Bose ProFlight headset user reviews

[Paulm1949]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experiences of the Bose ProFlight headset since its release. Seems to be limited reviews online. Ideally for use in a 737.

Thanks

[Denti]

I believe Mentour had a review before the release (he is sponsored by Bose). I got mine about 10 days ago and used it the last duty block and i have to say i do like it. On the highest ANR setting you still hear the engines, especially in the short bus (A319) during take off, but its not really a bother at all. Only problem i have right now that COM 2 turned as low as is possible can be still too loud to hear COM 1 properly so i have to switch it off most of the time. Which is not ideal.

Still testing it a bit more, and i will have to test it alternating with my A20 to decide which one i gonna keep in the end.

[Paulm1949]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah his is the only one I could find which is surprising. Just wondering if they lived up to the hype and how affective they were in a relatively noisy flight deck.

[redsnail]

I've just ordered one and will do a compare and contrast with the Bose A20. :)

[Denti]

Paulm1949

Well, in very noisy flightdecks i would probably take the A20 instead. In the A320 family the ProFlight is actually very nice if you can stand in-ear headphones for hours on end. As i was very much disappointed on switching to the A320 from the 737 with regards to flightdeck noise, it should work there as well. I actually believed those that told me that the A320 is much quieter than the 737: Surprise, it isn't really, somewhat, but not as much as i thought.

What i find kinda annoying is the fact that Bose still insists that one should not use rechargeable batteries as they usually have a slightly lower voltage. In this day and age that is very old fashioned indeed. Of course, they could have gone for a rechargeable option of their own as well, they do on other products after all.

[Asa737]

I had high hopes for this proflight and just finished up 3 legs with the headset. I am really bummed out cause this isn’t going to work for me. Here’s what stuck out for me:
1. The ANR isn’t nearly as good as previous models I’ve used (Bose X/ UFlyMike Harmony. There is a low dB rumble that for some reason bothered me all day. I ended up using the mid level ANR instead of high due to a high frequency hiss on the highest noise reduction level.
2. While it was advertised that the ear buds just sit in your ear drum, after a full day of flying my ears were super sore.
3. The cord is really heavy and any weight on it pulls the headset to one side. It seemed really awkward on the head. There were certainly times where i noticed how light it was and maybe for shorter days it would work.
4. For 2 landings, upon touchdown the ANR in the right ear modulated on and off

wish it was a better report but maybe still some bugs to work out? This was tested in rhe B737

[Denti]

I would suggest to test it for a couple more days. I was annoyed by the hiss as well in the beginning, and now I’m using high for take off and mid for cruise, i might be wrong, but i believe ANR can only dampen lower frequencies which leaves the higher ones being only passively dampened, due to the cut off point on the frequency range we notice the higher frequencies more now that the lower ones are mainly removed. Yes, the ANR switching, i believe it is the tap to talk feature, happened to me as well on landing. I switched to the smaller tips which gave a better fit in my ear, better noise reduction and no ANR switching anymore as the fit was better and the earbuds didn’t move as much. The cord is basically the same as on the A20, in both cases i clip it to my outside epaulette which removes the pull on the headset itself.

Still not entirely convinced myself though, but currently i lean toward seling the A20 off, not the proflight.

[leeus1]

I’ve been using the ProFlight for almost two weeks on the A320. I previously had a Sennheiser ANR headset. I really wanted to love the ProFlight but unfortunately I’m going to be returning it.

Ive used it on a variety of sector lengths from 5.5hr to 1.5hr. I wanted a light headset to be comfortable on longer sectors. It’s very light but unfortunately that’s about it.

- The talk through function is a great idea. You tap a particular ear bud and the ANR stops and you can talk to someone in the flight deck without pulling an ear bud out. Unfortunately like others have mentioned this has a habit of activating during landing. Not only that it was switching the ANR off in one ear for some take offs and even taxiing over lights. Any vibration it seems and it goes. Very distracting when taking off and landing. It annoyed me so much I had to deactivate the talk through using the switch where the batteries are.
- I find it uncomfortable for my ears. I tried all sizes of buds. The medium were the best fit but I found my ears got really sore by the end of the flight. I tried the smaller sized buds thinking that would help but they were too small and were still very uncomfortable. One of my ears still hurts today from my flight yesterday morning. Maybe I have strange sized ears.
- The cable/battery pack is very heavy. You need to definitely hook it onto something so that when you turn in the flight deck your headset doesn’t drag you back. A really small issue though to be honest.

