BoseX aviation headset
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BoseX aviation headset
I am looking for some advice re the Bose X headset as I hope to buy one soon. I presently have a David Clark H10 13.4 which is ok but I do find after some time wearing it that my head feels like it has been in a vice. I would appreciate some feedback from those who have bought the Bose X ANR as to whether it lives up to your expectations and the company hype.
I recently bought a Bose docking station for my Ipod which is superb with great sound so I can only imagine that the Bose X must be as good. Am I correct?
Your feedback appreciated. Thanks.
I recently bought a Bose docking station for my Ipod which is superb with great sound so I can only imagine that the Bose X must be as good. Am I correct?
Your feedback appreciated. Thanks.
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Do a search on this forum and you'll find loads of stuff written about ANR headsets and the Bose X. It is sold with a 30 day return if you're not satisfied - suffice to say I was not. Very overpriced and unsatisfactory at higher frequencies. Do not buy an ANR headset until you've tried a few, if at all possible.
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...the Bose X. It is sold with a 30 day return if you're not satisfied - suffice to say I was not. Very overpriced and unsatisfactory at higher frequencies
I've been using them for eight years. I have also tried every headset in a particular headset shop, against an aircraft noise source.
The only one which came close was a ~£500 D-Clark model but with a vice like grip on one's head.
The other, cheaper, ones were just crap in comparison. I used to have a Pilot DC17-79 which was utter crap; it even whistled sometimes. The ANR performance was rubbish. I returned it to Pilot in the USA who confirmed it was in spec!
Protecting one's hearing, never mind actually hearing ATC, is worth paying extra for.
Still, listening (when flying) to the crap quality of peoples' radios, and amazingly often the crap quality of ATC microphones (and probably other equipment), I am not suprised people don't want to spend the money.
I have heard that the Lightspeed Zulu gets quite close to the Bose X. I was going to try one in the USA recently but nobody had any stock. They also do an aircraft powered version with the same Lemo plug as the Bose aircraft powered version has, which is a smart marketing move.
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The bose is the best headset I have ever owned, I have nearly 3000hrs on mine and it has been used on over 100 different aircraft from the pressurised Malibu I now fly to the permit and open cockpit.
The ANR is first class and with Lithium batteries I get around 80hrs from a set of batteries.
They are light and comfortable with a minimum clamping force. I have tried more headsets than I can shake a stick at and the Bose win every time.
The ANR is first class and with Lithium batteries I get around 80hrs from a set of batteries.
They are light and comfortable with a minimum clamping force. I have tried more headsets than I can shake a stick at and the Bose win every time.
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Yep agree with Bose, I bought mine about 18mths and not looked back since. I tried the Seinheiser (sp?) version in a mates TB20 and it wasnt even the same league, the ANR wasnt as good and also very uncomfortable after a few hours. The Bose X is excellent, very lightweight and after a while you dont even know its on your head!
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I bought a gently used on on ebay the year before last (because I wanted to try one out without paying full price). I'll say this; if you can afford one, they're worth the investment so far as being a quality tool for the cockpit. They're comfortable with good sound delivery, enhance communication, and for such little pressure on the head, they work surprisingly well.
For less money, lightspeed headsets are good, and a lot more comfortable than a david-clark type.
I took that used set of Bose to the middle east with me. It sat in the heat and the dust and got bounced around. I put it on when outside doing engine runs with turbojet equipment...and I was pleasantly surprised that even standing in front of a jet engine, it still did just fine. (I figured it would have been okay for the cockpit, but not outside next to the engine doing runs...turns out that even though it doesn't clamp down over the head like a seat of ear muffs, it does unexpectedly well).
After about six months I was getting intermittant hissing and popping. When I ended up back in the US, I stopped by the Bose booth at Sun n Fun airshow. I mentioned to the folks in the booth my experinece with the headset. They told me the hissing and popping was probably a worn ear seal. True enough, where the seal rests against my jaw, if it's been any period of time since I last shaved, the stubble tears up the ear seal. They handed me a replacement pair at no charge, as well as a hat and some literature. The new ear seals took care of the problem.
