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Previous Noise Reducing Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (also now known as the QC1) was the very first consumer level headphones released by the company in 2000 [ [http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_STATIC_PAGE_EVENT&url=/learning/escape_the_noise.jsp&ck=0 Escape the Noise - Featured Story - Bose Learning Center ] ] . The Bose QuietComfort Headphones retailed at $299.

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones came with
* an external noise controlling mechanism, which enables the control of both volume and background noise cancellation.
* Bose's patented Acoustic Noise Cancellation Technology
* Active Equalization requiring power to improve the sound quality and counteract the effects of active noise cancelling.
* A carry case for the QuietComfort Headphones

While the headphones were somewhat oversized, they were extremely lightweight.

There is a trade in program for previous owners wishing to upgrade to the new QuietConfort 2 SE for $188.00

*Batteries: 2 AAA batteries
*Warranty: 1 Year
*Price: $ 299 USD; £ 275.00 GBP

Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones

To address some of the concerns with the QuietComfort Headphones, in 2003, Bose released their successor, the Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones (also now known as the QC2). Like its predecessor, the QuietComfort 2 Headphones retailed at a suggested price of 299 USD in the US and approximately 480 USD in Europe (£275).

Changes from the original QuietComfort Headphones include:
* TriPort headphone technology giving improved bass and treble
* Lower noise floor
* Improved acoustics
* Removal of the battery box
** On-off switch on the right earcup
** Collapsable one-wire attenuator to control the noise cancellation level (from two levels)
* Use of only one AAA battery inside the right earcup, instead of two AA batteries in the former battery box
* Foldable form-factor
* Smaller carrying case
* Single Cord that can be detached if the user doesn't want to listen to music

There is a trade in program for previous owners wishing to upgrade to the new QuietConfort 2 SE for $188.00

*Connector: 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) stereo mini plug, 1/4 inch adapter and two prong airline adaptor
*Cord Length: 6 feet (11 feet with included 5-foot extension cable)
*Headphone Dimensions: 7.75"h x 6.5"w x 1.63"d
*Carry Case Dimensions: 8.25"h x 7.5"w x 2"d
*Weight: 6.9 ounces, with cables included
*Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 18 kHz
*Operating Temperature: 0ºC to +40ºC
*Storage Temperature: -30ºC to +70ºC
*Battery: One AAA alkaline battery
*Battery Life: 30 to 40 hours of use
*Cup Rotation: Vertical axis ±20º; Horizontal axis +45º / -5º; Storage Position 90º
*Warranty: 1 Year
*Price: $ 299 USD; £ 275.00 GBP; € 399.00Source: [http://www.bose.com.au/site/images/store/groups/pg_00032-FAQS.pdf Bose QuietComfort FAQ]

Previous Aviation Headsets

Bose Aviation Headset Series I

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Initially, the Bose Aviation Family were not to be sold to civilian markets, since this is considered to Bose as a military application.

Although the Aviation Headset used active noise reduction technology, the headphones relied more upon the clamping force of the headphones and other passive noise reducing technology. Also Bose used a 9-pin connection instead of the commonly used 6-pin comm. connection.

The Aviation Headset includes
* Active Equalization - Clean full sound quality that enhances intelligibility of radio and intercom audio and enables natural sounding music reproduction
* Acoustic Noise Cancellation - reduces noise over the full range of the human hearing
* Integrated boom Detaches, to be worn on either the right or left earcup.
* Portable Carry Case for headphone and accessories

There is an "installed control module" that will allow the headphones to be permanently installed in the aircraft thus eliminating the need for battery power.

Aviation Headset Series I owners wishing to make and upgrade will get a $300 credit towards the purchase of the Aviation X headset.

Series I aviation headsets are distinguished by the clear windows on the earcups or by noting that the on/off switch and volume control are located on the separate control module.

*Weight: 18 ounces
*Battery: NiCa Battery
*Battery Life: 8 hours of use
*Shielded: No
*Warranty: 2 Years
*Price: $995 USD

Bose Aviation Headset Series II

The Bose Series II Aviation Headset is introduced in 1995 with improvements for the aviation industry, earning the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) “Product of the Year” award.

Reducing noise is important for intelligibility. U.S. Air Force tests, achieved intelligibility scores of 95% at 115 dB -- compared to 80% for conventional headsets.

Changes from Series I to II are
*Volume was put on the headbands
*On/off buttons were put on the headband
*Individual left and right volume controls
*Relied less on passive noise reduction than its predecessor.
*Now using the more commonly found 6-pin comm connecton

There is an "installed control module" that will allow the headphones to be permanently installed in the aircraft thus eliminating the need for battery power.

Aviation Headset Series II owners wishing to make and upgrade will get a $300 credit towards the purchase of the Aviation X headset.

Series II aviation headsets are distinguished by the dual volume controls and on/off switch located on the headset itself.

*Weight: 22 ounces
*Battery: Six AA alkaline batteries
*Battery Life: 12 - 16 hours of use
*Shielded: No
*Warranty: 2 Years
*Price: $995.00 USD

Bose Aviation Headset X "Magellan"

The Bose Aviation Headset X (Pronounced ten not the letter X), released in 1998, designed for pilots also used by the United States Air Force.

