Are "Bose plugs" a thing?

Jim_R

Jim_R

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So I'm about to have a panel overhaul, including a new audio panel, and my shop is asking if I'd like them to install "Bose plugs" while we're at it.

Call me a dummy, but I didn't even realize that Bose headsets used different plugs.

How big a deal is this? How "standard" are their proprietary plugs (if that's not too oxymoronic a question to ask)?

I don't have any plan to buy/use Bose headsets in the foreseeable future, but I'm not against adding that option if it's not too expensive AND if there's really a large number of pilots/headsets out there that could possibly take advantage sometime.

So how big a thing is this? Do Bose users generally also have an adapter so they can use their headsets with standard GA headset plugs, too?
 
The Bose comes in two fashions, standard plugs with a battery boy on the cord, or a proprietary plug that eliminates the need for batteries. If you are going to use Bose headsets at all the stations, it eliminates having to put batteries in them. If you aren't doing that, they serve no purpose.

Most people who own Bose headsets have regular jacks and the battery.
 
Henning said:
The Bose comes in two fashions, standard plugs with a battery boy on the cord, or a proprietary plug that eliminates the need for batteries. If you are going to use Bose headsets at all the stations, it eliminates having to put batteries in them. If you aren't doing that, they serve no purpose.
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What Henning said.

For our RV10, I wanted the convenience of the plane powered plugs for the front seat and I wanted to keep my set of Bose with the battery pack for the occassional rear seat passenger(s). Thinking through it I decided I wanted standard jacks available at all 4 positions with 2 powered plugs available in parallel of the front seats.

Take a look here Bracket with standard and Bose powered plugs. Turns out it has worked perfectly. When I returned one of my powered headsets in for service, I was easily able to use my back set Bose (or any other headset) at the pilot position until my plane powered headset was returned. It's nice not having to full with headset batteries.
Plane on - Headset ANL on

You can see what the proprietary Bose plug looks like along with standard headset jacks in the pics.
 
The thing with getting the panel plugs is that when you sell the plane they buyer needs to buy Bose headsets. If you keep the jacks as well I guess that would then be a non issue.
 
AdamZ said:
The thing with getting the panel plugs is that when you sell the plane they buyer needs to buy Bose headsets. If you keep the jacks as well I guess that would then be a non issue.
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Or you simply include the headsets with the plane. When I bought my Maule (mid-90s) the seller included 2 pairs of DCs. Put a very sweet taste on the transaction.
 
AdamZ said:
The thing with getting the panel plugs is that when you sell the plane they buyer needs to buy Bose headsets.
Click to expand...

Probably the larger deterrent is that if you buy the aircraft powered Bose headset you can't use it in someone else's plane (unless they also have the plugs)
 
Silvaire said:
Probably the larger deterrent is that if you buy the aircraft powered Bose headset you can't use it in someone else's plane (unless they also have the plugs)
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I have always wondered why they don't make an adaptor cord with the battery box so you can just plug on the extension when getting in another plane.:dunno:
 
Henning said:
I have always wondered why they don't make an adaptor cord with the battery box so you can just plug on the extension when getting in another plane.:dunno:
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Because they'd charge $699 for it and the demand just isn't there... :lol::lol::lol:
 
Sorry, apparently I wasn't clear in my original post. I don't have Bose headsets and don't plan to buy them. The shop suggested that I consider adding Bose jacks in parallel with the "normal" jacks at the pilot and co-pilot positions, "because we're already in there and it would be relatively inexpensive".

I'm wondering if this is something that makes sense on a King Air but not so much on my Cherokee...sounds like maybe it is.
 
I wouldn't.

My plane had one installed on the pilot side. It's never been used since I bought the plane. They will add zero value to the plane.
 
Bill Watson said:
What Henning said.

For our RV10, I wanted the convenience of the plane powered plugs for the front seat and I wanted to keep my set of Bose with the battery pack for the occassional rear seat passenger(s). Thinking through it I decided I wanted standard jacks available at all 4 positions with 2 powered plugs available in parallel of the front seats.

Take a look here Bracket with standard and Bose powered plugs. Turns out it has worked perfectly. When I returned one of my powered headsets in for service, I was easily able to use my back set Bose (or any other headset) at the pilot position until my plane powered headset was returned. It's nice not having to full with headset batteries.

