There are a couple of known issues with the QuietComfort (2024) and the QuietComfort 45 when used with our product (or any of our competitors). Unfortunately, these (features?) are built into the headphones, so there is nothing we can do to fix it. However, there are simple workarounds to minimize or even eliminate their effect.
Automatic Volume Adjustment:
There is a feature in these QCs that automatically adjusts the incoming audio volume to a low level when an external device is plugged in. This is intended as a safety feature to avoid accidental hearing damage. However, many pilots do not know this feature exists and simply turn up the radio volume to compensate. This is the worst thing to do as it can lead to poor sound quality.
Fortunately, there is a simple and effective way to keep this from happening:
- Connect the UFlyMike to the headphones.
- Power on the headphones, then press the "+" button located on the back of the right ear cup until you hear a double "beep" sound (indicates max level reached)
- Adjust the volume controls located on the HARMONY controller. This will likely only need to be done once. If you are on your own intercom, set it to "10"
- Adjust the radio and intercom volume to desired level.
- To make the QCs "remember" your volume setting, simply turn the headphones off before connecting or disconnecting the UFlyMike from the headphones.
In summary, if it ever seems like the audio is quiet, increase the volume on the headphones first, the HARMONY second, and the aircraft third.
Echo Issue:
There is a known issue with the headphone creating a slight echo effect with aircraft sidetone (hearing yourself speak). This affects only the way that you hear yourself, everyone else will hear you normally and you will hear everyone else normally.
There is no way to completely eliminate the issue, however, a large part of our customers have been able to reduce the issue to a near imperceptible level. The presence of the echo is directly related to the volume setting on the headphones themselves and increases exponentially when the headphone volume is at a low level. Simply follow the steps in the "Automatic Volume Adjustment" above to reduce the echo.
Other Features:
These QCs includes several other "smart" features controlled directly by the headphone and can be enabled/disabled with the "Bose Music" app. Simply pressing buttons may lead to unexpected results, we strongly suggest familiarizing yourself with all of the features of the headphones before your first flight.