I've been using a pair of Bose X since 2012 which I bought off eBay. Manufacture date is from 2003. A true testament to the quality you get with Bose - a 20 year old ANR headset that is still going strong but definitely showing its age. Exposed wires and uses a 9v battery that only lasts about 5 hours. I'm heavily on the fence for an upgrade to the 30s or a discounted 20, close to a $300 difference and reviews seem to be all over the map for the 30s so far.
Hi, Chris. It was so nice to meet you at Sun 'n Fun in the Bose booth. I was the older gentleman from Tampa who is just starting flying lessons. Since I just bought the A20 back in November I probably won't be upgrading so soon, but it is nice to know what the differences between the A20 and A30 are. Hope you can eventually publish some videos on how you record your audio and video and how you synchronize them for your TH-cam videos that are always very well put together. Thanks again. Al Donn
Thanks for posting the review. I like most of your CFI vids. This review feels very much like you drank the "cool aid" of Bose. I feel it´s over the edge of brand (albeit aviation headsets) fascination right from the beginning and this could result in the viewer (receiver) finding the review unbiased before its even started. Anyways, just sharing.
Well, as a (young) 70 year old who may be returning to flying after a few too many decades. Currently waiting on a Special Issuance. There's a story as to why I was not able to fly for so long...but that's for a different time. So, hopefully, I will be headset shopping before to long. The A30's sound great, look great but at $1299 it's a budget buster for sure, especially being retired. The A20's are probably a more "affordable" option.
I don't know, since Lightspeed came out with the Delta Zulu, I'm thinking Bose needs to up the safety game with a Carbon Monoxide sensor and alert. I didn't hear you mention anything about that so I assume it does not have it. ...which I think is huge.
The 30s looks like a gaming headset, I understand that they could appear lighter, nicer and stuff but I was hoping at least a USB C port with a rechargable battery.
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
@@MikeMike91103 Unfortunately i am not. But even if i was, its a bit more complicated in my situation. Nevertheless there simply is no need for me to get the A30. Still a student so i will have many other opportunities to upgrade in my career i guess ;)
@@js_filming7701 Don't blame you, my first headset was a Flightcom Denali ANR, that carried me through most of my training. I went ANR over Passive, just to cut noise levels, since I was training 2-3 x a week.
Mine arrive tomorrow! I have 10 hours total time toward my PPL, I have been using my flight schools David Clark H10 they loan to students so I’m super excited to get my own!
Excellent video Mr. Palmer! I'm thoroughly enjoying your ground school as well! Thank you so much for all your hard work to make my Aviation dream become a reality! Will you have a sweepstake for your enrolled ground school students as well? Just curious so I don't miss out on the opportunity. Respectfully, Al USMC
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 😢
CO monitors sure sound nice, but they degrade over time, then need to be recertified. Audio equalization is ok, I think better suited for person who suffer from hearing loss, the audio recording is a nice feature, but nothing like Say again, will fix that. This is my 3rd Bose, owning each generation prior, I can't see using anything else for my day to day. With that said, Lightspeed is a superb headset and would be happy with it as well. I don't need feature rich I need a few things and those few things it must perform very very well.
Downside of light speed is not TSO compliant. So if you fly outside of GA you get in trouble if you get ramp checked and have it. So Bose market is GA but more professional pilots.
Disappointing update consider the price, esp if you have the A20s: No included lithium rechargeable pack (Delta Zulu comes with both lithium and AA packs), no custom audio tuning or CO detector like the delta Zulu. The adjustable ANR is their big feature, but it isn’t worth an upgrade
Very good Chris. Have a fun time at Sun and Fun and enjoy getting away from the snow. I will not be having that chance for a bit. Lots of snow in the western UP of Michigan this year and it doesn't want to quit.
I used the A30 for two legs, one on the 757 and one flight on the 767. I was very dissatisfied with the A30. The ANR would drop out for no reason, there was a constant flutter sound in the left ear which was more pronounced when I would turn my head left or right. Selecting the middle or low ANR setting just sounded like static. The headset was comfortable, but felt it would slide off my head if looking down. Maybe i got a bad one, but I sent it back and ordered the A20.
