Thx guys for all the replies, sounds reassuring to me.
I'll try that test wednesday at my next lessen, provided I get the Bose to enjoy ;)

Been using the A20 with bluetooth option, all I can say it is an amazing quiet headset, light, really a joy to wear after years of wearing helmets and David Clarks...

And being to receive/make a phone call via Bluetooth is a super tool

Fly safe

Hi,

I tried a set out the other week and have just ordered a set of A20s tonight. Can't wait.

As to where- Sporty's do a good deal, and the exchange rate is pretty good for us Brits at the moment.

The A20 is really two parts. The ANR and speaker top part, and the cord/controller/mic unit. It's a great idea, because you can but the part to go with your aircraft and choose Bluetooth or not for most applications and not have to pay a huge amount to do this.

Very clever design.

I currently use Sennheisers, and to be honest, as our fleet runs low on HMEC25-HA and the new 26 units appear, it's has led me to save u pfor my own set. I sold my HMEC25 earlier this year as it was pointless when all I needed to carry to work was a pair of batteries and a mic sock, but the 26 is absolutely crap! Uncomfortable, very cheap mic unit and just horrid to use.

What is it with manufacturers now?

My old DC 10-40 had the M4 mic that was superb, despite the weight and head clamping of the design, but the later 13-4 used the M7, a newer mic that was far worse for sound quality. Sennheiser, old mic good- new mic bad., Same deal.

Anyway, needed doing, I am fed up of going deaf flying turboprops....

old bose headset support
 

slightly off track--does anybody know where I might/ could get the replacement old style gell earpads for the aviation headset series 2---I have tried Headset Services (UK) with no sucess--

Bose A20 aviation headset
 

Dave
Most people try headset services without success
maybe one year Bose will learn that and get a better service agent And provide customer service not disservice ,maybe they may take a look at what DC provide in the states( not uk they use headset service too )

As stated on the first page of posts there is a major design fault and I would suggest not to buy until they fix it.

That is the ship powered version has to be manually switched on every flight.

After a while people forget to do this so they fly around with no active noise reduction.

How such a famous firm could make such a serious error is mind boggling.

Imagine if you are flying Bill Gates or the Queen around. You have to tell them each time how to turn on the headset.

Did a demo in the latest Bell twin and the pilot forgot to tell everyone how to turn on the headsets. Everyone commented on landing how noisy it was. Only then did the pilot admit that he forgot to tell all the passengers that they had to turn on the headset themselves.

So ... do you remember to start the engine before flight? :E

Bose A20 aviation headset
 

I thought I was the only one with the switch off fault on the A20 I have spoken to both headset services and Bose they both sounded as if I was the only one with the fault ,headset services i can understand, but I would have thought I could trust Bose. Obviously i was wrong I Belive DC have made a new bc headset I may try that in future purchases

En48. A pilot does not need a passenger to operate a switch to start the helicopter.

With the Bose headset every passenger has to be instructed to press the power switch for every flight.

It's pathetic design. Hundreds have complained and no action. I would suggest another brand of headset until Bose make a proper professional product.

I have talked to various BOSE folks about this problem and they keep hinting they have a fix coming later this year.

Every pax also has to secure their seat belt. Should this also be automatic? I would agree that automatic power on would provide a measure of convenience, but in the overall scheme of things, this is a very minor concern with this excellent product. Should not discourage anyone from buying the A20. In my experience, the A20 is in a different league when it comes to noise cancelling effectiveness and audio quality. None of the other headsets I have used come close.

I agree, the Bose A20s are a great product. I have tried literally every other ANR headset and none of them are as comfortable or have as much noise reduction as the A20s. The lack of the auto power on is just a pain or annoying.

Here is the minor problem with your seatbelt analogy from my point of view. In my 7 seat helicopter, I help everyone with their seat belts BEFORE I start the engine. If I could turn on their headphones at the same time I would, but you can't. They can't be switched on until I am buckled in and I apply the avionics power. At that point you have to turn around and teach everyone to find the control panel and tell them which button to turn on. It is not always easy to get them to do this. I fly hundreds and hundreds of new passengers every year in a charter operation and in Young Eagles. I can tell you it is a pain, that I would love to lose. That being said, the A20s are so good otherwise, that I will use them in spite of the auto switching on problem.

the A20 I use can be turned on before main power is applied

Battery not ship powered I presume ?

Yawn,

For the brave amongst you try here.

mine wont switch off automatically

"mine wont switch off automatically "


"auto off" switch in correct position?

I have the same problem they won't switch off automatically and yes the switch is in the correct position, it is just a bit of a pain.

I have been considering this headset for a while, but it falls slightly short.

If you are in contact, there are three things that I would really like.

• Bluetooth Audio streaming (asked for a lot)
• Folding Wing Screws to replace the tiny screws to move the mic from left to right. I fly a lot from all three seats (left/right/obs) and it would be great to be able to move the mike assembly more easily.
• A simple headphone connector to replace the entire mike assembly to use when commuting.

I've sent mine back recently, they fixed the auto off issue. Awesome after sales service, very impressed!