Customer Ratings & Reviews

By far the best headphones I've used and trust me I've tried them all. Bose QC line up offers premium sound and build quality. The case is leather and very portable. Honestly this is how you make a case for headphones. The NC is top teir and the comfort is unmatched!! These headphones are so comfortable with plush materials and hesdband. Trust me get these hesdphones you will never switch to another!

As a headphone enthusiast for over 6 decades now and the owner of multiple brands of wireless and wired 'phones, I was very eager try out the new Bose QC Ultra 2 headphones. I still own (bought at Best Buy!) the original Bose Ultra QC45 'phones as well as Sennheiser's Momentum 3 and 4 'phones, again purchased by myself at Best Buy) as well as Skullcandy's Crusher ANC headphones along with Sony's latest version of their excellent WH-1000XM6. I am also a longtime member of the Head-Fi online community. I say this to show that I am somewhat serious about listening to music via headphones and own a variety of them for personal use. I tend not to fixate on anything too "audiophile" if you will. I like music and never listen in what some term a "critical" manner. I listen to the music, not the equipment. Having said that the Bose QC Ultra 2 'phones are equipped with features that provide choices in how one hears their music and accordingly, how it is aurally perceived by your ears and mind. Within the Bose Application you download to your Android phone or tablet or iPhone/iPad there are 5 main modes you can choose from. Quiet. Immersion. Cinema. Music. Aware. Depending upon what I am listening to I tend toward "Immersion" for Classical Music and "Music" for Traditional Jazz with the former being quite a dramatic expansion of the soundstage created within my mind. Of course all of this is subjective in value but it is a vital part of any review and as such I present it as a part of my listening experience. I would say that "Immersion" is a favorite because it is so different and dramatically so! It is vastly superior from my perspective to the "Background" mode on the excellent Sony WH-M6 'phones and I prefer it to using the "Motion" setting that creates an even greater sense of location via detecting the listener's head movements. Simply amazing and while I may one day tire of using it, at the moment I am still finding it quite engaging! I having been using the Bose QC Ultra 2 for several days now for about 1 to 3 hours at a time with noise cancellation engaged and I still have a battery level (as I am listening now!) at 70%. These phones should easily make it (if ever I go!) on a trip from California to Australia! Bose is often acclaimed to be the Master of ANC (Adaptive Noise Cancellation) and this newest version of their top of the line headphones regains that crown from the Sony WH-M6 and believe me, that is no small accomplishment because the Sony's are (still) superb in their own right. But...This is what competition does, it improves the breed and we all benefit from this. The Bose QC Ultra 2 are in my estimation the best at subjectively reducing ambient noise for the purpose of making my time with my music, be it at home, on a walk around my neighborhood or even on a plane, better. And by "better" I mean a LOT better. The QC 2 Ultras easily silenced a loud fan in my garage gym and a back to back comparison with the excellent Sony WH-M6 in my Diesel truck test proved the Bose to be a bit better than the Sony's in that regard. Nothing to date has entirely eliminated the clatter of my truck's engine and both of those headphones easily surpass my older Sennheisers and the original Bose QC45 efforts with the Bose QC Ultra 2 being the best yet. Is this subjective? Yup. It is my experience and viewpoint based upon my real world listening and I have no problem with stating that as it is fact. You can easily adjust the degree of noise cancellation to your taste/needs via a sliding "bar" in the Bose Application. Speaking of better, the build quality of the Bose is outstanding and equal to or even a touch superior to any of the aforementioned brands that I own and personally use. My original Bose Ultra QC45s are a few years old now and with proper care, still look and perform as when they were new! I have a pair of 40 year old Bose 901 Direct/Reflecting speakers and they too look and work as new. Bose does not make junk. In truth none of the manufacturers whose products I own (some of which I have made mention of in this review!) make anything but a quality, long lasting product but I am addressing the quality and craftsmanship of Bose not only in the case of the QC Ultra 2 headphones but also in a lifetime of use over decades as in the case of their 901 loudspeakers. As a retired Electronics Technician I can honestly say that if you take good care of your equipment it can last for many years of use and I think the new Bose QC Ultra 2 is going do just that. Everyone knows for quality it's Bose. Enjoy the soundtrack of your life while muting the background! Highly recommended? Indeed!!

