New DC X11 vs. Bose

[fartknocker]

Has anyone tried the new DC X11? They look like they might be comparable to the Bose X. The DCs are about $200 cheaper. The new DCs also have an aux input feature on them.

I am wanting an ANR headset for the 727. I was wondering if anyone likes the Bose or the DC?

Any input from current Bose users on the 727?

Here's a link for the DC X11....

http://www.davidclark.com/X11/index.html

And the Bose X....

http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=h eadsetx_headset_index

Thanks.

 

[ERfly]

I can't speak for the 727, but I use the Bose in the ERJ (very noisy due to the wind) and it works quite well. It cuts out the rumble due to the shock wave right above my head. Some of the wind it still there, but it is very quiet. It's also very comfortable. I bought it and a day later, DC announced this one. Most of our guys use standard, non-ANR DCs (13.4s) in the ERJ, so I'm curious as to how this would work.

My only complaints about the Bose are no audio input and the mic is quite sensitive and hence, a lot of wind noise is heard over the intercom when on Hot Mic. Other than that, I'm very satisfied! If anyone gets this, let me know how it is.

 

[dhampton]

Check this out too. Works with off-the-shelf Bose quiet comfort 2. Has aux input.

www.uflymike.com

 

[sstearns2]

The lightspeed 30G is $400 cheaper than the Bose, has better noise attenuation, and an audio input jack.

Scott

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Check this out too. Works with off-the-shelf Bose quiet comfort 2. Has aux input.

www.uflymike.com

Hey,
Might work ok, one minor problem, its not a TSO'd product, and therefore not a "headset" as defined by the regs. Anyone who can produce the TSO numbers would be providing a great service. Since 121 regs require a headset below 18,000 ft. this may be a possible issue in the future.
PBR

 

[canyonblue737]

The lightspeed 30G is $400 cheaper than the Bose, has better noise attenuation, and an audio input jack.

Scott

Used this for a while in a Saab 340... cheap plastic construction caused it to break (the ear cups) several times although LS was quick to fix it. The attenuation was outstanding but the overall size of the headset was HUGE (but light) and at the time it was NOT TSO'd (and I still don't think it is.)

Overall I ended up switching to DC 13X and that was much sturdier, sounded as good, clamped worse, but was TSO'd. I made a good choice.

Moving to the 737 I switched to Telex 850's which are "ok" for now with reasonable but not great ANR. Since we don't have an intercom you kinda have to uncup an ear and therefore I don't know if I want to spend the $$$ and deal with the larger size of the Bose options or DC 11's or whatever since I will lose some ANR benefit when I uncup an ear.

 

[dhampton]

PBRstreetgang,

Actually the reg says boom mic not headset.

Not sure about the TSO part, can you cite the reg so I can look it up?

121.359
(g) For those aircraft equipped to record the uninterrupted audio signals received by a boom or a mask microphone, the flight crewmembers are required to use the boom microphone below 18,000 feet mean sea level. No person may operate a large turbine engine powered airplane or a large pressurized airplane with four reciprocating engines manufactured after October 11, 1991, or on which a cockpit voice recorder has been installed after October 11, 1991, unless it is equipped to record the uninterrupted audio signal received by a boom or mask microphone in accordance with §25.1457(c)(5) of this chapter.

 

[treetopflyer]

I can't speak for the 727, but I use the Bose in the ERJ (very noisy due to the wind) and it works quite well. It cuts out the rumble due to the shock wave right above my head. Some of the wind it still there, but it is very quiet. It's also very comfortable. I bought it and a day later, DC announced this one. Most of our guys use standard, non-ANR DCs (13.4s) in the ERJ, so I'm curious as to how this would work.

My only complaints about the Bose are no audio input and the mic is quite sensitive and hence, a lot of wind noise is heard over the intercom when on Hot Mic. Other than that, I'm very satisfied! If anyone gets this, let me know how it is.

the only shockwave i know of in the ERJ is the one in your chest from the paycheck!! wa wa wa. jk

 

[GuppyWN]

The UflyMike is an INCREDIBLE idea. I have flown with quite a few guys that love them. There are a couple of downsides that I feel need to be addressed.

- if the batteries go dead, you can't hear ATC
- the cords are non-reversable so if you're an FO, the cord will have to cross from your left ear to the a/c jacks.
- and a really silly one. The "flexible" boom mike needs a swivel.

The huge upside is the $$ and it's great for your ipod. (while commuting)

Gup

 

[armyjets]

I own one of the traditional Bose aviation headsets (Bose X) and it's just way too much headset for the 757/767. I purchased the UFlyMike and the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 and I love it! The headset folds up flat and has a great case that can easily be stored on the top of your pubs in your flight bag.

 

[ERfly]

the only shockwave i know of in the ERJ is the one in your chest from the paycheck!! wa wa wa. jk

I know you were joking, but it is a known fact that there is a transsonic shockwave that is produced just above the windshield in the cockpit.

 

[mmase7]

The UflyMike is an INCREDIBLE idea. I have flown with quite a few guys that love them. There are a couple of downsides that I feel need to be addressed.