Chris!!! I remember many conversations with you too many years ago to remember (me as Turbine777). I hope all is incredible for you these days! Hate to now break into a question, but 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? Stay safe bud!
I'm a pilot with over 500 hours. Just bought me a pair of the A30s ... been a forever fan of the iconic David Clarks. I have the DC One-X too. The Bose A30 has excellent noise cancelation, but the voice is more tinny and metallic than from the One-X. I would probably choose the One-X over the A30s. They're cheaper too, great ANC and extraordinarily comfortable. I will say that the control module on the A30 is better designed.
Bose can bluetooth two items, phone and tablet. I don’t think the others can do this. Correct me if I’m wrong about this. I’ve got the A20 and my wife needs a headset. Hmmm… A20, A30, Zulu, Sierra, DC, hmmm…
It does sound more crisp than the A20, and it may be a matter of mike placement, but it's very "breathy" when you speak. It's probably more sensitive and so it's picking up your breathing as you speak. It also sounds very "poppy" . It's very obvious that the voice activation is cutting in when you start to speak. I was finding that very distracting. The A20 was less pronounced in that aspect.
Appreciate your videos so much! I'm 69 with one hour of flight training from 25 years ago. I have recently gained an interest in returning to classes and have started doing my own reading for "ground school". Because it's easy for me to feel overwhelmed, I might end up signing up with you for this. I'm thinking doing ground school before the actual flight lessons would be best. Wondering about buying this headset although some say it's wiser to get cheaper ones to start and upgrade later. However, with my tinnitus and hearing loss, I'm thinking I need all the help I can get. Noise cancelling will help with my struggle to separate sounds so I can focus. Quick question. Is there some place I can download checklists (such as preflight) for a Cessna 172? I wanna get all that down too, now. Thanks for all your work. I'm a regular subscribed viewer.
Just because it's new doesn't make it better. I own both A20 and the A30 and while the A30 has some improvements over the old model, I don't think there's enough difference to warrant spending $1250. If you own the A20's keep em. Yes the new model is lighter and has a selector for how much noise cancelling you may want (I'm not sure why this is important unless you're a test pilot) but the sound quality has been described as brighter. I call the sound quality tinny. If you listen to music while you fly, you'll be disappointed in the music sound quality compared to the A20. And finally, clamping pressure is somewhat less in the A30. There is an issue I'm going to take up with Bose. When you quickly turn your head left or right ther's a stange whoosing sound that definately doesn't exist in the A20.
I appreciate your write up here. I've been using a pair of Bose X for 12 years and right when I felt the time was right to upgrade to the 20s, the 30s were released. It's making me feel as I should get the newest and 'greatest' but my gut is telling me the 20s are the better choice still after reading many comments like yours. Further, I read that Bose no longer has a dedicated aviation division, and the 30s were developed and marketed entirely under the consumer electronics division. Makes sense since they look so similar to the QC line.
Major dissappointment… this does not look like a decade worth of engineering went into this.. they could have atleast put a rechargeable battery.. lightspeed zulu delta is way better value for money
Thanks for the review👍✌️😊 I did wonder if Bose would release an A30, as the QC's have been updated last year etc. A20s started in 2017 or was it before? I loose track of time, they've tweaked it over time of course. The A30's look more like QC's🤔🤔✌️ In the UK Bose spares and service are great. David Clark's One X's are great, so are the new Lightspeed Delta's, but service in the UK is sketchy. Lightspeed has stolen a lead, but they've not made their app Android friendly etc. Bose needed to catch up👍🤞✌️🤔😇😉 Shame they've not provided armoured wiring like the Lightspeeds, although the quick release on the mic is good.
don't listen to the haters! your video production quality is amazing, your review was super comprehensive, helpful, and informative. keep doing what you're doing!
Absolutely love your channel. Been a follower since almost the beginning! Keep up the great work, but your "CLEAR" in this video was a little weak. JK, could tell you were a little under the weather. Hope you're feeling better!
