Bose X on jets?
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Bose X on jets?
Hi guys,
I ran a search on the Bose X aviation headset - there's quite a bit on Proon from the GA crowd and I've had a good read.
It's a pretty obscene amount of money to spend on a headset but I can just about stomach it as an investment if it's as good as some say it is.
Can any commercial flyers who use the X post any feedback? I fly a Boeing and currently use a company provided Sennheiser HMEC 46 with NoiseGard (ANR). The ANR seems to change the type of background sound rather than the overall volume and it can get uncomfy after a few hours. Works OK though.
Very subjective I know but - do you think the Bose X is worth £700 (with the pound's relative weakness against the dollar the saving when buying in the US seems to be only a few tens of pounds)?
I hope to occasionally fly GA a/c as well so it would save me having two headsets too.
Cheers,
B&S
I ran a search on the Bose X aviation headset - there's quite a bit on Proon from the GA crowd and I've had a good read.
It's a pretty obscene amount of money to spend on a headset but I can just about stomach it as an investment if it's as good as some say it is.
Can any commercial flyers who use the X post any feedback? I fly a Boeing and currently use a company provided Sennheiser HMEC 46 with NoiseGard (ANR). The ANR seems to change the type of background sound rather than the overall volume and it can get uncomfy after a few hours. Works OK though.
Very subjective I know but - do you think the Bose X is worth £700 (with the pound's relative weakness against the dollar the saving when buying in the US seems to be only a few tens of pounds)?
I hope to occasionally fly GA a/c as well so it would save me having two headsets too.
Cheers,
B&S
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bucket_and_spade
I used a Bose X for my last year on the 146. It had (and often needed) a pilot intercom system. I found the Bose an excellent headset.
On the 717 with no real need of an intercom system, I grew sick og having one ear cup on the side of my head so went to a Plantronics MS250, though it doesn't have any noise attenuation.
I used a Bose X for my last year on the 146. It had (and often needed) a pilot intercom system. I found the Bose an excellent headset.
On the 717 with no real need of an intercom system, I grew sick og having one ear cup on the side of my head so went to a Plantronics MS250, though it doesn't have any noise attenuation.
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Well, I started flying the Legacy just recently and some of our airplanes are equipped with Bose headsets. The reason for this is the apparent higher noise level in this cockpit. Most other jets that I know do not need a headset - at least during the cruise portion of flight.
I must say, they're unusually quiet.
Coming from F2000s and the CE750 where cockpit noise is not a factor, these active noise cancelling headsets make me wonder whether the engines back there somewhere are running at all (the only hint during engine-start is the gentle shaking of the entire airplane). This is unusual. But hey: they're working and doing what they're being paid for.
In my opinion probably just perfect for a turboprop, chopper or piston engine airplane.
I must say, they're unusually quiet.
Coming from F2000s and the CE750 where cockpit noise is not a factor, these active noise cancelling headsets make me wonder whether the engines back there somewhere are running at all (the only hint during engine-start is the gentle shaking of the entire airplane). This is unusual. But hey: they're working and doing what they're being paid for.
In my opinion probably just perfect for a turboprop, chopper or piston engine airplane.
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I wore a Bose X in a Lear 35. It's not necessary...I just happened to get a good deal on the bose and took it along to try out.
You didn't say what aircraft it is in which you want to use the headset. I usually use a lightweight Airman 750, which works just fine. Some airplanes are louder than others. In the 747, the little telex is enough...and I see more of those in use than anything else.
You didn't say what aircraft it is in which you want to use the headset. I usually use a lightweight Airman 750, which works just fine. Some airplanes are louder than others. In the 747, the little telex is enough...and I see more of those in use than anything else.
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Thanks for the replies so far - the aircraft is a B757. It can be pretty noisy on the flightdeck. Personally I wouldn't want to have the headset off during the cruise, although some do. 99% of the conversation is over the intercom, unless there's someone else on the FD.
Rainboe,
Interesting story - I'll have a gander at the the Lightspeed Zulu now...my only slight concern would be that I haven't come across the brand before but that's probably my shortcoming!
B&S
Rainboe,
Interesting story - I'll have a gander at the the Lightspeed Zulu now...my only slight concern would be that I haven't come across the brand before but that's probably my shortcoming!
