One of the best ways to help reduce fatigue in the cockpit, and protect your hearing simultaneously, is to wear a quality headset. When I first started flying, there were few options, and we now have a wide variety, satisfying an equally varied pilot preference profile. The singular defining moment in headset technology was the release in 1989 of aviation’s first commercial acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) headset by Bose.
Building on that success, Bose continued to innovate, bringing the Bose X headset to market in 1998, followed by the Bose A20 in 2010. Over the product life of the A20, Bose continued to improve the product, adding Bluetooth connectivity and other features in 2015 and later. Expanding into the super-lightweight market for lower noise environments, such as jets, with their 4.5 oz Bose ProFlight in 2018, followed by the ProFlight Series 2 in 2019, both of which I have reviewed in Twin & Turbine.
I’ve owned every model in Bose’s product line and flown over 10,000 hours with them in pistons, jets, and rotorcraft. Recently Bose offered Twin & Turbine the opportunity to evaluate a new product before its public release at SUN n’ FUN Aerospace Expo. That product is the Bose A30 Aviation Headset. Having flown with the A20 for 12 years and being very pleased with the performance, I wondered how they could improve this successful product.
At first glance, the new model looks very similar to their previous flagship, the A20. A closer look at the headset reveals some physical differences, starting with a redesigned box and case. The weight of the A30 is the same as its predecessor (12 oz/340 g), with the same ear cushions. Beyond that, there are significant differences. The headband is now aluminum and has a sleek black design versus magnesium; the headband cushion is cloth/foam.
Building upon the slimmer (3.5mm) down cable on the ProFlight Series 2, at 4.0 mm, the A30’s cable is nearly 20% smaller than the A20’s. That may sound insignificant; however, I noticed a difference with the cable being easier to handle. Considering that this small cable houses 14 conductors, more than any of its predecessors, it is impressive! The Bose A30 needs this many wires to communicate between the control module and sophisticated technology in the earcups, including new microprocessors. The A30 also incorporates a new, smaller boom microphone similar to the latest ProFlight. It proved to be crystal-clear in both hot-mic and PTT environments.
Another feature based upon the ProFlight, the Bose A30 incorporates a toolless swappable microphone/cable assembly. An improvement over the A20, you can easily install it on either earcup, a feature that previously required a screwdriver to make the switch. It helps simplify cord management, dependent upon crew position.
With the A30, Bose has reduced the head clamping force by 20% over the A20, something definitely noticeable in use. Bose also lowered the center of gravity towards the earcups, reducing the on-head weight by 6 grams. All of these changes result in more comfort for pilots and passengers.
New Control Module
The active technology in the A30 is divided between the earcups, with their external and internal acoustic sensors, internal speakers, microprocessors, and the control module on the down cable. The new module still offers the same features of the A20, including the 3.5mm input jack, with some substantial changes. The apparent external difference is the three-position ANC level selector, similar to the ProFlight. In High, all frequencies are attenuated; selecting Medium reduces cancellation with some frequency shaping. Placing the ANC in Low results in the lowest noise cancellation, however, with a gain in the voice range frequencies (300-3300 Hz) while facilitating external communication. This mode is also activated in a single ear cup by Tap Control, a new feature of the A30, which can be enabled with a switch inside the Control Module.
Inside the Control Module is another new switch – Emergency Revision. In the unlikely event of issues with the headset, selecting this switch will inactivate all functions except attenuation and intercom. If you look closely, you will also note a micro-USB connector. While not discussed in the
documentation, I surmise it is for future software firmware updates in the field.
Tap Control Feature
One of the unique features of the Bose ProFlight is Tap Control which is now integral to the A30. When you want to converse with a passenger or crew without removing your headset, double-tap the outside earcup closest to that person. The ANC isn’t simply reduced to the lowest level; the voice frequencies are enhanced, making it even more effective than removing the headset. This feature is designed primarily for lower-noise environments since it won’t activate in high-noise situations to offer sufficient hearing protection. When the conversation is over, double–tap again, or select a different level of ANC. It couldn’t be simpler.
Flying with the Bose A30
Flying 500-700 hours annually, with some months approaching 100 hours, I have ample opportunity to test the efficacy of headsets in various environments. Some of my flight days are long and occasionally involve different aircraft types in a single day.
In the jets, my go-to headset is the Bose ProFlight Series 2, which is extremely lightweight and great in the lower noise environments of these aircraft. I also fly with my Bose A20s in some of the jets, including the Cirrus Vision Jet, but primarily utilize this headset in turboprop and piston aircraft (airplanes and rotorcraft).
