Got $1200 to spend on a headset? That’s what you’ll have to pony up for a Bluetooth-equipped Bose A20—a high-end model that easily ranks at the top of the ANR food chain. Don’t get us wrong—we think the flagship Bose A20 continues to set the standard by which all other aviation headsets are judged. If we had the dough, we’d buy a set for every seat.
On the other hand, our recent sampling of a half dozen lower-cost models proved that there are worthy alternatives. Whether it’s a spare set to toss around the back cabin or for primary use in the left seat, we found a variety of models that offer solid performance without draining the budget.