Review
Bose A30 Review (Updated October 2026)
The Bose A30 is Bose's current around-ear aviation headset, listed at $1,299. It has three ANR modes, Bluetooth 4.2, and a battery rating of at least 45 hours, or 25-plus hours with continuous Bluetooth. The warranty is 5 years. It is the premium pick on this site, not the best budget or student pick.
· Prices and specs checked
On this page
Published facts
| Aircraft Spruce price | From $1299.00 to $1329.00 |
|---|---|
| Sporty's price | $1,299.00 on the Sporty's listing "Bose A30 Aviation Headset". |
| In the box | A30 Aviation Headset; Carry Case; 3.5 mm AUX audio cable; 2 AA batteries; Control module hanger |
Full specifications for the Bose A30 ANR Aviation Headset.
| Price | $1,299. Bose direct price |
|---|---|
| Type | ANR |
| Bluetooth | Yes, Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Noise | Three ANR modes. Bose does not publish a certified NRR for the A30. Full ANR operating range is listed to 115 dB SPL in the owner's guide. |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Power | Two AA batteries. At least 45 hours in typical noise, and 25+ hours with continuous Bluetooth. |
| Plugs | Dual GA, LEMO, XLR, and helicopter configurations are sold |
| Weight | 404 g (14.2 oz) on the head, per Bose. The owner's guide also lists 12 oz for the headset alone. |
Specs checked October 26, 2026. Source: manufacturer pages and the retailer or list price named above. This site did not measure these figures.
Verdict. The A30 is the best premium headset in this comparison. Buy it for three ANR modes and the battery rating. Skip it if $1,299 is better spent on flight time, and skip it if a 7-year warranty matters more than the Bose feature list.
See price at AmazonSee price at Bose
The A30 is the premium headset in this comparison. Bose sells it as the successor to the A20, with less clamp, three noise-cancellation modes, and tap-control talk-through. The list price is $1,299. The warranty is five years, excluding wear items such as ear cushions.
What the documents say
Bose's product page and the owner's guide agree on the battery: two AA alkaline cells, at least 45 hours in typical noise, and 25-plus hours with Bluetooth on the whole time. Bluetooth is version 4.2, with profiles that cover calls and stereo audio. A 3.5 mm cable is in the box for a wired source. Dual GA, LEMO, XLR, and other aircraft connectors are separate configurations. Match the plug to the panel.
Weight depends on which Bose line you read. Marketing specs list 404 grams on the head. The owner's guide lists 12 ounces for the headset alone. This review reports both and does not average them into a third number.
The owner's guide lists full ANR up to 115 dB SPL and reduced ANR up to 134 dB SPL. There is no certified NRR next to the David Clark figure. Older pages on this site said "30+ dB" for the A30. That number is not used here.
Bose says clamping force is about 20 percent lower than the A20, which is the comfort claim that matters on a long leg. The long-flight guide picks the A30 for that reason. The A20 comparison explains why a new buyer should not hunt an A20 instead.
The price next to the Zulu 3
The Zulu 3 lists at $949 with a 7-year warranty and up to 40 hours on a set of batteries. The A30 costs $350 more and warrants the headset for two fewer years. You are paying for Bose's modes, the longer Bluetooth-off battery rating, the clamp, and the brand's service network. If those are worth $350 to you, buy the A30. If they are not, buy the Zulu. The side-by-side is here.
Who should buy something else
Students should start on the student page. The KA-1 at $224.95 is the passive training pick. It has no ANR and no Bluetooth. Pilots who want ANR under $500 should read the RA950 section and accept the missing Bluetooth. Helicopter pilots should order an A30 connector that matches the aircraft, not a random dual-GA box.
Questions pilots ask
How long is the Bose A30 battery life?
Bose says at least 45 hours from two AA alkaline batteries in typical aircraft noise, and 25-plus hours if Bluetooth runs continuously. Aircraft-powered versions can bypass the batteries.
Does the A30 have a certified NRR?
Bose does not publish a certified NRR for the A30 on the pages used for this review. The owner's guide lists a full ANR operating range up to 115 dB SPL.
Is the A30 worth it for a student pilot?
Not as a default. The list price is $1,299. A passive headset such as the KORE KA-1 covers training for $224.95 and has no ANR and no Bluetooth. Buy the A30 when you know the flying will continue.
Does the A30 have Bluetooth?
Yes. Bose includes Bluetooth 4.2, and continuous Bluetooth cuts the battery rating from at least 45 hours to 25-plus hours. The list price is $1,299.
What is the Bose A30 warranty?
Five years. That is shorter than the Lightspeed Zulu 3 warranty of 7 years. The A30 lists at $1,299.
Which A30 plug fits a typical trainer?
The dual-GA plug, for a panel with a 0.250-inch headphone jack and a 0.206-inch mic jack. Bose also sells LEMO, XLR, and U-174 versions. The dual-GA list price is $1,299.
Will the A30 plug into a helicopter?
Yes, if you order the helicopter connector Bose sells for that aircraft. A dual-GA box will not fit a U-174 panel. The headset is still the $1,299 A30.
What changed
: Specs and prices on this page were checked against the manufacturer pages and retailer listings named in the copy. This site does not add its own noise measurements.