Bose Over-Ear Headphones Review
Bose headphones offer a great combination of comfort, noise cancellation and controls. They offer excellent sound quality, a nice design, and are suitable for all types of music.
The QC35 II Wireless is an upgrade from the previous model, with enhanced noise cancellation and battery life. It also features a new transparent mode that lets you be able to hear your surroundings clearly.
Comfort
Bose's top noise-cancelling headphones have made a mark in a world of loud and obnoxious headphones. The headphones are praised by customers for their high-quality audio and natural sound. They can be worn in the car or at home. For those who frequently run long errands around town, these headphones will let you stay on your schedule and keep your ears protected from the distracting sounds of a bustling city.
An over-ear pair of Bose headphones is ideal for those who want to escape their environment and immerse themselves in podcasts or music. These headphones feature high-quality noise cancelling that eliminates the majority of external noises, which allows listeners to focus on their listening experience and tune out the world. Some Bose headphones also have options to alter the amount of noise cancellation to suit the environment. You can choose between two modes: Quiet mode which completely blocks out outside noise and Aware mode that lets you hear your surroundings, while still enjoying music.
These Bose headphones have a touch-screen interface on the right earcup, which you can use to control the playback of music or to make calls. You can alter the volume by simply swiping up or down or tapping twice on the touch screen. Swipe left or right to skip tracks, and you can press down on the touch area during a call to accept or deny an incoming call. Bose Headphones allows you to customize settings, and change the equalizer.
The new Bose QC45 headphones are an upgrade over the company's previous top-of-the-line noise-cancelling headphones, the QC35 II. The QC45s feature an extended ANC playtime and improved passive isolation, as well as an improved sound signature. They also come with a variety of convenience features, including auto-pause when headphones are removed, as well as multi-device pairing.
The QC45s is an excellent option for those looking for a top pair of wireless headsets for long flights, commutes or working in the office. The carry case included is a great option to keep them safe while not in use, and the battery is rechargeable to provide even more playtime.
Sound
Bose relies on gestures to control playback and phone calls instead of using numerous buttons. On the right ear cup is a touchscreen that detects the movement of your index finger. Double taps allow you to play or pause music, while holding down the tap and hold button can answer or reject calls. A single tap can skip tracks backwards or forwards and a swipe up can increase or decrease the volume.
After a little practice, you will be able to control the headphones with your fingers without touching your device. If you'd like to modify your settings or control music via your phone in your hand, you'll need to download the Bose Headphones App (iOS/Android). The app is simple to use and complements the headphones' sleek, minimalist appearance. The app will help you adjust your noise cancelling and choose between digital assistants, and select how much of you own voice will be heard on calls. The app lets you manage your music and play podcasts.
While the Bose NC700 can't stream audio like our top-rated true wireless earbuds, they come with a built-in microphone that can make and receive phone calls. They can also be connected to headsets for gaming hands-free or video chats. If they are not in use they can be used them in wired mode to listen to music or make calls.
Overall headphones over head the Bose NC700 headphones are great, with a crisp and clear mid to high frequency, superb bass response, and a wide soundstage. The active noise cancellation feature of the headphone is also excellent and lets you enjoy your music without being distracted by other noise.
The headphones are light and well-balanced. Their default sound profile may add a bit more thump, which can muddy vocals or instruments. If you want to change the Bose NC700's audio profile The app has an array of audio EQ settings in graphic form and presets you can choose from.
Noise Cancellation
Bose headphones are known for their excellent active noise cancellation. However certain of the latest models have encountered issues. For instance, the QC35 IIs, were affected by a firmware upgrade that decreased their ANC. Even when they're not affected by this particular issue, Bose headphones can leak sound loudly.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that the new QC700s had significantly improved noise isolation. The QC700s don't quite match the noise cancellation of Sony's 1000X series of headphones, but their performance is close enough to be acceptable.
In addition to their excellent passive isolation, the QC700s feature Bose's CustomTune system which calibrates their noise-canceling capabilities for your ears. A tiny chime signalizes when the microphone in each earcup is sealed. When it happens, they create a virtual beam of audio that blocks out noise from the surrounding. They also have another set of six microphones that can amplify your voice when you're on a call or cuing up the digital assistant.
The QC700s are amongst the best active noise-cancelling headphones on the market. You can alter their ANC by using the Bose Headphones app, and you'll also have three preset ANC levels accessible from an programmable physical button on the left earcup.
Despite having fewer buttons, the 700s' touch controls function fairly when you get knack of them. Double-taps can be used to start and stop playing music, while swiping up and down regulate the volume. The right ear cup has an power/pairing button as well as an assistant button that can be used digitally, and a double-tap on the front of the headset also answers or rejects any call that comes in.
The touch areas on the ear cups can also detect swipes and finger taps. However, we discovered that it was often accidental, so it took time to develop muscle memories for where each feature is located. The headset is slim, slightly elevated design that is comfortable for all-day wear, and the cups are surrounded by soft fabric that feels comfortable on your head.
Controls
If you're looking for headphones with a minimal amount of buttons, the Bose NCH 700 are the ones for you. Its capacitive touch sensors enable users to control music, calls and more with just taps and swipes on the earcup's surface. You can also access Google Assistant or Alexa, and the controls are easy to use once you've gotten used to the controls.
The headband is made from stainless steel, which is smooth to touch. The earcups can be adjusted by sliding them up and down the pole of steel that runs the length of the earphones. This feature is great since it feels more natural and lets you adjust the fit.
These headphones feature a superb noise cancelling system, and you can customize the level of transparency to hear sounds around you. You can also activate the conversation mode that allows you to talk without needing to remove your headphones. The volume of these Bose headphones can also be adjusted smoothly, like a large analogue volume dial.
These Bose headphones are different in a number of ways. One of them is their SimpleSync technology, which allows you to connect to the Bose Smart Soundbar or Smart Speaker to play music from the same source. Another is their multi-device connectivity that lets you connect two devices at the same time and switch between them as needed. The headsets are also equipped with the status light that indicates whether the headset is connected to Bluetooth or is powered on.
You can easily alter the settings for these headphones through the Bose Connect app. Once you have it installed, use the Power/Bluetooth button on your phone to play or pause the audio, swipe your finger upwards or downwards to adjust volume and swipe either forward or back to skip tracks. A double-tap on the headset will pause or plays audio, and a long press answers or declines an incoming phone.
The app can be used to control other Bose devices, alter EQ settings, and even check battery life. You can also connect them to a second device and switch between the two devices, which is a great feature for commuters.