Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Review | 93 Data compared

The Head-Fi review highlights the Bose QuietComfort Ultra as a top-tier ANC performer, praising its exceptionally clean, resolving midrange and superior comfort, particularly the lightweight, low-heat earpads. However, the headphones are noted for having an excessive, loose default bass and a relatively narrow soundstage, alongside potential "hot spots" from high clamping force. Ultimately, the review gives a 4.0 out of 5-star rating, emphasizing that the potent DSP-driven EQ and excellent ANC make it a strong, versatile choice, despite the need for sonic adjustment.

Overview The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones ($649 AUD) successfully revitalize Bose's flagship lineup by blending the sleek design of the Noise Cancelling 700 with the oversized, highly comfortable ear pads of the QC 45. Equipped with 35mm drivers, these foldable headphones deliver an exceptionally clear and balanced audio profile across all music genres, standing out as a direct and formidable competitor to Sony’s WH-1000XM5 and Apple’s AirPods Max. A major highlight of this model is its built-in, platform-agnostic Immersive Spatial Audio. Unlike competitor systems that require specific devices or subscriptions, Bose's head-tracked spatial audio functions seamlessly across both iOS and Android, and on any streaming service like Spotify or YouTube Music.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones deliver elite, all-encompassing active noise cancellation (ANC) that creates an immersive, eerie silence, making them a top choice for blocking out environmental noise. They feature an exemplary, lightweight design with soft cushioning and perfectly judged clamping force, making them exceptionally comfortable for long hours of wear. However, the reviewer points out several downsides over six months of heavy testing, including a "wall of bass" that can sound overly dominant and uncontrolled compared to more precise competitors. Additionally, the custom "Immersive Audio" spatial format tends to thin out the sound rather than improve it, making the feature feel underwhelming. Beyond sound profile issues, the headphones suffer from functional and build design flaws. The battery life is substandard at just 24 hours, and it cannot be extended because Bose does not allow users to completely turn off the ANC algorithm. The physical build also shows vulnerabilities, such as a left earcup cushion that easily develops a permanent divot in the case, and a internal rattling when shaken. Finally, the controls prove highly frustrating, relying on an imprecise...

Trusted Reviews identifies the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) as the company's best flagship over-ear model to date, highlighting improved battery life, stronger wireless connectivity, refined audio, and a new wired USB-C input. While praised for exceptional comfort and improved active noise cancellation (ANC), the headphones fall short of being market leaders due to superior, more detailed sound profiles from competitors like Sony, Sennheiser, and Bowers & Wilkins. Ultimately recommended as a premium, reliable upgrade for existing fans, the Gen 2 focuses on delivering a polished user experience rather than a revolutionary change.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) wireless headphones earn the Editors' Choice Award as the best overall wireless headphones, standing out for their mind-blowing active noise cancellation (ANC), premium comfort, and clear call quality. Priced at a $449 list price, these lightweight (265g) headphones feature pillowy soft pleather earcups with memory-foam-like padding that easily allow for over 10 hours of continuous, fatigue-free wear. In terms of performance, they deliver an immersive, fun, and dramatic V-shaped sound signature with heavily emphasized, powerful bass and a layered, wide soundstage. Their upgraded call quality isolates voices effectively even in loud environments like subway platforms, and they boast a 30-hour battery life (23 hours with spatial immersive audio enabled) along with a quick-charge feature providing 3 hours of playback from a 15-minute charge. Despite their top-tier performance, the headphones do come with several notable drawbacks. On the negative side, they are highly expensive at $449, the transparency mode introduces unwanted white noise, and the accompanying Bose smartphone app features largely bland and lackluster EQ maps and presets. Additionally, the volume touch slider can be...

The SoundGuys review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) identifies the device as a worthy, iterative update featuring USB-C lossless audio transmission. Retaining a comfortable, lightweight 253-gram design, the headphones boast top-tier active noise cancellation (ANC) that reduces ambient noise by 87%. With a consumer-friendly, bass-forward sound profile supported by CustomTune technology and a 27 to 30-hour battery, the model excels in daily performance. Despite these strengths, the headphones lack an official IP water-resistance rating and are limited by a basic three-band EQ in the Bose Music app. Additionally, the $449 price point is considered steep compared to competitors offering more robust features.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) offer premium comfort and exceptional noise isolation, featuring an improved 37-hour battery life and versatile connectivity options including USB-C audio. Performance strengths include a warm, customizable sound profile and an upgraded microphone system that ensures natural voice reproduction. However, the headphones exhibit inconsistent frequency response based on fit, lack an IP rating for water resistance, and experience high Bluetooth latency unsuitable for gaming.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones serve as a highly entertaining flagship option that elevates wireless active noise cancellation (ANC) to class-leading heights. Priced premiumly at £450 / $429 / AU$649, these over-ears boast a practical, hinged folding design accompanied by a compact carry case, making them highly portable compared to non-folding rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM5. While the build utilizes a comfortable combination of metal and pleather, it stops just short of the luxurious aesthetics found in competitors like Apple or Bowers & Wilkins. Sonically, the headphones present an enthusiastic, rich, and full-bodied sound signature featuring tightly defined bass lines and exceptional structural dynamism that functions seamlessly across multiple music genres. Despite their impressive sonic and cancellation capabilities, the headphones do present notable drawbacks. Their primary feature addition, Immersive Audio (Bose's spatial audio format), delivers an inconsistent and overly processed experience that introduces distracting delay and phase issues during motion tracking. Furthermore, activating this feature drops the already modest 24-hour battery life down to 18 hours, lagging behind the 30-hour standard set by Sony. Additional limitations include the inability to...

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a premium, lightweight (253g) headset offering exceptional comfort with thick, glasses-friendly padding and a folding design. They excel in active noise canceling (ANC), reducing ambient noise by roughly 87%, and feature modern codec support including Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless. Key drawbacks highlighted in the review include a steep price point, the lack of an official IP rating for water resistance, and slight channel balance inconsistencies. Additionally, the "Immersive Audio" feature is considered gimmicky rather than essential.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are an ultra-premium replacement for the NCH700, retailing at a hefty £449.95 (€499.95 / $429) and sporting a refreshed, polished design inspired by the QC45. They feature well-padded faux leather ear cushions and smooth aluminum arms, making them the most comfortable headphones the reviewer has tested. Key technical pros include market-leading noise cancelling that excels at blocking out higher tones like chatter, an advanced transparency mode, and a highly versatile cross-platform immersive spatial audio feature that elevates movie and TV soundtracks. They also excel in connectivity, offering Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, fast pairing on Android, and future-proofed support for aptX Adaptive and LC3 audio codecs. Despite these strengths, the headphones come with several notable cons. At 24 hours of playback (dropping to 18 hours with immersive sound enabled), the battery life is decent but easily doubled by market competitors. Crucially from a sustainability standpoint, the internal battery cannot be replaced by Bose, essentially making them disposable once the battery degrades. Additionally, while the audio is punchy and detailed, its clinical profile is beaten on pure...

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless offer premium comfort and exceptional active noise cancellation (ANC) for commuting and office use, supported by a nearly 30-hour battery life and multi-device pairing. While featuring a warm, bass-heavy sound profile customizable via an app, they are prone to significant bass reduction if the ear pad seal breaks during movement. Cons include average microphone noise isolation, high latency with standard codecs, and the requirement to keep the headset powered on for wired listening.