It’s always a tough act to follow up on something that’s universally well-loved by most people. That’s exactly the job the Bose QuietComfort Headphones have to do: follow up on a solid and staple device. The device I’m talking about is the Bose QuietComfort 45, a pair of cans that was universally well-received in the audio industry as something that delivered great quality sound and excellent noise cancellation. What I have here is the update. Is it better than the 45s? Let’s find out.
The design of the QuietComfort Headphones is exactly the same as the previous generation, which I don’t mind because everything is in the right place.
The power switch, volume buttons, and pairing buttons are on the right side.
On the left, you have the button that controls the noise cancellation.
It’s pretty simple and intuitive. I prefer the physical buttons, too, as touch controls sometimes get too complicated and unreliable.
The new army green color that we have here is also a looker. It stands out from a crowd of cream and black headphones. They fit and feel good, too, and they never gave me fatigue. The headphones also come in a great-looking and compact Bose case, perfect for traveling, as you can easily fold them into the case for storage.
As for the sound, it definitely sounds different from the previous iteration. This one will appeal to the masses more or the non-audiophile. The bass is pronounced in these cans. Playing Jungkook’s 3D, you will definitely hear the bass thump and the lower frequencies rumble on the headphones. Honestly, it sometimes can take away from the vocals of the song.
For example, in Dua Lipa’s new song, Houdini, the vocals are a bit overwhelmed by the bass and lower frequency sounds. They get mixed in the background, which makes everything a bit confusing to listen to. These headphones stand out in a song that’s a bit more vocal-heavy and jazzy, like V’s Slow Dancing. Everything sounds creamy and smooth because it’s a song tailored more to the vocals and not the bass. If you don’t enjoy the sound profile out of the box, the Bose Music App allows you to adjust the EQ settings (albeit very basically) to your preference.
What the Bose QuietComfort Headphones do right, though, is when you watch movies. Top Gun Maverick just sounded awesome on these headphones. The fighter jets really zoom from ear to ear, but they don’t sound overwhelming. The headphones do a great job separating the different sound effects and vocals to take your cinematic experience to the next level.
The microphone on the Bose QuietComfort Headphones is just okay. They aren’t amazing, but they do the job adequately for the occasional phone call using headphones. The ANC is where the QuietComfort Headphones truly shine. It’s like 90% of the noise disappears when you use these cans, which is great when commuting or flying out.
The battery life of the Bose QuietComfort Headphones does not disappoint. In our tests, it lasted around 26 hours with noise cancellation on. That’s more than a day using these cans continuously. I only charged it once, and it just kept going. It takes around 2 hours to get the headphones to 100%, but a few minutes of charging already gives you hours of battery life.
If you own the previous QC45s, I suggest keeping your current pair of headphones. The new ones don’t bring a lot of “new” to the table. But if you’re looking for your first high-quality ANC headphones, then the Bose QuietComfort Headphones should shoot up to the top of your list. They sound great for most people (audiophiles might not like ‘em) and offer great portability, a timeless design, and top-tier noise cancellation. It’s priced at PHP 22,900 (See listing here).