I've used other ANC headphones, including those that are considered to be in the "top tier" of this category (the one I own is also the latest model), so I have plenty for comparison in this review. I've never actually owned or tried a pair of Bose headphones before and I've been wanting to do so for a while. So, I figured with the Gen 2 of the QuietComfort Ultra's having just released, now would be a great time. How are they and how do they compare to what I'm already used to? Let's find out! As far as the unboxing experience goes, everything is pretty minimal and tightly packed. Everything opens (or, unfolds, rather - in the case of these) easily and inside the box, you are immediately presented with the case, holding these beautiful headphones. Inside, it's literally just the headphones and the cables. My only complaint is the way the "pocket" that holds the cable is made, it seems to compete with the headset real-estate, within the case. I have tons of USB-C cables, so I didn't really need to take this one out - but I wanted to see what all was in there. Well, getting the cable back in and getting the case shut with the headphones wound up being kind of a pain - you have to lay the cable just a certain way so it doesn't intersect with the headphones themselves, when closing the case. I'd have much rather seen the lining attached in such a way to where the cables are always positioned how they needed to be. Otherwise, this is a super minor issue I observed and in no way impacts this review or how I feel about anything, at all! Just some feedback for the future, I guess? Upon lifting these out of the case, I was amazed and how featherweight they felt. I also loved the construction and they certainly feel like they are built long-term. I will say, compared to other ANC headphones I've used, I significantly like the form, feel, style and comfort of these, the most. I do love Bose's design philosophy - simple, yet elegant - and it shows in spades with this product. The color I have is the Black. It may come across as "boring", but it goes with everything and the black cans with silver yokes complement each other well. The initial setup was a Breeze. I somehow already had a Bose account, so upon downloading the app on my iPhone 16 Pro Max (iOS 26), the first thing I did was sign in. Once done, I powered the headphones on and went through the connection process. It really couldn't have been simpler - everything connected properly on the first go and it did the firmware update - all without a hitch. The firmware update also went pretty quick - taking, I believe, less than about 8 minutes. Once done, I was greeted with the main interface of the app. As for the app itself, I was actually surprised as to how "simple" everything was, compared to what I'm used to with my other ANC headset, which has so many options, it's almost intimidating to use. Thus, I did enjoy the simplicity of the app, although it may be a tad TOO simple, with very limited EQ options and Sound Modes to choose from. The main settings are "Modes", "Noise Control", "EQ" and "Immersive Audio". There's a few others, but nothing you'd repeatedly have to use. At first, I was really confused on what the Modes option did. Basically, they're like a listening profile and each one (Quiet, Aware, Immersion and Cinema) all have presets for ANC and Immersive Audio. Overall, I felt this was a bit of a gimmick, because if you change any other setting, it seems to just remove the Mode selection completely. The Immersive Audio option is ...OK? There's "Off", "Still" and "Motion" and is essentially a type of 3D audio and causes the music or whatever you're listening to to move around, as you move your head or body. "Still" is just that - it works best when sitting and "Motion" again, named aptly so, since it works best when moving around. I personally prefer "Off", BUT it seems to lower the total overall volume by about...10%, for whatever reason? So, I just keep it on "Still", since I'm almost always sitting when wearing these. I'll switch them to "Motion" if I get up for more than 5 min or so, like doing chores, etc. Noise Control is literally an On/Off toggle with a slider to move it more to the ANC or Transparency side of things. I will say, the ANC is great and rivals my other headset but the Transparency option does sound like it has some sort of filter going on or something - they're nowhere near Apple-level ANC or Transparency, but it does the job, when needed - it just takes a while to get used to the sound of it. As far as sound quality, I put them right up there with my other ANC headset, just in a different way. While my others sound more full and "lively", these sound more flat and "neutral". This is all a personal preference thing. I will say, however, the tone range of these headphones are better for me, overall, as I have a bit of a hearing disability (mostly in my right ear) and has a lot to do with tones and frequency ranges. I can just hear vocals and instruments so much better! Also, they do bring the bass (I did make some EQ changes), which is pleasant enough without being so booming and overpowering. Sleep Token sounds absolutely amazing on these! I've also listened to Dream Theater, Alestorm, The Bug (Angry is a GREAT song for bass), Falling in Reverse, Slaughter to Prevail, Powerman 5000, Infected Mushroom, some other electronic bands and some video game music soundtracks. As you can see - I listen to a wide genre of music and all sounded equally amazing. I never had to change up my EQ to accommodate different genres. All in all, I put these right up there with my other ANC headphones and love them equally. I now actually have to actively decide which ones I want to use, haha. These truly are one of the best ANC cans on the market. Sure, the settings and other options within the app are pretty limited but...I kinda like that to be honest - it's a pleasant change of "set it and forget it". I can just put them on, adjust what I need to without having to sort through a million other options and get to listening to whatever, quicker. Overall, I'm giving the Bose QuiteComfort Ultra Gen 2's a 5/5 rating.

