324843-3020 A20 Aviation Headset with Bluetooth Dual Plug Cable, Black

It was time to replace my 20+ year old David Clark's, and I was torn between going with the DC ONE X or the Bose A20. I've been a loyal DC customer for a long time, and their products never let me down, plus the DC's are roughly 25% less expensive. But I've also flown with Bose, and they've always impressed me with the amazing Bose noise suppression. In the end, since I needed a pair of headsets, I ended up buying one of each - and so far, I have no regrets about either purchase. If you're in this position too, I thought I'd offer a comparison of these two terrific products...to me, there's no clear hands down winner here - each headset is good at different things. Indeed, both are amazing in their own right, and the good news is that this means you can't go wrong with either one, especially if you're like me and are upgrading from older technology. In terms of overall construction quality, I'd give a slight edge to DC. Both are very good and should hold up a long time, but the Bose feel like high-end consumer products, while the DC's feel "professional". Although the Bose are slightly lighter, the DC's are quite a bit more compact with a smaller control pod. The Bose case is larger, but more protective. Both products pair easily with Bluetooth phones/tablets, and I've had no connectivity issues with my iPhone or iPad. I don't like that both products make it difficult to access the optional features like auto-off and stereo/mono. Granted these tend to be "set and forget" options, but in both products, you need to pop open the battery compartment and remove the batteries to change these settings. Speaking of batteries, I use lithium batteries in my headsets, and both seem to provide better battery life than you might think - at least 50 hours. In terms of comfort, there's no clear winner. To me, the DC's feel smaller but less secure on my head - in turbulence and with thicker sunglasses on, they sometimes slide around on my head, no matter how I adjust them. The Bose have larger ear cups that tend to feel more secure, although they also tend to make me feel a little sweaty in warm weather. In smooth air, the DC's are more comfortable to me, but I don't like the sense that they might shift on my head if I move too quickly. As for overall sound quality, both are good, but to my ears, the DC's are slightly clearer with voice communications. I think the better noise suppression in the Bose does interfere slightly with audio legibility, and sometimes I find myself struggling with ATC communications that seem to come through more clearly on the DC. I find the microphones to be a tie - I've never had less than a "loud and clear" response on any com check, and they work equally well with my phone or with the airplane. Of course, the reason you spend big bucks on a headset like this is for the noise suppression, and here is where the Bose headsets excel. Although the DC's are quite good, the Bose are simply better. Sometimes I'll switch from one or the other in flight, and the difference is immediately obvious. On the other hand, if you didn't have them side by side, you'd probably find either one to be more than good enough - but if you fly in a really loud environment and want the best possible noise suppression, then the Bose is the winner in this regard. I'm happy to say that both are made in the USA, and both companies have good customer service. DC especially has really impressed me over the years...I once had a ten year old headset repaired (I crushed the cord), and they came back with new ear seals, headband pads and so on - all at zero charge to me. Bottom line is that I'm happy with the Bose A20's and if you're looking for the best aviation headset that will have maximum noise suppression in a noisy cockpit, then you can't go wrong with the Bose - although in my opinion, they aren't the only game in town.

The Bose A20 Aviation Headset with Bluetooth Dual Plug Cable is an exceptional product that is worth the price if you are investing in a career in aviation. Although they are quite expensive, they are a long-term investment that provides comfort, durability, and most importantly, safety during flights. The noise-canceling feature blocks out external noise, allowing for clear communication with the tower and passengers. The headset is comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time, and doesn't cause any discomfort or pressure on the ears. The durability of the headset is top-notch, as it can withstand the wear and tear of daily use. Additionally, the Bluetooth feature allows for easy connectivity to smartphones and tablets. Overall, the Bose A20 Aviation Headset with Bluetooth Dual Plug Cable is an outstanding product that gives pilots the confidence they need during flights, making it a worthwhile investment for those who are pursuing a career in aviation.

