Bose Proflight - custom ear molds?
04-07-2022, 06:02 AM
#11
On Reserve
Joined APC: Apr 2017
Posts: 19
I've used them for about 300 hours, mostly in pistons.
The impressions were a PITA. Not because they had to be deep, but because they have to encompass nearly the entire outer ear, including a difficult to capture 'flap'. I had to make two sets and the tech at Avery wasn't easy to work with.
As an Eagle driver, I've used ACCES (same concept) for years. These took a few dozen flights to get my ears used to. The molding is harder on your ears than what the AF used, you may get hot spots for a while. The biggest learning curve was how to put them in - still takes far longer than a clamshell headset.
Performance is excellent. I'm happy with them.
The impressions were a PITA. Not because they had to be deep, but because they have to encompass nearly the entire outer ear, including a difficult to capture 'flap'. I had to make two sets and the tech at Avery wasn't easy to work with.
As an Eagle driver, I've used ACCES (same concept) for years. These took a few dozen flights to get my ears used to. The molding is harder on your ears than what the AF used, you may get hot spots for a while. The biggest learning curve was how to put them in - still takes far longer than a clamshell headset.
Performance is excellent. I'm happy with them.
04-09-2022, 04:54 AM
#12
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,036
I have the Proflight II with those earmolds. I am not happy with them.
I use earmolds for other applications such as under a flight helmet, but in the Bose Proflight II, the earmolds are heavy, don't provide much noise reduction or sealing (even with the "deep earmolds" that I got), and have been an ongoing source of problems. They are uncomfortable on long periods, cause moisture buildup, and after a 8-10 hour flight, leave the ear sore.
The small tabs on the Bose headset are easy to break. I was able to install the earmolds and used them on a trip, but on the next trip, the tab snapped off while wearing the headset, allowing the bose portion to drop out of the earmold, disabling it. I couldn't use the little rubber ear tips either, with the small dog ears snapped off, and I was out of luck. I sent the headset back to Bose, which replaced the portion that failed. I found to get the earmolds onto the headset without risking breakage again, I had to use a dremel to relieve the hole in the earmold.
The earmold occasionally fell off on trips, and twice, I had to buy a craft glue hot glue gun to reattach and retain the earmold on the headset. The earmolds didn't seal well against the headset, allowing noise in, and defeating the point of using a deep earmold.
I've had to run a hot glue seal around the earmold to block the noise where it mates with the headset, and the setup has failed several times in the field, usually when I'm 10 hours from anywhere, and in a foreign location where I'd prefer to have the Bose headset...I use it because my hearing isn't great, nose cancelling helps substantially when listening to foreign accents in the cockpit, and noise cancelling is a quantum improvement in communications, and it reduces fatigue.
Were I to buy a bose headset again, I'd go with the factory ear tips. They're lighter, breathe, more comfortable, seal nearly as well as the earmolds, are less bulky, and easier to insert in the ear. I paid about three hundred bucks by the time I got the mold done, then the earpieces, and the downtime, return to the factory, etc, has been a pain.
I use earmolds for other applications such as under a flight helmet, but in the Bose Proflight II, the earmolds are heavy, don't provide much noise reduction or sealing (even with the "deep earmolds" that I got), and have been an ongoing source of problems. They are uncomfortable on long periods, cause moisture buildup, and after a 8-10 hour flight, leave the ear sore.
The small tabs on the Bose headset are easy to break. I was able to install the earmolds and used them on a trip, but on the next trip, the tab snapped off while wearing the headset, allowing the bose portion to drop out of the earmold, disabling it. I couldn't use the little rubber ear tips either, with the small dog ears snapped off, and I was out of luck. I sent the headset back to Bose, which replaced the portion that failed. I found to get the earmolds onto the headset without risking breakage again, I had to use a dremel to relieve the hole in the earmold.
The earmold occasionally fell off on trips, and twice, I had to buy a craft glue hot glue gun to reattach and retain the earmold on the headset. The earmolds didn't seal well against the headset, allowing noise in, and defeating the point of using a deep earmold.
I've had to run a hot glue seal around the earmold to block the noise where it mates with the headset, and the setup has failed several times in the field, usually when I'm 10 hours from anywhere, and in a foreign location where I'd prefer to have the Bose headset...I use it because my hearing isn't great, nose cancelling helps substantially when listening to foreign accents in the cockpit, and noise cancelling is a quantum improvement in communications, and it reduces fatigue.
Were I to buy a bose headset again, I'd go with the factory ear tips. They're lighter, breathe, more comfortable, seal nearly as well as the earmolds, are less bulky, and easier to insert in the ear. I paid about three hundred bucks by the time I got the mold done, then the earpieces, and the downtime, return to the factory, etc, has been a pain.
04-10-2022, 07:45 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,296
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
I have the Proflight II with those earmolds. I am not happy with them.
I use earmolds for other applications such as under a flight helmet, but in the Bose Proflight II, the earmolds are heavy, don't provide much noise reduction or sealing (even with the "deep earmolds" that I got), and have been an ongoing source of problems. They are uncomfortable on long periods, cause moisture buildup, and after a 8-10 hour flight, leave the ear sore.
