Really good and unbiased review, which is lost art nowadays! Specifically, your comparison between the two shared some interesting points that others didn't cover. Apparently, the A30 has less clamping force and a lower center of gravity, resulting in less neck pain after long usage. Whether this is a marketing stunt or over-engineering, I'm not sure, but have you noticed any difference after long usage, or is it rather negligent.
as someone who also games, and therefore uses a gaming headset for damn near 6 or8 hours at a time on some days, or more, on a weekend. I can assure you the lighter the better and the less clamp the better for 1 hour it's like you don't notice but after a few hours, you will be fidgeting with them often. more than you think tbh.
I have few pair of A20’s And one A10. Sound quality and ANR is almost identical. The A30 is awful as far as sound and ANR in GA. The reviews all over Amazon. I think A20’s is the sweet spot!
I’m really unhappy with my “upgrade” from a20-30. First and foremost, the audio sound is disgusting. My own voice is like talking into an echo chamber, it’s really off putting. Not only does it sound echoey, I can also barely hear myself making it harder to talk naturally. The tap to turn off noise cancellation is a total joke. Bumping it on anything, like a visor cuts out an ear cup and your left with one ear on and the other off. Even landing the Ejet and placing the nose wheel down somewhat gently will be enough of a bump to trigger the ANC drop out. (You can turn it on and off via a switch under the batteries). I am also getting head pressure headaches from the dense foam pads on top, much worse then the a20’s. Granted my head is relatively big. The smooth feel plastic material is much less durable then the a20’s, shows every scratch and for $2000 AUD you would think they could braid the cable since EVERY a20 before it has the cable start to deteriorate around the 4 year mark. The downcable on the a30 is even thinner and after one single use already shows signs on stress. The ear cups are still synthetic and going to fail like all Bose ear cups. You can buy lamb’s leather replacement ear cups off Amazon. Why the hell can’t the TOP model BOSE be supplied with real leather - or a material that doesn’t flake!!!!!!! The audio controller comes with a silicon band to help “hang” the controller. The silicon goes OVER the Bluetooth volume buttons. Piss poor effort for the most expensive headset on the market. It’s like an after thought!! Im keen to know if anyone else is experiencing audio like they are talking into a tin can/ echo. (5 pin XLR, embraer 190 tested only). The hot swappable L and R mic position is nice. And I can ONLY HOPE they have improved the mic wiring so that it’s not a cable twisting every time you swivel the mic up and down as it was on the a20 but I have my doubts. (The UFlyMike as an example - has a microphone connection that facilitates endless 360 degree loops, you can pop it off and replace it in
I have started my flight school with A30 and they are Rolls Royce of headsets. I haven't experienced any issue that you have mentioned! The silicon band does not cover bluetooth buttons as it should be put from the under not from the top of controller (check instruction manuals before spitting on internet).
@@lovro1239 I just replied and re-read what I posted regarding my review. I deleted my reply as I was repeating myself. I’ll start again. My review is making a direct comparison from 7500 hours in a20’s to brand new a30’s. You are indeed correct about the silicon strap. I learnt this after watching other reviews and several people making the same mistake. The strap is at the VERY bottom of my concerns, nor do I use it. Everything else I said about the headset stands. I am sincerely sorry I offended you, you took it as a personal attack on BOSE. Im sorry I spat on the internet by sharing my upgrade experience! A fellow professional and experienced pilot I flew with TODAY reported the EXACT same disappointment in his $2090 AUD purchase. What aircraft are you flying? How many hours a month are you flying? How long are your sectors? What pin configuration are you using? Are you using batteries or the aircraft power? How many hours did your a20’s last - did the down cable Fray? Did the battery door strap break? Did the battery door rubber turn flakey? Did the ear cups fall to pieces? Did the microphone boom cable fail (most do as the cable is just rubbing and TWISTING every time you put the boom up and down). Did the cable between ear cups fray? You have accused a full time professional jet pilot of spitting on the internet by nature of cherry picking one point from my entire conversation, so feel free to answer my above questions with regard to your previous experience with other headsets and use of the headset.