Review Update June 9, 2021 I continue to be astonished at how well the ambient noise control of this headset works. It simply blows me away that pushing the power button on the Bose simply kills the engine sound of the Aeronca Champ I'm flying. Amazing. The headset is so comfortable for me that I don't notice it during 1 hour flights. Initial Review April 29, 2021 I've been taking flying lessons in an Aeronca Champ which not only has a loud engine but it has a sliding window I like to keep open a bit which lets in noise. For my first flight I rented a headset from the airport. I had a hard time hearing the instructor. It was loud enough but did not have very good ANC. I knew I needed to solve this problem to keep my learning potential at the maximum I could. So I went for the best which is this Bose A20. I first tried this Bose today. The engine was already running and I was sitting in the front seat next to the open window. It was noisy. I put this headset on and pressed the power button. At first I thought I must have done something to shut the engine off. It was that good. I was amazed and remarked a couple of times to the instructor about how this headset obliterated the Champ engine sound. I'm thoroughly impressed. Yes it has Bluetooth and I did try it but I have $300 headphones for home use that work just fine. I suppose if you expect to make phone calls from the air Bluetooth might be a good option. I suppose there could be other aviation devices that use Bluetooth. As for me I could do without it but it didn't add to the cost. I highly recommend the Bose A20 aviation headset.

My other ANR headset (David Clark Pro-X) broke on one side and during the repair time, I decided to give a try to other headsets and tried several brands including LightSpeed, Sennheiser, and Bose. I came to a conclusion to myself that Bose A20 is the best one hands down of those 3 brands. I bought a used old Sennheiser HMEC 25 series from eBay but for some reason, when I turned on the ANR function, it gave me a loud hissing noise and could not hear my coworker nor ATC clearly. Maybe it might have been broken but on Mar, 2016, they officially announced that they are pulling out of aviation headset business except for Air Traffic Control headset, so I crossed off the German brand from my list. So I bought LightSpeed Zulu PFX for the next try and it worked relatively nice but still had some flaws. Some banging noise on takeoff or landing roll is the most scariest thing from my hearing loss perspective. Plus surprising enough, none of LightSpeed headsets are TSO approved, thus as a Part.121 pilot, it was easy enough to make a decision to return a product during 30-day trial period. Then, I decided to try Bose A20. I should have tried this one first before anything else. Communications are clear and crisp and it does not squeeze my head but still stays on my head steady. Of course I can hear myself loud and clear. The carrying case is compact enough so I can put them in my flight case. The newest version of the A20 has a music features so I can enjoy the streamlines of music as a big bonus if you have a Bluetooth in there. (I believe the old version does not have streamline audio functions in there but the newest one does have it so it came as a surprise, too). When.I make a phone call to a dispatch, I use the Bluetooth with A20. This is far better than using iPhone itself. Overall, it has been pretty great, I probably will be using this for my primary headset even after I received back my David Clark from repair. This is the best headset hands down from my perspective. It is worth every penny and highly recommended.

I've been part of the aviation community for two years now, and I was looking for some quality headsets that would last me a life time (if I take care of them of course). I always heard great things from my pilot peers about the A20's and the Zulu's. However, I decided to go with the A20's because I really though: "Hey, they're Bose!" and it was the best decision I've made! These headsets are top-notch quality, super light, comfortable, and the noise-cancelling is great. I can listen to the radio and ATC instructions without having to really focus on them! Also, I had never flown with Bluetooth before, and after trying it for the first time I can't go back. Listening to music up there is so relaxing, especially in those long legs of your XC! I use the mute function to be able to focus on radios whenever I need to, and when I'm in those critical times of flight, I often turn it off just to focus even more. Overall, this is a great investment towards anyone's flying career and experience. Yes, they are VERY expensive, but you are definitely getting what you payed for! I would recommend these to anyone who is serious and passionate about aviation. If you are a student or just not flying enough to justify the price, there are many other options that would benefit you more and you can use the rest of the money towards flying! Happy Flying!!!