Even in the heat and adverse conditions, the headset held up, and the batteries lasted a long time. I kept an extra set in my flight suit, but didn't need them. I haven't got around to trying it in the 747 yet (some tell me it creates impedence problems)...but probably will. For a good all around light airplane headset, the Bose X works great.
You might try ebay first...I got a heck of a deal.
For less money, lightspeed headsets are good, and a lot more comfortable than a david-clark type.
I took that used set of Bose to the middle east with me. It sat in the heat and the dust and got bounced around. I put it on when outside doing engine runs with turbojet equipment...and I was pleasantly surprised that even standing in front of a jet engine, it still did just fine. (I figured it would have been okay for the cockpit, but not outside next to the engine doing runs...turns out that even though it doesn't clamp down over the head like a seat of ear muffs, it does unexpectedly well).
After about six months I was getting intermittant hissing and popping. When I ended up back in the US, I stopped by the Bose booth at Sun n Fun airshow. I mentioned to the folks in the booth my experinece with the headset. They told me the hissing and popping was probably a worn ear seal. True enough, where the seal rests against my jaw, if it's been any period of time since I last shaved, the stubble tears up the ear seal. They handed me a replacement pair at no charge, as well as a hat and some literature. The new ear seals took care of the problem.
Even in the heat and adverse conditions, the headset held up, and the batteries lasted a long time. I kept an extra set in my flight suit, but didn't need them. I haven't got around to trying it in the 747 yet (some tell me it creates impedence problems)...but probably will. For a good all around light airplane headset, the Bose X works great.
You might try ebay first...I got a heck of a deal.
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Thank you all for the great responses. I think from all that has been written the Bose X sounds great, pleasing more pilots than it displeases. I will try one out when I am next back in the uk and then make a firm decision. I also read about the Lightspeed Zulu which was in the mail order catalogue of a reputable Pilot shop, which sounds pretty good too. Overall though from the responses I have read the Bose sounds pretty hard to beat.
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There was a review of ANR and non-ANR headsets in Flyer some months ago. You might be able to backorder that issue. It makes for interesting reading.
They were pleased with the Bose-X with the only remark that if you run the batteries flat, the passive noise reduction is virtually nonexistent. Not a problem if you've got the panel wired for them of course.
We've got two Robin Ecoflyers at our club with Bose-Xs in them as standard. I've flown them a few times - brilliant. Both the plane and the headset. We do have a few headsets that are broken now. Not really surprising since these planes do 700 hours or more a year, in a club/school environment.
The big surprise though of the whole Flyer review was the DIY ANR kit which you could buy over the internet for a relatively low price, and use it to upgrade your own non-ANR headset to ANR if you're handy with a soldering iron. I wanted to do that myself but unfortunately my headset is not on the "supported" list and queries to their sales people have so far gone unanswered.
Oh, and there's also an in-ear "head"set with ANR. Due to the physical characteristics they could not test it objectively but the subjective opinion was that it was very good too. And comparatively cheap.
They were pleased with the Bose-X with the only remark that if you run the batteries flat, the passive noise reduction is virtually nonexistent. Not a problem if you've got the panel wired for them of course.
We've got two Robin Ecoflyers at our club with Bose-Xs in them as standard. I've flown them a few times - brilliant. Both the plane and the headset. We do have a few headsets that are broken now. Not really surprising since these planes do 700 hours or more a year, in a club/school environment.
The big surprise though of the whole Flyer review was the DIY ANR kit which you could buy over the internet for a relatively low price, and use it to upgrade your own non-ANR headset to ANR if you're handy with a soldering iron. I wanted to do that myself but unfortunately my headset is not on the "supported" list and queries to their sales people have so far gone unanswered.
Oh, and there's also an in-ear "head"set with ANR. Due to the physical characteristics they could not test it objectively but the subjective opinion was that it was very good too. And comparatively cheap.
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The only thing that put me off Bose was that primarily they are a marketing company rather than a manufacturer. Almost everything else they produce is over-hyped and over marketed (Sunday supplements anyone?).
On the other hand Sennheiser are a pucka headphone manufacturer (DC's too vice like for me also). I recently bought a couple of pairs of 450's from the States. Worked out at £322 each set with the VAT paid. They have excellent passive noise reduction and the electronic NR is top notch as well.
