Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 Review | 93 Data compared

The Galaxus review highlights the Bose Headphones 700 for their outstanding active noise cancellation (ANC), which effectively eliminates background noise, and superior microphone quality, surpassing competitors in voice clarity during calls. Notable drawbacks include the non-folding design, which limits portability, and the "Level 0" transparency mode that uncomfortably amplifies external sounds rather than creating a natural, off-state environment. While the exterior headband material feels less than premium, the headphones offer high comfort and feature a responsive, highly functional capacitive touch interface on the right ear cup for media control.

The TechRadar German Review awards the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 a highly positive recommendation, praising their bold, modern, one-piece design featuring a sleek stainless steel headband that replaces the clunky hinges of the older QuietComfort series. The standout feature is the highly adjustable active noise cancellation (ANC), which utilizes an innovative eight-microphone system to deliver 11 distinct levels of sound dampening, easily manageable via the companion Bose Music app. This system uniquely applies noise reduction to voice calls as well, successfully providing remarkable voice clarity even on busy city streets. On the audio front, the review highlights a punchy, vibrant, and well-balanced soundstage with powerful sub-bass reproduction and strong clarity, making the listening experience immersive and deeply detailed. However, the headphones do come with notable drawbacks regarding longevity, value, and physical features. A major con is the 20-hour battery life, which, despite being sufficient for long-distance travel, trails significantly behind competitor options like the Sony WH-1000XM3's 30 hours. Furthermore, at a retail price of €245 in Germany, they are criticized for being more expensive than the superior-value Sony rivals...

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (NC 700) serve as a modern replacement for the long-standing QuietComfort series, featuring a refreshed design and a balanced, high-quality audio signature. Weighing 262 grams, they feel premium and provide excellent long-term wearing comfort, though they lay flat rather than folding down completely. The acoustic performance is notably clearer and more detailed than its predecessors, delivering a clean bass response without any artificial boosting or audio distortion. Additionally, they provide an average but reliable 20-hour battery life and an upgraded volume ceiling that offers necessary audio headroom in exceptionally loud environments. A major highlight of this model is its multi-level, active noise-cancelling system, which utilizes a four-microphone setup to successfully eliminate background noise and provide superior voice clarity during phone calls and voice assistant prompts. In terms of user interface, the headphones feature intuitive touch-and-swipe controls on the right ear cup for volume adjustments, alongside a dedicated physical button to cycle through customizable noise-cancelling strengths. Key advantages (pros) of the NC 700 include its balanced sound profile, first-class noise cancellation, contemporary aesthetics, and straightforward...

The Android-User review highlights the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700Go for their sleek design, featuring a stainless-steel headband and comfortable earcups. Key advantages include highly adjustable active noise cancellation (11 levels), precise touch controls, stable Bluetooth 5.0, and exceptional microphone quality for calls. However, the design presents drawbacks, specifically that the headphones do not fold for compact storage and exhibit a stronger, sometimes uncomfortable clamping force. Additionally, the physical buttons can lead to accidental inputs, and the lack of high-res audio codecs (aptX/LDAC) limits audio, with support only for SBC and AAC. Finally, the review notes a significant limitation where the headphones cannot be used while charging, automatically powering down when connected to power. Despite these issues, the unit is praised for its neutral sound profile and superior noise-canceling capabilities suitable for commuters and office environments.

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 receive a mixed review that highlights improvements in core performance alongside significant downgrades in usability and comfort compared to modern competitors and the previous QuietComfort 35 II model. On the positive side, the headphones deliver a highly balanced, neutral sound profile out of the box with a wide soundstage, which can be further customized via an app. Additionally, they provide a noticeable volume upgrade and stronger active noise cancellation (ANC) than their predecessor, making them excellent for blocking out ambient chatter and travel noise. However, the reviewer notes that the ANC performance still falls slightly short of the rival Sony WH-1000XM3. The primary downsides stem from an altered physical design and frustrating software requirements. The newly designed, stepless sliding headband mechanism lacks a locking feature, causing the ear cups to slip out of adjustment easily when taking the headphones on and off. Furthermore, they no longer fold down completely, rendering them bulkier to pack for travel. Reviewers also found them less comfortable over long sessions due to increased clamping pressure and ears overheating quickly...

The Bose Headphones 700 are a high-end pair of over-ear noise-cancelling Bluetooth 5.0 headphones praised for their sleek, elegant design, lightweight frame, and excellent wearing comfort, though the synthetic leather ear pads can cause sweating in high temperatures. The review highlights its balanced, punchy, and detailed sound profile across multiple music genres, as well as an improved active noise cancellation (ANC) system that features 10 adjustable levels controllable via the Bose Music app. Additionally, the headphones stand out for their exceptional microphone voice quality during phone calls and office meetings, helpful multipoint Bluetooth pairing for connecting to two devices simultaneously, and a practical touch control system on the right ear cup. On the downside, the review criticizes the complete absence of high-resolution audio codecs like aptX or LDAC, which is a significant omission for headphones in this premium €400 price bracket. While the 20-hour battery life is solid and supports a fast-charging feature (15 minutes for 3.5 hours of use), it lags behind competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM3, and charging the device completely disables the electronics so they cannot be...

The Bose Headphones 700 mark a significant evolution in the brand's ANC lineup, replacing the previous bass-heavy sound profile with an exceptionally balanced and clear acoustic experience. This neutral tuning makes them highly versatile for classical and jazz genres, while users seeking deeper punch can easily fine-tune the playback using the three-band equalizer within the companion app. Beyond audio, the headphones feature a sleek, lightweight, and modern design equipped with robust connectivity features, including Bluetooth 5.0 and multi-device pairing for up to eight synchronized devices. The device delivers multiple operational advantages, most notably its class-leading, 10-stage active noise cancellation and highly intuitive touch controls located on the right ear cup. It also boasts a stable Bluetooth connection range and an excellent microphone array for clear voice calls. On the downside, the synthetic leather ear pads tend to trap heat during extended listening sessions, causing mild discomfort. Additionally, the headphones provide a standard 20-hour battery life—which trails behind some newer market competitors—and they lack advanced modern features like an automatic wear-detection sensor to pause music when removed.

Design and Usability The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 deliver an analytical, detailed, and spatial sound stage with deep bass, though the midrange and vocal presentations can lean a bit cold and unnatural. Built with a robust, minimalist metal headband rather than plastic, they provide excellent long-term wearing comfort without applying excessive pressure. For hardware interaction, the right ear cup utilizes a highly responsive touch-sensitive surface that is cleverly split by the headband stem to prevent accidental track skips or volume changes. On the downside, the headphones do not support NFC pairing, lack aptX audio codec compatibility, and cannot be folded down, relying instead on rotatable ear cups to fit into their included slim hardcase. Performance and Battery Life Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) remains a major strength, effectively isolating low-frequency travel environments like trains and airplanes, and the system works equally well for users wearing glasses. The ANC is highly customizable across ten levels in the companion app, and the integrated microphone layout achieves stellar, echo-free voice quality during phone calls. However, a notable con is the mediocre battery life;...