Bose QuietComfort Headphones - Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, USB-C Charging, Deep Bass, Up to 24 Hours of Playtime, Black

Great headphones. I like the sound quality a lot. The option to switch to aware mode is super helpful when I need to know what is going on around me, it enhances just the right sounds. The noise cancellation is the best out of all of the headphones I have. They are also very comfortable, and don’t have a bunch of unintended actions happen when i adjust them like my high end JBL headphones do. At the sale price, i highly recommend.

I’m a layperson, so let me first say I purchased these after much research but based on a “general audience’s” needs. What I mean by that, is my boyfriend mixes music, and while these are high quality this review isn’t for those types of people. This is for more layperson type of needs.1. I actually used chat gpt to compare and contrast numerous headphones based on my desires so if you’re needing help choosing that was very helpful to me.2. My needs were as follows: light, comfortable, noise cancelling, color, Bluetooth across devices, and ease of app use.3. I discovered that these headphones outdo their Sony competition specifically because they’re lighter and they don’t drop Bluetooth when you move to your computer from your phone for example. I found Sony has issues trying to switch back to your phone when on computer.Bluetooth is very important to me and a top need. I switch between devices enough for that to be a serious issue for me.4. I have a tiny head and am a 5’2 woman. I don’t have large proportions. For example my boyfriend is 6 foot with a large head and headphone weight won’t affect him the same way. For me headphones can literally be too heavy and fatiguing so my other main qualifier was that these are lighter than all but 1 of the top 7 brands out there.5. The cushion on these is shockingly luxurious and an added bonus.6. I get a mean case of sensitive ears, I always have. When I run my ears ache, in the cold my ears ache, if I am in a plane they ache. I am part of a certain population percentage (I’ve googled it’s around 30% but fact check me- this is for you though if you are like me) who have ear canals that actually can be very painful with the wrong pressure. For this reason I’m fairly picky about headphones which apply a significant amount of pressure. These headphones have not triggered this issue for me.7. I wanted good plane headphones and these will be great if I lean my head on the window area. The band doesn’t dig.8. They look really nice.9. The color options are cute10. The case is nice11. I heard for Sony there was popping on phone calls and it therefore became between these and Apple however apples are very very heavy. I ended up going with these for that reason. I have used them for numerous phone calls and haven’t had the issues, and people hear me easily and have had no issues hearing me. I did have popping once but I think it’s on the end of the person you’re on the phone with. My cousin was in his car shouting into his Bluetooth and I feel if he had been quieter it wouldn’t have happened. The popping has never occurred with music and is specific to a loud shout from someone on their own CarPlay so no biggie. Otherwise zero pop12. The noise cancelling is exceptional, I put them on and don’t play anything, but can no longer hear my AC at all. You understand generally the sound of constant AC. Like vrrrrrrrrr. It’s completely gone.13. Soothing without music to just make things less loud. Suitable for autistics who want a quieting incognito headphone that changes, also more comfy than alternative ear covers. (I am AuDHD.)14. Music can get really loud and nice lots of depth (layerperson opinion but my boyfriend said the sound quality is great and the next step up is just studio mixing headphones)15. If you wait for prime day or other sales they’re 150$ off usually (better than every other competitors prime or Black Friday deals)16. They seem durable and collapse in many ways so you can’t easily break them.17. The app has had no issues for me. Online there’s some app complaints and I have not run into them at all. The app seems to me very easy to navigate.

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!