More expensive doesn’t always mean better, and the second generation Bose QuietComfort headphones are proof of exactly that.
No shade to the second gen Bose QC Ultra headphones — they are still the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn. Good as the brand’s premium flagship model is, however, it was a boring upgrade upon launch and remains so now (such is the case with many a tech release these days).
That’s because the name of the game these days is that making small tweaks — like 10 percent better noise cancellation or a new colorway — constitutes an entirely new generation release. The latest Bose QuietComfort headphones, on the other hand, actually make real changes while retaining the same $359 price tag as the original QuietComforts.
Sure, Bose didn’t go totally into left field, but they made tweaks where it mattered most, closing the performance gap between the QCs and the $449 Ultras, and resulting in the most well-rounded pair of headphones I’ve seen from the brand to date. Let’s get into why.
The Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) headphones at a glance
I requested the eucalyptus green pair because look at them.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
What I liked: The list is long, but I’ll aim to keep it brief. These QuietComforts are wearable for hours and hours on end with earrings and glasses, feature some of the best (though not quite industry leading) active noise cancellation that’s manually adjustable, solid sound quality without any adjustments, several ways to listen, fun colorways that make them feel like a real accessory, intuitive touch controls, replaceable ear cups for future proofing, and most importantly, are a good deal cheaper than most other premium options available.
What I didn’t like: The app only has a three-band equalizer, the noise cancellation can get staticky with sudden spikes of noise (just like the first gen QuietComforts), and despite offering USB-C listening for lossless audio, these headphones feature no options for passive playback.
Specs
-
Active noise cancellation: Yes, with manual adjustment available
-
Microphones: Six
-
Lossless playback: Wired USB-C audio up to 24bit/48kHz
-
Equalizer: Three-band custom equalizer
-
Spatial audio: Bose TrueSpatial technology with Immersive Audio modes for Still, Motion, and Cinema
-
Battery life: 24 hours per charge (18 hours with Immersive Audio)
-
Quick charge: 15-minute charge for 2.5 hours of playback
-
Connection: Bluetooth 5.4
-
Multipoint: Yes
-
Weight: 0.5 pounds
-
Colors: Black, white smoke, eucalyptus green*, dewdrop mint*, rosewood mauve* (*limited edition colors)
Pricing and availability
As I mentioned up top, these headphones retail for $359 — the exact same list price as the first generation QuietComfort headphones. At the time I’m writing this review, the first gen headphones are on sale for $199 in one colorway, with the remaining options available for $229. While these prices are likely reflective of the release of the new generation, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the second gen QuietComforts drop down to $299 (or lower) during the upcoming Black Friday season.
Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) performance
Sound quality
The standard listening experience of these headphones didn’t feel all that different from other QuietComfort headphones I’d tried, but that’s not a knock against them. Bose’s sound on this line tends to lean warm and rich, but I wouldn’t describe the clarity as one of the standout features.
The mids also run a little low for my taste, so I tend to bump them up on the equalizer. That said, if you often like fine-tuning your sound just so, these might not be the headphones for you — the equalizer is limited to one treble, one mid, and one bass adjustment band.
However, Bose does offer more options in listening with the inclusion of Immersive Audio, which is designed to open up the soundstage of your audio and more closely mimic a live performance. From the first generation QC headphones to the QC Ultra headphones, this was one of the biggest discrepancies — the cheaper headphones simply didn’t have it. With its inclusion, a significant gap has been closed. Granted, I’ve never been the biggest fan of Bose’s Immersive mode — to me, it can make music sound too flat, which especially stands out against the richness of Bose’s standard mode. However, this can really come down to personal preference (and it’s worth mentioning I’ve rarely preferred any headphones’ spatial audio modes in the past).
Noise cancellation
Bose claimed that these new QuietComforts came with improvements in noise cancellation, so I was thrilled to put them to the test in all my usual scenarios — noisy cafes, on walks around town, in my home, and during some travel from California to the Pacific Northwest.
These headphones are a godsend on a long travel day.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
I’ll start with the cons, because they are minimal: all three times I was on a plane, I wore these during takeoff, and all three times, the noise cancellation got real staticky. It wasn’t a huge bummer, and it was over in a matter of seconds, but it did echo a complaint my colleague Samantha Mangino faced when she wore the first generation QuietComforts around an approaching train.
To their credit, Bose does say their Aware Mode is better at dealing with sudden bursts in sound (in that they’re not over-amplified), so it’s possible a fix for this is in the pipeline for future generations.
Now, onto the pros: these headphones are just really solid at blocking out sound from the world around you. Without any music, I can barely hear myself type on my laptop — with the volume at 50 percent on my music, my typing disappears completely. On a plane, some low engine hum still comes through, but other passengers and the majority of the plane sounds get dampened to an impressive degree.
It’s not quite the cocoon of silence offered by the QC Ultra 2 headphones (and it shouldn’t be, these headphones have six microphones to the Ultra’s 10), but it gets close enough that the price difference starts to look less justifiable.
Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) design and build quality
Whenever someone asks me for a rec on the most comfortable headphones, I point them in the direction of Bose, and these headphones will only have me pointing with more vigor.
The full carrying case arsenal.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
The tactile controls all live on the bottom of the ear cups, making for a sleeker appearance over the previous gen.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
Before I full-on gush over how much I loved wearing these headphones, let’s go over the design changes. Bose changed the shape of the second gen headphones slightly, opting for more of an oval leaning rounded rectangle than true oval shape of the ear cups on the OG QuietComforts. They also now feature an indent around the perimeter, more closely following the design of the Ultra headphones, and offering a convenient spot to hide all the on-ear controls and power switch.
OK, let’s get to the good stuff — these headphones added a more plush headphone and ear cushions over the previous gen and it shows. Not once did I experience even the slightest bit of wear fatigue, even when I wore them pretty consistently through full work days and travel days. The QC Ultra headphones are ever so slightly more comfortable, but these still fall into the category of some of the most long-wearing headphones I’ve ever tried.
My only real gripe, which I noticed most during my time in the airport, was that these headphones won’t fold flat down when you wear them around your neck. It’s a small grievance, but if you travel a lot or simply prefer around-the-neck wear, it’s worth being aware of.
That said, the overall portability of these headphones is a 10/10 for me. The case is compact, but I also tried simply folding them up and throwing them into my bag, and they took up as minimal space as I could expect from over-ear headphones.
Yes, it popped back on with ease, and yes, replaceable parts cannot be undervalued.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
Finally, it’s not a new feature, but I continue to appreciate the inclusion of replaceable ear cushions on these headphones. When I used QC 35 II’s, the ear cups were the first part to show their age, and being able to simply swap them out breathed new life into the headphones.
Are the Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) headphones worth it?
If I had to buy new headphones today, these would be the ones I’d buy for myself.
It’s hard to find top-of-the-line features for under $400, so I was impressed in all the ways that these headphones went head-to-head with their more expensive counterpart in the QC Ultras. If I had to put a number on it, I’d say the Ultras are roughly 10 percent better, but there’s a 20 percent price difference between the two headphones. In other words, the math doesn’t add up.
Unless you need sound-first headphones (in which case, might I introduce you to the Sony XM6 headphones), the second gen QuietComfort headphones offer the best blend of high-end noise cancellation, wear, durability, and value.
Topics
Bose
Mashable Choice