Would you pay $1,000 for a headset???

[Whirlwind]

As others have said, "what is your hearing worth?"

True, you can buy headsets for 1/3 the price that do almost as good a job, but nothing I've found compares to the comfort, quality, and effectiveness of the Bose headset.

After sitting in a cockpit for 13.2 hours in a single day, I can attest to the value of the more comfortable headset. (I hope I NEVER sit in a cockpit that long again however)

 

[Flyin Tony]

Maybe it works good??

 

[jetdriven]

I have 3000 hours on my BOSE headset and I never regret laying out the money for them. They still bring 600-700$ on ebay so .17 per hour (including batteries) is not a bad price to pay for hearing and less fatigue.

I dont go to starbucks so if you figure the cost savings there (400$ a year) they are basically free to me.

A cool bonus is they work well in the CRJ.

 

[avbug]

Folks tend to figure that since the sound doesn't seem so loud, it's not doing damage, and that's just not the case. You can get less perceived sound by using a simple seat of foam EAR plugs...but you haven't really protected your hearing. More damage is done to your ears through the bone structure surrounding your ears, than through the auditory canal. Plug that canal, and you feel safe and secure, but the hearing damage goes on anyway. Quiet doesn't mean safe.

For comfort, I never found any real difference between the Bose and the Lightspeed. The lightspeed is perhaps a little more comfortable to wear, but there's no perceptible difference that I can tell between the hearing comfort of the Bose and the Lightspeed.

I had a choice of ANR or none in my helmet, and went without the ANR.

During flying, I wear a Telex 750, and it works fine. I really liked the T50 headset from plantronics, but I can't function well hearing in just one ear...the airman puts the sound to both ears and works fine.

A plain jane old headset with oregon aero ear seals, a wide sheepskin headband, and the internal hush kit (extra dense foam) works wonders, and is really all you need...it's going to give you the protection you need. If you want any more then throw in the EAR plugs as well, and you're set.

 

[Chiller]

Bose....One of the Best purchases I've made

 

[I.P. Freley]

All these Bose cheerleaders don't mirror the experience of a friend who had a Bose headset. He got one from his sister as a gift, and after they crapped out for the third time (with factory repairs each time) he somehow managed to swing a refund for his sis and went back to the DC's.

I went back to the DC's after my Lightspeeds broke... As in the headband broke, since it's plastic, and I simply never got around to sending them in for service. I've got about 4500hrs on my H10-13.4's from David Clark and I still feel it's the best $220 (give or take, this was a dozen years ago) I've ever spent. Strangely, the only time they had to be repaired for a failure was the headband breaking, and they sent me the replacement part by overnight mail.

As for Bose vs. Lightspeed, the Bose are lighter, have slightly better sonics and noiz-cancelling, but chew through batteries by comparison. I'd get the Lightspeeds and buy my girl a fab gift with the remaining $$$. Better return on investment, you know.

 

[TurboS7]

If I could afford it, yes.

 

[88_MALIBU]

I fly the Saab and the Bose is the best investment I have made so far.

 

[TonyC]

Is there anybody that can share their experience with or without the Bose X in a 727 or 727-like cockpit? I've about had enough of the noise, and I'm seriously considering the investment.


As far as price goes, I can't help but be taken aback by the sticker. However, their program to stretch the payments over 12 months interest free makes it possible to have a pair sent to my home for less than $95 a month. The peace of mind and prospects of obtaining repairs from Bose outweigh the bargains I've found on e-bay. In fact, many of the headsets I see on e-bay are as expensive as the Bose website - - go figger.

Number one priority - - protect my hearing.

Number two priority - - reduce fatigue caused by noise.

Number three priority - - improve clarity of radio transmissions.

Number four priority - - reduce perceived noise.

Does anybody know of something that will better fit this bill than Bose?

 

[FurloughedAgain]

I'll join the ranks of Bose cheerleaders. I've run the gambit of trying different headset combinations. In the Jetstream (Garrett TPE331s) I used earplugs with the ol' Dave Clark H10-13.4s.

It was still an awfully loud airplane. At the end of the day my ears would sting from the earplugs and I had a raging headache from the clamp pressure of the clarks.

In the 737 I used Telex 750s. There was an awful lot of wind noise, especially in the descent and I remembered wishing that I had a better pair of headsets -- but since the airplane didn't have an intercom, we just toughed it out.

In the CRJ I started with a pair of Sennheiser ANR headsets. The problem was that the ANR circuitry would only cancel the low frequency noise. Quite a bit of the cockpit noise in the CRJ is high-frequency noise caused by the wind, the air conditioner, and the standby altimeter vibrator doo-hickey. The Sennheisers just didnt do the trick so I started wearing earplugs with them. The fact was that I needed some kind of passive protection to along with the active to eliminate both low and high frequency noise.

