Customer Ratings & Reviews

Even though I have used some amazing wireless headphones before, and my personal bar is set very high, I was still absolutely blown away by how exceptional the performance of these headphones are. The noise canceling and sound quality are the best in their class. Bose Ultra is now the new standard for wireless noise canceling headphones, to which all others will be compared. Bose was one of the original pioneers of noise canceling technology, and they have made some excellent products over the years, but they have found a way to set the bar even higher with Bose Ultra. When wearing them, I feel like I am in my own personal bubble of sound. I was not able to test them on an airplane, but I am looking forward to using them the next time I fly. Sound quality is also excellent. They produce powerful, full-range, high fidelity sound that makes watching movies and listening to music an absolute pleasure. The Bose Music App has a 3 band EQ that can be used to tweak the sound profile to the user's liking. There are also a few sound presets that can be used as well. I preferred the Bass Boost preset and found the bass to be powerful, while still being defined. I enjoyed the Immersive Audio feature for music because it convincingly enlarges the width and depth of the soundstage. Music impressively seems to be coming from all around. Setup is very straightforward. The Bose Music App is recommended since it opens up the advanced features of the headphones. Since I own other Bose products, I was already using the App so all I had to do was add a device. If this is your first Bose product then you will have to download the App and create an account. Theoretically it is possible to use the headphones without the App, but that is not advisable as you would be locking yourself out of many of the advanced features. Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours. I have been using them extensively for several days without needing a charge, so I consider the battery life to be outstanding. The headphones offer a very advanced Bluetooth Multipoint capability. Taping the Bluetooth button on the headphones switches to the next paired available device. This makes switching the primary audio stream from your phone to another device very easy. This is the smoothest Bluetooth switching implementation I have ever used. Switching from device to device can also be done using the App. The App will list the available device and which device is primary for audio. The build quality for these headphones is as good as the sound quality. They are manufactured from high quality components, and are very comfortable to wear. I would describe the ear cushions and head strap as pillow soft. The included hard case is sturdy and provides excellent protection. The case has a small interior sleeve to store cables and accessories. There is also an interior tag that shows the proper way to fold and insert the headphones into the case. Bose has set the bar once again for the wireless noise canceling headphone market. They have completely exceeded everything else that has come before it. They are expensive, but if you want the best noise canceling performance available, then Bose Ultra is what you want to get..

Several years ago, I discovered Bose Quiet Comfort headphones. My first pair wore the QC15 and I have owned every iteration since then. Until now, the best of the best have been the Bose NC700 which are spectacular headphones. Now, I find myself the proud owner of the company’s newest over-ear headset, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra. After thorough comparison, I can confidently say that the new Ultra are an upgrade in every way. There is especially one aspect which causes the Ultra to make them an absolutely must-have for music lovers. I will get to that in a moment, but first here are my thoughts on how the NC700 and QC Ultra compare: COMFORT I am very happy to report that the Bose QC Ultra are more comfortable than the NC 700 headphones. They are lighter, there is less clamping force and the headband distributes weight better on the top of your head. I used to consider the NC 700 headphones as the second most comfortable pair of over-ear headphones second only to the QC45. Well, the Ultra now take this 2nd place spot and they are almost as comfortable as the 45. Very Great! NOISE CANCELING Yes, Bose has also improved the noise canceling. When in quiet mode the headphones put you in a place where the world simply disappears. Each iteration of Bose headphones through the years has improved upon the previous in this area. The Ultra are no different. In fact, when I was testing them out my wife was standing 3 feet from me and trying to talk to me. I never even knew she was talking. This has never happened with my older NC 700. SOUND QUALITY The QC Ultra are more of a spiritual successor to the NC700 than they are the QC45. The sound is much more similar to the NC700. What they retain is the excellent clarity and instrument separation. The mids are just as perfectly present. Also the highs have a very pleasing ring without ever sounding harsh. What was great on the 700 but even better on the Ultra is the bass. Bose says that the new Ultra are now taking samples of sound inside the ear ups and then actively adjusts the bass to sound best dependent on the shape of ears, the seal of the pads, etc. This really does make a difference. I wear glass which compromises the acoustic seal. The Ultra compensates for this and makes the bass sound deeper and have a greater punch than my NC700. So, the sound signature overall is better and gets WAY better with immersive audio. But, we are getting to that. IMMERSIVE AUDIO This is the feature! If you are a music lover then this is the feature which gives the biggest incentive to upgrade from the NC 700. Music with immersive audio just sounds better. I have several setups of actual stereo bookshelf speakers around my house. I always preferred a good pair of music monitors over headphones. Why? Because you can hear and imagine the soundstage in front of you. Good recordings place an orchestra or band members several feet from each-other as you listen. With live listening you can hear the music spread throughout the venue and this is what immersive audio on the Quiet Comfort Headphones does. It places the band a couple feet in front of you. It feels like you can point to and reach out and touch the various vocalist and instruments. It is so great! It is exactly like advertised. Immersive audio makes it sound like you are listening to a good pair of speakers in a room acoustically ideal for premium audio. Now that I have heard it, I can never go back to regular headphones. CONCLUSION There is so much more good that I could say about the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones. The buttons are well placed and are useful - even the touch-sensitive volume slider works well enough! The app also just works and all the needed settings are there to easily adjust. The carrying case looks premium and is compact. It is smaller than the NC700 case and even more compact than the QC45’s storage option. There are some things I do not like about the headphones. For example, immersive audio for movies is still not as good or immersive as Spacial Audio on Apple’s AirPods Max when watching Dolby content. Also, the placement and function of the buttons is different than what I am used to on the 700. In the end though, I am ecstatic with what Bose has done in their newest iteration of Bose over-the-ear noise canceling headphones. My NC 700 are going on eBay and I look forward to many great years with the Ultra. Well done Bose!