This is my first active noise cancelling head set. Because it's battery operated I was even able to try it at home. Pretty impressed by how much it cancels out. Took it up in a Piper Warrior II, 160HP. I thought it might cancel out too much. The noise reduction is really good. Good enough that I can very comfortably keep the storm window open while taxiing but I can still hear the engine perfectly good enough to do the run up and listen for subtle RPM changes. Also tested the stall warning horn and I could hear that too without issues. So it just cancels all the extra loud noises, cleans everything up, while letting you hear the important stuff. Because of this noise reduction, it's easier to understand ATC and traffic. I connect the bluetooth to ForeFlight so I can hear Timers, Hazard Advisor, ADSB Alerts, and so much more. Great settings to prioritize audio sources, mix, mute, etc. Most of the parts are replaceable so no need to buy an entire headset when something breaks. Muffs are super comfortable. Another pilot told me he uses the bluetooth to use his phone to get his clearances. The power LED lets you know when the batteries are getting low. The noise cancelling can be turned off while the headset's main dual plug functions like Comms and Intercom continue working.

I bought these as a student pilot, mostly because the pair the school let me use was horrible and I wanted something that was better quality. I already had Bose headphones for my computer and for gaming, so I knew quality wasn’t a concern with Bose. These headphones are very comfortable to wear. Even on the hot days it’s not bad at all with their leather ear cups. The noise canceling is excellent. I noticed a huge difference from the other pair of headphones the school let me use (David Clark with no ANC). I haven’t had a chance to use the Bluetooth yet other than testing it at home, but the sound quality was very good when I did. The headset is expensive, but I think they’re worth it. I can definitely see why they’re consistently rated so well. If I were to offer an improvement, it would be deeper detents for the middle of the volume knobs. They’re very light currently so it can be difficult to know both sides are even. And I hope someday they can make the headphones wireless, where you would just plug a wireless adapter into the dual plugs and not have several feet of cable hanging off of you. But that’s just a dream at this point. Still absolutely a five star headset.

As my very first aviation headset, I cannot say enough about the quality and features of the Bose A20. After weeks of research, I was finally ready to purchase a headset and I can definitely say without any hesitation that I have made a VERY sound choice. Until I begin my flying lessons, I have been using the headset as a hands-free phone headset in a very loud workplace environment and the noise canceling works like a charm when making and receiving calls on my desktop phone at work. Just from my experience with it there, I know that it will perform AMAZINGLY WELL when it comes time to plug into a cockpit panel. I am looking forward to that day with extreme enthusiasm now that I have the Alpha and Omega of headsets. If you are on the fence right now while researching aviation headsets as I was, and you are reading my review, you can use this as a strong, positive review of the A20 headset that has a very powerful conviction behind it. I will never underestimate Bose quality ever again, not that I ever have. And on a side note, if you are of the patient kind, do yourself a favor and wait for a great promotion to come along. I was fortunate to have discovered a Bose promotion that entitled me to a free $200 Bose bluetooth speaker with my purchase of the headset and I have to say, what a great little speaker. The music sounds great on it and I can take hands-free bluetooth calls on it as well....Also, my hats off to SARASOTA AVIATION. I will definitely be doing business with them again.

Got these for my son who is training in C-172 and C-152 planes. Those beasts are noisy! These headphones are amazing. They are super comfortable and the noise cancelling is beyond belief. probably saved his eardrums! Should be standard equipment for anyone training in these planes. They are a bit heavy, but that's the quality of the build. A small price to pay for saving your hearing!

Sí te dedicas al rubro de la aviación es uno de los mejores modelos que existen para cubrir esta necesidad.

Top Qualität, top Klang, super Tragekomfort

La mejor inversión que puedes hacer como piloto, por tus oídos y por la comodidad y calidad que ofrece, la diferencia entre los que tiene y los que no tiene Bluetooth es como de día mil pesos, sin duda los que lo incluyen son la mejor opción.

10 out of 10! Noise cancelling is incredible. The headset is super comfortable for long flights. You will not be disappointed! I highly recommend this headset!