The wait is over and the groundbreaking new Bose A30 Aviation Headset has hit the market.
The Bose A30 became available to pilots in spring 2023 and marks the most significant and exciting release from Bose’s aviation division since the company introduced its predecessor, the market-leading A20, in 2010.
The arrival of the Bose A30 represents the perfect opportunity for pilots to upgrade. Inspired by decades of research and development, the A30 is Bose’s most advanced aviation headset to date, engineered to perform in the most demanding environments. The A30 has over 25 new and existing U.S. patents, making it one of the most heavily patented products Bose has ever produced.
With an MSRP of $1,249, the Bose A30 is perfect for professional pilots and anyone else who appreciates comfort, unmatched noise cancellation, clear radio exchanges, and durability.
According to Bose, the A30, which includes Bluetooth connectivity, is the industry’s quietest and most comfortable active noise cancelling headset. It can be used in all closed-cockpit aircraft, including military aircraft and helicopters, and is available in six different plug configurations with many other cable and microphone types.
Whether you were already in the market for a new headset or not, you’ll seriously want to consider investing in the Bose A30 because of the leaps in performance that it represents.
How does it compare to the A20
The A30 Aviation Headset is Bose’s most comfortable around-ear aviation headset to
date. Plus, it’s the first-ever around-ear headset with three modes of user selectable
active noise cancellation to meet pilots’ needs in nearly every flying environment.
Compared to the Bose A20 Aviation Headset, the A30 has:
- Enhanced comfort achieved through a purposeful design with quality materials,
redistribution of weight throughout the headset and reduced clamping force.
- Digital active noise reduction with three modes of active noise cancellation.
- Tap control for talk-through communications.
- A thinner, more flexible down cable.
- A swappable down cable (no tools required).
- Storage in a smaller carrying case.
Game-changing comfort
The A30 is a featherweight at just 14.2 oz., but the comfort has as much to do with its unique design and quality materials as it does the light weight.
Some headsets can feel like a vice on your head. That’s because one way to effectively block out cockpit noise is to create a tight fit between the earcups and ears.
Already a leader in comfort, Bose has managed to reduce the clamping force on your head without sacrificing performance at all. In fact, compared to the A20, the A30’s clamping force is 20 percent less.
Additionally, the ear cups are made of soft, plush leather with a proprietary design that conforms to the shape of the user’s ears, providing a comfortable fit and reducing fatigue. The headband is also adjustable, allowing pilots to adjust the fit to their individual head size for maximum comfort. This is important for pilots who spend many hours in the cockpit and need to remain focused and alert throughout their flight.
The boom mic and cable can be mounted on either side of the headset without using any tools.
Furthermore, whether you are wearing glasses or an oxygen delivery system does not matter. The A30 is still comfortable and the technology still works, even if it’s not the only thing on your head.
Thanks to its state-of-the-art construction, you’ll barely notice you’re wearing a headset, even on long flights. Being comfortable will allow you to focus your attention where you need it and be the best pilot you can be.
First-of-its-kind cancellation technology
The A30 is the first-ever around-ear aviation headset to feature three modes of user selectable active noise cancellation to accommodate pilot preference or different aircraft environments. There’s nothing else like it on the market.
Active noise cancellation technology uses small microphones to pick up ambient noise and then produces an opposite sound wave to cancel out the noise. This makes it much easier to communicate with air traffic control and other pilots, even in a noisy environment.
Up until now, though, the technology did not permit for much choice or customization. It was either on or off.
Now users can choose from low, medium and high modes.
Low mode improves interpersonal communication outside the intercom. Medium mode is designed for typical jet aircraft and also meets the latest ARINC recommendations for noise reductions in jets. And high mode is great for loud aircraft.
Furthermore, your ears will love the active equalization technology, which meets the latest TSO standard and optimizes incoming sound to enhance intelligibility and clarity.
The headset uses proprietary Bose technology to deliver clear, natural sound that is easy to understand. That’s because the headset mic also features noise cancelling technology so that no matter how loud things are in the background, your radio transmissions are loud and clear on the other end. The A30 allows you to choose from electret and dynamic options, dependent on aircraft ICS type.
Bose chose materials for the A30 carefully, based on function and durability. The headset meets FAA requirements and has TSO C139a approval for design and manufacturing.
It comes with a 5-year warranty.