Bose has created an amazing piece of tech with the QuietComfort Ultra Gen2 headphones. As a headphone enthusiast, I have had a great time using the latest offering from Bose, and seeing what it’s capable of. Along with some sleek, well-organized packaging (that includes a hard sided carrying case), the Bose QC Ultra Gen2’s look and feel like an impressive set of headphones. The ear pads and headband are extremely soft, with foam that just feels exceptional. The headphones are made from metal, plastic, and faux-leather, and everything feels high quality, smooth, and refined. For controls, there are buttons on the right ear cup, as well as a touch pad on the same side. I found these controls to be pretty intuitive, but I typically would still change the volume or the track via the player on my phone. There is also a Bose app, which lets you customize your experience, and the amount of noise cancellation in any given mode. Most of the time, these headphones will be in a “sleep” mode, and will activate and pair almost instantaneously with your devices when you pick them up and place them on your head. There is a voice that informs you of the headphones battery level, and your device names, indicating what exactly they are paired to. Pairing with 2 devices at any given time is super easy to do, and I had no trouble setting these up. Let’s talk about comfort. These feel so good to wear! I have got to the point that if a set of headphones are uncomfortable, I won’t even use them. Thankfully, Bose has created some of the comfiest headphones I’ve worn, with large ear pad openings, soft padding, and a great, supportive but soft headband. They are also highly adjustable, and should fit a large range of head sizes. Battery life is exceptional too. It uses about 10 percent of the battery for every 3 hours of use, meaning I can listen to these for a very long time before I need to charge them. As for listening modes, these have a few to pick from. There are Quiet, Aware, Immersive, and Cinema modes to choose from. All of these modes can be customized further in the Bose app. Quiet is pretty self explanatory; noise cancelling, and it works extremely well! I personally have not come across a set of headphones that use Active Noise Cancelling as well as this pair, it is that good. The Immersive and Cinema modes, I was a bit more unsure as to what these modes exactly represent. Combine that with the fact that every mode can be tweaked with how much noise cancelling you want in the app, and I think that there might be a few too many modes to really distinguish themselves from each other. That being said, the Aware mode was my absolute favorite. This mode allows you to hear everything around you in great detail and clarity, and still presents music in a beautiful fashion when it’s time to listen to some media. The Bose QC Ultra Gen2 also presents Spatialized Audio. I tried out this feature, and it is pretty cool, but I didn’t really use it that much. While the effect is impressive, I just didn’t see the point in using it while I listened to my music. Your mileage may vary. As for music, I primarily used an iPhone 17, an iPad mini, and played music that is either ALAC (Apple lossless) downloaded files imported from CDs or purchased from Bandcamp, or 320 kbps MP3 and AAC files, also from the same sources. I also listened to audiobooks on Apple books, and watched movies and content on streaming platforms, like YouTube and Hulu. I have to say, for being Bluetooth headphones, these sound pretty amazing. The bass, mids, and highs are all present, with no section being overbearing or overwhelming. I was also shocked at how much detail was present in the music I listened to. I credit part of this to the great seal these make around your ears, ensuring that nothing is lost as you listen. Bass response was particularly good, with presence and impact even at low volumes. I listen to a lot of different genres, everything from hip-hop, metal, rock, classical, reggae, electronic, country, etc., and every style sounds great on these headphones. Whether you’re listening to vocal heavy acoustic piece, or a track of heavy metal, everything sounds exceptional. There is one little thing I would change about these headphones. While you can listen to these wired with the included audio cable, the headphones still must be powered on. Seems a bit strange, but whatever. Even though I would change this feature, they’re still a great pair of headphones. At the end of the day, Bose has really pushed what Bluetooth, ANC headphones are capable of. Great sound, great features, all in a super comfortable package make this the one to check out if you’re looking for your new set of headphones! 5 stars all the way!

If I had to sum these up in one word, it would be comfort...go figure the QuietComfort headphones are comfortable. I’ve tried a lot of over-ear headphones, and most of them have me fidgeting every few minutes—adjusting the headband, scratching at the cuffs, something always feels a little off. Not with these. I watched a full-length movie and I barely touched them. That’s unheard of for me. They feel light, soft, and just right. Now, on to the sound. It’s definitely what I’d call a classic Bose sound profile with a clear, detailed high-end. It doesn’t lean overly bass-heavy out of the box, but if that’s your thing, the EQ in the app lets you dial it in. I tend to listen to a lot of singer-songwriter, acoustic, and piano-heavy music, and these shine in that genre. For my taste, they’re just about perfect. That said, sound alone isn’t what makes these a must-buy—there are other solid choices out there that’ll get you close in this price range or even less. Where Bose really separates itself is the noise cancellation. It’s honestly on another level. What I love most is how subtle it is. A lot of ANC headphones kind of shove a layer of white noise into your ears to cancel things out, and it can get tiring after a while. These don’t do that, or if they do, it’s way more seamless and comfortable. They somehow mute the world around you without making it feel like your ears are under pressure or plugged up. I was fortunate to have received these right before a trip to New York and I wore them for 3 straight hours on a plane and felt great afterwards. I did try out the immersive/spatial audio feature, and while it’s neat, I wouldn’t call it a game changer. In fact, I’ve seen stronger implementations elsewhere, but to be honest, it’s not something I really care about. I want great sound, comfort, and world-class noise cancellation—and these deliver on all three. The Bose app is decent. I especially like the multi-point pairing. I switch between my iPhone, laptop, and a small projector I use sometimes, and these headphones handled the back-and-forth without any issues. I just wish I could pair more devices at once like you can with some other ecosystems. For my three devices I had to go into the app to toggle one off. The controls are kind of a mixed bag. The volume swipe bar is super easy to use—but it sits really close to the physical buttons. More than once I’ve reached to pause or skip a song and accidentally brushed the volume. There’s also a customizable button, but the options are pretty limited—battery level, spatial audio toggle, Spotify (which I don’t use), and voice assistant. I ended up just setting it to launch Siri, but I’d love to see Bose give us a few more options there. All in all, these are the best headphones I’ve ever worn. The comfort alone makes them worth considering, and when you add in the incredible noise cancellation and strong, detailed sound, it’s hard not to recommend them. They’re not perfect, but they’re perfect for me. If comfort and quiet matter to you, these are tough to beat.

