Bose AE2 Review | 93 Data compared

The What Hi-Fi? review of the Bose AE2w wireless headphones highlights their standout comfort and open, detailed sound design, while noting some clear trade-offs. Tested at £200, these over-ear headphones deliver exceptionally immersive vocals alongside a spacious audio stage. The physical design emphasizes user convenience, offering lightweight construction, soft leather ear pads that effectively block external environmental noise, and the highly practical ability to connect to two devices simultaneously. Additionally, pairing is simple and hands-free calling functionality is integrated directly into the controls. However, the headphones suffer from performance inconsistencies and questionable physical ergonomics. On the audio side, the Bose AE2w exhibits a slightly hard treble, a boomy bass that lacks tightness, and noticeable distortion at higher volumes. Physically, they rely on a detachable external Bluetooth control module that plugs into a 3.5mm jack rather than internal electronics, creating an awkward look and a loose component that is easily lost. Finally, the headphones leak a significant amount of sound during calls or playback, and the 7-hour battery life is subpar compared to the industry-standard 10 hours.

The Bose AE2, reviewed on Trusted Reviews, are highlighted as stylish, lightweight, and cost-effective wired headphones featuring a slim design ideal for daily commuting. They offer exceptional comfort with plush ear pads, yet suffer from a loose headband that makes them unsuitable for exercise, alongside a lack of active noise cancellation. While providing a surprisingly wide soundstage with balanced bass, the headphones suffer from hollow mid-range frequencies, making them better suited for casual listening over critical audiophile use.

The Bose AE2 headphones provide a highly comfortable and lightweight listening option for $149.95, though they do not feature the active noise cancellation found in Bose's premium QuietComfort line. Weighing only 4.9 ounces and utilizing heavily cushioned, fold-flat ear cushions, they apply minimal pressure to the head and are ideal for long trips. Audio-wise, the headphones feature a heavily sculpted sound signature that heavily boosts deep sub-bass frequencies below 50Hz, allowing them to handle bass-heavy tracks like The Knife's "Silent Shout" at maximum volumes without distortion. They also maintain distinct clarity in the mids and highs, making them a great fit for genres like hip-hop and electronic music. However, the reviewer highlights several notable drawbacks, particularly regarding sound accuracy and accessories. The sculpted frequency curve leaves a noticeable dip in the 60Hz-to-100Hz range, resulting in a less smooth, somewhat unnatural orchestral low-end that will turn off serious audiophiles seeking a flatter response. The mids and highs can also feel over-boosted, creating an overly bright mix. Additionally, the headphones suffer from significant sound leakage at higher volumes, meaning public use can...

The Bose AE2 is a lightweight, around-the-ear headphone design that updates the original TriPort ("AE1") model with significant structural and acoustic updates. Priced at $150, it positions itself as a more affordable, non-active noise-canceling alternative to Bose's premium $300 QuietComfort 15 line. Key pros highlighted in the review include its excellent comfort level, driven by plush black leather earpads and a thin, springy neoprene headband, alongside a notably light weight compared to its competitors. Functionally, the headphones offer improved portability by folding flat, and they feature a detachable, single-cord design that allows the user to wear them solely for passive sound muffling. Acoustically, the AE2 delivers accurate sound quality with well-defined bass, representing a clear audio improvement over its predecessor. However, the review notes prominent cons, stating that the highly detailed playback can occasionally sound a tad brash and overemphasize high-frequency instruments like cymbals. This analytical transparency also tends to accentuate the flaws in poorly recorded music, making bad tracks sound worse. Additionally, the included cloth carrying bag provides minimal physical protection, and the headphones lack the active noise cancellation...

The Bose AE2 SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II offer a lightweight, highly durable, and comfortable design weighing just 200 grams, featuring plush memory foam earpads that make them easy to wear for extended periods. Now priced affordably around $150 compared to their original $275 retail price, they deliver a well-balanced, "clean" sound signature optimized by Active EQ and volume-optimized digital processing to maintain audio richness at lower volumes,,. Additional practical features include easy-to-use physical control buttons, a robust two-way microphone with Adaptive Audio Adjustment for uninterrupted phone calls, reliable multi-device Bluetooth 4.0 pairing, and a flat-folding carrying case,,,. The battery provides a solid 15 hours of playback time, with a quick 15-minute charge option that yields two hours of use. Despite these strengths, the review notes several drawbacks, explicitly warning that these headphones lack the loud, bass-heavy profile preferred by certain music lovers. They lack active noise cancellation (ANC), relying solely on passive isolation from the around-the-ear cups, which can cause ears to feel hot and sweaty in warmer environments. Additionally, pairing the headphones with a Windows PC laptop can...

