Fly_Unity
Well-Known Member
Someone just asked me for a review so I typed it up real quick. Im not here to debate which one is better, just giving my experience. Just because I like one better than the other does not mean you will. I got about 2000 hours with the Bose X, several hundred with Zulu and less than 100 with the Bose A20. And about 1000 hours with the David Clark although I didnt write my review on them, they are a good headset if you have a limited budget.
Comfort: Winner = (Tie) A20 and Zulu
Bose A20 = 10 Very light weight and barely noticeable.
Bose X = 9 Smaller ear-cuffs makes it harder to “tuck” your ears in especially if you got larger ears.
Zulu = 10 Very light weight and barely noticeable
Sound Quality: Winner = A20
Bose A20 = 10 Bose seems to have the best music quality, especially the bass notes. I don’t know if it can get any better
Bose X = 9 Same as the A20 except the a bit more plane noise.
Zulu = 8 Sound quality seems to suffer, Could not even hear bass notes when comparing the same song even with the bass boost on.
ANR reduction: Winner = A20
Bose A20 = 10 Seems to be quite a bit quieter than the competitors. In fact it was hard to get used to because it felt like I was in a Simulator or in a toy airplane. It makes a piston sound more like a turbine. Could hear the warnings and stall horn easily. Harder to sync props up. I first found myself cracking the headset on my head to sync them up.
Bose X = 8 Still very quiet.
Zulu = 9 Hardly a difference in sound level with the Bose X although it seems to have a “different” type of noise. Our turbine pilot states that it cuts out more of the lower end than the X.
Passive Reduction: Winner = Tie A20 and Zulu
Bose A20 = 7 A big improvement from the Bose X although running out of batteries will still cause grief
Bose X = 3 No passive reduction, In fact it seems to be louder with the headset on in you turn the ANR off.
Zulu = 7 About the same as the A20
Bluetooth: Winner = Zulu
Bose A20 = 8 Bluetooth works fine with the phone, easy to connect, just one press of the button and it automatically connects. Only the phone works with the Bluetooth, if you want music you have to plug in an extra chord. Does not fade in or fade out after a radio transmission. Cuts in and out which can be annoying if there are lots of radio calls, Its best to turn the volume down and flick the switch so the music is always on.
Bose X = 0 No Bluetooth
Zulu = 10 Zulu you can also listen to music via Bluetooth (unlike the A20). Also I like the fade in – fade out when a radio transmission comes in.
Mic: Winner = Tie X and A20
Bose A20 = 10 Very pleased with the Mic
Bose X = 10 Same as the A20
Zulu = 8 I don’t like the mic. It seems to short and it comes to the side of mouth instead of directly in front of it making me have to talk slightly louder. Also it does not seem to twist like the Bose does to get the perfect fit. Only available on the left side (unlike the Bose where you can switch it to the side of your choice).
Earpads: Winner = Bose X
Bose A20 = 9 I give it a 9 because the when I move my head I get a sometimes get a squeaky squeal sound from the ANR. This may be a defect.
Bose X = 10 Although the earmuffs are smaller they seem to be the least distracting. I never had any interference or feedback at all.
Zulu = 8 I get quite a bit of interference if I turn my head to look at the passengers and what not. It seems to leak more than the Bose. Also get a “drumming drone if I rest my head on the window. I have also got a squeaky squeal sound (feedback) if I turn my head fast. It seems to have the same problem as the A20. This may because they both have a very powerful ANR. Again this may be a defect in the one headset I use.
Price: Winner = Zulu
Bose A20 = 5 at $1,100 it is very expensive
Bose X = 7 Im not sure if they sell the X anymore new. But still can get them on ebay like new for around 700.
Zulu = 8 Seems to be the best value for the money although still expensive
Other
Bose is TSA approved; I get interference in the Bose Headsets if I get a text message or someone is trying to call me on my cell phone; Bose X headset clamps on the earmuffs flattening them out when it’s not in use limiting the earmuff life, The A20 fixed that issue. One of our company pilots likes the Zulu better because he felt two pressure points on his head with the Bose. I never noticed it. The other one likes the Zulu because of the better Bluetooth. Our other two pilots seem to favor the Bose so its split 50/50. Customer service is perfect with both companies. The A20’s have a really heavy and bulky control module, so it’s constantly pulling on your head unless you clamp it to your lap.
