The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the range-topping pair of cans from Bose. This is their first “premium” headphones since 2019. Boasting an all-new design and class-leading noise cancellation, does it justify its price point?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra comes in either Black or White Smoke. It’s a modern design that looks new but at the same time screams “Bose” as well. You wouldn’t mistake it for any other brand. I like how they retained the hinge so that the device can fold flat and fold in to fit inside the small premium carry case it comes with. It’s just easier to throw in a bag especially if you’re always on the go.
The over-ear cans use metal all over along with synthetic leather on the headband and ear cups that certainly feel ultra comfortable and premium. That comfort extends to how well this pair wears on your head. I never felt any fatigue while using this Bose QuietComfort Ultra for hours. The closest discomfort I felt was it got a bit hot after a few hours, but that was mostly because I was in a suffocating room without any ventilation I think.
The right earcup houses the power/Bluetooth button, a capacitive touch strip for volume, and a multifunction button that can be set for different tasks to control the device (such as answering calls or switching modes). The capacitive strip feels intuitive and easy to use once you memorize where it is on the device by the way.
The left earcup has an LED indicator, a 2.5mm jack for wired listening (cable included), and a USB-C charging port.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra’s sound can be described in one word: diverse. Diverse in the sense that it sounds really good and entertaining no matter what genre you listen to. Diverse where you can tune it (using the Bose Music App) to sound good with any kind of music. It never sounds bad but you have to tinker around with the Bose Music App to be able to hear the best of a certain song.
If you’re not one to tinker though then I’m sure you would still find the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphone to be immersive. The highs are never shrill and are in control most of the time. Listening to older tracks such as Michael Jackson’s Rock With You, you feel a sense of richness in the song, where every note is heard and defined. Dua Lipa’s Cold Heart also painted a great picture of how the lows aren’t too pronounced on this device. It controls them very well and it blends with the rest of the instruments to create a well-balanced and textured listening experience.
Immersive audio for me shouldn’t be a factor when buying these headphones. It’s a bit of a hit-and-miss when it comes to music and movies. Some movies, like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, really envelop you in the world and make it come alive. But with music, I didn’t care much for immersive audio. I’d rather play around with the EQ to find a better-quality sound.
With Bose pushing the whole Immersive Audio tech in these headphones, I’m happy to report that they also didn’t forget what makes a Bose, a Bose. The ANC on these is top-tier, if not the best among the premium headphones that I’ve tried so far.
This shows the years of research and improvement that Bose has done with their headphones and earbuds. The headphones do a god-tier job of blocking out any kind of noise.
These also have the most natural-sounding transparency in any headphones or earbuds we’ve ever used. They don’t feel like all the sound around you is bombarding your ears, it sounds just right, controlling what comes through and what doesn’t in this mode.
For the battery life, Bose Claims around 24 hours with Immersive Audio off, and based on our experience, it was almost the same at 23 and a half hours. Unfortunately, these are not the best results for a pair of premium flagship headphones in 2023 as some brands come in with 28 or 30 hours of battery life.
Worry not though as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra charges pretty fast and a few minutes of juice can give you a few hours of battery already.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra doesn’t pull any punches, it has best-in-class sound quality and the best ANC in any headphones this year. If you’re looking for a premium pair of cans, these should shoot to the top of your list. It’s priced at PHP 27,900 and is available at official Bose stores by Eleksis Marketing Corporation.