_____ *Pros: -Premium look and feel. -Smells nice. -Spatial audio is very cool and more than a gimmick. -Great passive noise isolation. -Comfortable to wear for hours on end. -Good battery life. -Easy to fold and put away inside the case. _____ *Neutral: -Out of the box audio is so-so. Tune-up required with the Bose Music app. _____ *Cons: -None *** Build Quality and Comfort *** The first thing that impressed upon me when I unboxed the Bose Ultra was how nice and premium it looked and felt. Mine’s the White Smoke color option and I feel it looks more high-end, premium, and classy than the black option. My two previous Bose headphones were black so this was a welcome change of scenery. The sense of premium-ness continues when handling the Ultra – the pleather feels soft and plush, and the plastic components feel dense and silky smooth with no harsh graininess. The padding is soft and comfortable, and the earcups are supple, comfy, and provide good passive noise isolation. The QC Ultra folds, swivels, and tucks away neatly and smoothly with nary a cheap-feeling sound or awkward movements. There was another aspect of the Ultra that I didn’t expect but was pleasantly surprised by – these headphones smell great! Specifically, the Ultra headphone gives off that new car smell scent that I like so much. The scent is strongest on the pleather parts such as the earcups. As for the rest of the Ultra, I have no complaints and I’m quite happy with the entire package. The fit and finish is excellent, the buttons are clickity and responsive, and the capacitive swipe area on the right earcup works perfectly for volume control. I’ve been using the Ultra mostly at work where I work at a cubicle with many colleagues nearby. Some of them are quite noisy, and these headphones provide peace for hours and hours without hurting the top of my head or my ears. After extended use, my ear areas do get a bit sweaty and warm but not uncomfortably so. Ergonomically, the QC Ultra is a Win. *** Audio performance *** I expected great audio fidelity and quality from the Ultras, and I was not left disappointed or pinned with buyer’s remorse. The Ultra lives up to Bose’s hard-earned and well-deserved reputation for quality and slick execution and Bose takes it to a new level by introducing Immersive Audio, which is a fancy spatial audio technology that makes the audio source feel like it’s right there with you and nearby instead of some audio signals leaking out of the earcups. By connecting the Ultra to the Bose Music app, one can choose the Immersive Audio setting of your choice – Off, Still, and Motion. Bose recommends the “Still” option for those sitting down and not moving around much, and the “Motion” option for those who are walking and going to places. I liked both options and used Immersive Audio anytime I was listening to music on the Ultra. It really does add a new sense of audio depth and increases the breadth of the soundstage beyond what “regular” headphones can do. I frankly expected Immersive Audio to be a clever marketing gimmick from Bose that I would try a few times and turn off but it turned out to be more than that – it truly adds something novel and makes the music listening experience more fun and interesting. After getting used to Immersive Audio, other headsets are going to feel more boring and duller. If by any chance you choose not to use the Immersive Audio option, you still get great audio fidelity and quality from the QC Ultra. Just don’t expect a big difference from the outgoing Bose 700 or QC 45 headsets. The active noise cancellation is slightly better in the QC Ultra, but the general audio quality sounds pretty similar to the older headsets. I did notice better bass on the QC Ultras though. Overall, it’s really hard to go wrong by choosing the QC Ultra. The audio quality is excellent, and it’s made fantastic thanks to Immersive Audio (spatial audio). *** Battery life *** Frankly speaking, the battery life is not that much improved over my older Bose QC45 headphones. Still, the endurance level is good enough for my particular situation and I’m content with it. I’m never too far away from a charging cable so battery life hasn’t been an issue for me. *** Is it worth the coin? *** If you got the coin for it, then the QC Ultra headphones are definitely worth it. You’re getting superb active noise cancellation, clean and high-fidelity audio, and with Immersive Audio turned on, a new and interesting way to listen to music both familiar and new. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending the QC Ultra to friends and family. 5 Stars.

