Review
KORE KA-1 Review (Updated October 2026)
The KORE KA-1 is a passive general-aviation headset listed at $224.95. KORE specifies silicone gel ear seals, a 24 dB NRR, dual volume controls, a mono/stereo switch, and a 3.5 mm AUX jack. It has no ANR and no Bluetooth. Buy it for primary training in a dual-GA airplane. Do not buy it if you need active noise reduction.
· Prices and specs checked
On this page
Published facts
| Aircraft Spruce price | $224.95 |
|---|---|
| Sporty's price | $224.95 on the Sporty's listing "Kore KA-1 Headset (Mono & Stereo) with Headset Bag". |
| Weight with cable | 1.34 lb (about 21.4 oz) with cable. The live KORE page checked the same day says only 1.3 lbs and does not say the cable is included. |
| Weight | Lightweight - only 1.3 lbs |
| Cord | 5-foot straight shielded |
| Plug | Dual gold-plated plugs |
Full specifications for the Kore Aviation KA-1 General Aviation Headset (Mono & Stereo) with Headset Bag - Dual GA Plugs.
| Price | $224.95. KORE list price |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Noise | 24 dB NRR, manufacturer stated |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Power | None. Passive headsets do not use batteries. |
| Plugs | Dual GA |
| Weight | 1.34 lb (about 21.4 oz) with cable. Headset without cable 1.16 lb. Cable 0.18 lb. Bag 0.4 lb. Headset plus bag 1.74 lb. |
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 KA-1 is the best passive headset in this comparison, and the student value pick, when you want gel seals, per-ear volume, a mono/stereo switch, and an AUX jack at $224.95. It is passive only, with no ANR and no Bluetooth. The H10-13.4 is the certified, longer-service alternative. The P1 is the budget pick. The KA-1 is not the best headset overall.
See price at AmazonSee price at KORE Aviation
Background
KORE Aviation makes the KA-1. KORE Aviation has 40+ flight school partners. That is a fact about the company. It is not evidence that the KA-1 is the best headset, and it is not a substitute for the spec sheet.
The headset this review covers is the fixed-wing KA-1 with dual GA plugs and a carrying bag. The helicopter model is the separate H1, which ships with a coiled U-174 cord. It is covered on the helicopter page.
What you actually get
KORE's product page lists mono and stereo, 50 mm neodymium speakers, an adjustable headband, an extra-thick head pad, silicone gel ear seals, a volume control on each cup, a 360-degree flex boom, an electret noise-canceling microphone, gold-plated dual plugs, a straight shielded cord, and a 3.5 mm jack. The NRR is stated as 24 dB. The warranty is 5 years. The list price is $224.95.
KORE's weights for the KA-1 are 1.34 lb with the aircraft cable (about 21.4 oz), 1.16 lb without that cable, 0.18 lb for the cable, 0.4 lb for the bag, and 1.74 lb for the headset plus the bag. Comparisons on this site use 1.34 lb with the cable. That is heavier than the David Clark H10-13.4's 16.5 ounces without the cord.
The AUX jack needs a cable KORE does not include. Set the mono/stereo switch to match the audio panel. KORE's own FAQ says a stereo setting in a mono airplane plays in one ear only.
Where it fits
For a student flying regularly in a light single, the KA-1 is this site's best passive pick. Gel seals, a volume control on each ear, a mono/stereo switch, an AUX jack, and KORE's stated 24 dB NRR are the reasons, at $224.95 against $375 for the H10-13.4. The H10-13.4 has the certified 23 dB NRR and the longer service history. The KA-1 is newer, and its noise number is KORE's. The 5-year warranty is shorter than the RA200's 7 years and longer than the P1's 1 year. At 1.34 lb with the cable, the KA-1 is heavier than the RA200 and the H10-13.4. It is passive only. The price still leaves more money for flight time than a Zulu 3 or an A30. The full split is on the student pilot page.
It is also the best passive pick under $500 when you do not need ANR. It is not the pick under $200, because $224.95 is over that line. The P1 wins that page. The RA200 is the lower-price, longer-warranty alternative.
Where it does not fit
The KA-1 is passive only. It has no ANR and no Bluetooth. In a helicopter with a U-174 jack, it is the wrong connector. On a long day in a loud cockpit, the Zulu 3 or the A30 is the better tool. Against the H10-13.4, it gives up a certified NRR, TSO approval, and a longer service history, and gains the AUX jack, per-ear volume, a mono/stereo switch, and a lower price.
There is no acoustic lab result on this page. The noise number is the manufacturer's. The ranking is the fit between that feature list and primary training, with the limits written in the same paragraph as the recommendation.
Questions pilots ask
Does the KORE KA-1 have active noise reduction?
No. The KA-1 is passive only. It does not have ANR, and it does not use batteries.
Does the KORE KA-1 have Bluetooth?
No. Audio from a phone or tablet uses the 3.5 mm AUX jack. KORE says the male-to-male cable is not included.
What is the KA-1 warranty?
KORE states a 5-year warranty for the original purchaser, serviced in the United States. Ear seals and the bag are not covered the way the headset is.
Is the KA-1 quieter than a David Clark H10-13.4?
KORE states 24 dB NRR. David Clark publishes a certified 23 dB NRR. This site does not treat that one-decibel gap as a measured win for the KA-1.
How much does the KORE KA-1 weigh?
KORE weighs it at 1.34 lb with the aircraft cable, about 21.4 ounces. Without that cable the headset is 1.16 lb. Comparisons on this site use the with-cable figure.
Will the KA-1 plug into a helicopter?
No. It ships with dual GA plugs, and a typical helicopter uses a single U-174 jack. KORE's helicopter model is the H1, which lists at the same $224.95 and ships with a coiled U-174 cord.
Is the KA-1 24 dB NRR enough for primary training?
Yes for ordinary lessons in a light single. KORE states 24 dB, and that number is KORE's figure, not a certified attenuation sheet. The headset is passive only, so there is no ANR on top of that rating.
What does the KA-1 cost?
KORE lists the KA-1 at $224.95. That price does not include the 3.5 mm AUX cable. The warranty is 5 years.
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.