Bose A30
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 322
Likes: 57
From: On land
The new DC ONE-X headset is great replacement for BOSE. The speaker clarity is better than the A20, ANR is excellent and the passive NR is still more than fine, even in my line (helicopters.) 45-50hrs battery life if you don’t use the Bluetooth.
Joined: Jan 2009
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 69
Likes: 6
From: On a survey line somewhere...
While I don't fly an Airbus, I do have 2 A20s - one a headset and the other in a helmet, and they've been fantastic. Don't know if the A30 is worth upgrading for, as others have said. If buying a new one that's what I'd likely get today though.
My comment is on the choice of plug if flying both airline and GA; consider one with a LEMO plug. The aviation headset LEMO jack is now a fairly standard powered, stereo headset connector found alongside the standard dual GA jack on some GA aircraft. The nice thing about a headset configured with LEMO is it provides: stereo audio, mic, power. The XLR plug is mono audio, mic, power. The dual GA plugs are stereo audio, mic. Of note, Bose sells an inexpensive STC'd LEMO jack that's a quick installation if you have your own GA aircraft you'd like to add a powered, stereo (depending on audio panel) headset jack to. On a GA aircraft without a LEMO jack, there are 14/28v accessory cigarette lighter adapter cables that plug into cigarette lighter and dual GA jacks and give you a LEMO jack for headset power.
The stereo matters only if you're flying something with a stereo audio panel and wiring, and the ability to get music into the audio panel.... point is, if you get the XLR plug, you will only ever be able to get mono audio into it. If you get the LEMO, you can use that with a LEMO jack, or with dual GA jacks (with the Bose adapter cable), or with an XLR jack, or whatever else, with the appropriate adapter cable. The headset variant with LEMO plug is the only one of the A20/A30 variants that accepts BOTH external power AND stereo.
You can also change out the cable on your existing A20 (or A30) for one with a different plug for a reasonable cost - I did that a few years ago with my older headset, and sold the old dual GA cable on eBay for close to what I paid for the new one. Both of my A20s have the LEMO plugs, and around three quarters of the planes I usually fly have a LEMO jack...the rest are dual GA.
The LEMO headset plug is now pretty standard - in addition to Bose A20 and A30, the DC ONE X and the Lightspeeds have these available, and I'm sure that others do as well.
Cheers,
Colin
My comment is on the choice of plug if flying both airline and GA; consider one with a LEMO plug. The aviation headset LEMO jack is now a fairly standard powered, stereo headset connector found alongside the standard dual GA jack on some GA aircraft. The nice thing about a headset configured with LEMO is it provides: stereo audio, mic, power. The XLR plug is mono audio, mic, power. The dual GA plugs are stereo audio, mic. Of note, Bose sells an inexpensive STC'd LEMO jack that's a quick installation if you have your own GA aircraft you'd like to add a powered, stereo (depending on audio panel) headset jack to. On a GA aircraft without a LEMO jack, there are 14/28v accessory cigarette lighter adapter cables that plug into cigarette lighter and dual GA jacks and give you a LEMO jack for headset power.
The stereo matters only if you're flying something with a stereo audio panel and wiring, and the ability to get music into the audio panel.... point is, if you get the XLR plug, you will only ever be able to get mono audio into it. If you get the LEMO, you can use that with a LEMO jack, or with dual GA jacks (with the Bose adapter cable), or with an XLR jack, or whatever else, with the appropriate adapter cable. The headset variant with LEMO plug is the only one of the A20/A30 variants that accepts BOTH external power AND stereo.
You can also change out the cable on your existing A20 (or A30) for one with a different plug for a reasonable cost - I did that a few years ago with my older headset, and sold the old dual GA cable on eBay for close to what I paid for the new one. Both of my A20s have the LEMO plugs, and around three quarters of the planes I usually fly have a LEMO jack...the rest are dual GA.
The LEMO headset plug is now pretty standard - in addition to Bose A20 and A30, the DC ONE X and the Lightspeeds have these available, and I'm sure that others do as well.