The TriPort speakers were introduced with the release of the Aviation X headsets. With their introduction not only did it improve the sound quality over it predecessor, but due to its design it helped reduce the weight of the headphones. The TriPort speakers leave more space inside the ear cups for passive attenuation and allows for reduced headband force. This is mainly since the porting technology diminished the need for more passive noise reducing techniques such as clamping force and extra padding. But these headphones do have more passive noise reduction than the QC2’s giving them better noise reducing abilities with the same active noise reduction technology.

Reducing noise is important for intelligibility. U.S. Air Force tests on their previous Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling headsets achieved intelligibility scores of 95% at 115 dB -- compared to 80% for conventional headsets. The Bose Aviation Headset X offers even more noise reduction.

The Improvements over the Series II include
* TriPort speaker technology giving a lower bass, a lighter weight, and significantly reduced clamping force.
* Redesigned Boom microphone - for increased loudness and improved pivot design for more accurate positioning of the boom near the pilot's mouth
* Low battery life indicator - Flashes red when less than 5 hours of battery life remain.
* Improved immunity from Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) - Reduces noise prevalent in larger business jets and military applications.
* Ability to use with a helicopter with an additional adaptor [http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=headsetx_headset_accessories#tabs]

There is an "installed control module" that will allow the headphones to be permanently installed in the aircraft thus eliminating the need for battery power.

Aviation Headset Series I & II owners wishing to make and upgrade will get a $300 credit towards the purchase of the Aviation X headset.

The Bose Aviation Headset X costs $995. Keep in mind that the Bose Aviation X was designed to be more of a military and/or aviational application and cannot be used to create and/or listen to music, although it's possible to obtain the Bose Aviation X through civilian channels, mainly through Bose-owned outlets.

Aviation Headset X was voted #1 by "Professional Pilot" Magazine’s "headset preference survey" 5 years in a Row from 2000 to 2005 (Headset Preference Survey, 12/05)

*Sensitivity/Sound pressure level: 90 dB/mW
*Impedance: 162 ohms Monaural; 320 ohms Stereo
*Battery: One 9V battery
*Battery Life: 20 hours of use
*Dimensions: (4.5 to 5.7)"h (4.8 to 6.3)"w
*Weight: 12 ounces or 340 grams
*Frequency Response: 15 Hz to 15 kHz
*Shielded: Yes
*Warranty: 2 Years
*Price: $995 USDSource: [http://www.bose.com/pdf/customer_service/owners/og_headset_x.pdf Bose Aviation X owners manual]

Awards

[http://en.red-dot.org/316+M5d7f74f3f65.html 2002 Red Dot award for product design] On the QuietComfort 1

Criticisms

Criticisms of the products are also included. However, opinions are extremely subjective. Consumer reactions to different headphones and earbuds do vary, since audio products tend to perform differently for a wide variety of reasons. The performance of headphones depends greatly on a variety of factors, including musical genre, the recording medium (whether vinyl, CD, DVD, compressed audio file, etc.) and playback equipment.

QuietComfort Headphones (QC1)

The QuietComfort Headphone were hit with a lot of criticism, with the following key areas being addressed in the original QuietComfort 2 Headphones, when they were released in 2003:
* Frequent cracking of the headband and earcups. Some had issues with the headband and earcup construction, claiming the use of inferior plastic.
* Excessive "Hissing". Some users claimed that there was significant audible hissing when the noise cancellation capability was turned on.
* Lack of Collapsibility. For additional portability, many travellers demand collapsibility in modern noise-cancelling headphones. The QuietComfort Headphones were not collapsable.
* "Two-Corded Syndrome". Unlike most modern full-sized noise-cancelling headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones used two cords (one on each earcup). Because the cords were very long, it was very easy to tangle items in or trip over the cord, causing damage to either the headband or the earcup.
* Battery-Powered Noise Attenuation Pack. The external noise-cancellation control device was considered unwieldy by many users.
* Battery Usage. This product required 2 AAA batteries.
* No escape from stereo jack. The Bose QuietComfort headphones were permanently attached to the stereo cord. If a user wished to use the noise cancellation feature without listening to music, there would be a stereo jack dangling from his or her head.

The following criticisms were not addressed in the original QuietComfort 2 Headphones:
* Noise Cancellation had to be active for any input/output to be present. When the battery died, so does the sound.
* Treble overpowering the bass. This sound signature was improved in the QuietComfort 2 "Second Edition".

QuietComfort 2 Headphones (QC2)

Although the QuietComfort 2 Headphones were hit with less criticism than their predecessor, audiophiles and headphone aficionados (particularly those who frequent the websites [http://www.designtechnica.com/ "DesignTechnica"] and [http://www.head-fi.org/ head-fi.org] ), feel that even with the improvements, the QC2 has not yet been brought up to par as described through these problems herein:

* It is claimed that the QuietComfort 2 headphones have excessive bass, masking treble detail.
* Dependent Noise Cancellation. The headphones cannot be used with the noise cancellation turned off. This issue has not yet been resolved since the release of the QC2 Second Edition.
* Vulnerability to Electrostatic Noise. The QuietComfort 2 Headphones are prone to radio frequency interference arising from other radio-emitting devices operating in the immediate vicinity.
* Durability. Although the Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones now come with a collapsable single-wire attenuator and a more durable headband, some still decry the use of significant amounts of plastic in the headphones' construction.

References

* [http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review242.html Design Technica's Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones Review]
* [http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/reviews/20030715/bose_review.html Crutchfield Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones Review]
* [http://audioholics.audioreview.com Audioholics at Audioreview]