The competition in the high-end, noise cancelling, over-ear headphone market is pretty astounding. There is such stiff competition. The original QuietComfort Ultra headphones were excellent. I was really curious how Bose would even improve on them. I think that beyond the excellent audio quality and noise cancelling, the standout feature for this latest addition is the comfort. They are so incredibly comfortable to wear. Quite possibly the most comfortable pair of headphones I have ever used. - Setup Setup for the headphones was mostly easy for me. It was extremely easy to set these up with my phone. They connected quickly and very easily. However, I did have some trouble connecting to my laptop. My laptop just could not see them when attempting to pair them. I found that in Windows 11, I had to go to the settings and change the "Bluetooth Device Discovery" to be "Advanced". That is the only way that my PC could see them. I was able to connect without any problem then. I did have a few instances when attempting to reconnect the headphones (after having them off for some time), that it would have trouble reconnecting too. It was very strange, as this seems to be an issue with just these headphones, as others don't have this problem. - Audio Quality As you can probably imagine, especially if you used the previous QuietComfort headphones, audio quality is excellent. Everything sounds superb. Rich tones and great bass. They are an absolute joy to use. The included positional features are cool too. Allowing things like having the sound seem to be tied to the device you're listening to. For instance, if I'm using my phone as an audio source, turning my head will make the audio seem to be positioned from my phone in 3d space. It's such an interesting feature. - Hardware The hardware itself is truly the star here. They are elegant, sleek, and extremely comfortable. They feel a bit lighter than the previous model. But the fit and finish are truly tough to beat. I received several compliments while wearing these as well. They definitely look great. Buttons are easy to reach and use. The multi-function of the button may take a bit of getting used to, but it's intuitive. And the touch volume controls worked easily for me every time. Overall, these are some of the most comfortable and great sounding headphones I have used. The excellent noise cancelling is also a standout feature. Pros: Extremely comfortable, excellent sound, excellent noise cancelling, great looking Cons: Maybe some odd software issues, specifically on the PC connection and reconnecting

I am a bit of an ANC headphone obsessive person who is always in search of the latest and greatest. So I jumped at the chance to get the latest premium headphones from Bose, the Quiet Comfort Ultra 2nd generation. In the box, along with the headphones, you get the zippered carrying case, an audio cable and a usb-c to usb-c cable. The quick start instructions are printed on the interior box. My headphones came with a 65% charge so I immediately charged it to 100%. I already had the Bose app installed from my Ultra Earbuds. Connecting the headphones was quick, easy and intuitive. The headphones are very attractive with a high quality appearance. They are lightweight, have a nice wide and soft headband, and the ear pads are thick and super soft. I have always considered Bose to be the most comfortable headphones and this generation does not disappoint. Put them on and you will forget that you are wearing them. They fold up for easy storage and for comfort when wearing around your neck. Another place where Bose has always been the best is in the design and placement of the controls. There is a power/Bluetooth button and a button to control Modes, both located on the right ear cup. I particularly like the volume control which is a thin bar where you can slide your finger up and down. It is also on the right ear cup, within easy reach, and in very distinguishable from the other controls. I much prefer this to the sliding of your hand on the outside of the ear cup, as with other major brands. I have always found those to be difficult to control precisely and often touched by mistake. The app is well designed giving you complete control and customization over sound, ANC, equalizer, shortcuts and gives you operating tips. When you turn on the headphones it immediately tells you how much power is remaining. Bose estimates 30 hours of power per charge and a 15 minute charge will add up to 2 1/2 hours. I took a 4 hour flight after fully charging and I had 90% left after. Not once during the flight did I feel that I had to adjust the headphones for comfort as I have had to do with others. The quality of the sound is completely subjective, but to my ears the sound is spectacular. I like clarity with complete immersion and these headphones deliver. Noise cancellation, which is very important to me, was either on par with or among the best i have tried. Other features include multi-point connection, Modes of quiet, aware, immersion and cinema, USB lossless sound and Advanced Bluetooth for a solid connection. I am very happy with these headphones and would recommend them to everyone.