@@ibsn87 First of all I didn't get offended and I do found your experience of the upgrade in the headsets to be interesting to know and didn't want to accuse you for such a dumb thing on how to put silicon strap, that was simply a pure example from you to how not to read instructions and to be funnier that was done by full time professional jet pilot. Other thing to mention is that I paid 2500 AUD (converted from EUR to AUD) here in Europe for A30 so please don't complain about price for that thing where you bought in your country. I am flying C172N for about 30 hours a month (just started flying). My longest sector was 3 hours. GA plugs with batteries. I don't and haven't own A20, my first ever headsets are A30. It doesn't really matter if your have 10k hours or more, because I didn't ran any issues that you mentioned with my A30 from very beginning in the use of headsets that you mentioned, as it looks like from the first post. I gave my instructor (who is 75 year old retired from commercial pilot who has been flying for 56 years now) to try my A30 and he was very very very impressed with them. If I was in your place I would contact Bose support and try to figure out to solve the issue if you haven't done already.
I'm having weirdness with my A30's in my Glasair Sportsman. Feels like the ANC isn't as good, and that I have weird instances where it feels like ANC drops out in one ear or another randomly. Comfort wise they're better than my A20s, but the ANC thing is bugging me.
Excluding the drop of ANC (supposed to be related to the side effect of tap function, that can be disabled), could you confirm that the A20 has a better isolation (passive+ANC) with or without sunglasses than the A30 ? Regards
it's not. the ANR is roughly the same as the A20... however it accomplishes the feat with less clamping force so I guess you could argue it is better than that in the A20 but then trades the advantage for less clamping force. bottom line: they are same level of quiet.
Really good and unbiased review, which is lost art nowadays! Specifically, your comparison between the two shared some interesting points that others didn't cover. Apparently, the A30 has less clamping force and a lower center of gravity, resulting in less neck pain after long usage. Whether this is a marketing stunt or over-engineering, I'm not sure, but have you noticed any difference after long usage, or is it rather negligent.
as someone who also games, and therefore uses a gaming headset for damn near 6 or8 hours at a time on some days, or more, on a weekend. I can assure you the lighter the better and the less clamp the better for 1 hour it's like you don't notice but after a few hours, you will be fidgeting with them often. more than you think tbh.
Nice review!
How do you feel about the carrying case? I was attracted to the A20 carrying case and was let down with the lack of outer pockets on the A30s.
I have few pair of A20’s And one A10. Sound quality and ANR is almost identical. The A30 is awful as far as sound and ANR in GA. The reviews all over Amazon. I think A20’s is the sweet spot!
I’m really unhappy with my “upgrade” from a20-30. First and foremost, the audio sound is disgusting. My own voice is like talking into an echo chamber, it’s really off putting. Not only does it sound echoey, I can also barely hear myself making it harder to talk naturally.
The tap to turn off noise cancellation is a total joke. Bumping it on anything, like a visor cuts out an ear cup and your left with one ear on and the other off. Even landing the Ejet and placing the nose wheel down somewhat gently will be enough of a bump to trigger the ANC drop out. (You can turn it on and off via a switch under the batteries).
I am also getting head pressure headaches from the dense foam pads on top, much worse then the a20’s. Granted my head is relatively big.
The smooth feel plastic material is much less durable then the a20’s, shows every scratch and for $2000 AUD you would think they could braid the cable since EVERY a20 before it has the cable start to deteriorate around the 4 year mark. The downcable on the a30 is even thinner and after one single use already shows signs on stress.
The ear cups are still synthetic and going to fail like all Bose ear cups. You can buy lamb’s leather replacement ear cups off Amazon. Why the hell can’t the TOP model BOSE be supplied with real leather - or a material that doesn’t flake!!!!!!!
The audio controller comes with a silicon band to help “hang” the controller.
The silicon goes OVER the Bluetooth volume buttons. Piss poor effort for the most expensive headset on the market. It’s like an after thought!!
Im keen to know if anyone else is experiencing audio like they are talking into a tin can/ echo. (5 pin XLR, embraer 190 tested only).
