I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find the “right” headset for noisy 172s, 182s and my all-time favorite 177s. The three that always rise to the top are:
- Bose A20
- Bose A30
- Lightspeed Delta Zulu
Below is how I see them from the left seat of a small 4 seat aircraft taking into account 4 major areas
- Comfort and Fit – How does is feel to wear not only for short flights but past the first couple hours
- Controls
- Quality
- ANR – These are all active noise redution headsets so which does it best?
- Value – Do the features justify the cost?
Bose A20
Comfort and Fit
Firm clamp force gives a solid seal and keeps the headset stable in turbulence, but can create pressure after about 3+ hours. It’s reasonably light, yet you stay aware you’re wearing it. Gel/foam ear seals are comfortable and conform well, though they warm up on longer legs. Best suited to flights under roughly two hours if you’re sensitive to clamp pressure.
Value
The A20 is being phased out so they are often discounted new and widely available used in good shape
You still get near‑flagship ANR and Bose comfort at a lower price. For pilots flying about 50–150 hours a year it’s one of the strongest cost‑to‑performance choices.
Controls
Uses a simple, older‑style control box:
Intuitive switches/controls and runs on AA batteries. It isn’t as sleek as the A30’s module but it’s robust, easy to operate by feel, and very familiar to many pilots.
Quality
Radio and intercom audio are clear and natural, which helps in busy airspace and long training days. Bluetooth handles music, phone calls, and alerts reliably. Build quality has been proven over years; common wear parts like ear seals, headband pad and cables are easy to replace.
ANR (Active Noise Reduction)
The A20 delivers excellent ANR, especially on low‑frequency engine and prop noise in 172s, 177s and 182s. It has long been a “gold standard” ANR headset for piston singles and still feels very competitive today.
Bose A30
Comfort and Fit
The A30’s standout feature is improved comfort. Lighter clamp force but still seals well with better weight distribution and fewer hotspots with Ear cups that work better with thicker sunglasses. On long cross country legs it’s one of the few headsets that can almost “disappear” on your head. For frequent flyers, owners, and IFR students, this comfort upgrade is significant.
Value
Typically the most expensive of the three. You pay for Top‑tier comfort and the newest design and ergonomics
For high‑utilization pilots, the reduced fatigue and all‑day wearability can justify the premium. If budget allows and you fly often, this is the best “no‑compromise” choice.
Controls
The A30 has a slimmer, modern control module and more ergonomic layout. It’s easier to use by feel and the flexible cable lies cleaner in the cockpit. AA batteries is the standard and it’s has a solid battery life similar to the A20s
The overall experience feels more polished than the A20’s older box but unless you need to replace for A20s because of a malfunction or it’s your first headset, may not be worth replacing functional A20s.
Quality
Radio and intercom clarity are excellent, with a refined, easy listening character that helps on long days in busy or IFR environments. Bluetooth handling is smooth and predictable. The headset feels premium and it clearly targets long‑term professional and owner‑pilot use.
ANR (Active Noise Reduction)
Overall ANR level is similar to the A20 but noise reduction is a bit smoother and more refined a three‑position control (High/Medium/Low) lets you tune isolation versus situational awareness but I always keep it at high. If I want to hear the engine I pop one of my ears half way out like while leaning mixture.
In practice, you get a very quiet, less fatiguing environment with more flexibility for taxi, pattern work, and cruise.
Lightspeed Delta Zulu
Comfort and Fit
The Delta Zulu offers soft clamp force similar to or lighter than the A30. A different headband shape some pilots love and others don’t preferring Bose slightly bulkier ear cups and control module
It’s comfortable for long flights but tends to feel a bit more “present” than the A30. Trying it on with your usual hat and sunglasses is important.
Value
The Delta Zulu is usually priced below the Bose A30 and above most mid‑tier ANR sets. Its real value comes from integrated safety tech, especially for older piston singles and rentals. Built‑in CO detector with alerts and logging. Hearing tools and long‑term hearing protection features
If you prioritize safety features and data as much as comfort, this can be the best overall value.
Controls
The control box is larger and more complex with More buttons, indicators, and functions AA powered like the others with a slightly bulkier cable
The upside is capability: it supports CO monitoring, audio recording (via the app), and more advanced configuration than the Bose units.
Quality
Radio and intercom clarity are very good and more than adequate for IFR and busy airspace. Bluetooth supports music, EFB alerts, and phone calls. Compared to Bose, the audio character is slightly inferior but still clear and easy to understand.
Where it really stands out:
Integrated CO detector, Strong app integration for CO trends, audio recording, and settings.
ANR (Active Noise Reduction)
ANR performance is very good and broadly comparable to the A20 and A30 in Cessna cabins. Some pilots notice a faint electronic hiss in very quiet phases, but it’s generally minor. In real world flying, the choice between these headsets comes down more to comfort, features, and ecosystem than a big difference in noise reduction.
Conclusion
I’m sticking with the A20s I bought 5 years ago because they are great in the ways that matter to me which is audio quality and ANR. If I was buying new I would likely buy the A30s because of the lighter clamp for since that’s the only annoyance I have with the A20s after flying for 2+ hours, it get’s a little harsh. I might go try on another set of Lightspeed to see if I think their audio has improved and they feel as familiar to me but for now I’m sticking with Bose.
