Noise Cancelling Headset for 737NG

[Rainboe]

I hate to be cut off from life so completely with full ear ANR headsets. It is very important to hear what is going on. With one ear off, and turning around talking to a visitor to the F/D of a 747, I dimly heard a distant quiet 'boom'. It was so soft I carried on talking, but then the realisation hit me it was just like the sound of a surge. I spun around to see one of the EGTs rapidly increasing towards the limit without autorecovering. I would not have heard it with both ears covered by a Bose. I also used to get fed up jumping out of my skin when I didn't hear the cabin crew come onto the F/D and tap me on the shoulder because I was blithely unaware of their presence. I just don't like being so divorced from my surroundings

[Brainstorm]

Sometimes I spend up to 11 hours on the flight deck on an NG with no break, and I find that the continuous background noise gets very tiring. My ears even feel tired the next day.

I currently use the Sennheiser HMEC 45 KA which I think is a very good solid headset, but have been looking for something quieter for the longer flights.

I have tried a number of headsets now (after checking it is ok with the engineers of course) and have been rather disappointed with background hiss and generally poor acoustics. Therefore I am thinking of the Bose X as it seems to be the one to get.

Of those of you who use this headset, have you found any problems with regards to communicating over the intercom, such as hiss, speech sounding boomy/ muffled etc? Does it make a difference what headset the other flight crew are wearing?

Many thanks for you help!