I think I’ll be getting the A20 instead. Such a shame as I was really excited about the ProFlight.

[Tom!]

I have been using it for a week now on the 737. Previously had a sennheiser.
Takes a bit getting used to in getting the earplugs in properly. I changed the one for a small and medium on the other. Seems a bit better fit.
Obviously the noise reduction is not as good as a “proper” headset but it is much lighter and no clamping pressure. But the level of ANR is sufficient. On my last flight this week I did have some uncomfortable feeling in one ear (maybe I will change this one to small size instead of medium).
I experienced the same problem as several others mentioned with the tap feature activating on landing (and once on takeoff). Good feature but needs a bit more fine tuning, still on the fence on switching it off altogether or not.

overall impression after a week of use: good headset, very comfortable (giving some leeway here for my own inexperience in using these inear type plugs and getting them in properly), tap feature is good idea but needs some work. I am a bit worried about durability as it does seem fragile but time will tell.

[JGRojas]

Hi, been using the ProFlight for a while now (about 6 months maybe). I did notice an issue. I switched the mic to the right side and every now and then I get one loud bang (as if someone hit the mic) after which then it loses its NC capability and the earbuds stop transmitting any kind of sound. The only fix I have found is to switch them off and on again.

Anyone else got similar issues?

[Stone Cold II]

Does anyone’s Bluetooth beep every 40 seconds when connected to the phone but not in use. I like them, light comfortable and only had the tap talk activate around 5 times unintentionally in 6 months of ownership.

[Denti]

No to both questions, Yes, i switched the mike, no bang yet. And no, my bluetooth does not beep regularly, only once on connecting to the phone and then it is silent. For the first issue i would try reseating the mike arm, switching it back and if that does not work contact Bose for repair.

For the second, that sounds like a connection issue, most probably from either the position of your phone relative to the headset or the phone itself. I keep my phone in the ashtray (formerly ashtray) behind the tiller.

[Stone Cold II]

I tried it with a colleagues Pro Flight and the Bluetooth didn’t bleep by disconnecting every 40 seconds and reconnect when not in use. Contacted Bose and sent them back recently for a replacement headset.

In the meantime I’ve got my A20’s out of retirement and what a difference. I immediately felt the clamping on my head from the A20’s that never bothered me before but more importantly, I felt completely disconnected from the aircraft, couldn’t hear the engines at all and didn’t like them one bit. My ears got used to it after a few days and retuned but it was like the first time I tried the A20 from my previous ANR headset.

The A20 is brilliant but having gone back to them from the Pro Flight whilst I wait my replacement, I do feel the A20’s are just too aggressive for jet aircraft with the ANR. Think the Pro Flight is just about right. A20 for GA and turboprops and Pro Flight for the jet flight deck.

[JGRojas]

Denti

Yeah, I have tried resitting the mic quite a few times. I’m even considering using some contact cleaner. Big issue is I’m not in the States, so taking advantage of that warranty.

[pythagoras]

yep, got exactly the same issue with mine. Started happening after swapping the mic to the other side for a flight. I unplugged the mic again and reinserted it which solved the problem for a couple of flights but it recently happened again. Definitely seems to be an issue with the mic attachment as I think it is triggered by moving the mic boom. I’m not flying much at the moment but will investigate further when I can. Keep us updated if you get it sorted.

[Mister Geezer]

I have been a Bose headset user for around 15 years with the X and the A20, so I was naturally excited to buy the Pro Flight but my excitement was short-lived, as I returned mine and am very happy using my A20 again.

- The side pads lacked sufficient padding and I found the Proflight was far more 'noticable' on my head and overall it was less comfortable.

- The cable design from the headset seemed to brush against my upper arm, whenever my arm was moved. This was was more of a nuisance than anything.

- The tap control always activated inadvertently on landing and take off, which was very distracting and I found it actually amplified noise whilst flying. I found it was easier to take the earbud out and listen to who was talking to me.

- I found stowing the Pro Flight properly took a little longer than the A20 and the carry case provided looked very smart, but I felt it was not as robust and hard wearing as the nylon carry case that houses the A20.

The Proflight has the potential to be an amazing headset but I feel Bose needs to make some design changes to achieve this, like what happened with the X morphing into the A20. The warranty for the ProFlight is three years as opposed to five for the A20 which is worthy of note. Does Bose predict a shorter lifespan for some of the components on the ProFight?

