BOSE A30: what exactly is different?
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- čas přidán 4. 04. 2023
- Review of the Bose A30 Aviation Headset. What's new? How is the noise cancellation? What's different to the A20? Should you upgrade? I answer the questions you asked in this review of the new pilot headset.
In this Bose A30 Headset Review I look at active noise reduction (ANR), the clamping force, headset design, three ANR modes, and price so you can compare the A20 to the A30 and decide should you upgrade?
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II enjoyed chatting whit you at Avalon. I would be lost without your channel Stefan. You are a credit to aviation here in Australia.
Thank you
Tim
it's a testament to your channel that a company like Bose is willing to give you the product to trial and recommend or not... Good on ya Stefan ... love your work
Thanks Calvin, the fact I have a loyal and informed audience also has a lot to do with that. So thanks back to you.
@@StefanDrury we're always here for you! Keep on keeping on! 🫡
Honestly this seems like a pretty minor update after 12 years. I will not be "upgrading" my A20s but could possibly consider buying a pair of A30s in the future if the A20s are no longer available. I was expecting a bit more from all the hyped up "future of aviation" teasers that I was seeing in my Instagram feed.
Thanks. The succinct compressed edit keeps up the pace but gives all the info I want. Excellent piece. With 7 A20s I was keen to get a sense on what I and my passengers might be missing
Thanks Tim, I just wanted to focus on the facts for this one. Glad you found it useful.
I bought A30, used A20 last 10 years. Agree with all features mentioned in video, except ANR (digital one), it's significantly worse than A20 ANR (analog). Lot's of noise, like sough stays, and that's really dissapointing. The biggest advantage of A20 was noise cancelling, and they fucked up it with A30.
Love your content, Stef! Another practical review, thank you!
Just found your channel researching headsets ... finishing my Sport Pilot and just bought a G3/600 . Love how you relay your info! Dont let the negative Nancy's drag ya down.
Great review Stef, always love the way of your video cut! 👍🏼 Personally, I prefer the A20 design over the new A30. Actually, I think we might now purchase another A20, as prices go down fast and the noise cancellation is still great.
NGL they do look quite comfy! Looking forward to the in flight review, I’m interested in how much better the ANC will be.
This is by far the most comprehensive description, unboxing and above all review of the Bose A30. I'm sold. Never owned any Aviation Series Headsets, I knew A20 was the Mecca of Headsets, and now with the new A30, I am now sold. Thank you Stefan for your amazing content. You have my unwavering support from Nairobi.
#NewSky
Thanks Tim, I wanted to keep this simple and to the point, glad that you’ve found it useful when making a decision on a headset. Hello back to Nairobi 👋
The answer to the last question was pitch perfect. Absolutely right!
Thanks Adam 🙏
Great and honest video as always Stef!
Thank you Grant, hope you found it useful 🐄
"Love the detailed review! I'm definitely upgrading to the A30s for more comfort and digital noise canceling!"
Brilliant review!
If you get a new set for your primary be good to heat a long term review. Keep up the hard work love the channel
Thanks Ian, yes if I start to fly regularly with the A30s I can do a long-term review for sure.
Great video. Currently in US the A30s just went up to 1300$.
have been using the bose A30,s for a couple of weeks . going back to the sennheiser headphones . even the latest DC head phones appear [sound better] better . Plus not so clampy around the head . But thank you for the comparison between the bose .
good vid, thank you for the review
Thanks Cameron, glad you found that useful.
Thanks for the video
Great video Stef!
Thanks JBA
hello great vid did you check if there is a weight difference
Finally a good review. The rest are just “adds” about why we should by rather than a true comparison. 95% of us are looking to upgrade from the a20
I bought the A30 because of my PAX headset. The noise from the DK into the mike was horrible for the intercoms. With the A20 and A30, the intercoms are crystal clear.
Completely unrelated question I’ve had for a while, how do you work out how much fuel you need for a short flight (traffic patterns, touch and gos, even just 30 minute scenic flights you might not know how far you’ll fly)? Other than that great video again Stef, looking forward to a review when you get them for yourself.
30 mins of flying x blockfuel rate, plus required reserves. That’s it.
The operating handbook of planes have performance charts that account for weight, wind, and several other factors. They’re unique to different models of planes, and occasionally to individual planes if they’ve been modified.
