David Clark Pro Audio Headsets: Series 8500 Comparison Guide

If you landed here looking for an intercom headset for a camera position, a front-of-house mix, or a stage crew, you may be wondering why a pilot shop is talking about pro audio.

Fair question. MyPilotStore is first and foremost an aviation dealer, but we have also been an authorized David Clark dealer for more than 25 years. David Clark builds a lot more than aviation headsets, and we stock most of what they make. Production companies, broadcasters, venues, and houses of worship buy the same green-domed headsets from us that pilots do, just with a different plug on the end.

This guide covers the full David Clark Pro Audio lineup, explains how the models differ, and helps you match a headset to your intercom.

TL;DR

• Every Series 8500 headset uses the same M-2H noise-cancelling microphone, the same gel ear seals, and the same rugged construction. Audio performance is essentially identical across the line.
• The models differ in only three ways: one ear or two, how the headset is worn, and which connector is on the cord.
• Check your beltpack or intercom station first. If it has a 4-pin male jack, you need a headset with a 4-pin female plug (H8532 or H8592). If it has a 4-pin female jack, you need a 4-pin male plug (H8535 or H8595).
• Anything else (5-pin, 6-pin, or a custom connector): buy the unterminated H8530 or H8590 and fit your own connector.

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Who Uses David Clark Pro Audio Headsets?

Production teams know that clear communication is critical to performance. You will find David Clark Pro Audio headsets in sound studios, sporting arenas, concert venues, theaters, television studios, and at virtually any public or broadcast event.

Typical users and applications include:

• Front-of-house engineers
• Sound and lighting crews
• Camera and video operators
• Concert and touring production
• Industrial manufacturing
• Nuclear power plants
• Virtually any high-noise environment where people need to talk to each other

David Clark created the world’s first noise-attenuating communication headset, and the Pro Audio line is built on the same foundation as their aviation and ground support headsets: passive noise attenuation that protects your hearing, a microphone that rejects background noise, and hardware that survives years of being thrown in road cases.

What Every Series 8500 Headset Has in Common

Before getting into the differences, it helps to know how much these headsets share. Every Series 8500 model includes:

• M-2H dynamic noise-cancelling microphone for crisp, clear transmit audio
• Flex boom for easy, precise microphone placement
• Undercut Comfort-Gel ear seals that cradle the ear for long shifts
• Lightweight, low-tension hardware in carbon steel with a flat black finish
• Lightweight ABS composite ear domes
• Dynamic, moving-coil earphone elements (60 ohm each, 20 – 8,000 Hz)
• Around-the-ear (circumaural) passive noise attenuation. There are no batteries and no electronics to fail.

On the over-the-head and behind-the-head models, the boom rotates 280° so the microphone can be worn on the left or right side.

Because the microphone, earphones, and ear seals are the same across the line, you are not choosing between “good, better, best.” You are choosing the configuration that fits your job and your equipment.

Intercom Compatibility

The Series 8500 headsets are compatible with pro audio intercom systems from manufacturers such as:

• ClearCom
• Telex
• RTS
• HME
• Eartec
• Porta Phone
• Production Intercom
• ASL
• McCurdy

Intercom models vary, so always confirm the connector and pinout in your equipment’s manual before ordering.

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Step 1: Match the Connector

This is the decision that matters most, because the wrong plug will not fit your equipment no matter how good the headset is.

Your equipment has	Dual ear	Single ear
4-pin male XLR jack	H8532 (over the head), H8542 (behind the head), H8570 (cap attachable)	H8592, DC 8692 (ultralight)
4-pin female XLR jack	H8535	H8595
5-pin, 6-pin, or anything else	H8530 (loose leads)	H8590 (loose leads)

Remember that connectors mate with their opposite: a headset with a female plug connects to equipment with a male jack, and vice versa.

Step 2: One Ear or Two?

Dual-ear headsets cover both ears and carry a certified Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 23 dB (24 dB on the behind-the-head H8542). Choose dual ear for loud environments such as concerts, arenas, and industrial floors, or any time you need to hear the intercom clearly over the room.

Single-ear headsets leave one ear open so you can hear what is happening around you. That is useful for stage managers, camera operators, and anyone who needs to monitor the room and the intercom at the same time. They are also noticeably lighter, at just over 10 oz compared to roughly 14 oz for a dual-ear model.

Step 3: Pick a Wearing Style

• Over the head (OTH) is the standard configuration, with an adjustable headband spring and a soft foam head pad with a removable cotton cover.
• Behind the head (BTH) routes the spring behind your neck with an adjustable overhead support strap, leaving the top of your head clear for a hard hat or other protective headgear.
• Cap attachable mounts the ear cups directly to the side slots found on most safety headgear.
• Ultralight (ULW) is a rest-on-ear design for quieter environments where all-day comfort matters more than noise attenuation.

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Dual-Ear Models

Single-Ear Models

All three H859x models add a dual-chamber temple pad on the open side to keep the headset stable and comfortable.

DC 8692 Ultralight

The DC 8692 is a different kind of headset. Where the H8500 models seal around the ear to block noise, the DC 8692 is a supra-aural (rest-on-ear) design intended for low-noise environments: studios, camera positions, training and simulation, tours, and work groups.