Man, love you, but sorry, this does not seem like an upgrade worthy of upgrading. Unless you don' town a pair yet, then maybe get these because they truly have improved features. For me, the best thing about them is that they've lowered the price of the 20s.
is this really not a paid commercial? I honestly can't see any "new technology" in the headset compared to the A20. well done video and appreciate all you do , but honestly there is nothing majorly new in this headset - it should not be marked ase bose A30 but maybe rather a A20+, ultra or whatever :D
Adjusting to different noise canceling levels? That doesn’t make any sense at all. Why should you ever turn the noise canceling down? There is virtually no noise outside of the headset/ in the cockpit that you want or need to hear… I really don’t like useless functions
I tried the Bose 10 on the 737 a few years ago, for me it was to much noise canceling at the time, couldn’t hear the engines at all when moving thrust levers. I’m looking forward to trying these A30’s with different noise canceling levels. I’m hoping its amazing.
I wouldn’t call this review. A review also talks about the negatives or things which you’d like to be changed for improvement. I’d say things Bose needs: Kevlar cable A USB Type C instead of the ancient one on the controller. The use of rechargeable 18650 batteries that can be recharged via USB Type C Carbon monoxide indicator the lightspeeds have Bose app on both android and Apple that allows you to record and playback ATC Better quality materials like magnesium that lightspeeds have More competitive pricing For this price I’d want it to be Made in USA. Overall, looks like a great headset…but unfortunately it’s a lazy update from Bose after almost 13 years since the release of the A30. If lightspeed TSOd their headsets, I’d definitely buy a Zulu Delta over this. At least lightspeed tries to innovate.
Yup, all he did was praise the newest product, which is what every youtube reviewer does to gain popularity.. My guess is bose left the magnesium on the A20 and went for more plastic here in the A30. Made in USA would have been great but nothing is really made here anymore, even Oakleys used to say Made in USA but now say Designed in USA Bose app would be great but quality will suffer
@@technicalactivity I did watch on another channel where it wasn't just praise. It's a shame, I wish there would be another company that TSO their headsets, but also innovate. I wish Sennheiser would return or Beyerdynamic...or if Sony got into the aviation market.
@@mtadc1545 agreed, Sony would be really impressive.. they have dominated the sound space for quality and value in the past. I was going to buy the lightspeeds if they were TSOd, bigger cups sound awesome. Especially if I could wear sunglasses under them if they weren’t as tight Oh well i guess
@@technicalactivity I've had the Zulu PFX upon release. INSANE ANC quality. Build quality is amazing. But it takes 4 batteries which run out in less than 20 hours and the ear seals are AWFUL quality which wear out even if you rarely use them. I've been literally waiting till Bose releases this headset since...and it's ridiculous how after all these years...this was what they could be bothered with. I know so many people who would buy Lightspeed if they were TSOd. But Lightspeed doesn't seem to listen to the market.
@@angleofattack I also used to be a professional flight instructor, but I never once used the word "professional" in any of my online videos or adverts, as boasting about yourself kind of makes you look stupid.
@@Nicky_Nacky_Nooo Whoa. We have a bada$$ here……. Chris, you keep doing what you’re doing. Flying, training, teaching, continuing to master your craft. Don’t even think about worrying about this guy who has little more than a recipe for chicken.
@@brennenfitzgerald Just keep watching your Lawnmower sound effect videos instead of jumping into other peoples comments and i'm sure you'll be just fine 🤣
@@Nicky_Nacky_Nooo I’ll sleep through my tinnitus perfectly fine while you mix your next batch of fried chicken. Cole slaw and biscuits with that, by the way.
I've been using a pair of Bose X since 2012 which I bought off eBay. Manufacture date is from 2003. A true testament to the quality you get with Bose - a 20 year old ANR headset that is still going strong but definitely showing its age. Exposed wires and uses a 9v battery that only lasts about 5 hours. I'm heavily on the fence for an upgrade to the 30s or a discounted 20, close to a $300 difference and reviews seem to be all over the map for the 30s so far.
