Bose Over-Ear Headphones Review
Bose headphones provide comfort, noise cancelling and controls. They are designed well and sound great and are suitable for any type of music.
The QC35 II Wireless is an upgrade over the previous model with improved noise cancelling and battery life. It also features a new transparency mode that allows you to see your surroundings clearly.
Comfort
In a sea of loud, obnoxious headphones, Bose has carved out its own niche with premium noise cancelling over-ears. Bose's headphones are well-respected for their comfort and high-fidelity audio that is designed to sound natural and clear. They can be worn while on the move or at home. These headphones are perfect for those who need to do errands in the city. They will help you stay on track and shield your ears from the echoes of the city.
Over-ear Bose headphones are great for those who want to get away from their daily routine and immerse in music or podcasts. These headphones have high-quality noise cancellation that block out the majority of sounds from outside. This lets listeners concentrate on their listening experience. Certain Bose headphones also include options for adjusting the amount of noise cancellation to match the environment. You can select between two modes: quiet mode which completely blocks out noise from outside, and Aware mode which lets you listen to your surroundings while still listening music.
These Bose headphones feature a touch screen interface on the right earcup that you can use to control playback of your music or to make calls. Double tapping on the touch area plays or pauses your music and you can swipe upwards or downwards to alter volume. Swipe left or right to skip tracks and you can hold on the touch area during a phone call to accept or decline an incoming call. Bose Headphones allows you to alter settings, and also the equalizer.
The new Bose QC45 headphones are an upgrade from the company's previous most popular noise-cancelling headphones - the QC35 II. The QC45s have a longer ANC playtime, enhanced passive isolation and an overall refined sound signature that is top-of-the-line. They also offer a range of features that make life easier, such as auto-pause when the headphones are removed, as well as multi-device pairing.
The QC45s are a great option for anyone looking for an elegant set of wireless over-ear headphones for long flights, commutes and working at the office. The carry case is a great choice to protect them when not in use. The battery can be recharged for even more playtime.
Sound
Bose uses gestures to control phone calls and playback instead of using many buttons. The right earcup is a touchscreen that detects tapping and swipes with your index finger. Double taps allow you to play or pause music, and holding down the hold and tap buttons can answer or reject calls. A single tap can skip tracks backwards or forwards and a swipe up will increase or decrease the volume.
After a few hours of practice, you'll be able to navigate the headphones with your fingers, without touching your device. However, if you'd like to modify your settings or control music using your phone then you'll need to download the Bose Headphones App (iOS/Android). The app is easy to use and has a sleek, clean design that is in line with the headphones. The app will help you adjust your noise cancellation and select between digital assistants, and even choose the amount of your voice will be heard on a phone call. The app allows you to manage your music, and listen podcasts.
Although the Bose NC700 can't stream audio like our top-rated true wireless earbuds, they feature a built-in microphone, which can be used to make and receive calls. They can also be connected to a headset for hands-free gaming or video chats. They can even be utilized in wired mode if they are not powered which allows you to keep listening to music or making calls.
Overall the Bose NC700 headphones sound fantastic, with clear and crisp mid - to high frequency, superb bass response, and a large soundstage. The headphones' active noise cancellation is also top-notch, letting you enjoy your music without being disturbed by the sounds of the surrounding.
The headphones are lightweight and well-balanced. Their default sound profile may add a bit more thump, that in certain genres can muddy vocals or instruments. If you want to change the Bose NC700's sound profile, the app offers various audio EQ settings in graphic form and presets you can choose from.
Noise Cancellation
Bose headphones are well-known for their excellent active noise cancellation. However certain of the latest models have had problems. The QC35 IIs, for example were affected by a firmware update that reduced their ANC performance. And even when they aren't affected by the issue, Bose over-ear headphones can emit sound at high volumes, which can be a nuisance for others nearby.
We were therefore happy to discover that the QC700s have a significantly improved noise insulation. They're still not as good as the ANC of Sony's 1000X-series headphones but they're close enough to be pleased with their performance.
In addition to their excellent passive isolation, the QC700s feature Bose's CustomTune system that allows them to calibrate their noise cancellation capabilities for your ears. The QC700s emit a small chime when the microphone within each earcup has been properly sealed. Once that happens, they generate an imaginary sound-rejection beam that helps block out any background noise. There's an additional set of six microphones that will amplify best over ear noise cancelling headphones the sound if you're engaged in a conversation or using a digital assistant.
The QC700s are among the best active noise cancelling headphones available on the market. You can adjust their ANC through the Bose Headphones app, and there are three preset ANC levels accessible via the physical button that can be programmed located on the left earcup.
The 700s touch controls are simple to use once you've got familiar with them. Double-taps start and stop music and swipes adjust the volume. The right ear cup has a power/pairing button and a digital assistant button and a double-tap on the front of the headset responds to or rejects any call that comes in.
The ear cups' touch areas can also detect your swipes and finger taps however we discovered that our fingers were frequently missed, so it takes some time to build muscle memory for the exact location of each function. The headset has a an elongated, slightly elevated design that is comfortable to wear throughout the day long. The ears and earcups themselves are covered with soft fabric for a comfortable fit.
Controls
The Bose NCH700 headphones are ideal for those who prefer to limit the number of buttons. The capacitive touch sensor allows you to control music and calls with just a few taps and swipes of the earcup surface. You can also connect to Google Assistant or Alexa, and the controls are easy to use once you've become accustomed to the controls.
They sport a sleek design with a sleek stainless steel headband that is soft to the touch. The ear cups can be adjusted by sliding them up and down a steel pole that runs the length of the headset. This feature is nice because it feels more natural and allows you to adjust the size.
They have a fantastic noise cancelling system and you can alter the level of transparency so that you can hear sounds around you. You can also activate the conversation mode, which lets you to talk with your friends without having to take off the headphones. The volume of these Bose headphones can be adjusted easily, just like a large analogue volume dial.
There are some features that make Bose headphones distinct. SimpleSync technology is one of the features that makes these headphones distinctive. It can be connected to a Bose Smart Soundbar, or Smart Speaker in order to play audio from a single source. Another is their multi-device connectivity which lets you connect two devices simultaneously and switch between them when needed. They also come with an inbuilt status light that shows whether the headset is powered on or connected to Bluetooth.
The Bose Connect App allows you to easily adjust the settings of these headphones. Once the app is installed, you can use the Power/Bluetooth buttons to play or pausing audio. You can also swipe your finger up and down to alter the volume or swipe forward or backward to skip tracks. Double-taps on the headset can play or pause audio while long press will answer or decline an inbound call.
You can also use the app to modify EQ settings as well as control other Bose products, and even check the battery life. You can connect them to a second device and switch between the two devices, which is a great feature for commuters.