Bose Aviation Headset X E User Manual

							21
Using Your Headset
Power button
Use the power button to turn the headset on or off, or to change the 
LED brightness (Figure 18).
•Press the power button once to turn on ANR.
•Press and hold the power button to turn off ANR. 
Or rely on the smart shutoff feature (descibed on page page 13). 
Note: For details on how to disable smart shutoff, see “Changing the 
optional operation switches” on page 13.
•Press twice rapidly to toggle between the daytime (brighter) and 
nighttime (dimmer) LED settings.
Figure 18
The LED, volume control 
knobs, and power switch 
on the control module of a 
battery powered headset
Volume control
Notice the individual earcup controls
Separate knobs on the control module control the volume for each 
separate earcup (Figure 18). 
Overall headset volume control requires adjustments at both the air-
craft intercom or radio and at the headset control module. Even at its 
lowest setting, neither knob on the control module can completely 
turn off the volume.
CAUTION: Avoid setting the volume levels too high. Exposure to 
loud sounds may cause hearing damage.
Volume control 
(left ear)Volume control 
(right ear)
Power button for 
On/Off and LED 
brightness setting 
LED brightness 
control symbol
Battery power 
indicator
On/Off control 
symbol 
						

							22
Using Your Headset
Holding the control module upright and facing you:
•Use the left knob to adjust volume in the left earcup. 
•Use the right knob to adjust volume in the right earcup. 
Controlling the volume of a single battery powered headset
With ANR on:
1. Set the aircraft communication system to a safe operating level.
2. Turn each volume knob on the headset control module down to 
decrease, or up to increase the volume of the earcup it controls.
Volume control using multiple headsets
When an aircraft has more than one headset connected to its audio 
system, the pilot in command should adjust the volume of his/her 
Bose
® Aviation Headset  as follows: 
1. Turn off ANR by setting the power switch to OFF.
2. Turn each volume knob on the headset control module up to its 
maximum setting.
3. Adjust the master volume on your aircraft intercom or radio until 
you can hear communications clearly. 
Note: This should be done in a noisy environment. 
4. Adjust the volume knobs on the headset control module to 
balance the volume between the left and right earcups.
5. Turn ANR back ON.
6. Turn down the aircraft intercom or radio master volume to the 
level you prefer.
After the pilot’s headset volume is set, passengers may adjust the 
volume of their headsets. Have them follow steps 1 and 2 under See 
“Controlling the volume of a single aircraft powered headset” on 
page 24.
Battery power indicator
New alkaline AA batteries (IEC LR6) will generally supply 30 to 40 
hours of power for the headset. Battery life varies with the ambient 
noise level of the aircraft, temperature, ear cushion condition, and 
age of the batteries.  
						

							23
Using Your Headset
An LED, located on the control module, changes color to indicate the 
power status, as follows:    
Operating the aircraft powered headset
Power switch
Turn on ANR by setting the power switch to ON (Figure 19).
Figure 19
The volume control knobs 
and power switch on the 
aircraft powered headset 
control module
Volume control
Overall headset volume control requires adjustments at both the air-
craft intercom or radio and at the headset control module. Even at its 
lowest setting, neither knob on the control module can completely 
turn off the volume. LED Color  Type of light Indicates
Green Blinking Power ON and batteries good
Amber  Fast blinking Power ON, but batteries low 
(8 hours or less remaining)
Red Faster blinking Power ON, but batteries very low 
(2 hours or less remaining) 
Off None Power OFF or batteries dis-
charged 
Volume control 
(left ear)Volume control 
(right ear)
Power switch 
						

							24
Using Your Headset
CAUTION: Avoid setting the volume levels too high. Exposure to 
loud sounds may cause hearing damage.
Notice the individual earcup controls
Separate knobs on the control module control the volume for each 
separate earcup (Figure 19 on page 23). 
Holding the control module upright and facing you:
•Use the left knob to adjust volume in the left earcup. 
•Use the right knob to adjust the volume in the right earcup. 
Controlling the volume of a single aircraft powered headset
With ANR turned on:
1. Set the aircraft communication system to a safe operating level.
Note: If you are connecting the headset to your aircraft for the first 
time, turn down the master output level of your radio/intercom system 
to avoid exposure to high volume levels.
2. Turn each volume knob on the headset control module down to 
decrease, or up to increase the volume of the earcup it controls.
Volume control using multiple headsets
When an aircraft has more than one headset connected to its audio 
system, the pilot in command should adjust the volume of his/her 
Bose Aviation Headset   as follows: 
1. Turn off ANR by setting the power switch to OFF.
2. Turn up each volume knob on the headset control module to its 
maximum.
3. Adjust the master volume on your aircraft intercom or radio until 
you can hear communications clearly. 
Note: This should be done in a noisy environment. 
4. Adjust the knobs on the headset control module to balance the 
volume between the left and right earcups.
5. Turn ANR back ON.
6. Reduce the master volume on the aircraft intercom or radio to 
the level you prefer.
After the pilot’s headset volume is set, passengers may adjust the 
volume of their headsets. Have them follow steps 1 and 2 under 
“Controlling the volume of a single aircraft powered headset” above. 
						