Hi, Chris. It was so nice to meet you at Sun 'n Fun in the Bose booth. I was the older gentleman from Tampa who is just starting flying lessons. Since I just bought the A20 back in November I probably won't be upgrading so soon, but it is nice to know what the differences between the A20 and A30 are. Hope you can eventually publish some videos on how you record your audio and video and how you synchronize them for your TH-cam videos that are always very well put together. Thanks again. Al Donn
Thanks for posting the review. I like most of your CFI vids. This review feels very much like you drank the "cool aid" of Bose. I feel it´s over the edge of brand (albeit aviation headsets) fascination right from the beginning and this could result in the viewer (receiver) finding the review unbiased before its even started. Anyways, just sharing.
Well, as a (young) 70 year old who may be returning to flying after a few too many decades. Currently waiting on a Special Issuance. There's a story as to why I was not able to fly for so long...but that's for a different time.
So, hopefully, I will be headset shopping before to long.
The A30's sound great, look great but at $1299 it's a budget buster for sure, especially being retired. The A20's are probably a more "affordable" option.
The clear propeller really 😂 made me laugh. Vocalise first. Great video. As always, thank you.
I don't know, since Lightspeed came out with the Delta Zulu, I'm thinking Bose needs to up the safety game with a Carbon Monoxide sensor and alert. I didn't hear you mention anything about that so I assume it does not have it. ...which I think is huge.
The 30s looks like a gaming headset, I understand that they could appear lighter, nicer and stuff but I was hoping at least a USB C port with a rechargable battery.
why not just use rechargeable, I feel that if you have a proprietary battery you can be stuck without use of ANC if the battery dies.
@@MikeMike91103 swap batteries like a go pro
Or maybe make it 18650 battery compatible
@@franciscomanrique1822 yeah... minor detail. I keep like 6 AA batteries with me anyway for headsets or flashlights
@@FlyingNDriving lol try finding that @ a FBO
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 just bought the A20 and i see no real reason why i should switch to the A30. Yeah, the design is dope but thats about it. Loving my A20s
My instructor told me 1 week ago that the bose's are around R24 100( south african rands ) and it blew my mind😳
if you are in the return window, it may be worth the upgrade. I plan on moving up in planes, so I think A30's can follow me
@@MikeMike91103 Unfortunately i am not. But even if i was, its a bit more complicated in my situation.
Nevertheless there simply is no need for me to get the A30. Still a student so i will have many other opportunities to upgrade in my career i guess ;)
A20s are still a great headset.
@@js_filming7701 Don't blame you, my first headset was a Flightcom Denali ANR, that carried me through most of my training. I went ANR over Passive, just to cut noise levels, since I was training 2-3 x a week.
Great video! May be a stupid question but what chord do you use to connect your headphones to get audio when you fly?
Mine arrive tomorrow! I have 10 hours total time toward my PPL, I have been using my flight schools David Clark H10 they loan to students so I’m super excited to get my own!
How do you like them?
Great review. I bought them. How did you record yourself in the cockpit?
Thanks for sharing. How can you record your conversation with ATC instructions?
Excellent video Mr. Palmer! I'm thoroughly enjoying your ground school as well! Thank you so much for all your hard work to make my Aviation dream become a reality!
Will you have a sweepstake for your enrolled ground school students as well? Just curious so I don't miss out on the opportunity.
Respectfully,
Al USMC
A very pleasant vidéos I love
Go ahead and enter!
@@angleofattack I already did 👍. Have a great weekend!
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 😢
Yeah but this is Bose, that'll be $1300 please
CO monitors sure sound nice, but they degrade over time, then need to be recertified. Audio equalization is ok, I think better suited for person who suffer from hearing loss, the audio recording is a nice feature, but nothing like Say again, will fix that. This is my 3rd Bose, owning each generation prior, I can't see using anything else for my day to day. With that said, Lightspeed is a superb headset and would be happy with it as well. I don't need feature rich I need a few things and those few things it must perform very very well.
@@MikeMike91103 we probably could argue about all these points but I think an app with built-in recording feature should have been a must in 2023!
Downside of light speed is not TSO compliant. So if you fly outside of GA you get in trouble if you get ramp checked and have it. So Bose market is GA but more professional pilots.
@@egonzalez0126 I don’t know if that’s true. I fly 135 and lots of guys I work with use lightspeeds. And I know 121 guys that use lightspeeds as well.
