The Control Unit

The control unit of the headset is a plastic box about the size of a pager. It comes with a switch that turns the unit on or off and sets the input sensitivity level to Lo or Hi. There's also a red indicator light to let you know when the headset is powered and when the battery is on its last leg of life (8 hours).

This box is presumably also where the active noise reduction electronics are stored. That would account for its size.

Flip the control unit and you will see the battery door. The picture above shows the control unit with the belt clip attached. But you can see the battery door under the clip. That's where the two AAA batteries are inserted. The battery door is captive, which is a nice touch because you won't have to worry about losing it.

Other Accessories

Unlike many other electronic equipment, the QuietComfort comes with all its accessories and more! You needn't go shopping for adapters or a protective case for it. Bose ships all QuietComfort headsets with a 91cm (36") extension cable, an airline stereo adapter and a 6.3mm stereo adapter.

The extension cable enables the QuietComfort headset to be connected to a source up to a maximum distance of 2.2m (7.5') away! As the QuietComfort is targeted at airline passengers, the airline stereo adapter is a given. Without it, there's no way you can plug the QuietComfort into the in-flight entertainment system.

There's also a 6.3mm stereo adapter that allows the QuietComfort to be plugged into stereo jacks commonly found in home stereo equipment. Needless to say, all plugs and adapters are coated in gold. Oh yeah... two Maxell AAA batteries are also included for instant gratification. :)

For transportation and protection, Bose actually provided two bags! One is a large padded carry bag that is big enough to carry everything in the package and more. In fact, Bose ships the entire package in this carry bag (which is the only thing you will see when you open up the box). The carry bag comes with a very short handle which can be extended using a separate shoulder sling (see picture above).

As a lighter and less bulkier option, the QuietComfort can also be kept in a pouch with a drawstring. Like the carry bag, the pouch is well-made with a felt lining so your headset will be quite well protected.

Finally, there's the belt clip for the control unit (as mentioned above). It's detachable so you can reduce the control unit's bulk if you are going to put it in your pocket. That would also prevent the control unit snagging your pocket's contents.