- if the batteries go dead, you can't hear ATC
- the cords are non-reversable so if you're an FO, the cord will have to cross from your left ear to the a/c jacks.
- and a really silly one. The "flexible" boom mike needs a swivel.

The huge upside is the $$ and it's great for your ipod. (while commuting)

Gup

The UflyMike works like a champ. The Quiet Comfort 2 headset case has a little pouch on the inside that stores 4 extra batteries as well! I highly recommend this product!

 

[fartknocker]

Since we don't have an intercom you kinda have to uncup an ear and therefore I don't know if I want to spend the $$$ and deal with the larger size of the Bose options or DC 11's or whatever since I will lose some ANR benefit when I uncup an ear.

I am worried about this too. I was wondering how the 727 intercom works? Anyone know? I haven't flown it, but I have heard it gets pretty noisy in the cockpit. I think an ANR headset will help overall.

 

[Hvy]

Check this out too. Works with off-the-shelf Bose quiet comfort 2. Has aux input.

www.uflymike.com

I also recommend the Bose QC2 w/ mike's mic. It works great in the cockpit (you can still hear the other guy talk) and you change cords (takes 2 seconds) so the you can watch movies in back while deadheading. I AAA batt lasts about 25-30 hours.

I have used this combo for 8 months w/ no negative issues.

 

[Huck]

was wondering how the 727 intercom works? Anyone know?

It works great.

And that don't matter, because nobody will use it.

We're big jet pilots. We'd rather buy $800 headsets, hang them off of one ear and shout at each other.

I've flown several turboprops and the CRJ, all of them quieter than the 727, and it was headsets plus intercom below 18k. I've heard similar from military guys.

Don't start asking why. It's just one of those mysteries.....

 

[tzflyer]

Sennhieser

I use a Sennheiser ANR headset. Airline discount if you buy direct. I do not uncup and actually hear better with it on than without it. That may just be me being hard of hearing. Now though, my wife doesn't have to leave the room because of the volume of the music or TV at home so I can hear.
I didn't know about the Bose/mike combo, but the sennheiser is TSO'd and failsafe in that I can still hear ATC when the batteries die. I use rechargables and in true airline pilot fashion get "free" recharges from the hotels

 

[Goose17]

Bose at FedEx

I bought the Bose when I upgraded from the panel to the right seat of the 727. I wish I could have afforded it for the 3 years I was stuck on the panel - what a HUGE improvement. It actually made the 727 (which is obnoxiously loud) quite tolerable. I could fly to the west coast and still feel rested and I could hear when I got there. I did all the ground ops with one ear cup pulled back, but when we broke ground, I had both ear cups on with the ANR turned on and I had no problem hearing anyone. The ballance control is nice - it allows you to turn down ATC on the ear facing the other guy. It doesn't allow you to turn it off in that ear, but none-the-less you can turn it down. I switched to the Airbus early this year and considered selling it since everyone raves at how quiet it is. While true - it is a lot quieter, it is still not "quiet". I wear the Bose on the bus and still love it.

On a side note, about 1.5 years after I bought the Bose, I had trouble with one of my ear cups producing strange noises. I thought I would have to pay for the fix since it was over a year old. I was pleased to find out that there was a 5 year cup-to-cup warranty on it and Bose fixed it for free.

Now, if it only didn't cost $1,000!

I am a big fan of the headset - it is outstanding.

Goose17

while I was typing a post showed up about the Senhieser (sp?)... I flew with a guy that had one and we tried swapping to see any difference. I wasn't going to say anything to make the guy feel bad, but after he pulled my headseat off, he said "Holy Crap! If I knew there was that much difference I would have bought the Bose." There was a SIGNIFICANT difference between the two headsets on the noise that it canceled. It may have partially been due to the on the ear vs. the over the ear of the Bose.

Goose17

 

[01mm]

I tried to use the bose but gave up.

Like Huck said, no one uses the interphone. A key thing to remember is that the 727 (at least the ones I have been in) don't have a hot interphone, so with both ears covered, you have to use the push to talk switch when using the interphone. This is can make a headset like the Bose difficult to use (as a side note, it means that when you are on the oxygen masks trying to work a problem out, communicating with your fellow crewmembers is a pain).

I started with the Bose, but gave up after I always had to have one ear uncovered to hear what the other crewmemebers were saying. I use a telex 850 now, but that does have downsides too. It's noise cancelling depends on the electical power of the audio system and only a few of the 727's I have been in had enough power or were wired in such a way that they could power the 850. So when the airplane won't power the 850, I have to select the noise cancelling function off to avoid a clicking noise I get every time I key the mike (keying the mike suddenly provides enough power for noise cancelling, but power disappears when letting go of the push to talk switch).

 

[fartknocker]

Sounds like mixed opinions. Does anyone else think like Goose17? Is it not difficult to hear the other pilots while your ears are covered? I am wondering if the ANR is worth it if you have to uncup an ear half of the time?

I think I might have to try them out, as I need to protect my hearing.

Any more thoughts?