Disappointing update consider the price, esp if you have the A20s: No included lithium rechargeable pack (Delta Zulu comes with both lithium and AA packs), no custom audio tuning or CO detector like the delta Zulu. The adjustable ANR is their big feature, but it isn’t worth an upgrade
How did you record your voice? It's very clear.
How are you recording your audio with the gopro?
Very good Chris. Have a fun time at Sun and Fun and enjoy getting away from the snow. I will not be having that chance for a bit. Lots of snow in the western UP of Michigan this year and it doesn't want to quit.
I used the A30 for two legs, one on the 757 and one flight on the 767. I was very dissatisfied with the A30. The ANR would drop out for no reason, there was a constant flutter sound in the left ear which was more pronounced when I would turn my head left or right. Selecting the middle or low ANR setting just sounded like static. The headset was comfortable, but felt it would slide off my head if looking down.
Maybe i got a bad one, but I sent it back and ordered the A20.
@@kevinsears1583 how do you like the a20s? I bought a30s and I’m not the happiest with them that the mic kept cutting out mid sentence.
I’m looking forward to passing my checkride and celebrating with these!
Same here 😁
How’s the ANC between the A20 and A30?
Chris!!! I remember many conversations with you too many years ago to remember (me as Turbine777). I hope all is incredible for you these days!
Hate to now break into a question, but 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? Stay safe bud!
regarding the mic swapping ... since the radio signal is mono, couldn't we just turn the A30 over (and rotate the mic to be in front of you) ? 🤔
Unrelated @angleofattack but I was wondering whether you might get matching new seats and now I see them! Incoming video or too mehh of a video?
Yup!!! Coming soon
@@angleofattack sweet, looking forward to it.
Ordered a set of A30's today. Thanks for the review!
Boom!
I ordered on the 28th. Still haven't received shipping confirmation!
Great video as always. I can't make it to Sun-n-Fun, but will be at Oshkosh and hopefully get to see you there. Thanks Chris.
What sunglasses and what watch are you wearing?
are these adjustable for different head sizes? I'm thinking about height..
I'm a pilot with over 500 hours. Just bought me a pair of the A30s ... been a forever fan of the iconic David Clarks. I have the DC One-X too. The Bose A30 has excellent noise cancelation, but the voice is more tinny and metallic than from the One-X. I would probably choose the One-X over the A30s. They're cheaper too, great ANC and extraordinarily comfortable. I will say that the control module on the A30 is better designed.
how did you record your voice through the headset?
Thanks for the review!
I might have to upgrade
Good one, thank you for sharing.
Looks great!
Thanks for the review - we just saw it at fun and sun ☀️ 😊. What day are you going ?
Friday Saturday.
A20 looks nicer
How so?
30s look so much better
Agreed the A20 had a better looking head band
Agreed. The A30 just looks like the QC45 with a mic
Who cares what it looks like lol
Decreased clamping weight and lowering the center of gravity makes a big difference.
Great video!😊
Bose can bluetooth two items, phone and tablet. I don’t think the others can do this. Correct me if I’m wrong about this. I’ve got the A20 and my wife needs a headset. Hmmm… A20, A30, Zulu, Sierra, DC, hmmm…
It does sound more crisp than the A20, and it may be a matter of mike placement, but it's very "breathy" when you speak. It's probably more sensitive and so it's picking up your breathing as you speak. It also sounds very "poppy" . It's very obvious that the voice activation is cutting in when you start to speak. I was finding that very distracting. The A20 was less pronounced in that aspect.
a lot of that is his specific intercom.
Appreciate your videos so much!
I'm 69 with one hour of flight training from 25 years ago. I have recently gained an interest in returning to classes and have started doing my own reading for "ground school". Because it's easy for me to feel overwhelmed, I might end up signing up with you for this. I'm thinking doing ground school before the actual flight lessons would be best.
Wondering about buying this headset although some say it's wiser to get cheaper ones to start and upgrade later. However, with my tinnitus and hearing loss, I'm thinking I need all the help I can get. Noise cancelling will help with my struggle to separate sounds so I can focus.
Quick question. Is there some place I can download checklists (such as preflight) for a Cessna 172? I wanna get all that down too, now.
Thanks for all your work. I'm a regular subscribed viewer.