You can see what the proprietary Bose plug looks like along with standard headset jacks in the pics.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pics--this helps me visualize what it might look like, and it seems like it should be relatively easy to do. I'll have to see what the shop would charge for this...since I don't have any plans to ever use it, I'd only be doing it for the benefit of others. For $50, maybe I will be altruistic. For $500, not so much.
 
Jim_R said:
Sorry, apparently I wasn't clear in my original post. I don't have Bose headsets and don't plan to buy them. The shop suggested that I consider adding Bose jacks in parallel with the "normal" jacks at the pilot and co-pilot positions, "because we're already in there and it would be relatively inexpensive".

I'm wondering if this is something that makes sense on a King Air but not so much on my Cherokee...sounds like maybe it is.
Click to expand...

Will it add value? Not cash, but when someone is considering it against others, it may play a role in your favor. It is a nice system.
 
Jim_R said:
Thanks for the pics--this helps me visualize what it might look like, and it seems like it should be relatively easy to do. I'll have to see what the shop would charge for this...since I don't have any plans to ever use it, I'd only be doing it for the benefit of others. For $50, maybe I will be altruistic. For $500, not so much.
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If you aren't planning to use them, I wouldn't do it. I don't know if Bose powered plugs are much of a thing or not but they're not that much of a thing.

I see that Lightspeed has just come out with a new high $$$ ANL set. If they use the Bose plug as well, that would be a good thing. Still don't think it justifies you doing it.

I consider my Bose plane powered sets part of the aircraft rather than my personal headset for use wherever I go.

Good luck!
 
Yeah, if you don't plan on using them, don't bother, it's just another potential point of trouble.
 
Those plugs are if you have the aircraft powered Bose headsets. The reason you'd want to do that would be to never have to worry about batteries crapping out at an inopportune moment or corroding and destroying the housing if left idle for a period of time. Both of those things happen and ANR headsets do not have the passive noise cancellation that non ANR sets do so when the batteries go TU you really notice it and it's a real inconvenience.

But no, you wouldn't install them if you didn't have the headsets. That doesn't make any sense at all. I'm thinking your mechanic might have a bin full of them that he's trying to get rid of.
 
Bose come with adaptors to power them up from the lighter socket and the phone and mike jack fit the standard audio jacks so don't bother with the added expense.
 
Thanks again for the replies--I appreciate it! I'll be nixing that suggestion.
 
I think the Bose headsets would be more useful in the Cherokee!!:D But, that being said, I put the jacks in my first 414 and then my 441, they were the original Bose I or II headsets. They worked great and I let them go when I sold the Conquest. I use the battery powered ones now and they are great. :D

Jim_R said:
Sorry, apparently I wasn't clear in my original post. I don't have Bose headsets and don't plan to buy them. The shop suggested that I consider adding Bose jacks in parallel with the "normal" jacks at the pilot and co-pilot positions, "because we're already in there and it would be relatively inexpensive".

I'm wondering if this is something that makes sense on a King Air but not so much on my Cherokee...sounds like maybe it is.
Click to expand...
 
You can buy an adapter to use Lemo plugs in standard plugs. ( I think Bose are Lemo plugs, aren't they?) Costs about $60-70. I'm not sure I really like the one I have, but you can buy them.
It is personal. I had them in my T210 and liked them a lot. I don't have them in my present plane and am going to add them. To each his own.
 
My first plane had Bose and standard jacks installed for the pilot, so I could use either. I still have the Bose headset but use a powered adapter to use the Bose headset with a standard jack. Works just as well.
 
Henning said:
The Bose comes in two fashions, standard plugs with a battery boy on the cord, or a proprietary plug that eliminates the need for batteries. If you are going to use Bose headsets at all the stations, it eliminates having to put batteries in them. If you aren't doing that, they serve no purpose.

Most people who own Bose headsets have regular jacks and the battery.
Click to expand...

Proprietary is no even close. Its a Lemo brand connector that Bose first used off the shelf, but has become an industry standard for ANC headsets needing supply voltage for their electronics.

Proprietary would mean they designed, or it is available only from them. Neither which is true.
 
AdamZ said:
The thing with getting the panel plugs is that when you sell the plane they buyer needs to buy Bose headsets. If you keep the jacks as well I guess that would then be a non issue.
Click to expand...

Another false idea. Most installations use both standard GA and Lemo. Most headset companies offer both GA dual plugs and Lemo terminations.
 
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