Bose Soundlink Around Ear II Review | 93 Data compared

The Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II are evaluated as a high-quality, balanced product retailing at an MSRP of 280 Euros. The reviewer praises the design for its exceptional comfort, highlighting the softly padded leather ear cups and headband that remain comfortable even after several hours of use. Although the primary build material is plastic, it is constructed cleanly, works smoothly, and feels significantly more premium than competing Beats headphones. Sound quality is described as very balanced with an excellent focus on vocals and vocals production, providing automatic passive noise damping that can easily block out surrounding airline engine noise when the volume is turned up to three-quarters capacity. Additionally, the battery offers practical functionality, providing 2 hours of playback from a quick 15-minute charge, and up to 15 hours of total playback time on a full charge. Despite receiving a stellar overall score of 9.3 out of 10, the review identifies several performance flaws relating to its wireless functionality. A key downside is a subtle, audible background hissing noise at lower volumes when listening over Bluetooth, though this disappears...

The TechTest.org review praises the Bose SoundLink Around-Ear IIGo for its exceptional comfort, lightweight design, and high-quality build, including a premium carrying case and easy Bluetooth pairing. However, key drawbacks include the lack of active noise cancellation (ANC) and a high price point exceeding €200. Audio performance is described as balanced and clear, suitable for general use, yet the review notes a lack of deep, punchy bass, making them less ideal for bass-heavy genres. Ultimately, the headphones are recommended for their superior comfort rather than ANC or extreme audio performance, according to TechTest.org.

The Bose SoundLink Around Ear 2 over-ear wireless headphones offer exceptional long-term wearing comfort and a lightweight design (150 grams). The reviewer highly praised the headphones for long trips, noting that the soft ear cups and padded headband prevent any uncomfortable pressure, even when worn for hours. Key features include the ability to pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously with intelligent audio switching for incoming phone calls, NFC pairing for Android devices, and helpful voice prompts available in German. The battery life is strong, delivering up to 15 hours of playback time, with a quick 15-minute charge providing an extra two hours of use. Sound quality is a mix of strengths and weaknesses, delivering well-rounded, precise bass lines without sounding unnatural, and comfortable treble levels that do not cause ear fatigue even at max volume. However, audiophiles looking for extreme electronic highs or booming, heavy bass might find the audio profile a bit lacking. Additionally, a major sound drawback occurs when the battery dies; using the included physical backup cable disables the Active EQ electronics, which alters the overall sound...

The review by avguide.ch highlights the Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless II as a meticulously crafted headset made with premium, durable materials like glass-fiber reinforced nylon and corrosion-resistant stainless steel. On the positive side, it features excellent multi-point connectivity that allows users to simultaneously pair two Bluetooth devices (such as an iPad and an iPhone) and automatically switch between them during incoming calls. Additionally, it offers a solid 15-hour battery life with a 9-meter wireless range, an included backup audio cable for dead battery situations, and helpful, customizable voice prompts available in multiple languages. It also folds up neatly into a sturdy, included travel case. However, the review points out several notable drawbacks, particularly regarding its high price of 300 Swiss Francs (CHF). It lacks any formal weather or moisture resistance, making it unsuitable for sports or extreme weather environments. Furthermore, Bose completely omits apt-X codec support because they deem standard Bluetooth audio sufficient. While avguide.ch notes that the resulting audio quality is still pleasantly good and perfectly adequate for daily use, it lacks a true 100% audiophile experience, especially when...

The Bose SoundLink Around Ear Wireless Headphones II (SoundLink AE WH II) are exceptionally comfortable, lightweight over-ear headphones weighing just under 150 grams. Built with a combination of impact-resistant plastic, fiberglass-reinforced nylon, and stainless steel, they provide a pressure-free fit that is highly suitable for long listening sessions. The device features physical control buttons directly on the ear cup and features integrated voice prompts to smoothly guide the user through the pairing and connection process. The headphones offer several distinct performance advantages. On the positive side, they deliver an "adult" and mature sound profile characterized by a punchy, crisp bass performance. A standout feature is multi-point Bluetooth connectivity, which allows the headphones to connect to two source devices—such as a smartphone and a tablet—at the exact same time. Additionally, their specialized microphone system successfully optimizes phone call quality even when the user is in a noisy environment.

The Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II offer a very comfortable fit, a well-built design using robust materials like stainless steel and glass-fiber reinforced nylon, and lightweight handling at 200 grams. During testing, the headphones outperformed their advertised 15-hour battery life by lasting an impressive 22 hours, with a quick 15-minute charge providing 2 hours of playback. The device excels in usability, offering a reliable touch-control interface on the ear cup, NFC for rapid pairing, and multi-point Bluetooth connectivity to pair two devices simultaneously. Though lacking active noise-cancelling (ANC), the over-ear design efficiently dampens environmental sounds to help users focus in noisy areas like trains or airplanes. A notable advantage of these headphones is their highly balanced, clean, and detail-rich audio presentation over Bluetooth, backed by a pleasing spatial soundstage. However, the review highlights distinct drawbacks, particularly that the bass profile lacks deep sub-bass frequencies and the sound quality degrades significantly when switching from Bluetooth to a wired cable connection. Additionally, the integrated voice prompt feature, which announces battery life and caller IDs in eleven languages, was found to be...