Might be worth looking at them also. The 460's are identical except they have option to plug in mobile phone and iPod, something I'd never use, so save and get the 450's.
On the other hand Sennheiser are a pucka headphone manufacturer (DC's too vice like for me also). I recently bought a couple of pairs of 450's from the States. Worked out at £322 each set with the VAT paid. They have excellent passive noise reduction and the electronic NR is top notch as well.
Might be worth looking at them also. The 460's are identical except they have option to plug in mobile phone and iPod, something I'd never use, so save and get the 450's.
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I recently bought a Bose docking station for my Ipod which is superb with great sound so I can only imagine that the Bose X must be as good. Am I correct?
The only thing that put me off Bose was that primarily they are a marketing company rather than a manufacturer. Almost everything else they produce is over-hyped and over marketed (Sunday supplements anyone?).
. If the QC3 headphones are anything to go by, I would imagine the aviation headsets are some of the best available too. 
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They were pleased with the Bose-X with the only remark that if you run the batteries flat, the passive noise reduction is virtually nonexistent
The only thing that put me off Bose was that primarily they are a marketing company rather than a manufacturer. Almost everything else they produce is over-hyped and over marketed (Sunday supplements anyone?).
I have been designing electronics stuff, including high quality audio gear, since the 1970s, and it amazes me the Bose X is still up there as #1. Either they have good patents, or nobody else has half decent engineers. But that's what we have.......
Bose the company are far from perfect. A few years ago they made thousands of Bose X headsets with duff mikes; about half the output signal which it should have. They offered a more or less indefinite free exchange scheme in the USA, but it was never supported via their UK dealers who obviously washed their hands of it after the initial warranty expired. I discovered this "design change" by accident after flying with somebody who had the new ones, and have recently upgraded 3 of my 4 headsets to the latest mike (£130 a time) and the difference is very noticeable. So, I would be a little careful buying a 2001-2005 (not sure of the time period) model on Ebay. Bose blamed this on some duff mikes (with specific serial number ranges) but the problem was actually widespread. However, most users would have never noiced because even with half the output signal the mike was still clearer than the mike on any other headset.
All we need now is for ATC to replace their ex WW2 carbon mikes
London Control managed it, now it's the turn of the rif-raf 
Last edited by IO540; 15th May 2008 at 11:53.
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Regarding ATC transmissions, I find that military LARS transmissions are by far the worst for quality.
Regarding the Bose I personally find them to be excellent in removing what I would call " low end rumble" type engine noise, but that they leave an irritating tinny high end treble type sound , which I personally find annoying but which doesn't seem to bother other users.
Regarding the Bose I personally find them to be excellent in removing what I would call " low end rumble" type engine noise, but that they leave an irritating tinny high end treble type sound , which I personally find annoying but which doesn't seem to bother other users.
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The only thing that put me off Bose was that primarily they are a marketing company rather than a manufacturer.
Go into any theatre and you're likely to find the sound rig includes Bose speakers. Industrial and commercial customers are not flattered by marketing.
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I use a Bose X at work and it is very good, if you don't want to spend big money then try the Peltor 8006 with the Oregon Aero ear cushions, as a passive set it is very good.
Lightspeed Zulus seem to be better than Bose-X in every respect (including price) and are in stock with at least 1 UK supplier.
Recommend you try both before parting with cash - headsets are subject to personal preference.
Recommend you try both before parting with cash - headsets are subject to personal preference.
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Mike, Bose like to represent that they produce "professional" sound gear, but actually there is now very little Bose PA out there, the stuff they sold in the '80s has been overtaken by much better kit from other manufacturers.
Bose have never had a significant presence in professional recording studios.
They are good at producing quirky domestic audio products which are OK, but very overpriced.
No reflection on the Bose-X, which I haven't tried, and may buy after trying if they really are as good as everyone says.
Bose have never had a significant presence in professional recording studios.
They are good at producing quirky domestic audio products which are OK, but very overpriced.
No reflection on the Bose-X, which I haven't tried, and may buy after trying if they really are as good as everyone says.
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