[Denti]

Now got me a pair of individually crafted otoplastic earbuds and that has removed quite a bit of the fit and in-ear seat issues. Price was reasonable, €130 for the pair, and i got the cast from my ear for free around the corner at an audiometrist.

Of course every headset is a very personal choice. But i found some of the remarks of Mister Geezer somewhat interesting. Yes, there is very little padding, however, with just 140g of weight for the headset itself, there is not much needed in my view. Additionally, if it bothers me, i can use the headset around on my head without pulling the earbuds out, which actually is quite nice on those long 12 hour duty days.

Yes, the tap control sometimes do activate during landing and taking off, that seems to be an issue with the fit of the ear buds. The better they sit inside the ear canal, the less likely that is. It sounds like it amplifies, but it actually doesn't, it does limit max noise levels though, similar to a hearing protection designed for the shooting range. Whenever someone slams the door or very loudly puts the table back in, the "bang" is quietened especially in talk through mode.

Yup, stowing is certainly one of the more annoying things. It simply takes a few seconds longer as it has to be done somewhat careful vs. the bundle it up and throw it in approach of the A20. However, to me the case seems quite a bit more robust than the nylon carry case of the A20, it is after all a hard case protecting the headset, not a soft case that does not offer any protection at all. Granted, the ProFlight sorely needs that protection.

The cable design is somewhat an issue, i have to agree there. As the battery case / control module is so much heavier than the headset it is quite important how one installs it in the aircraft and routes the cable. I use one cable clip on my epaulette and hang the module with a piece of cable between the second clip and the module on the headset hook at the sidewall of the A320. That way the cable really does not bother me. But that does of course depend on aircraft design and personal seating preference, as well as size i guess.

Considering how much less sturdy the ProFlight is than the A320, i could understand that Bose limited the warranty. That said so far after nearly a year of use it has held up very well indeed. Did not even have to replace one of the padding yet. But of course, only the future will tell how well it holds up.

One thing i would like to know, there seems to be a micro usb port in the battery module behind the batteries, any idea if it can be used to update the firmware of that headset? According to the Bose App it does not support downloadable firmware updates, not via bluetooth at least.

[BoeingDriver99]

Just to resurrect this thread... what’s the verdict redsnail?

Recently started working for an A320 operator that removes/replaces the headsets at FL200 as a rule and none of the FOs have their own headsets. So in the interest of CRM etc the constant wearing of the A20 is not the best option I reckon so am leaning towards the Proflight option as having the earplugs in is much less of a barrier etc. Has Bose rectified outstanding issues with the series 2?

Sector length between 1.5-5.5 hours so perhaps not having the A20 on the noggin for 5+ hours is also good

Fresh opinions welcome!

[B737900er]

I have the new series 2 version. I read the online reviews and issues people were having and were sceptical about them.

I have to say Bose have sorted the issues out with the cable ect, and have not personally experienced issues that the previous model had.

When I got the headset I played around with the different earbud sizes until I found a good fit. Putting the earbuds in your ear does take some practice, however, there are videos on the Bose website and Youtube on how to fit them, as they are the same as the sportbud models.
Overall, I am happy with the purchase and they have made my long sector days much more enjoyable with the Bluetooth capability

[Taylor G]

I've been using my original Proflight now for about 18 months in B757 and B737. I like them because:

microphone is very good
audio quality is very good , -helps a lot when receiving bad com
they are very light
Bluetooth connection is easy and quick, fantastic for making calls on ground
music sounds good, although I don't use that feature much, but I'm also a musician and quite demanding on sound quality
earbuds don't make my ears sore, even on 8 hr flights.
the tap on earbud feature is very useful (to remove ANR temporarlily)

What I don't like is:

Cable is thick and heavy (as they acknowledged in the version 2 update)
Noise reduction on 757 and 737 is only usable in middle position. Too much hiss in top position and useless in bottom position
It takes up a lot of space in the flight-kit; I'm not using the case that came with it but a holstered bag instead.

I've used Phonak and A20 in recent years and I wouldn't return to either one, but between A20 and Proflight the choice is tough, especially because of the fantastic ANR on the A20.

[redsnail]

BoeingDriver99, I just saw this thread. I was on leave all of November and December had me in the sim etc.