Overall: The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 headphones are a strong contender for anyone looking for top-tier active noise cancellation and comfortable, immersive listening. They’re a great option for frequent travelers or folks who want to drown out office noise. These are definitely geared toward people who don’t mind spending a bit more to enjoy a premium audio experience. They’re not ideal for gym use, though, since they don’t have a rating for sweat or water resistance. They also lack wireless charging, which a lot of other headphones include at this price point. Sound Quality: The QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 delivers crisp, detailed audio with deep bass and clean highs. The sound signature is classic Bose: warm and balanced with a boosted low end, making them great for music, movies, or just about anything else. While a little flatter than some other headphones, you’re not going to get studio-reference sound here. USB-C lossless audio is a standout feature, offering higher fidelity than standard Bluetooth codecs. These are best paired with a streaming service that supports lossless audio, since compressed tracks won’t really show off what this headset can do. That said, the in-app EQ is super basic, and there’s no way to deeply customize the sound profile. For most users, Bose’s tuning will be more than fine, but those who like to tweak every frequency might be left wanting more. Active Noise Cancellation: This is where Bose blows most other headphones out of the water. The ANC is incredibly effective, easily muting road noise, office chatter, and of course, plane engines. Bose’s CustomTune tech adapts ANC to your ears every time you wear them, and it works brilliantly. If ANC is your top priority, these won’t disappoint. I promise. Other Sound Features: Along with ANC, you get a BeAware mode, which lets sound in so you can hear your surroundings if needed. The amount of noise cancellation is also adjustable, which is a nice touch. Immersive mode is another cool feature. Geared more toward movie content than music, it lets the sound follow your head movements. It’s basically 3D audio that shifts with your position. There are two modes: one for sitting and one for standing. Give them a shot. I found it pretty cool, but since I mostly listen to music, I kept it off for the most part. Bose also includes a new Cinema mode, which blends immersive audio with noise cancellation to really pull you into whatever you’re watching. It’s a fun feature for video content, and I recommend trying it out. Just keep in mind it drains the battery a bit faster. Connectivity: The headphones support Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C audio, and a 2.5mm analog cable. I had no issues pairing them with my iPhone. Plenty of audio codecs are supported, including SBC, AAC, and aptX, plus the lossless version of aptX. Long story short, these are going to sound great on basically any device you pair them with. And if you want the ultimate sound quality, you can always wire them in via USB-C for lossless audio. Comfort: The QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 are comfortable, but not quite as comfortable as some of the previous Bose models I’ve owned. Maybe they’re still breaking in, but I’m hoping they get a bit more forgiving over time. I have a large head, and the clamping force feels a little strong right now. I also have to extend them to the largest setting to fit properly, but that’s true for most headphones I own. Battery Life: Battery life is good, but not great. You’ll get 30 hours with ANC off and 24 hours with ANC on. That’s more than enough for long flights or workdays, but it falls short compared to some other comparable headphones. There’s also an auto-shutoff feature that’s worked flawlessly whenever I take them off, and a low-power mode that helps preserve battery when not in use. Sadly, wireless charging isn’t supported, but USB-C fast charging is included. Design: The design is classy and modern, with polished metal accents and a dark black finish. The build is mostly plastic with some metal, which keeps the weight down without feeling cheap. The included faux-leather carrying case is a nice touch and stores the headphones securely. Pros: Industry-leading ANC Crisp Bose sound Quality build USB-C lossless audio Classy and modern design Comes with carrying case and cables Cons: Expensive Limited EQ customization No wireless charging No IP rating for water or sweat resistance