							25
Headset Care and Maintenance
Instructions for continued airworthiness
Bose recommends following the general care and maintenance 
instructions in this guide. With normal use, items such as wind-
screens and ear cushions may require periodic replacement. If 
cleaning or replacement of these items is needed, follow the 
recommendations on the following pages. All other care and 
maintenance, in and out of the warranty period, must be performed 
by Bose or an authorized dealer. Other maintenance is performed by 
condition only.
CAUTION: Do not immerse the headset in water or any other liquid. 
Cleaning the headset
Clean only those parts listed below according to the instructions.
General cleaning
Gently wipe the outside surfaces of the headband, connectors, plas-
tic parts, and headband cushion, using a soft cloth moistened with 
water and mild soap. Take special care when cleaning the ear cush-
ions and the outside surfaces of the earcups, as described below.
Earcup TriPort® headset openings
The TriPort headset openings, shown in Figure 20, must remain clean 
and free of debris. Check to be sure that openings are clean before 
each flight.
 Figure 20
TriPort headset openings on 
one earcup
When wiping down the headset, be sure not to force any dirt or 
debris into the openings. Carefully use tweezers, if necessary, to 
remove foreign matter that may be lodged in the openings. Do not 
blow air into or vacuum the openings.
TriPort headset 
openings 
						

							26
Headset Care and Maintenance
Ear cushions
As a general rule, ear cushions should be replaced after 500 hours of 
use, depending on how often you fly. You may have to replace them 
more often, if you:
•have a full beard or heavy whiskers
•subject the headsets to severe temperature extremes such as 
parking your airplane outside in severe cold or heat 
•put excess strain on the headset due to improper storage
Indications that the ear cushions need replacing include:
•flaking of the outer covering
•cuts or tears
•flattening of the cushion, reducing the effectiveness of the seal
To extend the life of the ear cushions, perform regular cleaning as 
described in “General cleaning” on page 25.
If the ear cushions require more vigorous cleaning, remove them 
from the earcups, as shown in “Replacing parts” on page 27. This is 
to prevent damage to the protective inner screen during the cleaning 
process. 
Do not immerse ear cushions in water or any other liquid.
Microphone windscreen
Remove the windscreen from the microphone as described in 
“Microphone windscreen replacement” on page 27. 
Wash the windscreen by immersing in mild soapy water. Rinse, air-
dry, and reattach the windscreen.
Earcup inner screen
Do not attempt to remove, replace, repair, or clean this component. 
Located inside the earcup, the inner screen is critical to proper head-
set operation. If the screen appears to cause operating problems, 
contact the Bose
® Aviation Headset Department. 
Replacement parts
Replacement parts can be ordered directly from Bose Corporation. 
Please refer to “Contact information” on page 34. 
						

							27
Headset Care and Maintenance
Headband cushion
1. Remove the cushion as described below.
2. Place the cushion in a solution of water and a mild detergent 
such as Woolite.
3. Allow the cushion to air dry. Then, reattach by following the 
instructions below. 
Removing environmental moisture
If the protective inner screen becomes damp, due to environmental 
moisture such as light rain, dew, perspiration, or condensation, allow 
it to air dry only. Do not use electric heaters, blowers, or hairdryer 
type devices to dry the inner screen. 
If the headset is immersed in liquid, do not use it. Contact the Bose
® 
Aviation Headset Department for assistance.
Replacing parts
Through normal use, parts like windscreens and ear cushions may 
require periodic replacement.
Microphone windscreen replacement
1. Remove the band that secures the windscreen by rolling the 
band from the tip of the microphone. 
2. Gently pull the windscreen off of the microphone.
3. Slide-on the replacement windscreen and make sure that it fits 
completely over the microphone.
4. Roll a new band to the proper position, about 
1/4 inch from the 
end of the windscreen, to secure it.
Ear cushion replacement
1. Grasp the ear cushion skirt where it folds into the slot on the ear-
cup (Figure 21 on page 28).
2. Gently pull the ear cushion skirt up and away from the earcup.
3. Properly position the replacement ear cushion against the ear-
cup.  
						

