. Both standard models use dual GA plugs, and the helicopter David Clark is the H10-13H with a coil cord and a single plug. The KA-1 will not fit a U-174 jack.
Is 24 dB NRR better than a certified 23 dB?
This site does not treat that one-decibel gap as a measured win. KORE states 24 dB for the KA-1. David Clark publishes a certified 23 dB for the H10-13.4, and the KA-1 figure is not a certified sheet.
What changed
: Specs and prices on this page were checked against the manufacturer pages and retailer listings named in the copy. This site does not add its own noise measurements.