I have the Proflight V1. I believe the V2 addressed a lot of the niggles although I must say, they are pretty minor for me.
Yes the case is large - about the same size as the QC35. Putting the headset away in that case is an exercise in frustration. Whoever designed it is clearly a sadist.
I do get audio "cracks" and to remedy that, I disconnect the boom and reconnect it, fixes it for several months.
Sound quality is excellent. You're not quite as disconnected from the Cabin Crew or Passengers so that's good. Either tapping off the ANR is quick or simply removing the ear bud works very well too. The mic works very well.
I have no dramas with the ANR in the top position (flying a Challenger 350). It is very good and doesn't leave you as "remote" as the A20 can.
They are very light on but they do take a little time to work out the best position. They can feel like they are falling off your head. They're not.
I clip the battery pack to the side wall, that takes the weight off the battery pack nicely. (2 x AA).

I would only go back to the Bose A20 if I was operating in an ambient high noise environment, eg, like a turboprop.
Right now, Bose have a deal on the Proflights or A20s, buy one and get a QC thrown in.

[B737900er]

I suggest buying the V2 boom and cable replacement for the V1. You will enjoy them a lot more.

[Slickster]

Has anyone used the Proflight for GA? My company allows us to buy our own Proflight 2 through a scheme, but nothing else. I also do some GA flying, and would like to use it for this as well if possible, rather than buy another headset. I realise it’s probably not the first choice for GA, just wondered if it was workable?

[msayiner]

I am using Bose Pro Flight Ver 2 on Airbus A320 series aircraft. The microphone input level is too low, especially for intercom and PA. Does anyone have the same problem and any solution to this?

[Denti]

No, never had that problem, but sometimes have the problems that people wearing this headset, or other very good ANR headsets, tend to speak in a very low volume which makes it hard to understand for their colleague or ATC.

[aviamark]

msayiner

Same problem here... Any advice on what to do? Problem only exists on intercom, ATC and PA seems to be not affected.

[Luckybo]

No, never had that problem, but sometimes have the problems that people wearing this headset, or other very good ANR headsets, tend to speak in a very low volume which makes it hard to understand for their colleague or ATC.
Hello Denti,
I read all your posts about ProFlight and A20, after couple of months, do you still recommend them? How do you find them now? Is ProFlight better than a20 in a 737 environment? I have a20 and think about ordering ProFlight2

[pilottolip]

Is the mic sensitivity adjustable?

[mecenos]

Is the mic sensitivity adjustable?
No, it isn’t

[SR-22]

I am curious to hear how people find the PF2 if anyone could share. I have a A20 and have used it for 10 years in 737NG, 757, 767, 737MAX and various GA aircrafts and I have found it to be by far the best headset I’ve used although being big and bulky.

[Rihatz]

I have the Pro Flight series 2 and have the same issue with the loud 'bang' sound when moving the mic.
it seems to be more prominent when having the mic switched to the right side, but it now happens also on the left side.
Headset is unusable like this. The sound is really really loud and harmful.

I have sent it in for a repair but got it back with the problem still temaining.

Are there more people with this issue? Or has anyone found a solution?

I'm going to return mine and ask for an exchange.

[Denti]

Had that issue, removing the microphone arm, cleaning the contacts and putting it back in solved it. Had to redo it every few weeks though.

[redsnail]

I did the upgrade to Version 2 a while ago. Cured all the problems. I haven't had an issue since I did that and this was some time ago (years).

[Mp777]

I have the Pro Flight series 2 and have the same issue with the loud 'bang' sound when moving the mic.
it seems to be more prominent when having the mic switched to the right side, but it now happens also on the left side.
Headset is unusable like this. The sound is really really loud and harmful.

I have sent it in for a repair but got it back with the problem still temaining.

Are there more people with this issue? Or has anyone found a solution?

I'm going to return mine and ask for an exchange.


Hello,

Did you manage to find any solution. I have this same problem with real loud bang as well when moving mic.

Curious whether Bose accepts the responsibility of defect?

[markknot123]

I have the same problem with the Bose ProFlight Series 1 headset. I sent it to them under warranty and explained the problems I experienced, such as when I move the mic, I hear banging continuously, the noise cuts out, sometimes I can't even hear any sound in the headset, etc...

I have spoken to several people who have this headset, and all have complained about the same thing. Bose "fixed" my headset; however, after 2 weeks, it started doing it again. This was last July 2023. Now, my warranty has expired, and I have no idea how to proceed with this as they will never admit that they have a manufacturing defect.