Bose A30 Aviation Headset - test flight in Cirrus, Aztec, Cessna 172 vs. Bose A20 (Product PIREP)
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- Опубліковано 27 бер 2023
- Shop: sportys.com/bose
How do you make the best headset in aviation even better? By focusing on what matters. The new Bose A30 offers performance you’ll appreciate on every flight, including improved comfort, quiet, clarity, and durability. Plus, new features give pilots more control over ANR performance, microphone location, and power source.
The pilots at Sporty's took this all-new headset flying in a variety of airplanes to see how it performs in different noise environments, including a Cirrus SR22, a Piper Aztec, and a Cessna 172. Plus, we swap A20 for A30 with two pilots to see their reaction to the new headset.
Bose A30 - higher performance where it matters
Comfort. Bose has a well-earned reputation for making the most comfortable headsets in aviation, and the A30 sets a new standard. It features 20% less clamping force than the A20 (a very comfortable headset in its own right), so you’ll hardly know you’re wearing it. A new aluminum alloy headband and a redesigned center torsion spring more evenly distributes weight on your head, and a new headband pad provides an extra cushion. Plus, dedicated left and right earcups match the shape of your ears for a more natural fit. It truly is a headset you can wear all day without regret.
Quiet. The A30 features a completely digital ANR system to provide full attenuation across a wide variety of noise environments, from loud warbirds to quiet jets. Enhanced direct wind noise rejection means better ANR performance when the vent is blowing on a hot summer day, and the firmware is upgradeable to take advantage of new technology. Best of all, these new features do not reduce Bose’s famously long battery life: at least 45 hours of use, or 25 when using Bluetooth for external audio.
Clarity. The most important job for an aviation headset is clear communications, and here the Bose A30 excels. The noise canceling microphone blocks background noise and the fully flexible boom makes it easy to position the microphone right where you need it. Active equalization enhances intelligibility of intercom conversations and air traffic control instructions, so you never miss a call. Optional Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to get audio alerts from your favorite electronic flight bag app, make a phone call on the ground, or listen to music en route. As you would expect with Bose, the sound quality is superb.
Durability. The A30 might weigh less than 15 ounces, but it’s still built to last. It meets the rigorous FAA TSO and EASA E/TSO-C139a certification standards, which means it has passed 145 different tests, including being dropped onto concrete and subjected to extreme humidity conditions. The redesigned cable is dramatically thinner and lighter, but it’s made with copper strands and a Kevlar core so it resists kinks and tangles. There are no exposed wires on the headband, and the A30 comes with a full 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.
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This is an awesome review - I tried to touch on some of if in the latest episode while I was working on some acro practice, but you guys are clearly professional product reviewers and covered off all the key points succinctly. Well done.
Nothing groundbreaking here. Just subtle improvements on an already solid platform. Good to see, honestly. Don't fix it if it ain't broken.
That's a good way to say it. The A20 was an awesome headset, so we're happy to see they didn't try to reinvent the wheel.
Excellent review. I just got the A30s and impressed. One minor thing that made me smile was getting an actual user manual that discussed all the parts, settings, etc. Most electronics today come with a tiny graphic on a square of paper (worthless). I love that Bose broke the rules and includes a useful user manual.
Appreciate the thorough review.
Excellent review of the A30. I'm really struggling whether to buy this headset or go with the Lightspeed. I like the fact that the lightspeed has an app that can record the audio transmissions as well as a built in CO detector. They both look tremendous.
For GA I'd 100% go lightspeed
As fantastic as the Bose might be, is spending $1249 really worth it for GA? I'm leaning heavily towards Lightspeed myself, they're expensive enough.
Great review, thank you!
The tooless mic swap is probably my favorite part. Once I’m done flying jets,it’s easy to swap the mic back over to the left when I hop in the Cessna.
13 years and all they could come up with was 6 gramm less weight? The new Lightspeed Delta Zulu comes with a carbon monoxide sensor, built-in audio equalization system, an app that allows recording/playback and a lot more. What a disappointment 😢
Not a Bose A30 fan.
That being said that stupid carbon monoxide sensor is the dumbest thing to add to a headset.
I don't want your glitchy app either but the carbon sensor is totally dumb on a head set.
Sounds like novelty upgrades....
Such minor improvements should've called it the A21. Can't believe they chose micro USB instead of type C. Seems like they needed a reason to re-release the same headset for a higher price
They did the same thing with their wireless earbuds. The next gen they removed the small buttons and made it all touch. Ruined them.