B&S
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Don't overlook the Zulu. From a very good company, they have been making ANR headsets for probably 10 years, and have an outstanding customer service dept if any issues. The Zulu is every bit as good as Bose and debatably a bit better. Having said that Bose are excellent to.
John
John
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I think I have tried them all...and at the end of the day, for me it's not so much about about trying to quiet down a loud cockpit, but simply getting it so quiet that the communications are clear and concise and I can start catching vibrations, issues, ect. Caught a number one bearing failure wearing the Bose X, that I don't know if I would have picked up with another headset. In a GIV, Citations, and Turboprops it's my choice.
I work with a big jet modified as a research aeroplane - normally flying with a crew of 16-20 (2 pilots, 1 CCM, others mostly scientists). Recently we did an in-flight assessment of alternative headsets - covering the DC H10-34, Bose-X, Lightspeed 20XLC, Lightspeed Zulu, Senheisser 460 and an old Telex passive.
By a large margin the Bose-X came out top after a parallel assessment over 8 5ish hour flights, followed by the DC. The other ANRs all had problems which made them unacceptable for the task (although I'm sure they're fine in other aeroplanes), and the Telex were poor but just about okay.
So we bought Bose-X for everybody except the two pilots (who have stuck with a preference for DC) and they've worked extremely well in about 75 hours of operating flying since. The 27 Bose-X headsets we bought probably made for a good Christmas bonus for the salesman, but they were worth it. (Yes we did get some discount, but only about £50/headset).
G
By a large margin the Bose-X came out top after a parallel assessment over 8 5ish hour flights, followed by the DC. The other ANRs all had problems which made them unacceptable for the task (although I'm sure they're fine in other aeroplanes), and the Telex were poor but just about okay.
So we bought Bose-X for everybody except the two pilots (who have stuck with a preference for DC) and they've worked extremely well in about 75 hours of operating flying since. The 27 Bose-X headsets we bought probably made for a good Christmas bonus for the salesman, but they were worth it. (Yes we did get some discount, but only about £50/headset).
G
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Great - all good stuff. I agree that an X is certainly not needed for a modern (ish!) jet by any stretch but is one headset, amongst a few, that might make you feel warm and fuzzy inside and go a long way to keep any potential hearing loss to a minimum.
If money wasn't an issue, I'd get one frankly. Shame that's not the case...!
B&S
If money wasn't an issue, I'd get one frankly. Shame that's not the case...!
B&S
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I use the Aviation X on a B738 and would not be without it. I feel much less tired after a long day and I can have the RT and Intercom volumes turned down much lower than without it.
It must be much better for your hearing. It can get a little uncomfortable after 9-10 hours but most headsets will.
It must be much better for your hearing. It can get a little uncomfortable after 9-10 hours but most headsets will.
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or pick the 'wildcard'
There was a headset shown at the oshkosh airshow last July which was IMPRESSIVE ! It was a modification to the Bose 'Comfort 2' headset, the mod being the fitting of a quality microphone to an otherwise 'listening only' headset designed for pax in jet aircraft.
Being a 'mod' done to another parties product there were no specific attenuation data available but subjectively it was GREAT !
The Bose 'Comfort 2' has some pretty good reviews from the audiofiles who like listening to their stereo music etc so the quality of the headset is GOOD. Its ANR performance, once again subjectively, was very good.
Its wearing comfort was excellent. Wearing glasses was also not an issue.
The earpieces turn sideways to slip into a slim carrying case when not in use.
The downside ; 'Batteries Not Included' ! , so you're going to have to feed it batteries from time to time. the other negative was that it requires battery power to operate at all ! Thus No batteries > No audio ! and of course they're going to run out at the most inconvenient time aren't they, unless you're a boy scout !
But they were VERY IMPRESSIVE in my humble subjective opinion, and I had checked out both the Bose X and the Lightspeed ZULU for comparison (and of those two I prefered the ZULU over the X ). If I hadn't forked out about $ 600 for the Lighspeed Mach 1 'In the ear' headset just a few months earlier I would have bought a 'Comfort 2'.
The product is marketed as UFlyMike.
Being a 'mod' done to another parties product there were no specific attenuation data available but subjectively it was GREAT !