I have enjoyed Bose products over the years but had never tried their noise cancelling over the ear headphones. While the 2nd Gen product is brand new, the original Quietcomfort headphones have earned almost universal praise. I believe more kudos are in order with this new model. I can report to you that the Quietcomfort ‘phones, although enclosing and sealing off my ears completely, are quite light, comfortable and non-fatiguing. It is possible to forget they are there as you enjoy the music. In fact, my first night of listening found me waking up the next morning with the ‘phones in place over my ears. They are that non-constricting. From opening the box to listening to music takes only a couple of minutes. I installed the software on my smartphone, pressed the on button on the ‘phones and got a confirming LED light. The software recognized the headphones, and I had the devices paired easily. Musical satisfaction was instantaneous. The presentation was neutral. I did use the app to knock down the lowest bass response down a few decibels to meet my personal preferences. Full equalization is available if you are so inclined. I felt my adjustment was just a small tweak. The active noise cancellation must be experienced to be believed. I am not going to be flying this month, so I tried to come up with a way to evaluate the ANC without getting on a plane. I turned to YouTube and found a pink noise presentation which was probably set up for students and others who wanted to have a way to physically drown out distractions for study and sleep. I bumped up the pink noise to almost 70 decibels through my speakers while listening to music through the Bose’ phones. The noise reduction was quite effective. I was able to hear music only with the headphones over my ears and got blasted with the pink noise when I took the ‘phones off. Between songs the pink noise was muffled to the extent it could have almost been mistaken for tape hiss. Battery life has been excellent. A full charge is said to provide 30 hours of playing time. These ‘phones certainly meet that spec, and when you take them off, they automatically go into a sleep mode to preserve battery life. One feature that I absolutely love is that you can successfully pair these ‘phones to multiple devices. So many similar products do not offer that feature. I rate the sound quality as top notch and have used many headphones both wired and wireless over the years. If you value comfort and noise reduction, you will be making a serious mistake if you don’t give these a try. Highly, highly recommended.

I haven’t had a pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones for many years now. In fact, my last pair was the QC35s. I remember even earlier when Bose was a must have for travelers for their combination of excellent sound quality and best-in-class noise-cancelling technology. I’m not sure why I got away from using Bose, because the latest version, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra II, are the best they’ve ever made. They are extremely lightweight, and I found them to be among the most comfortable headphones I’ve tried in a long while. The black-on-black finish looks premium and I barely feel the headband. The clamping force is just right, not too stiff, nor too soft. Sound quality, although a little bass heavy at default settings, is superb, as expected for the Bose brand. I really enjoyed listening to my playlists through these and the active noise cancelling only makes it better. There are ANC modes including Quiet, Aware, Immersion, and new for this model, Cinema. You can toggle modes either with the app or by holding the main button. Volume can be changed with a tactile slider. I found Quiet mode to be effective and true to its name. For example, my son plays the baritone sax for band in the next room most nights. It muffled the sound so I can hardly hear it. If I turn on music, I can’t hear it at all, which is impressive considering I sometimes get “Loud Environment” alerts on my smartwatch when he plays! I didn’t notice much, if any, difference with the “Immersion” mode. However, the app says it works best when you’re moving around. These aren’t waterproof so other than walking down the street (where I’d want to be in “Aware” mode anyway) I won’t be exercising wearing these so not likely to use the Immersion mode. Cinema mode definitely adjusts the sound signature in a way that seems to boost dialogue, which I find helpful for TV and movies. I like that there are multiple ways to connect including support for lossless over wired USB-C, Bluetooth multi-pairing (up to 2 devices), and Bose even kept the classic audio jack. They are also able to continue playing music while charging, although in my testing at a slower charging speed of only 1W. Pros: -Excellent Sound Quality -Superb Noise-Cancelling -Lightweight and Extremely Comfortable -Lossless Support Over USB-C -Still has an audio jack. -Carrying case included -Cinema Mode boosts dialogue -Great battery life -Clear phone calls Cons: -Not Water or Sweat-resistant Overall, the QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 is a winning combination for me with excellent comfort, sound quality, and noise cancelling. The only downside is the lack of water resistance, so I can’t use them for workouts. Otherwise they are fantastic all-around headphones that prove Bose is still competitive in the noise-cancelling market they originally created.