A20 is an analog device, A30 a digital processor. Pretty major change to me. Plus numbering is consistent, 10 - 20 - 30.
@@FlyMeAirplane How is it a major change ?
Looks like they took what they learned from the Bose Proflight series headsets with the weight of the cord, selectable ANC levels, and digital ANC and brought it to GA. Interesting.. having the Bose Proflight 2 for work and the A20 for flying GA, I don't think I'll be getting these anytime soon. It looks like a worthy evolution for Bose though
No significant improvements from the viewer's point of view. I would prefer the cable to be braided (hard braid) to avoid violent twists. The micro USB could be a type C one. The only thing that attracts me is the ANR level selection. Is the "high" setting more "cancelling" than the A20's one? In addition, the A30s seem to weigh more than the A20s (2,2 ounces heavier). Good thing is that the accessibility to firmware updates is a big thing an if BOSE gets detailed feedback for improvements, there may be updates to keep the A30s fine tuned. Although, i love my A20s and i need a very good reason to transit! Great video guys keep it up!
Beautiful features for Bose A30. How do you record your conversation with ATC, it's a very clear sound.
As someone who's retired and working on getting back in the air after a few decades; the Bose A30's would be fantastic, if they didn't take most of my SSI check to purchase. So for me, I'm probably looking at the A20's or Lightspeed Zulu 3.
Our advice for buying the right headset:
1. Buy the most headset you can afford (you usually get what you pay for).
2. Headsets are personal so there is no right answer for every pilot and airplane. That's why we have a 30-day test flight guarantee, so you can try it and fly it: www.sportys.com/bose-a30-aviation-headset.html
Digital ANC..! Now that is really awesome…
I wonder if you can patch in a sat phone with a 2.5 jack, that was missing on the last one. You could on the lightspeed.
why not usb-c now it's 2023 already
Yea that’s extremely strange. Anyone know the reason??
@@LordBagdanoff saving cost?
With such minor improvements, Bose should've called these the A20-1.1
I wonder how it compares to the ProFlight 2 in a turbine aircraft.
Does it chance its performance wearing sunglasses? comfort? any suggestions as to what sun glasses to wear for eye protection? can the ear cushions be replaced?
It does just fine with sunglasses, although like all headsets it does depend a little on the specific sunglasses. In the video we're wearing sunglasses with thinner temples, and that's a good idea since it breaks less of the seal.
The ear cushions can be replaced - it takes just a minute or two.
I just picked up two at my local pilot shop about 10 mins ago. He received 75 today, and has 3 left to sell. Told me it’ll take 2 weeks to get more. So it seems like plenty of people were either waiting to from something else or see enough benefit to upgrade from a20. Gonna be popular!
For dual plug users, how is the sound reduction without ANR? A-20’s were never up to snuff when the batteries died.
Like most ANR headsets, it's not great without the ANR turned on. It's usable, and the A30 actually has a fail-safe mode so that you can communicate safely with everything off, but it's noisy.
If pilots are able to already wear the A20 for all day cross country flights, how can this be any better if the job is done the same
What are those sunglasses you are wearing?
A20Pro
What do you think is it worth to buy a20 with a discount which is 1180 eur or new a30 which is 1380 eur ?
I wish they made it so you could detach the cord and use it as Bluetooth headphones when traveling in the passenger cabin.
That’s next year probably.. It’ll be a battery pack on one mic attachment point, and the Bluetooth module on the other.
I thought about that, but I'm not sure that makes any sense in reality... you really want to wear down your $1250 headset when a $300 headset is just better in every aspect for that environment?
@@airops423 I only take a few airline trips a year so not that much wear and sometimes I rent a plane with CFI at destinations. I’m trying to pack lighter so a single set would have been ideal. Also if the A20/A30 had that option I wouldn’t have spent another $400 on headphones.
What about vs the older Aviation X headset?
does the Bose App work with the A30? - will there be a trade-up program?
No, the app does not work (at least not yet?). Email us for trade-up options: support@sportys.com
i dont like the way the head band doesnt hug the profile of your head as much as the a20s. the ear cups stick out further and it just dont look as good
DC anytime always
In the first minute of the review, I sensed that you were clearly biased against Lightspeed's inclusion of a CO detector among other ground breaking innovations for a headset. Why do you think added functional benefits automatically detract from a headsets primary function?