The Home Studio Basics review outlines the critical differences between the Bose AE2 around-ear (circumaural) and Bose OE2 on-ear (supra-aural) headphones. The pros of the Bose AE2 include its vastly superior long-term comfort, a highly balanced and natural sound signature with controlled bass, an emphasized mid-range that highlights vocals, and better passive sound isolation. On the downside, the cons of the Bose AE2 are that its treble lacks a bit of sparkle, it is not built for rough handling, and it lacks the heavier, punchier bass response that some casual listeners prefer. Conversely, the pros of the Bose OE2 center on its "fun" audio profile, offering louder volumes and a stronger, more emphasized bass response. However, the cons of the Bose OE2 are significant, starting with severe comfort issues; its on-ear padding compresses after about an hour of use, leading to ear pain. Additionally, it suffers from a recessed mid-range, inferior sound isolation compared to its around-ear counterpart, and a rolled-off, dark treble that lacks high-end detail. Ultimately, the reviewer heavily favors the AE2 for its superior comfort and balanced...

The Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Bluetooth headphones (originally released as the Bose AE2w) offer exceptional comfort and well-balanced, dynamic audio quality that stands out in the Bluetooth category. Built on the design of the popular wired AE2 model, these lightweight headphones feature a highly functional control module with easy-to-navigate buttons, memory foam earcups, and excellent passive noise isolation. They also support multi-device connectivity and deliver clear performance when used as a headset for phone calls. However, the headphones come with a premium price tag and an awkward, protruding Bluetooth module that disrupts the symmetry of the design. Audio volume can feel restricted and may not get loud enough depending on the connected device or file type, while the bass response might lack the heavy punch desired by fans of aggressive music genres. Additionally, the included cloth carrying pouch offers very little physical protection for travel compared to hard cases bundled with competing models.

The Bose AE2 circumaural (over-ear) headphones offer a lightweight and comfortable design at a direct price of $149.95, mimicking the classic black-and-silver look of Bose's QuietComfort line but skipping active noise cancellation entirely. Weighing just 4.9 ounces and featuring well-padded, fold-flat ear cushions, they apply very little pressure, making them excellent and highly packable choices for travelers. However, the package lacks a standard ¼-inch adapter, and the headphones suffer from noticeable sound leakage at high volumes, which might bother people nearby. In terms of audio performance, the headphones deliver a unique, sculpted sound signature that provides solid, distortion-free playback even with bass-heavy tracks at maximum volume. A major pro is their unexpected and powerful sub-bass response below 50Hz, which produces an ominous rumble ideal for hip hop, electronic music, and movie explosions. On the downside, this uneven frequency response tones down the standard low-end bass frequencies around 60Hz to 100Hz, and the boosted mids and highs can make the overall mix sound overly bright. Consequently, while they offer reasonable bass and general clarity for casual listeners, their heavily sculpted sound...

In his review for Reviewed, Chris Thomas concludes that the Bose AE2 over-ear headphones are a comfortable yet ultimately disappointing entry-level option that fails to justify its $149 MSRP. On the positive side, the primary pros are their exceptional comfort and portable design; they feature an adjustable band, ultra-lightweight build, and soft padding that feel great on the head. Additionally, they are highly compatible with standard smartphones and mobile devices due to their appropriate impedance and sensitivity. However, the headphones suffer from severe cons regarding build and audio quality. Thomas criticizes the construction as feeling cheap, utilizing low-grade plastic, and offering no user maintenance or cleaning options. Performance-wise, the headphones feature a poor frequency response that drops significantly (-10dB) in higher frequencies, losing vital details from woodwinds, strings, and female vocals. Lab testing also revealed erratic sound-tracking shifts between the left and right channels, terrible ambient noise isolation that lets in all low-end bass, and a restrictive, non-customizable 3.93-foot audio cord.