This is my review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphone (2nd Gen), upon which I rate at a soft 4 out of 5 stars. If this rating scheme allowed for 1/2-stars, I would rate at 3.5. Out of the box, these headphones come with a USB-C (C to C) cable, 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable, carrying case, and safety sheet. There is no quick start guide, just a QR Code to allow your smartphone to download the Bose app. From first impressions I like these headphones as they are foldable and fit nicely as to pack and carry on the go to the gym or other activities. They are extremely comfortable even when wearing glasses with a nicely padded headband and ear cups. The addition of the black gloss metal adjustable frame adds to its rich appeal. The battery is rated for playtime up to 30-hours with a 3-hour battery charge time. The buttons on the headphone are very minimal and all on the right ear. First, you have one lower button that serves as the power on/off and Bluetooth pairing. Once the headphones are turned on, you can take them off and they will go into sleep mode, and once picked up, they wake up. To fully turn them on, it's best to place them on your head and press the power button and to fully turn them off, take them off your head and press the power button. The second upper button is the multi-function button just above the power/Bluetooth button. While listening to music press the button once to play/pause, twice to move forward one song, three times to move back to the beginning of a song or previous song. When you press and hold the button, it goes into its sound listening modes consisting of quiet, aware, immersion, and cinema. This upper multi-function button also serves to address phone calls. Press the button once to answer a call, press again to put the first call on hold and answer a second call and double press the button to end or decline. The third button/ is actually a raised ridge called the volume strip which is about 1.25" long that is used to control the volume. You just simply slide up one or multiple times to increase the volume and slide down once or multiple times to decrease the volume. As for the Bose app, it is very feature rich. The front page shows the battery level and connection status. Turn on the headphones and launch the app, then press the connected app button. From here, you will see the battery level and all the features to include Modes, Source, Noise Control, EQ, Immersive Audio, Shortcut, and Tips. I won't go into detail here as most of the features are self-explanatory except the Immersive Audio feature. This feature is interesting as it adds artificial depth to your listening experience. Placing this feature in the Still mode yields an experience where the sound source rotates around your head. For example, if you turn your head to the left, the sound will favor your right ear and favor your left ear as turning your head to the right. Placing this feature into the Motion mode yields an experience where the sound source rotates around you as you move about your room/environment. I don't find this feature as noticeable as the Still mode, but that's just my opinion. The final feature I believe needs some explanation is the Shortcut. This feature allows you to add as shortcut to an option as you press on the volume strip. With this Shortcut feature you are able to add the following, hearing the battery level, changing the immersive audio options, accessing the voice assistant, and adding Spotify to your listening experience. As for my listening experience with these headphones, I was not overwhelmed. For the price, fit, feel, and app, I felt the headphones were missing a WOW factor. I will focus more on music than phone calls or TV soundstage. I was using a music streaming app providing lossless audio. The sound to me felt flat without depth. I tried listening with all features turned off and found it somewhat better. The EQ feature was very disappointing as it only incudes 3-bands, base, mid-range, and treble. Bose really needs to add some depth to their EQ and add at least 8-bands. I need the ability to tailor my sound experience and not me limited by my headphone's features. As for the noise canceling, I was blown away. In my test, I was listening to a TV program while I had my clothes dryer running in the laundry room. I dryer was pushing out 44 average decibels with peaks as 52 decibels. The noise cancelation did its job at negating the 44 decibels , but did hear the peak sounds at 52 decibels, so I would consider this a great outcome as I believe I was pushing these headphones to their limit. As for my overall opinion of these headphones, they will work great for those commuters, office workers, or those needing the serenity in taking an airplane ride. If you are looking for an amazing sound experience in listening to music or TV, you will need to look elsewhere. I hope you enjoyed reading my review and it helped in your purchasing decision.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Generation in black look, feel, and sound great! Having owned numerous over the ear headphones through the years, they all have had various shortcomings such as battery life and comfort or poor fidelity and sound quality. The Bose QC Ultra have nailed the feature set and are an all around great set of headphones. The Bose QC Ultra feature a clean, modern design that looks and feels solid, apart from the hinge design of the cups (easy to pinch your fingers or hand) and easily lay flat on a surface or fold into the included carrying case. The QC Ultra have an adjustable soft, leather padded headband and equally plush leather ear cups, which are extremely comfortable even for extended wear with their 30 hour battery life. The headphones are also fairly light and don’t create any pressure points, which is a must. The controls are limited and simple, but you have everything you would need with gestures from volume and call control to playback or immersion settings. There is even a customizable shortcut action where you can set to battery level, immersion, voice assistant or even Spotify resume. I would like Bose to expand this function further but it is great that you have some control over the behavior. The QC Ultra come with a 2.5 to 3.5 mm adapter cable, but the real treat here is the USB C port which supports wired lossless audio. Audio quality is great and rich with that signature Bose sound. Within the app you can customize the Bose QC Ultra even more with custom immersion modes and equalizer access. The Bose QC feature CustomTune tech, which analyzes sound and adjusts it to the shape of your ears for optimal audio reproduction. I am not sure how much it adjust the audio but music is rich and detailed while having a wide, virtual sound stage. The immersion setting provide convincing instrument separation, which widens the presence and depth of the track. the Bose QC Ultra headphones aren’t just for music, with Cinema mode movies sound great and easily as enjoyable as my full theater system. If you are not looking to pipe any audio into your ears, the noise cancelation is top notch and can be utilized without audio to provide peace and quiet anywhere. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are some of the best all around headphones I have ever owned; from the fantastic spatial audio to the incredibly effective noise cancellation, they have everything you need in a premium set of headphones.