We are absolutely not biased against the Delta Zulu - it’s a great headset. We are more talking about some cheap headsets that try to distract from poor quality and reliability by including gimmicks. A CO detector is most definitely not a gimmick.
Any comfort gain/loss in going from sheepskin to the contoured fabric?
Hard to say - some pilots said yes because it has more surface area and distributes the weight better, but some pilots didn't notice much of a difference.
I'm just wondering what the frig makes it so expensive... I mean what about it is so hard to manufacture?
Name brand probably.
I just bought it, I’m going from a 129 dollar ASA to the A30. Would I see a significant improvement?
let me know if you like it, i’m looking at getting it soon
@swerb I have used it for about 10 hours in the last two days, it does not feel like it is on your head. It is definitely worth it!
As someone that currently uses the a10's it makes sense to upgrade but l'd be lying if said this doesnt feel like the laziest "upgrade" I've ever seen. They even say it's the same ANC as before. Seeing what Lightspeed did with the delta zuluư's man Bose really missed the mark on this one. Not even a braided cable or hard shell case. I hope the drop the prices of the a20's because these seemed overpriced for basically the same headset
What sunglasses are you wearing??
Serengeti on the left and Ovvo on the right.
Why in the hell, would I want to buy a product that is Chinese made , when I can get Clark head sets, that are made here, in US, and employee, owned company ownd.and by far superior quality.
The best way is Made By Yourself.
What about a review in a helicopter?
They really fumbled the entire thing with a micro USB in 2023, their other QC45 have USB C.
Idon’t like it because it looks wider and clunkier, I need a smaller not a larger headset. I’m a long time X and A20 user, the X was the easiest to wear and carry but not as quiet as the A20.
Exactly. We need a more portable headset. The A20 is chunky for being 2023.. That's why people choose Bose QC45 with Uflymike solution instead of buying a A20.... Bose really could have killed that third party solution they hate so much with a more travel friendly foldable A30 solution. That said, I've not seen a comparison between the A20 and A30 case. But would presume they are almost identical?
I truely want a new headset but my 8 years old A20 just never breaks..
Flew cargo for 5 years n the Bose worked every day being thrown on dash n banged around in cargo plane! Purchased a light speed and they didn’t last a year n quit! Bose all the way👍👍
@@Wileybird03 For sure A20 is a Tank lol
I have "bad" news for you. I bought my Bose X in March 2003 and still fly almost daily with them. Your A20s may have a few more years left in them.
Are we expecting a price drop on A20😂?
The A20 is being discontinued, so if you're in the market for one I'd buy soon. When they're gone, they're gone.
A20 will be cheaper because A30 will be way more expensive knowing Bose & no discounts anywhere..
I just bought an A20 2 months ago😂
Underwhelming. Hopefully drops the price on the A20.
Really? Do airlines only have female captains any more. Every picture of every airline crew shows the female or DIE person as he captain.
about time bose pictured some trans pilots
@@michaelhazell9533 FAR prohibit pilots from taking powerful stimulants, hormones that cause personality disorders, and unproven medications & experimental surgeries. Of corse they totally ignored the non FDA approved vax. Not sure you’d want to be a passenger on plane flown by someone who may become homicidal,suicidal from powerful chemical hormones or with delusional manifestations.
It took over a decade to produce an A20 Pro or A21 or A20.1. I'll pass.
2023 and still holding on to micro USB! Bose is no longer cutting edge! Nowhere near their former glory!
A30=Iphone 14
Biased review. I’m sure the headset is amazing but you need to remember that these guys are trying to sell these on their website.
You can spend millions on headset research. But still... over 75% of pilots will (insert) the mic "into" there mouth and clip the output audio. This is a problem with a lot of aviation videos makeing them almost unwatchable. People will keep being dumb.
Years and years of experience with bad mics on bad headsets, where the only option is to eat the mic - lots of scar tissue!
@@sportyspilotshop 😂 good way to say it. There is definitely times where you have no option but to eat it. Also I think often it's also the audio recording device that clips it when the headset is actually transmitting a clean signal.
@@edgarwideman737 Honestly, though, the A30 is the best mic we've ever used. It's nice and clean, with no fussy squelch settings required or weird popping. Really clear audio, even over the A20.
@@sportyspilotshop why not USB C?
@@LordBagdanoff Not sure - you'd have to ask Bose. We do love USB-C, which is why we put it on our PJ2+ radio.
No coffeemaker? Pfft. Hard pass.
Bose propaganda 101
If u have the A20s don't bother or waste your money on these
I just order them from you 🥹