 

[rightrudder]

I also recommend the Bose QC2 w/ mike's mic. It works great in the cockpit (you can still hear the other guy talk) and you change cords (takes 2 seconds) so the you can watch movies in back while deadheading. I AAA batt lasts about 25-30 hours.

I have used this combo for 8 months w/ no negative issues.

Have you compared this with the Bose X, and if so, how did it do?

 

[Goose17]

one more bit...

Another aspect to the noise is your radio volume. I noticed while wearing the Bose, my radio volume on the control volume is darn near off and I can still hear the radios fine. The guys I flew with that wore the installed Tellex had their volume almost maxed out pumping more noise into their ears just to hear what ATC was saying over the loud 727.

I hate to sound like a Bose commercial, but I really like the headset and I think it goes a LONG way to protecting your hearing. As for the intercom at FedEx. 98% of the crews or better don't use the intercom - they simply YELL above the 727 noise level. I had a few flights where the Captain (also wearing a Bose) said; "we both have headsets, lets use the intercom."

I never had to pop an ear off in flight.

Goose17

 

[Stukadriver]

I tried a Telex noise-canceling headset (I can't remember the model) several years ago. I ended up returning it since hearing ATC in both ears sometimes made crew communication tough (like most 727 crews, we never used the intercom). Plus, the noise canceling made me hear a lot more of the funny noises that old 727 made.....

That balance control on the Bose might be just what the Dr. ordered, though...

 

[fartknocker]

Another aspect to the noise is your radio volume. I noticed while wearing the Bose, my radio volume on the control volume is darn near off and I can still hear the radios fine. The guys I flew with that wore the installed Tellex had their volume almost maxed out pumping more noise into their ears just to hear what ATC was saying over the loud 727.

I hate to sound like a Bose commercial, but I really like the headset and I think it goes a LONG way to protecting your hearing. As for the intercom at FedEx. 98% of the crews or better don't use the intercom - they simply YELL above the 727 noise level. I had a few flights where the Captain (also wearing a Bose) said; "we both have headsets, lets use the intercom."

I never had to pop an ear off in flight.

Goose17

This sounds good to me. I might have to try them out. I was hoping to be able to hear the crew while getting the ANR benefits as well. It sounds like I may be able to do just that. Thanks, Goose17. :beer:

 

[donger]

David Clark

Back when a career in aviation was in doubt, I was hedging my employment bet with a regional sales manager for the west coast with David Clark. Customer service is great and the aviation sector sells itself.

Here is some food for thought. There may be a one year written warranty with the DC, BUT, if you send in a headset that is broken or in need of some type of repair. It will be done even three years after owning the headset. If you write a letter saying how much you love the headset and throw some other "good reviews" The folks at DC will cover the repair and sometimes replace with a new headset. Not official and is not the "official written policy" but rather an unwritten one.

OBTW, This same technique works with Ray Ban sunglasses. Sat on a pair of avaiators, wrote a letter, sent it in, and in a month or so I had a brand new pair of sunglasses... Free of charge!

Bose is a good product, but they will charge you if the headset is out of warranty.

 

[northstar]

I second Mike's Product... not cause he works for us.

Half the WN fleet has em. Great idea, wish I came up wit it.

 

[LAZYB]

Asked Mike, here's his reply...

Hey,
Might work ok, one minor problem, its not a TSO'd product, and therefore not a "headset" as defined by the regs. Anyone who can produce the TSO numbers would be providing a great service. Since 121 regs require a headset below 18,000 ft. this may be a possible issue in the future.
PBR

"There's no FAA requirement to use a TSO certified headset in any flying
operations. It is not part of the aircraft. There are TSO standards
published by the FAA as a guide to manufacturing headsets, but there is
no FAA requirement to comply with them or go through the TSO process.
We'd put our product up against any "TSO certified" headset for quality,
reliability and performance. We have a number of FAA inspectors who use
our product.

If Flexjet requires it (I think he's re:TSO), then you couldn't use one legally.

Hope that answers your questions.

Regards,"

Mike
UFlyMike LLC

 

[tomcat]

The UFlyMike looks like a great (cheaper) alternative, unfortunately I have the first series of Bose QC headsets. On the topic of Bose vs. DC, I currently have the DC H10-13X and would put its noise cancelling up against any. Have tried on co-workers' Bose and while much lighter and more comfortable, I prefer having better ENC (or ANR). I am very interested to see a review of the DC X11 as it appears to have the lightweight and portability positives of the Bose.

 

[Falcon Jet 1]

I have the ufly and love it, especially for the long hauls with mp3. Headsets dont need to be tso'd as they are not attached to the aircraft, kinda like your flashlight. I asked this question and no you dont need a tso.

 

[Texanflyboy]

Just got the DC X11. Pretty happy so far! It's very comfortable, light weight, and not bulky. I'm using them in the Aero Commander right now, I think it will work better when I get into the Citation. In the Commander as soon as the props go out of sync the ENC seems to be competing. Works great w/ the i-pod and cuts out the music when someone talks and during transmission. It could use more clamping or thicker ear seals and it would REALLY cut out the noise!