Bose A20 compatibility

[RyanG87]

Hi,

I am looking at purchasing a set of the Bose A20 Bluetooth headsets. I am currently doing my PPL with the intention of becoming commercial in the not too distant future. If I buy the twin plug option (which is battery powered from what I gather) can you get an adapter for a commercial jet (presumably 6-pin?) and if so will the headset be compatible to be powered by the aircraft or will it still have to be powered by batteries?

Thanks

[STBYRUD]

No worries, if you get the twin plug version you can always get a PJ to XLR adapter for about 30 USD (that won't of course power the headset, but you can't be sure the aircraft connector is powered anyway). If you really don't want to use your batteries (or rechargeables) then you can get the XLR cable assembly from Bose for 250 USD or so, but I don't think that's worth it. Other than that I've been using my A20 for the past seven years on anything from a Piper Tomahawk to a B777, I had two cable breakages in that time and those have been repaired for free by Bose, so I'm a happy customer

[RyanG87]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, I agree that 250 Usd is a lot to pay for the privelidge of not using batteries. Would it be a better way round to get the 6 pin plug headset and then buy an adapter to twin plug?

If if I did it this way round would it mean the headset could be powered by the aircraft when flying commercially?

[STBYRUD]

Well, I suppose it depends if the airplane you will fly actually has XLR connectors or not, the Airbuses tend to, the Boeings usually have twin plugs (the widebodies may either or both - depends what the company ordered)... When I bought my A20 it was simple, I flew the 737 (that had twin plugs) and occasionally various GA types, the 777s i fly now either have both, or just an XLR connector - so I bought the cheap adapter. Just to get the XLR version in the hopes that your future type will have (powered) XLR connectors doesn't make too much sense to me.

[Denti]

Even with an XLR plug many of the Airbus installations do not power the headset. That is an extra option that the airline will usually only buy if they supply headsets powered by that anyway. That said, for professional pilots there are two options from Bose now, the A20 and the ProFlight. The latter one probably isn't any good on piston engine powered planes though.

[RyanG87]

That’s great, thanks for the information guys. As I have never been in a commercial aircraft I wasn’t too sure what the set up was in terms of headset connectors but you guys have answered all I need to know!

I noticed the new headsets, I’m not sure they will compare in terms of noise cancelling to the a20’s though!

[zerograv]

XLR - is a 5 pin connector.
The 6 pin connector is also known as "LEMO" connector or plug.
To the best of my knowledge, the "LEMO" is available on some recent Light, General Aviation aircraft. Private aircraft owners can also retrofit it in their own aircraft. Believe it is a relatively simple instalation to be accomplished by a qualified engineer. This being the case for private aircraft.
Not aware of it's use in "Commercial" aircraft. By that I mean, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, or similar.
Being "Commercial Air Transport" the instalation procedure would need to be certified, and that would be very costly.