Bose QuietComfort Headphones - Wireless Bluetooth Headphones Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic USB-C Charging Deep Bass

UPDATE 02/09/26: it’s been nearly 1 1/2 years since I bought them and I still love them. I have bought many new pairs since my review (I’m obsessed with headphones), and I’ll put the QuietComfort up against just about anything in the $500 price range. The QuietComfort are one of my all-time favorite headphone purchases. First, let may say that I bought them during Prime Days, when they were only $199.99, which was a discount of $150! So, they are an incredible value. I own many pair of headphones, including AirPod Max, Sonos Ace, Bose QC 45, and the Sony XM5’s. I also owned and sold the QuietComfort Ultra, which are way overpriced, and the main selling point (their spatial sound or whatever they call it) is a joke. I don’t think it enhances the sound at all. In fact, music has a hollow quality when using it. Additionally, I prefer the QuietComfort’s buttons to the Ultra’s touch controls, which seemed awkward. Additionally, the Ultra utilize a 35mm driver, while the QuietComfort use a 40mm driver. While the Ultra may be more efficient, I think the low end frequencies suffer compared to the QuietComfort. The Bose QuietComfort are quickly becoming my favorite. The sound quality is second to none. It is noticeably better than the QC 45. The bass is definitely deeper and punchier. The highs and mids are also discernibly better. The highs are brighter and more crisp, though the highs are never harsh on my ears. The 45’s require a lot of equalizer use (+6, 0, -3), while the QuietComfort still require some tinkering, they require a lot less of it to achieve optimum sound (+1, +2, +1). Even at -3 on the EQ for the highs on the 45’s, the higher frequencies feel like they need to be reined in. Indeed, the QuietComfort just sound more refined. The noise cancelling has also improved, though I would say both the Sony XM5’s and the Sonos Aces are a touch better at cancelling most noise. I run an air purifier at arm’s length away from my chair, and a window a/c to supplement the central air, which is directly behind my head. With the XM5’s I can completely eliminate the noise from both while they’re simultaneously running. With the new QuietComfort I can just barely detect the a/c, while with the 45’s I can easily pick up the a/c. The difference here between the Sonys and the new QuietComfort is marginal at best. I should mention that part of Bose’s way to cancel noise is to pump low-volume white noise into the headphones, which seems counterintuitive, but I don’t mind it. Others may mind it, however. The QuietComfort are the most-comfortable to wear, though they are no different than the 45’s in that regard. They are extremely lightweight (though sturdy), and clamp down perfectly tight. I can shake my head back and forth without them shifting, yet they’re not so tight as to prevent wearing them for an extended period of time. I don’t work out, but I would imagine they’d maintain their fit during exercise. They also offer multi-point connectivity, and they (and the 45’s) are the only two pair to switch seamlessly between my LG TV and my iPhone. The XM5’s require using the app, the Sonos don’t do it as easily as advertised while using my tv for some reason and the AirPods Max don’t even offer multipoint functionality. Bose states that you get 24 hour battery life on a full charge, and I’ve found that to be accurate. While that’s less than the Sonos and Sony’s battery life (30 hours), it’s more than the Apple’s (20 hour). I have found the battery life to be sufficient. If you own a pair of 45’s and are looking for an upgrade, then I would say there’s not quite enough of a performance gap to justify the $349 price tag, however, if you catch them on sale for $199 like I did, then I would definitely recommend upgrading. If you’re looking for your first pair, then I would definitely recommend the QuietComfort over all the others I mentioned, even at $349. I hope that helps. Happy Listening! Read more

I recently purchased the Bose QuietComfort headphones and they are exceptional. They arrived with a high quality protective case, which was a great first impression. The setup and connectivity process was simple and seamless. Downloading the Bose app and pairing the headphones took only a few minutes. Everything worked exactly as expected, which is the level of quality I associate with Bose products. The sound quality is far superior to anything I currently own. I use them both wirelessly with my phone and wired to my computer, and the audio clarity in both setups is outstanding. Music sounds rich and balanced, audiobooks are crisp, and dialogue in videos is incredibly clear. Comfort is another major strength. The size and style are perfect! I can wear these for extended periods without discomfort. The noise canceling is extremely effective, especially in environments with a lot of background noise. For anyone who can feel overwhelmed by constant sound, these make a noticeable difference. With the newer version recently released, these are currently priced at nearly half of what they were before, which makes them an even better value. For music, audiobooks, YouTube, or streaming on your phone, they are well worth the investment. There is honestly nothing about these headphones that I do not like. I would absolutely recommend them. Read more

Comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing to wear. The sound cancellation option is actually really good for the price. You have the option to turn it off as well. And when you download the app, you are able to toggle the noise cancellation strength along with connections and button command on which one controls what on your phone. (Ie: calls, Siri, volume, skipping). Sound is really good! The cushion on the ears and on the band on top is very nice. I don’t have a melon head, but the size adjustment and flexibility is melon head friendly. Mind you, I’m not headphone expert and upgraded from beat up cheap $70 JBL headphones that were begging me to stop using them. So, take the review how you will. Battery life last a looooong time. I just charge em for about 30 min to an hour when I’m preoccupied and they practically last me the whole day and then some. Con: my biggest gripe with them is that when you have multiple devices connected (I only connect my laptop and my phone), the connection has intervals of interruption. Sometimes, they will tweak out (despite keeping up with updates) and just drop the connection all together which require me to turn em off and on. So the biggest issue is the connection being a tad unreliable. Read more

The photos on this review are of the headphones after a year of use. I think they're still in great shape. I work in a loud machine shop. I have worn these 40 hours+ a week every week for the past year, and they are without a doubt the best option for quality sound, and long term listening. I had a pair of Sony XM5s before this. Not only did those get uncomfortable after about 5 hours, they also did not last long and broke after a couple of months. These Bose headphones are as perfect of a pair of headphones you can get these days. Battery life is great, they're lightweight and fit well, so they stay comfortable for 10 hours of use during my shifts, and they're durable enough to still be in great shape after the past year. Volume and noise cancelling control on the ear is convenient. BT range is great. I can walk all the way to the other end of the shop (100ft+) without losing connection. Yes, these are expensive, but they are the same, if not cheaper than others and last much longer. Read more