BOSE A30: Top Secret Pro Pilot Review + Flight Test 🎧✈️🔥

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 YouTube videos that are always very well put together. Thanks again. Al Donn

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.

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.

The clear propeller really 😂 made me laugh. Vocalise first. Great video. As always, thank you.

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.

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

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.

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.

Thanks for the review!

I’m looking forward to passing my checkride and celebrating with these!

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 <30 seconds if you needed….the Bose mic has a cable twisting at the hinge point that breaks due to fatigue - exactly what happened to me about to depart Melbourne). And the case. Another joke. A couple of pockets and maybe just a slight hard shell would be nice protection for such an expensive headset. This product is in desperate need of competition. I actually see myself selling these if bose can’t provide answers on the echoey sound problem. Very very disappointing.

Amazing headset can’t wait to upgrade to the A30🔥🔥

Good one, thank you for 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.

Great review. I bought them. How did you record yourself in the cockpit?

Awesome review. Definitely informative and your explanations made sense. The A30 looks awesome.

Thanks for sharing. How can you record your conversation with ATC instructions?

Looks great!

Great video!😊

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 😢