For our first evaluation of the Bose A30, my son Tigre and I decided to test it in our Cessna T206H on a flight through the San Diego Harbor, including a series of takeoffs and landings at our airport, Montgomery-Gibbs (KMYF) in San Diego. The T206 is a great airplane; however, the noise level is exceptionally high on takeoff, which makes it a perfect test environment. When I first put on the A30 in the T206, I could attest that Bose’s claim of a lower clamping force was accurate. The reduced pressure is welcome after having flown with the Bose A20 on some very long days. Headset fit is very personal, and since the ear cup shape is identical to the A20, if the latter fits you, the A30 will also!
The environment of our Cessna T206 proved to be an excellent evaluation test bed for the variable ANC modes. The High level of ANC is comparable or better to the A20’s and offers maximum noise reduction across the entire frequency spectrum. Selecting the Medium level was a different experience, with less ANC but still very useful. In Low, the voice frequencies were increased, and the noise level was substantially higher. Except when necessary to better hear external sounds, pilots would not use anything other than the High ANC in such a noisy environment and turn off Tap Control to prevent activation.
Tigre and I swapped the Bose A20 and A30 headsets throughout the flight for a near-simultaneous comparison. We both felt the ANC was similar; however, I perceived it as better on the A30s. We both remarked on the reduced clamping force of the A30 — but were happy with both units.
On to the Jets
Tigre and I decided our following test environment would be the Citation Jet (CJ), one of the jets we manage and fly. This particular CJ, equipped with the G1000 suite, has one of the quietest cockpits of the jets I’ve flown, similar to the PC-24, measured by our sound meter. The next day we hopped in the CJ on a flight back from Cabo San Lucas to San Diego for the evaluation. In that jet, we have a Bose ProFlight and an A20, another excellent testing environment.
I enjoy the light weight of the ProFlight, which has excellent performance; however, the A20 offers a bit more noise reduction, which makes sense due to the physical mass – although technically, the active ANC in the ProFlight is more advanced. I used the Tap Control with the ProFlight and looked forward to testing the feature in the A30. The comfort of the A30 was excellent on the flight, and I opted to use it as my primary headset. We tested all modes of ANC. Sometimes it was difficult for us to consistently activate the Tap Control, which works best if you double-tap with your fingernail directly on the earcup. It was almost easier for us to select Low on the ANC level control switch. We both felt that keeping the ANC in High was the best mode for us, except when talking to our passengers, primarily due to the cancellation across all frequencies.
We also wanted to test the new A30 on a more extended flight, so two days after our Baja trip, we took off to fly from San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale for a few days in the CJ. The longer you fly with the A30, the more you notice the reduced clamping force and comfort, which we confirmed on fifteen hours of flying over two days.
Our ANC decibel testing (A-weighting) noted a 30 Db reduction in High, 10 Db in Mid, and 5-10 in Low. Our testing wasn’t a fully-engineered testing environment but reflected in-flight testing inside the ear cups.
Audio Response
The Bose headset meets the FAA TSO and E/TSO-149 standards, passing 145 certification tests. This standard is very complex and includes an audio specification targeted towards spoken communication – microphone and speaker.
ATC and Intercom audio in the Bose A30 utilizes one Equalizer (EQ) circuit tailored to this requirement – hence the crystal-clear speech quality. The 3.5mm sound input jack uses a separate EQ tuned slightly differently, balanced for both sound quality for music and voice. When connected to a Bluetooth source, a third EQ is activated that utilizes what Dr. Amar Bose termed the ‘golden curve’ for the music input. In discussions with Matt Ruwe, senior product line manager at Bose, he mentioned that including three EQs provides for the optimization of sound, dependent upon the source, which makes sense. In this way, you don’t have to compromise with varied inputs. We noticed that the sound quality while using Bluetooth was terrific and definitely a different experience than when using the 3.5mm input source.
Pricing and Availability
Bose offers the A30 Aviation Headset at $1,249 retail, a slight increase over the price of the A20 model, with or without Bluetooth connectivity. You can order the general aviation model with 5-pin XLR, U174, 6-pin LEMO, or dual-plug connectors, as with other Bose headsets. Next year, U384 and other connection options will be available for GA, commercial, and military markets. In aircraft equipped with power to the multi-pin connector, battery power is unnecessary, and the headsets will power on automatically with aircraft power. Adaptors for both U174 and dual-plug connectors are available with the LEMO version. Videos detailing the new Bose A30 headset can be viewed on the YouTube Personal Wings channel.
You can purchase them directly from Bose or your favorite Bose Aviation dealer.
Final Words
We’ve tested the Bose A30 Aviation Headset over 60 flight hours in various aircraft models, from some of the noisiest pistons to quiet jets, and are impressed with Bose’s latest aviation headset. The reduced clamping force alone is a significant upgrade. In conjunction with other improvements, it is another excellent product from Bose Aviation.
I really read the good article. Thank you very much. My name is Shon Jeong-woo, and I run a pilot shop in Korea. Can I get any evidence or information that the Bose headset helps protect hearing? Thank you very much!