The hot swappable L and R mic position is nice. And I can ONLY HOPE they have improved the mic wiring so that it’s not a cable twisting every time you swivel the mic up and down as it was on the a20 but I have my doubts. (The UFlyMike as an example - has a microphone connection that facilitates endless 360 degree loops, you can pop it off and replace it in
I have started my flight school with A30 and they are Rolls Royce of headsets. I haven't experienced any issue that you have mentioned! The silicon band does not cover bluetooth buttons as it should be put from the under not from the top of controller (check instruction manuals before spitting on internet).
@@lovro1239 I just replied and re-read what I posted regarding my review. I deleted my reply as I was repeating myself. I’ll start again.
My review is making a direct comparison from 7500 hours in a20’s to brand new a30’s. You are indeed correct about the silicon strap. I learnt this after watching other reviews and several people making the same mistake. The strap is at the VERY bottom of my concerns, nor do I use it. Everything else I said about the headset stands.
I am sincerely sorry I offended you, you took it as a personal attack on BOSE. Im sorry I spat on the internet by sharing my upgrade experience!
A fellow professional and experienced pilot I flew with TODAY reported the EXACT same disappointment in his $2090 AUD purchase.
What aircraft are you flying?
How many hours a month are you flying?
How long are your sectors?
What pin configuration are you using?
Are you using batteries or the aircraft power?
How many hours did your a20’s last -
did the down cable Fray?
Did the battery door strap break?
Did the battery door rubber turn flakey?
Did the ear cups fall to pieces?
Did the microphone boom cable fail (most do as the cable is just rubbing and TWISTING every time you put the boom up and down).
Did the cable between ear cups fray?
You have accused a full time professional jet pilot of spitting on the internet by nature of cherry picking one point from my entire conversation, so feel free to answer my above questions with regard to your previous experience with other headsets and use of the headset.
@@ibsn87 First of all I didn't get offended and I do found your experience of the upgrade in the headsets to be interesting to know and didn't want to accuse you for such a dumb thing on how to put silicon strap, that was simply a pure example from you to how not to read instructions and to be funnier that was done by full time professional jet pilot. Other thing to mention is that I paid 2500 AUD (converted from EUR to AUD) here in Europe for A30 so please don't complain about price for that thing where you bought in your country. I am flying C172N for about 30 hours a month (just started flying). My longest sector was 3 hours. GA plugs with batteries. I don't and haven't own A20, my first ever headsets are A30. It doesn't really matter if your have 10k hours or more, because I didn't ran any issues that you mentioned with my A30 from very beginning in the use of headsets that you mentioned, as it looks like from the first post. I gave my instructor (who is 75 year old retired from commercial pilot who has been flying for 56 years now) to try my A30 and he was very very very impressed with them. If I was in your place I would contact Bose support and try to figure out to solve the issue if you haven't done already.
I'm having weirdness with my A30's in my Glasair Sportsman. Feels like the ANC isn't as good, and that I have weird instances where it feels like ANC drops out in one ear or another randomly. Comfort wise they're better than my A20s, but the ANC thing is bugging me.
Yep have same issue, i reckon its the clamping force.
@@AV8R767 even with flyingeyes optics sunglasses I have issues, which kinda bums me out.
Excluding the drop of ANC (supposed to be related to the side effect of tap function, that can be disabled), could you confirm that the A20 has a better isolation (passive+ANC) with or without sunglasses than the A30 ?
Regards
@@jeromehugues A20s work better for me even without ANC on because I feel that they seal better
Make sure the Tap feature is disabled. This would cause one of the Ear Cups to turn off the ANC. Its a little switch inside the control box.
Hello,
Is ANR/isolation is really much better on the A30 (with/without sunglasses) ?
Regards
it's not. the ANR is roughly the same as the A20... however it accomplishes the feat with less clamping force so I guess you could argue it is better than that in the A20 but then trades the advantage for less clamping force. bottom line: they are same level of quiet.
thank you
I was only able to make it to 11 minutes before I became uncontrollably annoyed.
3 minutes and rising...
Made in Mexico v USA re A30 v A20 it seems
I bought the A30. I hate them. Suck in my C182. I cannot make phone calls. I can’t hear the caller and they can’t hear me.