							28
Headset Care and Maintenance
 Figure 21
Pulling the ear cushion skirt 
away from the earcup
4. Tuck an edge of the ear cushion skirt into the slot behind the ear 
cushion flange. Be careful not to fold the skirt over.
5. Work the remainder of the skirt into the slot completely around 
the earcup.
6. Grasp the ear cushion and adjust its position to remove any 
folds in the skirt and wrinkles in the cushion.
Battery replacement
1. Turn off ANR.
2. Lift up the battery door from the control module, using the finger 
indent.
3. Remove the old batteries. 
4. Make sure that the battery compartment contacts are clean.
5. Install two AA alkaline batteries (IEC LR6), as shown in Figure 22. 
Use of rechargeable batteries, while possible, will alter the 
accuracy of the battery power indicator.
 Figure 22
Inserting new batteries into 
the control module battery 
compartment
6. Close the battery door.
CAUTION: The battery compartment is designed to prevent inad-
vertent reverse polarity from installing the batteries incorrectly. If the 
batteries do not seem to fit correctly, do not force them in. Forcing an 
improper connection will cause permanent damage to the control 
module.
+ 
						

							29
Headset Care and Maintenance
Battery door replacement
1. Lift up the battery door from the control module, using the finger 
indent.
2. Gently rotate the cover sideways to remove from the control 
module.
3. Insert new door tab, being careful to insert between the metal 
spring and plastic housing.
Headband cushion replacement
The headband cushion is designed to give the maximum level of 
comfort to your headset. 
Please follow the maintenance instructions below for regular care. 
Bose recommends that the cushion be replaced after regular care 
and maintenance fails to restore the wool pile to its original size and 
shape.
To replace the cushion (Figure 23): 
1. On a protected surface, turn the headset upside down. With 
another person holding the headset open for you, remove the old 
cushion from the magnesium headband.
2. With the headband still held open, align the center of the new 
cushion with the center of the headband and press firmly from 
the center toward the outside. 
 Figure 23
Removing and attaching the 
headband cushion
Note: Removing and attaching the headband cushion may be eas-
ier if a second person holds the headset open.
Boom microphone cable 
or connector access cover replacement
Replace the boom microphone cable or connector access cover as 
described in “Removing an attached boom microphone cable”  and 
“Attaching the boom microphone cable” on page 11.
Headband cushion 
						

							30
Troubleshooting
In case of difficulty
Look for the problem in the left column of the table, then follow the instructions on “What to do” in 
the right column. If the problem persists, contact the Bose® Aviation Headset Department, using 
the contact information on page 34 of this guide, for assistance. 
Problem What to do
Communication, but no 
active noise reduction in 
either ear•Make sure the headset ANR is set to ON.
•If using aircraft power, check the aircraft fuse or circuit breaker. 
•If using battery power, make sure that the batteries are fresh 
and correctly installed.
•Check the battery power indicator. Refer to page 22 for 
description of LED indicator.
Active noise reduction, but 
no communication, or very 
low volume in both ears•Check to see if the volume controls are set too low. Refer to 
“Volume control” on page 21 (battery powered version) or on 
page 23 (aircraft powered version) for instructions on volume 
adjustment.)
•Check the volume setting of intercom/radio.
•Check the headset aircraft connection.
•Check stereo/mono configuration switch. See “Changing the 
optional operation switches” on page 13.
Reduced active noise reduc-
tion, intermittent clicking 
sounds, or communication 
distortion in a loud environ-
ment•Check the TriPort
® headset openings on the outside of each 
earcup to ensure they are not blocked. If dust or dirt is present, 
carefully remove the debris using tweezers. Do not vacuum or 
blow out debris.
Reduced volume in one ear 
only•Check to see if the volume control is set too low. Refer to “Vol-
ume control” on page 21 (battery powered version) or on 
page 23 (aircraft powered version) for instructions on volume 
adjustment.
•Check stereo/mono configuration switch. See “Changing the 
optional operation switches” on page 13.