Over the past eight months, I’ve logged more than 600 hours with the Bose ProFlight Series 2 in both airline and general aviation cockpits. In a previous report, I described it as a lightweight, feature-rich headset built for jets but cautioned piston pilots, especially those using stock ear tips. I also questioned its long-term durability because of its multiple moving parts. Now, after 500 hours in the Boeing 737 and another 100 hours in my Cessna 310, I’m ready for a fresh verdict.
Durability, Fit, Comfort
I initially voiced concerns about the ProFlight Series 2’s durability. The slim frame and several moving parts didn’t strike me as features that would hold up in the airline cockpit environment.
I take care of my headsets. I keep them on my head or in the manufacturer-supplied case and never toss them over the seat or stuff them into flight bags. With that level of care, the ProFlight shows no signs of wear: no cracked joints, no frayed cables, and no drop in audio quality. I haven’t abuse-tested it, but in normal day-to-day use, I haven’t seen a single durability issue.
I’ve always preferred headsets that don’t sit on top of my head, especially in tight piston cockpits like the Columbia 350 I fly, where head clearance is limited. Even so, the overhead band on the ProFlight hasn’t caused problems. It’s lightweight, doesn’t create hot spots, and stays comfortable enough that I forget it’s there—even if it still messes up my hair.
Bluetooth and Tap Control
Pilots expect Bluetooth in any headset over $1000 and I continue to appreciate having it, especially for pre-departure phone calls. Lots of pilots listen to music in flight and also monitor audio from tablet apps, and for those who do, pairing stays stable and the audio sounds impressive. This is the first headset I’ve owned with Bluetooth, and I’m glad I chose it.
In my use, the noise-canceling tap control function has proved to be not so useful for me. The idea of double-tapping an earbud to reduce ANR for cockpit conversations sounds like a worthwhile feature, but in practice, I find it quicker and more practical to simply remove one ear tip. After some experimentation, I stopped using the feature altogether.
ProFlight Series 2 in Piston Planes
In loud flight decks, I found that the stock silicone ear tips don’t get the job done. None of the three sizes stayed securely in my ears, and without a good seal, the ANR didn’t work in my Cessna 310 piston twin. To be fair, Bose has offered this caveat from the beginning—this is a headset aimed at the turbine market.
However, custom-molded ear tips from Avery Sound solved that problem. With a proper seal, the ProFlight Series 2’s ANR circuitry became surprisingly effective. It’s still not as quiet as a Bose A20/A30, but it’s more than good enough to reduce fatigue while letting me hear the engines.
I’ve flown more than 100 hours in the 310 and several flights in the Columbia 350 using the ProFlight Series 2 exclusively. With custom ear molds, it’s performed well in both.
Bose ProFlight Series 2 Nits
The ProFlight hasn’t been flawless and there are three minor issues I’ve run into worth talking about. The included storage case is sleek, but a little too snug. When I zip it closed, the main cable at the boom mic connection gets compressed. It hasn’t caused damage, but I’d like to see Bose add a quarter inch of depth to relieve the pressure.
About six months into my evaluation, I started hearing a loud “pop” from the ANR system whenever I moved the boom mic. Swapping sides didn’t help. At AirVenture 2025, the Bose team diagnosed it as minor corrosion at the mic connector, where the boom mic attaches to the headset. Their fix: Unplug the mic, clean the pins, apply a dab of dielectric grease, and plug it back in. It worked, but seeing corrosion in Colorado’s dry climate surprised me.
Occasionally, after removing the headset during cruise (for a lav break or stretch), one ear produced a flat, steady tone when I put it back on. Bose explained that the ANR system gets confused when the ear tip isn’t properly sealed and eventually gives up. The fix is simple: Turn off the ANR before taking the headset off mid-flight.
Clarity Aloft Contrasts
While a friend borrowed my ProFlight, I switched back to my Clarity Aloft Pro in-ear headset for a couple of weeks. I’ve flown with the Clarity Aloft since 2016 and always appreciated its simplicity, passive noise attenuation, and bulletproof durability. It was my go-to headset. But after 50 hours with the Clarity Aloft, I was more than ready to return to the Bose ProFlight. After long days of flying, the Bose feels more refined and more comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Earlier on, the ProFlight 2 was priced at $995 without Bluetooth and $1045 with it. Today, both versions list at $1099 on the Bose website. Sporty’s and some other suppliers match that pricing. It’s a modest price increase, but worth noting.
Eight months in, I can say it: I like this headset a lot. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, I strongly suggest spending another $200 on custom ear tips. But the ProFlight Series 2 is lightweight, comfortable, TSO’d (making it fair game for airline work), and packed with practical features. It’s never failed me, and Bose’s customer support has been excellent.
Would I buy it again at $1099? Without hesitation. Would I recommend it to pro pilots flying jets and pistons? Absolutely, but get custom ear tips, and don’t expect flawless performance in loud cockpits.
The flagship ANR headset market is getting crowded, and there are good-performing models to include the Bose A30 or Lightspeed Zulu 4, to name two popular sets. To be clear, the Bose ProFlight Series 2 won’t work well in all cabins and like any headset, you need to try them before you buy them. Choose a retailer with a liberal return policy. But for flying late-model Boeing 737 aircraft and my own twin Cessna, I found that the ProFlight Series 2 delivers. It has become my go-to headset for both aircraft.
If you have experience with the ProFlight Series 2 and other flagship ANR models, let us know about it. We’ll include your feedback in a future flagship headset field report in The Smart Aviator.
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While it is true that in a noisy piston (EXPERIMENTASL) cockpit – you have to work at it to get the ANR to work. The low profile headband is a huge boon then sitting under a tight canopy. Especially if there is a sunshade making the clearance even less.
I found the only ANR setting that woks in my Cessna 310 is the high setting.
Sy, I had a similar experience here with my ProFlight 2. I did the long term test back at Brand X – which is now going on something like five years?
I love the idea of minimalist headsets in general – going all the way back to the Lightspeed Mach 1. The audio quality of in-ear headsets is so much better, at least for me, and a smaller footprint in my flight kit means more room for other goodies. And when you can wear a ball cap over the top… it sure helps on days when you’re flying into the sun.
The case on the PF2 is too big, and not big enough, all at the same time. Not big enough: Another quarter-inch of height/depth would prevent crushing forces being applied to the cable where it exits the headset. When you have an aircraft swap or two over the course of a day and time is tight, it’s really easy to accidentally shoehorn the thing into the case at less than the absolutely perfect (and only acceptable) arrangement. My cable is damaged as a result. And the case is also too big: The case isn’t that much smaller than many conventional headsets. A quiet comfort with a microphone adapter actually fits into a smaller case, If I’m remembering correctly. It feels like a next generation ProFlight would benefit from some study to reduce its size when not in use.
I had similar experiences with the factory ear pieces sliding out over time, but didn’t go the custom ear mold route.
I wound up buying the Clarity Aloft Flex, which folds almost flat. The case is smaller, and it even smooshes down a bit from there without damage to the headset. After a year of using the foam ear tips, I had custom molds made at Sun ‘N Fun this year, which might be the best money I’ve spent on pilot gear. The Flex is my standard headset for the jet. In the Mooney, I waffle between A20s and an early model of the Lightspeed Zulu.
Jeremy,
I completely agree with you on the case. I sometimes wonder if Bose designed it assuming pilots would disconnect the microphone before storing the headset, but that’s not practical and doing it every time could create its own wear-and-tear issues.
I’ve loved my Clarity Aloft Pro’s as well and went with custom ear molds for those, too. I’m with you—custom molds are easily the best money I’ve ever spent on pilot gear.