Bose Aviation X Headset

Bose Aviation X
Price: Around £700

IF there is one headset the David Clarks had to measure up to, it's the Bose Aviation X. The Bose has been around a while now and it's set the standard for an Electronic Noise Reduction headset.

The fact that Bose X is often fitted as standard in many of the prestige test aircraft we fly - including Cirrus and Columbia - is testament to their quality.

We've had a set on test for several months and it has been used in a variety of aircraft, performing perfectly every time. Not only do they do a superb job of cutting out outside noise - even a Cirrus, which is quite noisy in the cabin, is subdued to the level of luxury saloon.

For a start, the Bose X looks terrific - and unusual. The headband is spring-hinged in the middle, with extendable side arms holding the earpieces. Each earpiece is held in a fork which swivels, providing a comfortable position. The spring pressure is well-judged too - just enough to hold position firmly without clamping the head like a vice.

Soft synthetic leather is used for the earpiece seals. It's just a small touch but exudes quality as well as comfort, just like the rest of the headset.

The ANR is powered by a 2 AA battery pack, part of the straight cord. Batteries are said to last 40 hours. The battery pack also has individual volume control for each earpiece, and a light to warn of battery life.

Comparisons with the new David Clark X11? The Bose feels slightly more luxurious, but the DCs retain an element of their popular traditional 'action man' look. Both are well-made and substantial. The Bose works just a little bit better when the noise reduction is switched on but the DCs are definitely quieter when switched off, indicating that the 'passive' noise insulation is better.

Hard to choose between them and it may come down to whether you're a dyed-in-the-wool DC user. - Dave Calderwood
W: www.bose.com

Click here to read our review of the David Clark X11 Headset.