The Bose 'Comfort 2' has some pretty good reviews from the audiofiles who like listening to their stereo music etc so the quality of the headset is GOOD. Its ANR performance, once again subjectively, was very good.
Its wearing comfort was excellent. Wearing glasses was also not an issue.
The earpieces turn sideways to slip into a slim carrying case when not in use.
The downside ; 'Batteries Not Included' ! , so you're going to have to feed it batteries from time to time. the other negative was that it requires battery power to operate at all ! Thus No batteries > No audio ! and of course they're going to run out at the most inconvenient time aren't they, unless you're a boy scout !
But they were VERY IMPRESSIVE in my humble subjective opinion, and I had checked out both the Bose X and the Lightspeed ZULU for comparison (and of those two I prefered the ZULU over the X ). If I hadn't forked out about $ 600 for the Lighspeed Mach 1 'In the ear' headset just a few months earlier I would have bought a 'Comfort 2'.
The product is marketed as UFlyMike.
Psychophysiological entity
I wonder if Essex Uni ever got any return on their investment into noise cancellation. They had motherboard sized circuits effecting a sloooooow cancellation of a fairly constant noise. I spent a while with them, and they doubted that we could make it work in aircraft.
Date, around 1979-80
Date, around 1979-80
I use the Bose X on a variety of aircraft, chiefly the BAe146, but also 737, piston singles (Cessna 152 / 172) and helicopters. They are excellent in every respect, and very comfortable. As a pilot and an electronics design engineer specialising in audio / acoustics, I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Loose rivets, did I meet you at the Wolfson Centre, Essex Uni? I did postgraduate research in acoustics, resonances and echo deconvolution with Prof Malcolm Hawksford next door in the 1980s, and knew Owen Jones and Mark Trinder who were the proponents of noise and vibration cancellation there at the time. The noise cancellation that the Wolfson Centre specialised in was on a far greater scale, using an array of KEF B139 drive units around exhaust stacks for big diesel engines, driven by up to 1,000W of power amps. The Bose seems to be a perfect evolution of such technology, with its beautifully applied technology, running for 40 hours on a couple of AA batteries.
Loose rivets, did I meet you at the Wolfson Centre, Essex Uni? I did postgraduate research in acoustics, resonances and echo deconvolution with Prof Malcolm Hawksford next door in the 1980s, and knew Owen Jones and Mark Trinder who were the proponents of noise and vibration cancellation there at the time. The noise cancellation that the Wolfson Centre specialised in was on a far greater scale, using an array of KEF B139 drive units around exhaust stacks for big diesel engines, driven by up to 1,000W of power amps. The Bose seems to be a perfect evolution of such technology, with its beautifully applied technology, running for 40 hours on a couple of AA batteries.
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Justanothervictim
I had a problem with my Bose headset and got in touch with them. Told me to send it off to Headset Services down at Shoreham( I think) who were excellent. Replaced the various bits and sent them back as good as new at no cost. Well pleased with both service and after care.
Like most things in this world, you get what you pay for!!
Like most things in this world, you get what you pay for!!
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Bose X
Interesting topic about Bose X and airliners,
was thinking of the same, but in the Airbus 320, has anyones done this, although guessing it's the same in the 73 / 146 etc...
Where in the UK can you buy the adapters, i.e. six plug for the bus?
And does this ever cause a stur, eg, if your flying with an awkward Capt, or F/O for that matter? as it's not really the norm?
thanks.
was thinking of the same, but in the Airbus 320, has anyones done this, although guessing it's the same in the 73 / 146 etc...
Where in the UK can you buy the adapters, i.e. six plug for the bus?
And does this ever cause a stur, eg, if your flying with an awkward Capt, or F/O for that matter? as it's not really the norm?
thanks.
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Been using Bose headsets for nearly 6 years now and I am on my second pair.
I really like them and I certainly think they are good. An old colleague tried mine one day and he was hooked as well. I have used them on piston singles, turboprops and now on the BAe 146.
The good things I like are that they generate less white noise on the intercom on the old BAe 146 and the audio quality of the PA is far superior to any other headset.
I really like them and I certainly think they are good. An old colleague tried mine one day and he was hooked as well. I have used them on piston singles, turboprops and now on the BAe 146.
The good things I like are that they generate less white noise on the intercom on the old BAe 146 and the audio quality of the PA is far superior to any other headset.