Bose A20 PIREP.... LOVEM'

[LuvFlying]

I'm stoked! I recently ponyed up for Bose's new A20 ANR headset.  You can check out my full Bose A20 review on my blog. I compaired them against the X, and a bit against the Zulu.

I'll give give you the short points.

Major Pros:

• 
  
• ANR is WAY better than even the Bose X.  I'd say at least 30-40% better.
  
• Comfort is a bit better with larger ear cups and deeper foam that do a better (but not perfect) job of sealing around glasses.
  

Big Con:

• 
  
• You can not pipe music via bluetooth.  Sheesh! Lightspeed's had that for years.
  
• Ok... yeah.. they are expensive! $1125 including ground shipping. 
  

[LFOD]

Are you kidding? They still won't let you stream music? 

[fantom]

I'm ready to do a long term test on A20, but first someone has to buy my second pair of Bose X...less than a year old with about 30 hours on them. According to my avionics shop, the A20 is at least 95% marketing hype.

[Magnum]

Quote: fantom

 According to my avionics shop, the A20 is at least 95% marketing hype.

[HopePilot]

I tried a pair on yesterday, at Aircraft Spruce's sale.  They had less side pressure than my set of Zulus, but if you can't stream music, that makes it hard to justify the price increase over the Zulus; which can.

[Magnum]

Quote: HopePilot

I tried a pair on yesterday, at Aircraft Spruce's sale.  They had less side pressure than my set of Zulus, but if you can't stream music, that makes it hard to justify the price increase over the Zulus; which can.

[LuvFlying]

Quote: Magnum

Bose says it takes too much battery power when using bluetooth (of course that doesn't matter if you use aircraft power with a lemo connector...)

[dlthig]

When I first started flying I bought a pair of P-51 headsets from Pilot Avionics. After I became a CFI I started selling them as a dealer. Their customer service was great and I didn't see much difference from Pilot and other more expensive headsets. Last month I sent my 15 year old ANR headsets in for a refurb. I think that it was about $100, which included a new comm cord. For about $500 you can get their ANR headsets. I think that they come standard with a wired music/cell phone input. You can buy a bluetooth option, but I don't remember the price.

[Earl]

I too just flew my first long trip with my new A20 and it is a big upgrade from my David Clarke noise-cancelling headsets.  Much more comfortable and superior noise cancellation.  I bought it because my wife complained about the David Clarke's not being comfortable so when she flies with me she will get the Bose headset.  Boy is it going to be hard for me to go back to the Clarke headset.  :-) 

[donshapansky]

I have flown the new A-20 headset now for a couploe of months (50-60hrs) some flights were 4 hr legs, compared the previous Bose heaset the new one is miles better, first the ANR and secondly the ear fit makes a huge difference on long flights, well worth the money and the cord to connect my i-pod Nano is a requirement no matter what headset because it doesn't offer the bluetooth option. Now my wife wants one!

[scottfromiowa]

I have Zero complaints with my Bose X regarding ANR and sound quality...so if new headset is better, great!  I have an aux audio jack that I connect for I-pod so bluetooth is not important to me.  When I bought my X Bose sent me another headset...a week later.  I expected them to ask for it back.  They didn't.  I didn't think the X was a bad deal at two for the price of one...

[LuvFlying]

Quote: scottfromiowa

I have Zero complaints with my Bose X regarding ANR and sound quality...so if new headset is better, great!  I have an aux audio jack that I connect for I-pod so bluetooth is not important to me.  When I bought my X Bose sent me another headset...a week later.  I expected them to ask for it back.  They didn't.  I didn't think the X was a bad deal at two for the price of one...

[Mooney_Allegro]

I tried the A20 at the NBAA aviation show last month at the Bose booth.  They had ambient engine noise in the background, and when I turned on the ANR, the engine noise went away completely.  I could not hear the engine noise at all.  Of course this was all simulated and not done in the real plane, but from what I experienced, I would buy the A20 if I had the money and was looking for a good ANR headset.  I already use the Bose X and Lightspeed Zulu.  Both are great. 

[Piloto]

These http://www.northernsafety.com/Product/118-4004/3M-E-A-R-UltraFit-Corded-Reusable-Ear-Plugs-in-Polybag-NRR-25

in combination with a regular headset provides more noise cancelling than any Bose, and you can get them for $1.50. Just try it, you will be shock.

José

[M016576]

Quote: Piloto

These http://www.northernsafety.com/Product/118-4004/3M-E-A-R-UltraFit-Corded-Reusable-Ear-Plugs-in-Polybag-NRR-25

in combination with a regular headset provides more noise cancelling than any Bose, and you can get them for $1.50. Just try it, you will be shock.

José

[eldeano]

I sooooooooooo want them!!!! Can't justify it right now, but I have xm and a music jack bluetooth doesn't matter for me. I put a pair on at  the avionics store and fell in love!

[Shadrach]

Just shifted one of our old Aviation X's to the rear passenger seat to make room for a new Bose A20. I used it for the first time tonight on a 48nm hop from KHGR to KCBE.  My expectations were exceeded by a considerable measure. The lack of prop noise on the ground is almost eerie, because the mechanical noises stand out that much more. The blue tooth cell link is crystal clear (better than using the phone around the house actually).

In cruise, the noise of the valve train is clearly audible but again (and likely because), almost no prop noise. Wind noise is also quite audible. This is not to say these things are loud, it's just that I can hear things that were blocked before by low frequency drone.  My old Aviation X's were quite good and also did much of what these do, it's just that these are quite a bit better. I think that much of the improvement is due to better passive NR, but I'm sure the ANR circuitry is improved as well.

On an odd note, as I was taxiing out of Cumberland I called (bluetooth link) my girlfriend to tell her I was outbound. Just for S&G's I asked to stay on the line to see how long before the call was dropped. Much to my surprise, she was still clear with no cut-out climbing through 5K. At 5300ft there was a little bit of cut-out and so we said goodbye.  I guess my new iPhone is better able to lock in a signal, as I'd have never been able to do this with my old Droid.  Through the whole experience the only clue she had that I was in an airplane was when I self announced for departure.

All in all, I am very happy with the new set up. I will report back on music quality, but my sense is that they will be much improved.

[jetdriven]

My wife just got the Zulu.2.   I have a 5,000 hour Bose X headset.  I tried hers on during a flight from Key West to Houston and they are about half as loud.  I can clearly hear the bagage door leaking now.  And the radio.

 

They are about 700$ with trade in (100$ ANR headset from ebay).   Bluetooth music too.   NO comparison.   I gotta get me one of those.