BOSE QC15 problem

[van]

I have a new Bose QC15. On internatonal flights it is brilliant. On Qantas domestic I get a persistent "beeping" background noise which is very annoying on low volume. Any ideas on what is causing this and a solution?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Can't say I've noticed this. A stupid question I know, but have you set the hi-lo switch to Lo? Any noise interference I've noticed has been when I've forgotten to do this after listening to my iPhone.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've noticed a static type sound on some planes, but generally listen to my own tunes so never really taken anymore notice than that.

Another sound comes up when the battery starts to get low..

 

[BJReplay]

On Qantas domestic I get a persistent "beeping" background noise which is very annoying on low volume.

I use passive (noise isolation) in-ear earphones, and have noticed this when the seat volume is low, and the volume on the earphones is high. My solution is simple; turn down the volume (really just turn up the attenuation) on the earphones, and turn up the volume on the seat.

I conclude that the background beeping is always there, but when you turn up the seat volume, the program blocks it out. If you have the seat volume down (which you can with noise isolation or cancelling) headphones, the beeping is more obvious.

If the bose do not have an attenuator, you could consider something like this: Level Attenuator with Volume Control (this is the first hit for headphone volume attenuator on google; I assume there are similar products).

 

[rockyroad]

I have a new Bose QC15. On international flights it is brilliant. On Qantas domestic I get a persistent "beeping" background noise which is very annoying on low volume. Any ideas on what is causing this and a solution?

Have found all non A380 QF metal has this beeping sound. Setting the QC15 volume slide switch to low (switch is in the plug in cable assembly) and boosting the seat volume seems to fix it.

 

[Alanslegal]

Wow, after almost 18 months of owning a QC15 I didn't even realise there was a hi-lo switch LOL

Anyway, checked my settings (thanks rockyroad for describing where it is), and my setting is on Hi. Now what are the primary differences between Hi and Lo?

I normally connect my QC15 to my own iPhone/iPad/laptop when flying.

 

[DeKa]

Wow, after almost 18 months of owning a QC15 I didn't even realise there was a hi-lo switch LOL

Anyway, checked my settings (thanks rockyroad for describing where it is), and my setting is on Hi. Now what are the primary differences between Hi and Lo?

I normally connect my QC15 to my own iPhone/iPad/laptop when flying.

Hi= for your own equipment.
Lo= for the aircraft (lowers the volume so announcements don't deafen you)

 

[samiam]

On Qantas domestic I get a persistent "beeping" background noise which is very annoying on low volume. Any ideas on what is causing this and a solution?

Does this occur when the plane is reversing?

I have a set of non-BOSE NC's (Sony), and don't hear any background beeping noise, on any of the Qantas aircraft types.

 

[Alanslegal]

Hi= for your own equipment.
Lo= for the aircraft (lowers the volume so announcements don't deafen you)

Cheers for that.

As I'm normally on Hi and using my own devices, the sounds fine. But when I plug it into the planes IFE, announcements are like really deafening when I have to rip the headphones off right away.

Back to the QC15 issue, as mentioned, when my battery is low, I get a thump type pause sound when I get any shock movements eg. travelling on a bus and if the road is uneven, I get jolts etc.

 

[rockyroad]

Does this occur when the plane is reversing?

Occurs at 40,000 feet, so I hope the aircraft is not reversing or I would have more to worry about than a slight beeping noise. :shock:

 

[JohnCarruthers]

I have exactly the same problem with my QC15 headphones. Would be interested to know the solution if you find one

 

[Fantic125]

I have exactly the same problem with my QC15 headphones. Would be interested to know the solution if you find one

Which problem?

The beeping sound which you eliminate (or reduce) by setting the switch to Lo on the headphones and turning the volume up on the IFE, or;

the thumping sound/cutting out of audio briefly when you move quickly, which is fixed by replacing the battery once the light starts flashing?

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thnxs I have the problem as well. Will set to low in future.

 

[Foreigner]

Slightly off-topic but here's recent review of headphones in which the Bose features:

http://www.headphoneinfo.com/Features/Noise-Cancelling-Headphones-for-Air-Travel.htm?intoff=-1

 

[Fantic125]

Does this occur when the plane is reversing?

I have a set of non-BOSE NC's (Sony), and don't hear any background beeping noise, on any of the Qantas aircraft types.

It's interesting that the flight map they show from SIN-FRA is actually the reverse of the true route. They get up to cruising altitude, then switch the engines off and using the earths rotation they coast backward to FRA, which is why the reversing beepers go off.

 

[Ausbt]

+1 for the Attenuators, particularly if you use in-ear canal phones. When the in-flight announcements come on sometimes they can be excruciating particularly on old planes. My thumb often sits right on that dial, ready to dial down that shout out from the flight deck!

 

[nuxie1]

Now what are the primary differences between Hi and Lo?

Hi/Lo changes the impedance of the headphones. The problem is that the planes output driving the headphone socket is very low powered, and so distorts when given a high impedance. Setting it to Lo makes it easier to drive.
Headphone Impedance - Head-Fi.org Community

 

[ALH]

Thanks for this thread. I thought my new set was faulty after trip to AKL this week. It sounded like the wiring was damaged. I wasn't aware of the Hi Lo button either. The noise and compact design is great on them, however, I can't say the quality of the sound is any better than my old Sony MDR-XD100 set

 

[JohnCarruthers]

Which problem?

The beeping sound which you eliminate (or reduce) by setting the switch to Lo on the headphones and turning the volume up on the IFE, or;

the thumping sound/cutting out of audio briefly when you move quickly, which is fixed by replacing the battery once the light starts flashing?

The beeping sound. You are right switching to lo does reduce the beeping but increases the background audio background noise. I would really like to know what the cause is. Cheers

 

[Foreigner]

Has price in Australia for this model dropped?