The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphone is an excellent choice for those who want high-performance active noise-canceling headphones that will remain competitive for years to come.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review
Design
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra’s design is quite minimalistic and unassuming. These headphones don’t stand out.
While this might be just what you’re looking for, I wish there were a little more personality in the design.
I’m not looking for anything flashy, but I would have liked some sort of indication that these headphones are special. Nevertheless, the build quality is excellent, and the design is also quite appealing.
Let’s start with the carrying case. The biggest advantage of this case is its thinness. It’s one of the thinnest cases
I’ve ever used, and it fits much better in my backpack than the Focal Bathys case. It’s actually much thinner. This frees up space in my backpack, which I really appreciate.
The case is made of a synthetic material that feels like leather, and the front is neatly engraved with the Bose logo.
The zipper has a pull tab for easy adjustment, and it appears to be water-resistant. The back of the case features a small flap that attaches a carabiner to hang the case on something else.
Opening the case reveals a compartment for the headphones and a small mesh pouch for the AUX and USB-C cables. It’s a pretty decent case, and its slim design is its biggest selling point.
Comfort
Living up to its name and history, the Bose QuietComfort series has always been incredibly lightweight and comfortable, even for extended wear.
Their lighter weight reduces pressure on the top of the head, and the plush cushioning on both the headband and earpads adds to the comfort.
Unlike the AirPods Max, the fit is incredibly light and comfortable, with minimal pressure.
Even after wearing them for hours, the inside of the earcups didn’t seem to get warm. I think the QuietComfort Ultra deserves a perfect score for comfort.
Sound Quality
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra not only boasts the best sound quality of any Bose headphone to date, but also the best sound quality of any wireless noise-canceling headphone in its class.
I know this may sound strange, especially considering that sound quality has been the biggest weakness of Bose headphones in rigorous testing against strong competitors like Sony, Sennheiser, Apple, and even Beats.
Bose’s QuietComfort series has always been a leader in active noise-canceling and lightweight comfort, but in my opinion, sound quality has always been a weak point.
With the QuietComfort Ultra, everything changes. When I first heard them, I was deeply disappointed by the muddy, overly loud sound signature.
It was so bad that I almost gave up on them based on that first impression alone.
But to be fair, I’ve researched and experimented with EQ adjustments via Bose’s free app. Just like the (extreme) EQ on my Sony WH-1000XM5, the sound quality has drastically improved.
So, let’s skip that part and review the sound quality with the following EQ settings. Considering I used the official, completely free Bose app, I think the EQ is reasonable.
Try it out for yourself and hear the difference. Personally, I think this is how it should have been set at the factory.
Noise Cancellation
Bose is known for its active noise cancellation, and there’s a good reason for that: it’s effective.
However, my own measurements of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones show that not all ANC headphones are created equal.
The large, dense earpads seal perfectly to my head, providing excellent sound isolation, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones completely block out external noise.
In fact, they reduce noises like bus engines, trains, and airplane hum by about 87%.
That’s not bad. For those who prefer pass-through mode, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones offer Aware Mode only via the app.
I found Bose’s Aware Mode quite good, faithfully capturing the surroundings.
While I wouldn’t recommend using it on the subway, it’s effective enough on the street or in a cafe.
Pass-through mode doesn’t overly block out ambient sound, making it easy to forget you’re wearing headphones. It’s a nice idea, though it’s becoming quite common.
Battery Life
The Bose QC Ultra headphones offer excellent battery life. The manufacturer claims 24 hours of continuous use, but I got 29 hours. However, battery life varies depending on usage, including volume level.
Unfortunately, unlike other models, these headphones can’t be used in passive mode. While they can be used wired, you have to wear the headphones for them to work.
Conclusion
Bose lacks the appeal of immersive audio, and the QuietComfort headphones are priced higher than other flagship headphones that have been on the market for much longer.
But the build quality is solid, Bose’s noise-cancelling has taken things to the next level, and the acoustics are compelling enough to keep you coming back for more.
It’s been a while since Bose over-ear headphones sounded this enjoyable and refined.
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