Relying on a rental fuel rate is imprecise, and potentially unsafe. You’re trusting somebody else’s math and business sense
Here’s a doozy. As a newish pilot looking for my first headset, what do you reckon? A20 or A30? I’m sold on Bose but not sure which to go. Is there a hands down opinion of yours or is it one of those “what works for you” kind of thing?
I’ve got my one coming soon.
Did you notice much change in the cable?
That was the weakest point of the A20.
Myself and all of my colleagues had problems with the cable started to peel off in various part of the headset (usually close to the control).
Finally, a worthy review. All the other YT pylots have made some crap reviews tbh, and they know it lol. Thanks!
Glad you found it useful Eric. Thanks for watching.
Tried them on few flights.
Still prefer my A20’s.
Also, the mic length is shorter on the new model, which makes it hard to have it close to your mouth (if you have a wider head)
Any improvements on the A30 that would assist the hearing impaired?
Nice review. I’ve heard from other reviews that there is a sound/tone difference from the A20 to the A30, saying that the A30 sounds more “tinny” and has a decreased audible quality as compared to the A20. Do you find this to be true from your in-flight testing? How does the mic quality compare? Some have said you have to have the foam nearly touching your lips for it to pick up without dropouts. What is your take on this?
wow decreased sound quality + lower ANR quality compared to A20s seem a huge drawback for me ... wondering if I should buy the A20s instead of the A30s then 🤔🤔
The a30 is 14oz, the older a20 is 12oz, it’s actually lighter but again, different weight placement. I’m a 737 driver and not completely sold on it yet. Very tinny sound vs the a20. Less clamp but I do get a pressure shudder feel in the ear cup if I look to far down, to verify an ILS or ATC freq…
As if the headset doesn’t like that position. Electrical interference, I believe, it’s happened on several aircraft. Was also hoping for more significant changes. Love the head cushion but for $1300?…..
All I can hear is Russell Brand talking about the new Bose A30... ;) Excellent review!
How about the build quality compared to other headsets?
Do you have to wear a matching tshirt?
Do you ever compared it with Lightspeed delta zulu, DC One-X, or other well-known headsets? I'm wondering which one would be the most comfy headset to your head since day one after it is out of box.
Does it look like you can replace those headband pads when they wear out?
TG…you’re very welcome! Enjoy your A20’s!
When the batteries go flat what is the passive noise reduction like ?
Do they work as Bluetooth headphones, connected to your phone, even while using them in the plane. If so, how does it work with music playing and talking over the radios?
I currently have the David Clark One-X, and thinking of upgrading to the A30s ... music listening is terrible in the DC One-X, so is Audio music same quality as the QC 45 for example on the A30s ? 🤔
Hi :) What about Bose Proflight Series 2? How do they compare to the A30?
What do you think is it worth to buy a20 with a discount which is 1180 eur or new a30 which is 1380 eur ?
Thank you Stef, as usual good review. I love my David Clark’s I’m very attached to them. 😊 I’ll save the money for my PPL(A) flying hours.
Thanks Wasif, I'l always have a soft spot for that green headset. Did me very well over the years.
hi, if the bose a 30 is not connected to the plane, can I make a call through them using the bluetooth unit and 2 batteries?
Hey Stef, I love the channel and the videos.
I am going to ask you a non-aviation related question
In the background of one the shots in the video I saw a book The Secret Life of Cows.
I am planning to read the book. How is it?
Keep up the good work!
It’s a fun book, about the family interactions and personalities of cows. If you love cows, like I do, it’s a wonderful book.
@@StefanDrury Ohh thank you, I will surely check it out.
Is there a Hypoallergenic option? Many people, including myself, react to some synthetics.
I personally think the A20's look so much better. But the quality overall, the A30 is still a great buy.
I fly behind a high revving Rotax. It makes a racket. I wonder if the a30 has better anc than the a20 at those frequencies.
Question for the next video: The ANC plug in the Cirrus, how does that work compared to what the headsets do? Is it just a case of it providing power to the headsets for the noise cancelling functionality (so you don't need batteries) or something else? I didn't realise you had that function and always assumed you used the standard Mic plugs.
Good question - yes it’s basically a single plug that provides audio connections for the headset and mic, as well as phantom power for the ANC.