Cheers,
Colin
Joined: Oct 2022
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 96
Likes: 417
From: Snepal
While I don't fly an Airbus, I do have 2 A20s - one a headset and the other in a helmet, and they've been fantastic. Don't know if the A30 is worth upgrading for, as others have said. If buying a new one that's what I'd likely get today though.
My comment is on the choice of plug if flying both airline and GA; consider one with a LEMO plug. The aviation headset LEMO jack is now a fairly standard powered, stereo headset connector found alongside the standard dual GA jack on some GA aircraft. The nice thing about a headset configured with LEMO is it provides: stereo audio, mic, power. The XLR plug is mono audio, mic, power. The dual GA plugs are stereo audio, mic. Of note, Bose sells an inexpensive STC'd LEMO jack that's a quick installation if you have your own GA aircraft you'd like to add a powered, stereo (depending on audio panel) headset jack to. On a GA aircraft without a LEMO jack, there are 14/28v accessory cigarette lighter adapter cables that plug into cigarette lighter and dual GA jacks and give you a LEMO jack for headset power.
The stereo matters only if you're flying something with a stereo audio panel and wiring, and the ability to get music into the audio panel.... point is, if you get the XLR plug, you will only ever be able to get mono audio into it. If you get the LEMO, you can use that with a LEMO jack, or with dual GA jacks (with the Bose adapter cable), or with an XLR jack, or whatever else, with the appropriate adapter cable. The headset variant with LEMO plug is the only one of the A20/A30 variants that accepts BOTH external power AND stereo.
You can also change out the cable on your existing A20 (or A30) for one with a different plug for a reasonable cost - I did that a few years ago with my older headset, and sold the old dual GA cable on eBay for close to what I paid for the new one. Both of my A20s have the LEMO plugs, and around three quarters of the planes I usually fly have a LEMO jack...the rest are dual GA.
The LEMO headset plug is now pretty standard - in addition to Bose A20 and A30, the DC ONE X and the Lightspeeds have these available, and I'm sure that others do as well.
Cheers,
Colin
My comment is on the choice of plug if flying both airline and GA; consider one with a LEMO plug. The aviation headset LEMO jack is now a fairly standard powered, stereo headset connector found alongside the standard dual GA jack on some GA aircraft. The nice thing about a headset configured with LEMO is it provides: stereo audio, mic, power. The XLR plug is mono audio, mic, power. The dual GA plugs are stereo audio, mic. Of note, Bose sells an inexpensive STC'd LEMO jack that's a quick installation if you have your own GA aircraft you'd like to add a powered, stereo (depending on audio panel) headset jack to. On a GA aircraft without a LEMO jack, there are 14/28v accessory cigarette lighter adapter cables that plug into cigarette lighter and dual GA jacks and give you a LEMO jack for headset power.
The stereo matters only if you're flying something with a stereo audio panel and wiring, and the ability to get music into the audio panel.... point is, if you get the XLR plug, you will only ever be able to get mono audio into it. If you get the LEMO, you can use that with a LEMO jack, or with dual GA jacks (with the Bose adapter cable), or with an XLR jack, or whatever else, with the appropriate adapter cable. The headset variant with LEMO plug is the only one of the A20/A30 variants that accepts BOTH external power AND stereo.
You can also change out the cable on your existing A20 (or A30) for one with a different plug for a reasonable cost - I did that a few years ago with my older headset, and sold the old dual GA cable on eBay for close to what I paid for the new one. Both of my A20s have the LEMO plugs, and around three quarters of the planes I usually fly have a LEMO jack...the rest are dual GA.
The LEMO headset plug is now pretty standard - in addition to Bose A20 and A30, the DC ONE X and the Lightspeeds have these available, and I'm sure that others do as well.
Cheers,
Colin
anyway, changing from one to the other by means of converting plugs is trivial.
how many poles are common? Whats the different aviation standards?
Joined: Feb 2006
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 36,138
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From: Falling off the end of the thread
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 41
Likes: 9
From: uk
No, they no longer stock A20 spares. But thanks.