The small tabs on the Bose headset are easy to break. I was able to install the earmolds and used them on a trip, but on the next trip, the tab snapped off while wearing the headset, allowing the bose portion to drop out of the earmold, disabling it. I couldn't use the little rubber ear tips either, with the small dog ears snapped off, and I was out of luck. I sent the headset back to Bose, which replaced the portion that failed. I found to get the earmolds onto the headset without risking breakage again, I had to use a dremel to relieve the hole in the earmold.
The earmold occasionally fell off on trips, and twice, I had to buy a craft glue hot glue gun to reattach and retain the earmold on the headset. The earmolds didn't seal well against the headset, allowing noise in, and defeating the point of using a deep earmold.
I've had to run a hot glue seal around the earmold to block the noise where it mates with the headset, and the setup has failed several times in the field, usually when I'm 10 hours from anywhere, and in a foreign location where I'd prefer to have the Bose headset...I use it because my hearing isn't great, nose cancelling helps substantially when listening to foreign accents in the cockpit, and noise cancelling is a quantum improvement in communications, and it reduces fatigue.
Were I to buy a bose headset again, I'd go with the factory ear tips. They're lighter, breathe, more comfortable, seal nearly as well as the earmolds, are less bulky, and easier to insert in the ear. I paid about three hundred bucks by the time I got the mold done, then the earpieces, and the downtime, return to the factory, etc, has been a pain.
I use earmolds for other applications such as under a flight helmet, but in the Bose Proflight II, the earmolds are heavy, don't provide much noise reduction or sealing (even with the "deep earmolds" that I got), and have been an ongoing source of problems. They are uncomfortable on long periods, cause moisture buildup, and after a 8-10 hour flight, leave the ear sore.
The small tabs on the Bose headset are easy to break. I was able to install the earmolds and used them on a trip, but on the next trip, the tab snapped off while wearing the headset, allowing the bose portion to drop out of the earmold, disabling it. I couldn't use the little rubber ear tips either, with the small dog ears snapped off, and I was out of luck. I sent the headset back to Bose, which replaced the portion that failed. I found to get the earmolds onto the headset without risking breakage again, I had to use a dremel to relieve the hole in the earmold.
The earmold occasionally fell off on trips, and twice, I had to buy a craft glue hot glue gun to reattach and retain the earmold on the headset. The earmolds didn't seal well against the headset, allowing noise in, and defeating the point of using a deep earmold.
I've had to run a hot glue seal around the earmold to block the noise where it mates with the headset, and the setup has failed several times in the field, usually when I'm 10 hours from anywhere, and in a foreign location where I'd prefer to have the Bose headset...I use it because my hearing isn't great, nose cancelling helps substantially when listening to foreign accents in the cockpit, and noise cancelling is a quantum improvement in communications, and it reduces fatigue.
Were I to buy a bose headset again, I'd go with the factory ear tips. They're lighter, breathe, more comfortable, seal nearly as well as the earmolds, are less bulky, and easier to insert in the ear. I paid about three hundred bucks by the time I got the mold done, then the earpieces, and the downtime, return to the factory, etc, has been a pain.
04-11-2022, 07:24 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 205
Pass. I screwed around with ear molds for over ten years flying various corporate crap, then the RJs.. The Biggest mistake I ever made was not switching to the A20 earlier when they came out with the current version. I did that and NEVER looked back. Ear molds are a PITA. Stop trying to look cool for the FAs and just get the A20. Don't get the DCs, they do not even come close to the quality of A20. I've tried both.
My only complaint with the A20 is how much space it takes up in the bag. That's it.
My only complaint with the A20 is how much space it takes up in the bag. That's it.
04-11-2022, 07:34 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 10,071
Originally Posted by Hawaiian 5O
Pass. I screwed around with ear molds for over ten years flying various corporate crap, then the RJs.. The Biggest mistake I ever made was not switching to the A20 earlier when they came out with the current version. I did that and NEVER looked back. Ear molds are a PITA. Stop trying to look cool for the FAs and just get the A20. Don't get the DCs, they do not even come close to the quality of A20. I've tried both.
My only complaint with the A20 is how much space it takes up in the bag. That's it.
My only complaint with the A20 is how much space it takes up in the bag. That's it.
04-11-2022, 07:54 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 205
Originally Posted by CBreezy
The proflight with ear molds has only been around for a few years...
Custom ear molds have been around for decades. It's not the headset that sucks, it's getting the perfect ear mold, then keeping them seated perfectly the entire flight. I've discovered that you can usually do one, but not the other. For me, it's easier AND quieter just to go the conventional route. If they work for you, great. I would imagine the stock ear pieces will work better than any custom mold. Even then, it's just a PITA. I commute with a Sony WH1000XM4 ANR bluetooth headset. I'm just not an "earbud" guy I guess. I like quiet, clean sounds.
If it works for you, great! Personally, I wish Bose would have put the effort in to updating the now 20+ year old A20 design. To each their own.
04-14-2022, 09:52 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,602
Originally Posted by Air Guitar
Have any of you seen an audiologist to properly get the molds done professionally?
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