Bose Over-Ear Headphones Review
Bose headphones provide a fantastic combination of comfort, noise cancellation, and controls. They are designed well and sound great and are suitable for any type of music.
The QC35 Wireless is an upgraded version of the previous model, which has enhanced noise cancellation and longer battery life. It also offers a new transparency mode that lets you be able to hear your surroundings clearly.
Comfort
In a world of loud, obnoxious headphones, Bose has carved out its own niche with high-end noise cancelling headphones. The company's headphones are loved for their comfortable fit and high-fidelity audio that is tuned to sound natural and clear. These headphones can be worn while on the move or at home. These headphones are ideal for those who need to run errands in the city. They will keep you on track and shield your ears from the noise of the city.
Over-ear Bose headphones are perfect for those who wish to get away from their daily routine and immerse themselves in music or podcasts. These headphones feature high-end noise cancellation that blocks out the majority of external sounds. This allows listeners to concentrate on the music they are listening to. Certain Bose headphones let you adjust the level of noise cancellation to fit your environment. You can select between Quiet mode that completely blocks out noise from outside and Aware mode, which lets you hear your surroundings while still listening to music.
These Bose headphones have a touch-screen interface on the right earcup, that you can use to control music playback or take calls. You can adjust the volume by simply swiping up or down or tapping twice on the screen. You can swipe left or right to skip tracks and hold the touch area to accept or decline incoming calls. You can also use the Bose Headphones app to customize settings and alter the equalizer.
The Bose QC45 headphones replace the QC35 II, the company's previous flagship model of noise-cancelling headphones. The QC45s have a longer ANC playtime, as well as improved isolation through passive, as well as an improved sound signature. They also come with a variety of features that make life easier, such as auto-pause when the headphones are removed and multi-device pairing.
The QC45s is the ideal option for those seeking a high-end pair of wireless over-ear headsets for long flights, commutes or working in the office. The included carry case is a great option to keep them safe while not in use and the battery is rechargeable to give you even more time.
Sound
Bose does not make use of a lot of physical buttons on their headphones, instead relying on gesture controls to handle calls and playback. The right earcup is a capacitive touchscreen that detects swipes and taps from your index finger. Double taps can play or pause music while pressing the tap and hold button responds to calls or blocks them. A single tap can skip tracks forward or backward and a swipe upwards can increase or decrease the volume.
After a few hours of practice, you'll be able to control the headphones using your fingers without touching your device. If you'd like to customize your settings or control music via your phone in your hand, you'll have to download the Bose Headphones App (iOS/Android). The app is simple to use and has a clean, sleek design that is in line with the headphones. The app can help you adjust your noise cancellation and select between digital assistants, and select how much of you own voice is heard during a phone call. The app lets you manage your music and play podcasts.
The Bose NC700 does not have the same wireless audio streaming capabilities as our top-rated earbuds. However, they do come with a built-in mic to receive and make phone calls. You can also use them with headsets to play games or participate in video chats without holding the device. If they are not in use however, you can use them wired to listen to music or make calls.
Overall the Bose NC700 headphone sounds great. It has a large soundstage, a crisp and clear mid-to-high-range, and excellent bass response. The active noise cancellation feature of the headphone is extremely effective that lets you listen to your music without being distracted by background sounds.
The headphones are lightweight and well-balanced. Their default sound profile can give some additional thump that in certain genres can muddy vocals or instruments. The app allows you to alter the audio profile of the Bose NC700. It offers graphic EQ settings as well as presets.
Noise Cancellation
While Bose headphones have a long history of outstanding active noise cancellation however, recent models have been plagued by issues. The QC35 IIs, for instance, were affected by a firmware change which reduced their ANC. Even if they're not affected by this particular issue, Bose headphones can leak sound loudly.
We were pleasantly surprised to see that the latest QC700s had significantly improved noise isolation. The QC700s can't quite match the noise cancellation of Sony's 1000X series headphones but their performance is close enough to be adequate.
In addition to their good passive isolation, the QC700s feature Bose's CustomTune system that calibrates their noise-canceling capabilities for your ears. A small chime signals when the one microphone inside each earcup is sealed. When it happens, they create a virtual audio-rejection beam which blocks out any ambient noise. There's also a second set of six microphones that will amplify the sound when you are engaged in a conversation or using an assistant that is digital.
The combination of microphones and sensors is very effective and the QC700s feature some of the best active noise cancellation available. You can alter the ANC using the Bose Headphones app, and you'll also have three preset ANC levels accessible via a programmable physical button on the left ear cup.
The 700s touch controls are simple to use once you get familiar with them. Double-taps start and stop music while swipes regulate the volume. The right earcup features the power/pairing button, as well as a digital assistant button and a double tap on the front of the headset responds to or rejects any call that comes in.
The earcups' touch areas can also detect swipes and taps, although we found that our fingers were often accidentally detected, so it takes some time to build muscle memory for the exact location of each function. The headset has a slim, slightly elevated design that is comfortable for all-day wear, and the ears are covered with soft material that feels comfortable on your head.
Controls
If you're looking to purchase headphones with only a few buttons such as the Bose NCH 700 are the headphones for you. Its capacitive touch sensors enable users to control music, calls and more using just swipes and taps on surface of the earcup. You can also use Google Assistant or Alexa. The controls are simple to use once you've got used to them.
They have a streamlined look with an elegant stainless steel headband that feels soft and comfortable. The ear cups can be adjusted by sliding them up and down on a steel pole that runs along the length of the headphones. This is a great feature because it feels more natural than the hinged mechanism on many headsets, and it's easy to find the perfect fit.
The noise cancelling on these headphones is excellent with a variable level of transparency that ensures you can hear the sounds around you. You can also turn on conversation mode, which allows over-the-ear headphones users to talk without needing to remove the headphones. The volume of these Bose headphones can also be easily adjusted, similar to an analog volume dial.
There are some features that make Bose headphones distinctive. One of them is their SimpleSync technology, which can connect to the Bose Smart Soundbar or Smart Speaker to play audio from the same source. Another is their multi-device connectivity, which allows you to pair two devices at once and switch between them when needed. Additionally, they have an internal status light that indicates whether the headset is powered on or connected to Bluetooth.
You can easily alter the settings for these headphones using the Bose Connect app. Once the app is installed you can utilize the Power and Bluetooth buttons to play or pause audio. You can also swipe your finger upwards and downwards to alter the volume or swipe forward or backward to skip tracks. Double-taps on your headset will play or pause audio, while long presses will respond or deny an phone call that is incoming.
The app can also be used to control other Bose devices, alter EQ settings, and even check the battery life. You can connect them to a different device and switch between the two, which is an excellent feature for commuters.