Amazing headset can’t wait to upgrade to the A30🔥🔥
Good Review!
woohoo...new release A30 headset! some say that once used A20, they never go back to using other brands.
Great Video!
Just because it's new doesn't make it better. I own both A20 and the A30 and while the A30 has some improvements over the old model, I don't think there's enough difference to warrant spending $1250. If you own the A20's keep em. Yes the new model is lighter and has a selector for how much noise cancelling you may want (I'm not sure why this is important unless you're a test pilot) but the sound quality has been described as brighter. I call the sound quality tinny. If you listen to music while you fly, you'll be disappointed in the music sound quality compared to the A20. And finally, clamping pressure is somewhat less in the A30. There is an issue I'm going to take up with Bose. When you quickly turn your head left or right ther's a stange whoosing sound that definately doesn't exist in the A20.
I appreciate your write up here. I've been using a pair of Bose X for 12 years and right when I felt the time was right to upgrade to the 20s, the 30s were released. It's making me feel as I should get the newest and 'greatest' but my gut is telling me the 20s are the better choice still after reading many comments like yours. Further, I read that Bose no longer has a dedicated aviation division, and the 30s were developed and marketed entirely under the consumer electronics division. Makes sense since they look so similar to the QC line.
Thanks, we need more input from those who have both.
You must have a good heater in that bird! ☺️
Good review
.
I'm surprised that in 2023 we still don't have the technology to make headsets completely wireless yet...
Would probably need certifications for each plane type with sensitive equipment
Lightspeed Tango
Wireless is frustrating I think.
Lightspeed has a wireless headset....Tangos I think.
Major dissappointment… this does not look like a decade worth of engineering went into this.. they could have atleast put a rechargeable battery.. lightspeed zulu delta is way better value for money
Except it’s ugly
@@CocoEspada and bulky.. delta zulu owner here. amazing features though
Great 👍...I love it
Chris sounds really sick.
I was.
@@angleofattack I hope you feel better for SNF!
Awesome review. Definitely informative and your explanations made sense. The A30 looks awesome.
I was gonna buy another a20 so i just went and bought the a30.
Thanks for the review👍✌️😊
I did wonder if Bose would release an A30, as the QC's have been updated last year etc. A20s started in 2017 or was it before? I loose track of time, they've tweaked it over time of course. The A30's look more like QC's🤔🤔✌️
In the UK Bose spares and service are great.
David Clark's One X's are great, so are the new Lightspeed Delta's, but service in the UK is sketchy.
Lightspeed has stolen a lead, but they've not made their app Android friendly etc.
Bose needed to catch up👍🤞✌️🤔😇😉
Shame they've not provided armoured wiring like the Lightspeeds, although the quick release on the mic is good.
The Bose A20 was released in 2010... 13 years ago!
Sunglasses/eyeglasses? How’s that affect clamping force. My ears will hurt from the headset pressing my ears into my glasses.
Seems to do everything except, slice and dice and julian fries.😊
don't listen to the haters! your video production quality is amazing, your review was super comprehensive, helpful, and informative. keep doing what you're doing!
Where is your flying school?
"Good things come to people who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them." --
Absolutely love your channel. Been a follower since almost the beginning!
Keep up the great work, but your "CLEAR" in this video was a little weak. JK, could tell you were a little under the weather. Hope you're feeling better!
Thanks man! Yeah, was fighting some nasty stuff but still had to get it done.
What about the draw ? It never happened....
Awesome love the video. Must give the A30 s try.
Man, love you, but sorry, this does not seem like an upgrade worthy of upgrading. Unless you don' town a pair yet, then maybe get these because they truly have improved features. For me, the best thing about them is that they've lowered the price of the 20s.
So you have some?
The big question in this video is how on earth are you able to withstand the snowy weather in short sleeves? 🥶
is this really not a paid commercial? I honestly can't see any "new technology" in the headset compared to the A20. well done video and appreciate all you do
, but honestly there is nothing majorly new in this headset - it should not be marked ase bose A30 but maybe rather a A20+, ultra or whatever :D
This is so paid advertisement ....... lets give the viewers the honesty plz
Adjusting to different noise canceling levels? That doesn’t make any sense at all. Why should you ever turn the noise canceling down? There is virtually no noise outside of the headset/ in the cockpit that you want or need to hear…
I really don’t like useless functions
I tried the Bose 10 on the 737 a few years ago, for me it was to much noise canceling at the time, couldn’t hear the engines at all when moving thrust levers. I’m looking forward to trying these A30’s with different noise canceling levels. I’m hoping its amazing.
