Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review – audio quality and noise cancellation that’s second to none

95%

• VERDICT

Bose has done it again. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer stunning audio quality and incredible noise cancellation. They are one of the most well-rounded and versatile earphones money can buy.

When it comes to high audio quality and noise cancellation, Bose are always at the top of their game and they’ve added those features to the new QuietComfort Earbuds.

It’s the same excellent level of noise cancellation you get with Bose headphones but shrunk down to work with the earbuds so you can switch off the outside world and just focus on your music or podcast or audiobook.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds use a patented combination of active and passive noise cancellation.

ANC comes from the internal and external microphones that monitor ambient sounds around you and inside your ear canal and generate the opposite signals thousands of times per second to cancel it out.

Passive noise cancellation comes courtesy of the cone-shaped silicon tips and ear nozzle which shapes itself to your ear canal to create a seal so less noise can seep in.

And the noise cancellation is also adjustable which means you can control the amount of sound that you want to hear around you.

This is particularly useful when you’re out running or walking and need to be more aware of your surroundings.

And you can also choose the full transparency option so you can still wear the Bose QC Earbuds but it sounds like you’re not wearing the earphones at all.

The noise cancellation quality is absolutely on point here – one of the best we’ve heard in a pair of earphones.

Under the hood are high efficiency drivers with patented acoustic port design to provide crisp clear sound and nice deep bass no matter what volume you choose.

There’s also a Bluetooth 5.1 receiver so there’s always a solid connection within 10m of your paired device.

OK, now let’s talk about design

Bose has never been one to compromise their audio technology to make the earbuds smaller.

Its earbuds have traditionally been larger than their competitors and that’s no different this time with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.

They are larger than regular earphones with an outer module connected to a small bud that fits into your ear.

Despite most of the earphones sitting outside your ear they still feel comfortable and secure in your ear.

What helps with the secure fit are the flexible wing tips that hook inside the ridge of your ear and even distribute the weight.

The result is a surprisingly light and comfortable fit that will allow them to be worn for hours.

The panel on the outer module is also where you can also access the intuitive touch interface.

The left earbud allows users to tap and cycle through three levels of noise cancellation. You can also press and hold to activate your shortcut which can be set up in the Bose Music app.

On the right tap controls to play and pause your content and to make and receive calls as well as access your digital assistant.

The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds are also sweat and weather resistant with an IPX4 rating so you can wear them with confidence in the gym, on a run and in the rain.

So how do they sound? It’s Bose so you know going in you’re going to get  high quality audio and the QuietComfort Earbuds certainly deliver in spades.

And they sound great at any volume courtesy of the volume-optimised Active EQ technology.

Voices also sound a lot clearer too it’s an improved experience listening to spoken word content like podcasts and audiobooks or watching a movie on your paired device.

It’s remarkable how that authoritative sound can be maintained at all volumes. Usually earphones have to be at full volume for you to appreciate the quality.

Not so with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.

Whether you’re listening to heavy metal or classical music, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer incredible sound.

The bass level is also improved over its usually conservative bass response.

The audio quality also carries over to your phone calls with the people we were talking to telling us they could hear us quite easily despite being outside or inside a busy shopping centre.

That’s because there’s a specially-designed microphone array that can focus on your voice while suppressing the noise around you.

And of course we could hear the people we were talking to in super clarity.

On the battery side, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds can run for up to six hours on a single charge with up to 12 hours more in the wireless charging case.

If you need a quick recharge, a 15-minute charge will provide two hours of play time.

But let’s talk about the Bose charging case – its huge. It’s up to twice the size of other charging cases.

That’s because the earbuds are also larger to begin with and they do take up more room in your pocket.

But it’s a small price to pay if you value superior sound quality and are fan of the Bose brand.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are available now and are priced at $399.95.

VERDICT

Bose has done it again. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer stunning audio quality and incredible noise cancellation. They are one of the most well-rounded and versatile earphones money can buy.