The LEMO plug options work great
How noice canceling compare to Bose qc 45 and Sony Sony 1000xm5 ?
have you tried to use the A30 non in aviation, but with PC / Mobile (either wired or bluetooth?)
My family and I had been using faro blah blah blah PNRs. If you have nothing, buy the A30s. I guess if you have A20 already, maybe don’t upgrade. We just flew CA to TX ~8hrs and no fatigue.
There is a micro USB port under the batteries that will power the ANR.
also do your ears get hot if you wear it for long?
Did one flight with A30, One thing i found really annoying is that if you move your jaw a bit more than usual , it will create reving/popping noise. which can be very cumber some while eating food.
I have both and done testing. I hear and feel no real difference between the A20 and A30. In fact, the noise reduction is maybe slightly better with A20. Both are good but no need to spend more for A30.
Exactly, noise reduction is better on A20! Thats sad, as I was expecting opposite.
Agreed
how reparable are they? the A20s can be taken appart and anything can be replaced. this new design seems to be more tightly integrated, like the headband pads for example seem to be permanently attatched (if so that's not great for an item that should easily last you 20 years)
I'm a working flight instructor (formerly from Melbourne but now living in Detroit). I've had the A20's since 2017 and when the A30's were introduced this year, I decided to treat myself to an upgrade. While hoping to see improvements, unfortunately, I was very underwhelmed with the A30. Admittedly, it was more comfortable than the A20; however the biggest detractor to me was the A30's active noise reduction. It's simply not as effective (not as much reduction) compared to the A20's. Even with the 3 step reduction. Only the highest (3) somewhat works and even that is not enough! That's a real deal-breaker when you're flying noisy 'piston-pounders' as I do. Also, the sound quality in the A30, is inferior to the A20's. The A30's sound 'tinnier/hollower'. Others on pilot forums have reported the same findings.
Of lesser importance, aesthetically, the A30's look like a pair of QC45's with a microphone stuck on. They definitely look cheaper than the A20's. The inside of the case is light grey and it marks easily too as the headset rubs the lining when in the case.
I spend up to 8 hours a day flying/instructing and the A30's simply didn't do it for me. I ended up returning them for a refund, and I have stuck with my A20's. I'm glad I had the opportunity to trial the A30's, but I'm happy with my decision to keep the A20's. The grass is NOT greener. Don't believe the hype! My advice is to find a pair of A20 Bluetooth while you can!
Thank you for the comprehensive review and time it took to write, it was enough for me to go with the A20s.
I have never tried the A20’s but being that I have already purchased the A30’s, I personally have no complaints. Then again I am just flying cessnas around with friends and family but for me having not compared the 2 I love the A30’s.
Very experienced pilot here. I’ve used every Bose aviation headset from the Xs to the A20s (Navajo, King Air and Beech 1900) and even the pro flight (B737). I tried the Uflymic on my Bose QC35 on the 737 and currently fly the A320. The uflymic setup on my QC35s is by far superior to the aviation headsets and a fraction of the cost. The QC35s are lighter, more comfortable, can be worn longer with less clamping force and can be charged via an external battery pack within minutes. The best part is I can use it without the mic as a passenger or even in the gym/recreationally.
I love Bose headsets but do yourself a favour and save significant money and try the uflymic setup. So much more versatile
I tried some QC35s but theor noise cancellation wasn't as good as my A20s, so I'll stick to those until more advanced noise cancellation comes out on their consumer headsets.
I also find that when I fly with pilots using u-fly mics, they pick up more background noise (hiss) that I have to listen to.
i wear glasses and always have a problem with headphones hurting my ears. how are these?
As a Canadian, I'm feeling left out in your price comparison. Otherwise great video
Haha, my apologies Ty. I’ve just looked it up and especially for you, they are CAD$1329.
A20 = $1,450 CDN + HST. A30 = $1,700 + HST
No one ever compares these to Bose non-aviation headphones. I'm an audiophile and just curious to how these would compare to their Quiet comfort 2's? That's some of their best headphones in both noise canceling and overall awesomeness. I can't help but wonder if they're hosing pilots out there since if they can afford a plane, they would pay for A30's, haha. I love my Bose, but just need to know how they sound compared to what I mentioned, since their best normal headphones are $500, does the additional $700 at least have the same audio sweetness?