@@brians.1357 I understand your point but this feature is useless for GA so no point upgrading from A20
Don’t need a lot of noise candling if there’s not a lot of noise.
I wouldn’t call this review. A review also talks about the negatives or things which you’d like to be changed for improvement.
I’d say things Bose needs:
Kevlar cable
A USB Type C instead of the ancient one on the controller.
The use of rechargeable 18650 batteries that can be recharged via USB Type C
Carbon monoxide indicator the lightspeeds have
Bose app on both android and Apple that allows you to record and playback ATC
Better quality materials like magnesium that lightspeeds have
More competitive pricing
For this price I’d want it to be Made in USA.
Overall, looks like a great headset…but unfortunately it’s a lazy update from Bose after almost 13 years since the release of the A30.
If lightspeed TSOd their headsets, I’d definitely buy a Zulu Delta over this. At least lightspeed tries to innovate.
Yup, all he did was praise the newest product, which is what every youtube reviewer does to gain popularity.. My guess is bose left the magnesium on the A20 and went for more plastic here in the A30.
Made in USA would have been great but nothing is really made here anymore, even Oakleys used to say Made in USA but now say Designed in USA
Bose app would be great but quality will suffer
@@technicalactivity I did watch on another channel where it wasn't just praise.
It's a shame, I wish there would be another company that TSO their headsets, but also innovate.
I wish Sennheiser would return or Beyerdynamic...or if Sony got into the aviation market.
@@mtadc1545 agreed, Sony would be really impressive.. they have dominated the sound space for quality and value in the past.
I was going to buy the lightspeeds if they were TSOd, bigger cups sound awesome. Especially if I could wear sunglasses under them if they weren’t as tight
Oh well i guess
@@technicalactivity I've had the Zulu PFX upon release.
INSANE ANC quality. Build quality is amazing.
But it takes 4 batteries which run out in less than 20 hours and the ear seals are AWFUL quality which wear out even if you rarely use them.
I've been literally waiting till Bose releases this headset since...and it's ridiculous how after all these years...this was what they could be bothered with.
I know so many people who would buy Lightspeed if they were TSOd. But Lightspeed doesn't seem to listen to the market.
@@mtadc1545 agreed 👍🏼 these monopolies aren’t helping anyone
So are you trying to say it's lighter? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Waooo
I'm not sure about this. I think it's the "New Coke" of aviation.
The lack of innovation is extremely disappointing especially for almost 1300 dollars.
Only so far you can go. Pretty incredible all round.
I dont care if I was rich, I wouldn't ever spend 1k on a headset
Now is $1300 😢
It looks cheap and plasticky. David Clark all the way.
It's the noise cancelling for me. Lets you listen more of the traffic
Doesn’t look durable…
Underwhelming.
Much too expensive!
vnnbnbnbnb
Please stop referring to yourself as "master pilot" and "pro pilot".
Except I am. I have a master instructor accreditation, and am in fact a professional pilot. Both things I’ve earned through years of hard work.
@@angleofattack I also used to be a professional flight instructor, but I never once used the word "professional" in any of my online videos or adverts, as boasting about yourself kind of makes you look stupid.
@@Nicky_Nacky_Nooo Whoa. We have a bada$$ here…….
Chris, you keep doing what you’re doing. Flying, training, teaching, continuing to master your craft. Don’t even think about worrying about this guy who has little more than a recipe for chicken.
@@brennenfitzgerald Just keep watching your Lawnmower sound effect videos instead of jumping into other peoples comments and i'm sure you'll be just fine 🤣
@@Nicky_Nacky_Nooo I’ll sleep through my tinnitus perfectly fine while you mix your next batch of fried chicken.
Cole slaw and biscuits with that, by the way.
First
Whoopy do, nobody cares. Grow up.