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In-Ear Shootout: Clarity Link, CQBT

The $675 Card Machine Works CQ Bluetooth in-ear headset uses audio tubes and a nicely fitting and rugged support frame.

In a connected world with everyone wearing earbuds, it’s logical to consider an in-ear headset for the cockpit. Although they aren’t for everyone, if you haven’t tried them, you should. While flagship ANR models from Bose and Lightspeed deliver big on comfort and performance, we’ve long appreciated the freedom and decent audio quality from a Clarity Aloft in-ear model that’s served us (and plenty of other users we surveyed) we’ll for years.

So when Card Machine Works—a relatively new company that’s quietly been designing the CQ in-ear headset—sent us its latest Bluetooth-equipped headset, we jumped at the chance of putting it head-to-head with the long-proven Clarity Aloft Link. Herewith are our observations.

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.