• Weighs just 6.3 oz, a little more than half the weight of the H8592
• Outlast technology head pad absorbs excess heat from the top of the head to eliminate hot spots
• Leatherette temple pad and ear seal with slow-recovery memory foam
• Magnesium alloy headband and suspension with swivel hinge stirrups for a fully adjustable fit
• The same M-2H noise-cancelling microphone on a full flex boom that rotates 280° for left or right wear
• 4-pin female XLR connector

Listen-Only: The 10S/DC Stereo Headset

Not everyone on the crew needs a microphone. The 10S/DC is a stereo, listen-only headset built on the same noise-attenuating platform, for monitoring a mix or program audio in a loud environment.

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Complete Lineup at a Glance

Model	Ears	Style	Connector	Datasheet
H8530	Dual	Over the head	Loose leads	PDF
H8532	Dual	Over the head	4-pin XLR female	PDF
H8535	Dual	Over the head	4-pin XLR male	PDF
H8542	Dual	Behind the head	4-pin XLR female	PDF
H8570	Dual	Cap attachable	4-pin XLR female	PDF
H8590	Single	Over the head	Loose leads	PDF
H8592	Single	Over the head	4-pin XLR female	PDF
H8595	Single	Over the head	4-pin XLR male	PDF
DC 8692	Single	Over the head, ultralight	4-pin XLR female	PDF
10S/DC	Dual	Over the head, listen only	3.5mm stereo (1/4-inch adapters included)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an XLR connector?

XLR is a style of electrical connector found primarily on professional audio, video, and stage lighting equipment. The connectors are circular and have between 3 and 7 pins. Intercom headsets most commonly use the 4-pin version.

How do I find out which headset my equipment takes?

Equipment that is compatible with the David Clark Pro Audio headsets will have a four-pin male or female XLR connector. Choose the headset with the opposite gender.

If your equipment requires a different number of pins, use the H8530 (dual ear) or H8590 (single ear). These two models come with no connector attached. Purchase the correct mating XLR connector separately and attach it according to the pinout in your equipment’s user manual. A wiring diagram for the headset is included in the box.

How is a 4-pin XLR connector wired?

The 4-pin XLR is the standard connector for intercom headsets, including systems made by ClearCom and Telex. Two pins carry the mono headphone signal and two pins carry the unbalanced microphone signal. Pinouts vary between manufacturers and models, so consult your intercom’s documentation.

How is a 5-pin XLR connector wired?

5-pin XLR connectors are increasingly common on wireless beltpacks and cameras because they allow for a stereo headset. They typically use three pins for the stereo headphone signal (left, right, and ground) and two pins for the unbalanced microphone signal. Again, models vary, so check the manual.

The wires on the Series 8500 and 8600 headsets are color coded: red (hi) and white for the microphone, green (hi) and black for the earphones.

For a typical mono 5-pin camera pinout:

Wire	5-pin XLR
Red	Pin 2
White	Pin 3
Green	Pin 4
Black	Pin 3
Shield	Shield

The stereo-capable H8530 includes additional conductors, yellow and blue, for the left earphone. For a typical stereo 5-pin camera pinout:

Wire	5-pin XLR
Red	Pin 2
Yellow	Pin 4
Green	Pin 5
Blue, white, and black	Pin 3
Shield	Shield

How is a 3-pin XLR connector wired?

The 3-pin XLR is the standard balanced audio connector, although it is not what these headsets ship with:

• Pin 1: Chassis ground (cable shield)
• Pin 2: Positive polarity terminal for balanced audio circuits (“hot”)
• Pin 3: Negative polarity terminal for balanced circuits (“cold”)

Why does the M-2H microphone sound so much better?

The M-2H replaced the M-101 microphone used on earlier H8500 Series headsets. It is still a 150-ohm dynamic noise-cancelling element, so it works with the same equipment, but David Clark’s published figures show roughly twice the output level of the M-101 along with a wider frequency response. In practice that means a stronger, more natural-sounding voice on the intercom with less gain required.

What do the model numbers mean?

David Clark model numbers follow a pattern. The first character is usually a letter:

• H = Headset
• C = Cord, adapter, PTT adapter, or extension cord
• M = Module
• U = Utility intercom module

The first two digits identify the series, so an H8532 is a headset in the 8500 series. The second two digits describe the configuration:

Model pattern	Configuration
Hxx10 and Hxx20	Mic shield microphone
Hxx30	Boom microphone, over the head
Hxx40	Boom microphone, behind the head
Hxx50 and Hxx60	Listen only, no microphone
Hxx70 and Hxx80	Cap attachable or lightweight
Hxx90	Single ear, over the head

The last digit indicates a variant within that configuration. In the Pro Audio line it identifies the connector: the H8530 has loose leads, the H8532 has a female XLR, and the H8535 has a male XLR. The same pattern holds for the H8590, H8592, and H8595.

What do the abbreviations mean?

• OTH = Over the head
• BTH = Behind the head
• ULW = Ultra lightweight, single ear, over the head
• NRR = Noise Reduction Rating

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Why Buy From MyPilotStore?

We have been an authorized David Clark dealer for more than 25 years, and we stock most of the David Clark catalog, including the Pro Audio line. We also carry replacement ear seals, head pads, microphones, and cords, so the headset you buy today can stay in service for a very long time. Our David Clark Headset Parts Finder covers the Pro Audio models along with everything else David Clark makes.

Not sure which connector you need, or outfitting an entire crew? We are happy to help.

Questions? Call us at 480-556-0500 or email [email protected]

Browse all David Clark Products at MyPilotStore.