These headphones are such a sleek and comfortable set. From the moment I put them on, the comfort stood out. The earcups are soft, lightweight, and somehow manage to feel secure without any pressure. I’ve worn them through long flights, daily at my desk and even on the couch listening to podcasts and music and they never felt fatiguing. Bose has always been known for comfort, but these take it up a notch. The sound quality is just as impressive. Music feels rich and detailed. The bass is tight without being overwhelming, vocals are crisp, and everything comes through with a clarity that makes you want to revisit your favorite tracks. These new headphones also have improved spatial audio support and upgraded noise cancellation, and you get an experience that feels more immersive than ever, whether it was music or movies, I loved all of it. Pairing is seamless, battery life easily holds up to long days, and the build feels premium without being flashy. I loved how the headphones auto pair whenever you take them out of the case, the ease of use and their overall comfort is perfect for flights and travel or just at my desk in my day to day. I cannot recommend these headphones enough, better sound, better comfort, and an overall more refined experience than the first gen. I received the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to try from Best Buy. Pros: • Extremely comfortable for long wear • Brilliant sound with clear highs and deep bass • Top-tier noise cancellation and spatial audio • Premium build and easy Bluetooth connection Cons: • Pricey, but you can feel where the money goes

I am moving from the Bose QC ultra to these. These and a great improvement on my old bose. Unboxing These come with a hard case. Maybe not the best for travel but it is nice to have. These are charged by USB-C, no wireless charging. Out of the box these do feel lighter than the previous Bose over the ear headphones. The part that sits on your head feels the same. But they are are springy as I like. When I travel I tend to wear them on my neck and they can get sweaty. This does use the same Bose app as the last 2 generations of headphones, I love this. Use There are some big changes to the software such as immersive audio and as always better noise cancellation. One of the new features is also a faster wake up. With my old Bose it could take a few seconds to wake and take a phone call. This seems almost instant. I don’t get immersive audio, I know people love it. But for me it does not work, for all headphones. The battery life is much improved. This can go almost a full 24 hours, even with the immersive audio on. Even the longest flight can’t beat these headphones. You have customizable touch for the headphones, and you can even turn it all off. I love this. I have tried Apple Lossless audio and these do sound amazing. I bumped up the bass and pretty amazing

I'll start by saying that I bought a Gen 1 headset about 6 months prior to getting this headset, so I'm familiar with the product features of both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 headsets. TL;DR: Buy the Gen 2. Yes, they're a bit more expensive, but the battery life along will make you glad that you did. More color / detail: I'll start with aesthetics. The Gen 1 headset has a coated metal "fork" that connects the head band to each ear cup. The Gen 2 headset uses a polished or mirrored looking metal instead, which gives the Gen 2 headset an attractive appearance (I have photos of the headsets side-by-side). The sound of the Gen 2 headset is awesome as you'd expect from Bose. Is the sound better than the Gen 1 headset? I could not hear it, if so. The Gen 2 headset has a recessed logo on each side. It's a small thing, but the headsets look nicer because of it. As I mentioned previously, the battery life is better for the Gen 2 headset. I can now get through a full day of conference calls without feeling the need to make sure I charge my (Gen 1) headset over the lunch hour. The headset seems to come up faster than my Gen 1 headset, which is really helpful when I'm running late for the next call after stepping away from my desk. And probably my favorite advantage over the Gen 1 headset is that when I plug a USB-C cable in to the headset, it remains usable as it charges. That's a win!

Coming from the second gen QC45, these are a great upgrade. The battery life is significantly improved! I used to have to rechard my 45's daily to every to every other day. Once I got the Ultra 2's, the battery life it shipped with, 80%, lasted me four days! They are comfortable on my big head and the sound quality had improved quite a bit. The noise cancelling is significantly better and no weird pressure feeling! These were expensive, but worth the money. Another positive is I can be connected to my PC and Phone at the same time and I don't get the crackling I used to get with my old ones when connected to two sources.

Ok here we go. In the summer I purchased the Sony M6 and wrote a positive review about the headphones. I had always been a Bose fan because of their signature low bass. Well, I returned the M6 when I heard the Gen2 comfort would be released and I am very glad that I did. I’ve owned the AirPod Pro Max, Bose Q45, Bose Ultra QC 1st gen, Sony M6 and now these. I will say these are the best by far!!! Comfort and sound is what I look for in headphones/earbuds and based on those presences, these are the best

A lightweight, comfortable headphone with great mid range and active noise cancellation that rivals other premium headphones. The 2nd gen ultra comfort truly is an upgrade compared to the 1st gen in terms of battery, software and better balanced mid range sound. In terms of comfort, it is the same, if not more softer to wear compared to the previous gen. Highly recommend this product if you wear glasses, as the clamp downs aren’t tight like the Sony XM06 or other brands.

Nice headphones works great for canceling noise besides working as headphones. Soft, compact, comfortable, great sound. Perfect for shutting out the outside world or listening to music without disturbing others. Works great with my I-phone & iPad too. I love the color. Battery lasts a long time & its easy to recharge.

Hands down the mosy comfortable headphones I’ve ever wron, epsecially coming from Airpods Max. The ANC is unreal too, with music on it drowns out almost every sound imaginable. The sound quality is very good but it’s not its best feature. For travel, these are the best on the market.