Bose Headsets

On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:34:25 -0400, Ray Andraka
wrote:

I just sent a 16-year old DC headset back for repairs (it had
intermittent wiring / audio problems). I bought it new 16 years ago.
Guess I ain't as lucky as some other folks here on the list, 'cause
DC offered to repair the headset for $79 + shipping (a 5-year
warranty time-span limit was mentioned in the "repair estimate" e-mail
reply from a DC customer service representative).

For the record, I don't mind paying the $80 to fix the DC headset
(after all, it has given me 16+ years of trouble-free service). Just
thought I'd mention that they apparently aren't giving everyone
"Nordstroms style" (no questions asked, replace or repair
for free) service with regards to returns and / or repairs....

Since I'm typing, anyone here installed the ANR retrofit kit from
Headsets Inc. into their DC headset?

http://www.headsetsinc.com/
http://www.avweb.com/news/reviews/182561-1.html

I was thinking perhaps this may be a relatively inexpensive way to
move up from a passive attenuation headset to an ANR one....

Bela P. Havasreti


My primary flight instructor ran over his old DC's with his car (I saw
it happen, and there didn't appear to be a single salvagable part on the
headset). When buying a replacment, he mentioned what had happened and
the clerk suggested he call DC and tell them what had happened. He
did,and they told him to send them the headset. They sent him a
replacment free of charge within a week. It isn't like the one he ran
over was a new headset either, they were about 8 years old. Somehow, I
don't see Bose doing that.

Somehow, I don't see Bose doing that.

Bose are pretty good on this stuff. My Aviation-X had one ear piece
stop working, so I shipped it to Bose (with credit card details) for
repair. It came back in a week with the repair done free-of-charge, and
with the cable, head pad and ear pads all replaced, and modified to the
current rev level. They even called and offered me a loaner for the
week it was away, should I need one for flying. Not bad, considering I
wasn't even the original purchaser of the headset -- it came with the
airplane, and was several years old.

In article Azjkg.31060$ZW3.22692@dukeread04,
Ray Andraka wrote:

My primary flight instructor ran over his old DC's with his car (I saw
it happen, and there didn't appear to be a single salvagable part on the
headset). When buying a replacment, he mentioned what had happened and
the clerk suggested he call DC and tell them what had happened. He
did,and they told him to send them the headset. They sent him a
replacment free of charge within a week. It isn't like the one he ran
over was a new headset either, they were about 8 years old. Somehow, I
don't see Bose doing that.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bose would offer premium service, as they
sell premium products at premium prices.

However, there's a big difference between requiring a company's customer
service because you just backed over the headset with your car, and
requiring a company's service because of repeated defects in manufacture
(I will refrain from mentioning names.)



JKG

Jonathan,

Your statement is just ridiculous. David Clark has unmatched quality,
durability, and customer service.

Not at all. On the contrary, yours is. You're perpetrating a clever
marketing myth. Let's see:

- customer service
Google this group and even this thread, and you'll find several reports
about DC charging absurd amounts of money for repairs, and several reports
about the new manufacturers, e.g. LightSpeed, being consistently extremely
generous.

- quality I
Most manufacturers have dramatically changed the form of their headsets and
use new, innovative materials - for sound ergonomic reasons. DCs look the
same since decades. And they are called David Clamps by many users for good
reason.

- quality II
In every comparison I've seen, the ANR of DC never comes out at the top.
Not compared to Bose, not compared to LS, not to Telex nor Sennheiser. If
you have other data, I'd be interested.

- value
As for pricing, just compare a simple passive headset from LS, Sennheiser
and DC. DC is the most expensive, by a huge margin. Same goes for ANR
models. For what do you pay this increased amount?

- durability
If you think you need to abuse a 500 to 1000 $ investment, go ahead and get
a DC. If you handle any headset halfway decently, you won't have a problem.
Even LS got over their initial problems years ago.

So, if the DCs don't shine in ANR, nor in ergonomics, nor in value - where
is my statement ridiculous?

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

In article ,
Thomas Borchert wrote:

Jonathan,

Your statement is just ridiculous. David Clark has unmatched quality,
durability, and customer service.

Not at all. On the contrary, yours is. You're perpetrating a clever
marketing myth. Let's see:


Ah, now I remember you... you're a troll. I will not feed the troll any
further.



JKG

Jonathan,

Ah, now I remember you... you're a troll. I will not feed the troll any
further.


You start calling me ridiculous, I answer with a long list of points to
support my view - and you have NOTHING but this to back up your view?
PATHETIC!

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On 2006-06-16, Thomas Borchert wrote:
Most manufacturers have dramatically changed the form of their headsets and
use new, innovative materials - for sound ergonomic reasons. DCs look the
same since decades. And they are called David Clamps by many users for good
reason.

Headsets are in the head of the beholder (!) - personally, I find my
David Clark H10-13.4 (which came with gel ear seals) to have been
perfectly comfortable and durable for over 1000 hours of flying.

I have tried the Bose headsets - a friend has some - and out of all the
ANR sets I've tried, Bose are the only ones with worthwhile ANR, to me
they were in a class of their own. But so they should be - my David
Clarks were abour $250, the Bose headsets were four times more
expensive. (Incidentally, out of all the headsets I've tried, David
Clark and Bose are the only ones I find really comfortable. In
particular, I've never got on with the Lightspeeds).

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

"Jonathan Goodish" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Thomas Borchert wrote:
Those brands you mention are not your only options - just the most
expensive. For DC, you pay ridiculous amounts for the name and get a
technologically and ergonomically old headset. For Bose you pay for the

Your statement is just ridiculous. David Clark has unmatched quality,
durability, and customer service.

If you don't mind a vice grip and cement block on top your head.

While I think Bose does a great job
and makes an excellent headset, there is no way that the Bose headsets
will handle the abuse of a DC, nor have I heard reports of Bose being as
generous with repair/replacement as DC.

I've had my Bose for four (going on five) years and have not have the
slightest glitch, not that I abuse anything I own.

The best ANR I ever ...heard... was at military trade show. It was
folks selling such for M1A tank drivers. They had a glass phonebooth
on the floor that they put you in and cranked up the rumble generator
until your whole body was really shaking. But you still could talk
with the sales type outside.

I was impressed, but didn't bother to ask the price....I'm sure they
were several AMU's each...
--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

In article ,
"Matt Barrow" wrote:
If you don't mind a vice grip and cement block on top your head.

I don't notice the vice grip, and many competing headsets (such as the
Lightspeeds) are heavier. That said, DCs certainly aren't as
comfortable as the Bose X sets--I doubt that any other headset on the
market can match Bose's comfort.

My point is that the DC isn't outrageously overpriced for what you
get--a great quality headset and a company that provides excellent
support.


I've had my Bose for four (going on five) years and have not have the
slightest glitch, not that I abuse anything I own.

I don't abuse my headsets, but the point is that the Bose is certainly
less durable and more fragile than DCs.


JKG