Does Bose offer a trade in or upgrade option for people who currently have the A20? I was wondering if it would be possible to trade in the A20 headset to Bose for an A30 or a discount on the A30 headset?
From what I’ve seen there’s no trade in option from A20 to A30.
If you are a brand new flight student and want to invest in something that will last a long time, which do you recommend? If I can buy a pair of A20s for $800 USD should I? Or should I just go for the A30s?
Do the A30s support BT connection to your phone or music?
Yes
I have not tried the A30ˋs
From all the reviews on CZcams I have came to a couple conclusions
1- A30’s don’t have a noticeable ANR difference to the A20’s
2- A30’s clamping force is similar to the aviation X
3- A30’s medium setting is similar noise cancellation to the aviation x
I own a couple of A20’s and Aviation X’s
Unless one of them breaks down I have no need for the new A30’s
One thing I must add my Aviation X are over 10 years old and work perfectly well.
That’s a testament to Bose quality
Honesty is this worth it?
There is a usb plug in the dongle that will allow you to power the headset without batteries
Hey Stefan 🙋🏻♂️
Hey
Still no app to record ATC like you get with Lightspeed.
Not at this stage from what I can see, no.
Hey Stef this question is not about the headset, but about what you carry in your flight bag. As always thanks for the great content.
If you're buying a headset, I suppose going for the A30 is the right thing. But if you already own a pair of working A20, probably shouldn't bother to make the upgrade.
Literally bought A20s two weeks ago.
I will 1000% buy these solely because of the lessened clamping force because I have a GIANT head…. Thats all i needed to know
Got these for free. My flight school ordered them for me because I’m using some military benefits
Hmmm, the difference between the A20's and A30's, about $200. Were there $200 worth of "new and improved" or just $200 more of marketing?
the only thing that I dont like about bose headsets is that MASSIVE controller that's halfway down the cord. my instructor has to keep his controller between his legs cus it's always getting in the way.. I dont have that problem with my 30 dollar pair of amazon non ANR headset. i'm not flying anything as fancy as the cirrus, i fly a small light sport plane. would be nice with the technology that bose has put into these, they should have most of the controls on each ear cup. if it can be done on bluetooth headsets that cost 50 bucks can be done on a 1200 dollar headset
Bose... Give him a free set of the A30 to keep!!
The comparison at 1:46 is inaccurate the a30 is on the left and the a20 is on the right
I’ve got two pair of A20s - one for primary, and the other for a passenger/spare. I’ll upgrade one pair soon. C’mon, Stef - do your daughter a big favour and let her use a new pair of A30s, while you use your A20s - that’ll make up for the times she had to fly with the old pair 😂
As someone who just likes watching aviation on youtube: holy shit those are some expensive headphones. My upper-end noise canceling Bluetooth headphones were in the 300-400 usd range.
Anyone who has A30 confirmed that the audio quality is worse than in A20 as well as noise cancelling.
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
Your top cushions wouldn't get grubby after a while if you washed your hair more than once a week.
I’m really disappointed by the design 😢 in my opinion it looks like normal non aviation bose headphones and I don’t like that simple cheap look. Idk the ring around the ear cuff is aomething I really like 🤷🏼♂️
It seems absurdly ridiculous to pay ~$1700 AUD for a set of wired ANC headphones with a mic when you pick up non-aviation ANC headphones for less than half that price with just as good sound quality. Is it because BOSE knows people will pay that much or are they really worth the money?
Did you know they can now use lithium batteries too and the cord is thinner.
Welcome to 2023... where we choose between flight time or headsets... something isn't right.
😱🤔🤔🤔too expensive for clamping
Answer : $$$$
This headset is so expensive
In summary very marginal improvements but if you need new ones they're fine but so are your A20's
Use it as a PC mic lol
Please don’t ever wear your headset walking around the airplane with cord dangling and looking silly. If you insist though, you must also wear a jet fighter pilot suit, your knee board attached and aviator sunglasses.
Still a lot of weight…
No different just more money
Very disappointing 🥲
A30s much much cheaper than a20’s
Everyone talking about weight but the brain is cheap AF as well as
The look sweet - can you wear a helmet over these without modification to the inside of the helmet? These are very intriguing to cut motor noise from open air flying(paramotor).