I went to Sporty's in Clearmont County and asked the clerk to see all of the different ANR headsets. They have a test bench that you can use to try them. The Bose was clearly superior in comfort, weight, and noise attenuation.

It worked spectacularly in the RJ.

It works even better in the Lear 31.

Bose still has a deal where they will put $100 per month on your credit card until its paid off. I still believe that they are the finest product around when it comes to crystal clear audio.

I fly with both the aircraft volume and the headset volume at their lowest level. Take a look at where you set your volume controls and how much noise/energy is being absorbed in order for you to hear clearly.

-Bose Cheerleader

 

[Ralgha]

How does the Bose feel after wearing it with sunglasses all day long?

 

[DrewBlows]

Is there anybody that can share their experience with or without the Bose X in a 727 or 727-like cockpit? I've about had enough of the noise, and I'm seriously considering the investment.


As far as price goes, I can't help but be taken aback by the sticker. However, their program to stretch the payments over 12 months interest free makes it possible to have a pair sent to my home for less than $95 a month. The peace of mind and prospects of obtaining repairs from Bose outweigh the bargains I've found on e-bay. In fact, many of the headsets I see on e-bay are as expensive as the Bose website - - go figger.

Number one priority - - protect my hearing.

Number two priority - - reduce fatigue caused by noise.

Number three priority - - improve clarity of radio transmissions.

Number four priority - - reduce perceived noise.

Does anybody know of something that will better fit this bill than Bose?

Bose is your best option. Yeah, it cost's $1000, but it wil last the rest of your career if you want. I've wore it in a very loud piston airplane (Mooney Ovation) and a fairly quiet jet (FRJ, not as quiet as bigger airplanes, much quieter than other RJ's). It cancels out noise like no other headset (I've flown several airplanes where the lowest volume on the intercom is still too loud), but it's real value is comfort. You can were it all day long (even with sunglasses) with no discomfort.

Plunk down the money, you won't be disappointed. If you are an AOPA member you can buy it from Sporty's with your AOPA MBNA credit card and get 5% off immediately ($50, not bad).

Oh yeah, almost forgot. It the B727 cockpit loud? If it is it must be because you are going so stinking fast.

 

[TonyC]

It the B727 cockpit loud? If it is it must be because you are going so stinking fast.

Is the pope catholic?


'Preciate the advice...



.

 

[fly2crawl]

I have the bose and have used them for 7 months and they are deffiantely the best noise cancleing and most comfortable heasets I have ever worn, however they are not made as well as some other brands. Just yesterday I had my cord come out of my control box while putting them into my headset case. I did not tug on the cord or even put any tension on it, it simply fell out. Bose customer support is very good but I noticed that the cord does not have any kind of grommet to hold it into the control box case so all the tension of cord gets put on the soilder joints and plugs inside on the circuit board. Since I was in the middle of a trip at the time I had to go to a flight school on the field and buy a cheap set of heasets which really upset me. Bose has a little work to do on their durability.

 

[Snakum]

A month ago I would've called someone crazy for dropping a dime on a headset. However, the King Air we fly has two Bose Xs in the aircraft and I am in love with those things.

Absolutely awesome cans.

Minh

 

[cforst513]

what do you guys suggest for someone starting their flight training? something middle of the road (300-500 bucks?) or go higher or lower?

 

[BossHogg]

what do you guys suggest for someone starting their flight training? something middle of the road (300-500 bucks?) or go higher or lower?

I would suggest David Clark 13.4 headset. Since you only have 4 hours, it is impossible to say whether or not you are going to pursue an actual career. Thus it would be hard to justify dropping a grand on a headset (unless money is no object to you). The 13.4's are a solid headset and they can take a beating. The price is under $300 and they have a the best warranty in the business and will more than likely last 20 years or so. If you do decide to further your flying into a career or an active hobby then get a more expensive headset at that time. And then you will have the 13.4's as a spare (pilot's are usually redundant and always have a spare).

Boss

 

[Fly_Chick]

I love my Sennheisers!

I have Sennheiser HME 100 Passive Headset . Have had them for 1000 hours and have no problems with them. They are not noise cancelling, yet work well. The fit the ears well, no problems with glasses or earrings, even after 8 hours of flying in a day. I do not feel any fatigue with them, no pressure. Very comfortable.

They are compact, easy to transport, and fit well. The volume control is on one side for both ears (cannot figure out why DCs have two volume controls).

 

[BossHogg]

I love my Sennheisers!

(cannot figure out why DCs have two volume controls).

Just like I said... pilot's are usually redundant and always have a spare .

 

[dasmith]

The Bose are excellent but if you want a 2nd option go with the Lightspeed. Whatever you do, dont buy Flightcom crap headsets, bad warranty service and inferior products. Not worth your time and effort go with #1 Bose or #2 Lightspeed.