Joined: Jan 2009
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 69
Likes: 6
From: On a survey line somewhere...
this is very confusing, how many poles on those jacks? XLR is an inherently more solid and wear-proof format, and thus preferred for professional applications, it can be had with any number of poles. The most used is XLR-3, but it can be much more. Depends on the aircraft-installation, but that would need to be modified anyway to have stereo music, or? Jacks is as old as telephone, tolerances aren’t super-tight , and there is for instance not any industry standard to on the small-> large jack plugs. A constant source of frustration. It is a weak construction compared to Canon-plugs(XLRs).
anyway, changing from one to the other by means of converting plugs is trivial.
how many poles are common? Whats the different aviation standards?
anyway, changing from one to the other by means of converting plugs is trivial.
how many poles are common? Whats the different aviation standards?
Joined: Feb 2006
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 36,138
Likes: 5,738
From: Falling off the end of the thread
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Moldova
I got mine from AliExpress, they stock modules and everything, just changed mine to bluetooth audio now, I had the old calls-only module.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 41
Likes: 9
From: uk
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 90
Likes: 66
From: Looking north out to sea
Thank you for that. Strangely enough, I did. I still have no idea why it is here. It is neither a rumour, nor of any interest as news. It is of personal interest and whilst a valid question not quite to the same level as the war in Ukraine or the MD11 crash, neither of which are on this thread.
Me
Me
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: In transit
Looks like Bose stopped suppling spare parts (cable/mic assembly etc.) within one year of the A20 being replaced by the A30. That is not good support for people who bought A20s in the last few years in my opinion. I think for something this expensive they should provide all parts till the headset has been out of production for about 10 years (with 5 years being the absolute minimum).
Buyer beware with Bose!
Buyer beware with Bose!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
From: Germany
CW247, mind elaborating how you fought and won this battle? There's a list from airbus (think it was/is an ISI article) with certified or approved (is there a difference?) headsets and boomsets...Problem is that only a handful are still in production...Thank you!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 470
Likes: 53
From: The Dirty South
Looks like Bose stopped suppling spare parts (cable/mic assembly etc.) within one year of the A20 being replaced by the A30. That is not good support for people who bought A20s in the last few years in my opinion. I think for something this expensive they should provide all parts till the headset has been out of production for about 10 years (with 5 years being the absolute minimum).
Buyer beware with Bose!
Buyer beware with Bose!
Agreed.
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 32
Likes: 6
From: UK
Just to add to the chat, depending where you are based you may be able to claim some income tax relief on the expenditure
Also, there is a sticky thread on headsets in private flying, you might find some info there.
Also, there is a sticky thread on headsets in private flying, you might find some info there.
Last edited by FTN11; 27th November 2025 at 07:50.
Joined: Jan 2026
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Lincolnshire
Bose discount
Are there any discounts on Bose aviation? Seems like all the usual Bose discounts exclude aviation and the A30’s are the exact same price everywhere in the UK.
Joined: Jan 2009
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 69
Likes: 6
From: On a survey line somewhere...
Typically no. They usually have some sort of promo running that'll get you a Bluetooth speaker, or other headphones, etc with the purchase of an aviation headset. If there isn't one at present, there should be soon. This is true for the North American market.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 160
Likes: 3
From: UK
ISI 23.51.00003 Cockpit Audio equipments (Boomsets, Headsets and Microphones)
The purpose of this document is to provide the Operators with the list of Cockpit Audio equipment Part Number certified on Airbus Aircraft. The Cockpit Audio equipment presented are Boomset, Headset and Hand-microphones.
Worth checking with your Fleet what’s acceptable. There can be complications with background noise depending on power supply (pin vs battery) etc.
Very much an airline issue, and the list is updated by Airbus. Last one I saw was dated 2020 a while ago.
The purpose of this document is to provide the Operators with the list of Cockpit Audio equipment Part Number certified on Airbus Aircraft. The Cockpit Audio equipment presented are Boomset, Headset and Hand-microphones.
Worth checking with your Fleet what’s acceptable. There can be complications with background noise depending on power supply (pin vs battery) etc.
Very much an airline issue, and the list is updated by Airbus. Last one I saw was dated 2020 a while ago.