My rating:
Bose A20 = 69 points
Bose X = 57
Zulu = 62
Comfort: Winner = (Tie) A20 and Zulu
Bose A20 = 10 Very light weight and barely noticeable.
Bose X = 9 Smaller ear-cuffs makes it harder to “tuck” your ears in especially if you got larger ears.
Zulu = 10 Very light weight and barely noticeable
Sound Quality: Winner = A20
Bose A20 = 10 Bose seems to have the best music quality, especially the bass notes. I don’t know if it can get any better
Bose X = 9 Same as the A20 except the a bit more plane noise.
Zulu = 8 Sound quality seems to suffer, Could not even hear bass notes when comparing the same song even with the bass boost on.
ANR reduction: Winner = A20
Bose A20 = 10 Seems to be quite a bit quieter than the competitors. In fact it was hard to get used to because it felt like I was in a Simulator or in a toy airplane. It makes a piston sound more like a turbine. Could hear the warnings and stall horn easily. Harder to sync props up. I first found myself cracking the headset on my head to sync them up.
Bose X = 8 Still very quiet.
Zulu = 9 Hardly a difference in sound level with the Bose X although it seems to have a “different” type of noise. Our turbine pilot states that it cuts out more of the lower end than the X.
Passive Reduction: Winner = Tie A20 and Zulu
Bose A20 = 7 A big improvement from the Bose X although running out of batteries will still cause grief
Bose X = 3 No passive reduction, In fact it seems to be louder with the headset on in you turn the ANR off.
Zulu = 7 About the same as the A20
Bluetooth: Winner = Zulu
Bose A20 = 8 Bluetooth works fine with the phone, easy to connect, just one press of the button and it automatically connects. Only the phone works with the Bluetooth, if you want music you have to plug in an extra chord. Does not fade in or fade out after a radio transmission. Cuts in and out which can be annoying if there are lots of radio calls, Its best to turn the volume down and flick the switch so the music is always on.
Bose X = 0 No Bluetooth
Zulu = 10 Zulu you can also listen to music via Bluetooth (unlike the A20). Also I like the fade in – fade out when a radio transmission comes in.
Mic: Winner = Tie X and A20
Bose A20 = 10 Very pleased with the Mic
Bose X = 10 Same as the A20
Zulu = 8 I don’t like the mic. It seems to short and it comes to the side of mouth instead of directly in front of it making me have to talk slightly louder. Also it does not seem to twist like the Bose does to get the perfect fit. Only available on the left side (unlike the Bose where you can switch it to the side of your choice).
Earpads: Winner = Bose X
Bose A20 = 9 I give it a 9 because the when I move my head I get a sometimes get a squeaky squeal sound from the ANR. This may be a defect.
Bose X = 10 Although the earmuffs are smaller they seem to be the least distracting. I never had any interference or feedback at all.
Zulu = 8 I get quite a bit of interference if I turn my head to look at the passengers and what not. It seems to leak more than the Bose. Also get a “drumming drone if I rest my head on the window. I have also got a squeaky squeal sound (feedback) if I turn my head fast. It seems to have the same problem as the A20. This may because they both have a very powerful ANR. Again this may be a defect in the one headset I use.
Price: Winner = Zulu
Bose A20 = 5 at $1,100 it is very expensive
Bose X = 7 Im not sure if they sell the X anymore new. But still can get them on ebay like new for around 700.
Zulu = 8 Seems to be the best value for the money although still expensive
Other
Bose is TSA approved; I get interference in the Bose Headsets if I get a text message or someone is trying to call me on my cell phone; Bose X headset clamps on the earmuffs flattening them out when it’s not in use limiting the earmuff life, The A20 fixed that issue. One of our company pilots likes the Zulu better because he felt two pressure points on his head with the Bose. I never noticed it. The other one likes the Zulu because of the better Bluetooth. Our other two pilots seem to favor the Bose so its split 50/50. Customer service is perfect with both companies. The A20’s have a really heavy and bulky control module, so it’s constantly pulling on your head unless you clamp it to your lap.
My rating:
Bose A20 = 69 points
Bose X = 57
Zulu = 62
