BA ClubWord - can't use own headphones
 

Recently flew ClubWorld with BA on one of the new 777's and discovered that the headphone socket does not take he standard 2 pin adapter which came with my own headphones. On the BA phones, the two pins are different sizes. I guess there is no way round this? Using one pin only seems to give mono sound.

I may be wrong but I thought the small pin is the noise cancelling signal that they have. The large pin (3.5mm jack) carries the stereo sound. I usually use my in ear earphones and they work fine apart from the common feature on BA aircraft that the left and right channels are swapped round (this is, of course, easily rectified though).

I never noticed this! I always use my Bose in 3.5mm jack, with no problems on any BA jet. Will have a go turning them around next time, lol

Dont use the 2 pin adapter, just stick the standard 3.5mm jack in the bigger of the 2 holes.

The smaller socket is for powering the noise cancelling headphones 5v dc I think (could be wrong about the voltage, virgin is 5v) the other jack is a standard 3.5mm stereo jack and is compatible with nearly all headphones.

The smaller socket 2.5mm is for powering the noise cancelling headphones 5v dc I think (could be wrong about the voltage, virgin is 5v) the other jack is a standard 3.5mm stereo jack and is compatible with nearly all headphones.

Sorry for the double post, no idea how, I blame the iPad

Did the BA headphones work ok in the socket? Just wondering if it was faulty as my Bose QC15's work absolutely fine in the socket - I think there is only one of the two sockets the jack will fit into. Its weird your headphones didn't come with a standard minijack and an adapter as lots of them do these days.

my Sennhieser's work fine in the 3.5mm jack

^ works every time.

I'm guessing the OP got a dodgy connection at their seat and that it only payed mono - I've had that before - and assumed it was that way due to the type of connector.

weehaggis, did you report it to the crew? They would have tried to move you, or you could have claimed some Avios for compensation for a non-working entertainment system.

Which explains why you can't use the BA headphones in your own equipment (iPod, laptop, etc.). Good thing too, else there'd be large numbers disappearing from each flight!

Or maybe CW pax are better than that? ;)

Anyone else notice how the volume on decent headphones is so much louder than the BA ones?

I end up turning the volume down to its minimum, but they reset it to their version of normal on the announcements and causes me to jump out of my seat!

My Bose headphones have two settings for loudness, on BA flights I either have to set it to low on the headset, or if I forget have the volume on minimum on the control

Indeed it does.

I have used the BA headphones in my iPod, you just have to twist the jack so that only the larger jack plug goes into the iPod. Easy

The noise-cancelling feature won't have been active though.

Hmm, I didn't get it to work at all. I presumed that the headphones needed the noise-cancelling power in order to provide any sound at all, as some headphones do. However, I'm not a regular in CW so haven't had the chance to test it out very often.

oops, probably my fault
 

When I tried removing the 2 pin connector and plugging in the single pin, I was getting no sound. But I think the talkthrough function may have been activated (Sennheiser phones). I just gave up too quickly :o
Will try again on my return trip.

Thanks anyway for all feedback.

Another vote for the QC15s here. On the upper deck with a movie on you can hardly hear the engines.

On SQ I had to use the double adaptor which came with them for the first time, took a bit of working out.

I lost the double adapter from my Bose headphones - I went into the Bose shop and they gave me a free replacement. <3 Bose

bluetooth headphones connection to boing 777
 

Hi,
I have just bought some Wireless Bluetooth Headphones which have come with a USB cable.

Does anyone know whether i can connect it to the aircraft to watch movie/listen music?

Or do I need a 3.5 jack cable?

I presume there is no way to connect with the bluetooth.

Thanks.
Massimo

Hello Massimo and welcome to Flyertalk. You're going to need a standard jack for a physical connection.

You would have to be hard up to steal the CW headphones, they're utter crap.

Mine you some people will try to take almost anything off the aircraft.

Yeah, they are pretty bad! In contrast, I have Bose QC25 noise cancelling headphones and the noise cancellation on them is fantastic ^ - the BA headphones' noise cancelling function is in comparison utter rubbish. It's quite an experience to try them side by side and realise how massively better the Bose are. :eek:

The 767 CW headphone socket seems to need the 2 pin converter. Certainly I couldn't get my own headphones to work well on a recent trip and I don't normally have an issue with them.

Annoying I could not use my own Bose on the 777-300 RECENTLY.

I have used my older Bose 15 and new QC 25 headphones many times on BA 777-300ERs. I am not sure why your ones shouldn't work?

I would have thought all these expensive headphones would come with adaptors or at least be available to purchase as an extra.

To expect all aircraft to fit your headphones is a bit much.

Can you elaborate a little?

I flew recently on both a 777-300, and two different F versions of the 777-200. Both of my Bose pairs worked (QC25 and my earbuds too).

My Sennheiser CXC700 came with an airline 2-prong adapter. They can also be purchased easily.

Meanwhile, I do not think it is unreasonable to expect aircraft to have the same headphone socket as almost every other piece of audio equipment in the world.

Yes sitting in Economy a few years ago on a 777 300 and yes the PA is very loud and makes you jump!

BA ClubWord - can't use own headphones
 

Isn't that due to the impedance of the audio loop on aircraft IFE systems? my Bose QC15s allow switch between high and low whereas my Sennheiser earbuds don't and I have to have the volume one notch above mute.