I bought these headphones bc of the reviews, they're NOT WORTH the MONEY. The nosie cancellation SUCKS, NOT comfortable, Sucks to SLEEP in. I can still hear my roommates. HORrBILE!!!!

Bose has been in this game for decades so they definitely have learned a lot over the time. The QuietComfort Ultra is a combination of the what made the QC35 and NC700 series great. The comfort and form factor versatility of the QC series and the modern design and features of the NC700’s. The carrying case is compact thanks to the folding design of the QC Ultra. Personally, I think they did a great job merging the two. The QC Ultra looks modern but is still comfortable and earns the QuietComfort badge in its name. Clamping force is minimal and the weight is light. This is all together with ear cups housing angled speakers allowing your ears to freely rest inside without touching any parts inside of the cup. Something I can’t say about the Sony WH-1000XM5. Build quality is great with the arms being made of metal and the ear cups being made of high quality plastic to reduce weight. I will note that there is still a bit of creaking when handling the headphones which of course I would prefer wasn’t noticeable. It doesn’t feel like these will fall apart but thought I would mention it. The QC Ultra comes with new features such as wind block to minimize the sound of wind interfering with the mics. Also, snapdragon sound certification using AptX adaptive with supported devices. The main feature is Bose’s immersion mode which uses a IMU to track your head movement accordingly as well as a proprietary DSP to generate a sound that simulates the sound that you would hear coming from speakers in a room with you. I would say the effect for the most part is great. It really puts the music out of your head and in front of you. And this is for any audio content which makes it really special since other options require specific sources or music streaming platforms. I would say the sound signature out the box is a slightly warm but overall pretty neutral. Bose tends to tweak their sound profile closer to neutral in comparison to all of the mainstream brands and this isn’t too much different. Thankfully there is an EQ, a basic one, but an EQ at least. So you have some options to adjust the sound to your liking. The noise cancelling performance is simply outstanding. No white noise or hiss when engaged just pure silence. You can adjust the level of noise cancellation from within the Bose Music app if you don’t need the full intensity. There will be no issues setting yourself in your own little bubble when out and about on a bus, train or plane with this level of ANC. One thing I always give the crown to AirPods is transparency mode which Bose calls aware mode. The QC Ultra sounds very natural with no discernible white noise or hiss in quiet environments. However, I still think AirPods sounds just a tad bit more clearer in the upper treble but still the QC Ultra is just fine to use for getting a sense of you surroundings and holding a conversation. There’s also ActiveSense in which is a mode where the mics listen to loud sudden sounds and automatically engage the ANC to reduce the impact of these sounds on your ears. The last thing you want is to be in aware mode and a loud ambulance drives past with its sirens and then your headphones amplifies that into your ears. Yikes! Battery life is great for my usage. 24 hours with normal usage. 18 hours if you enable immersion mode due to the extra processing involved to generate that sound. 18 hours is about 3 days worth in the office. These can also manage the battery on its own by going to sleep and use very little power when you take the headphones off after 10 minutes using the wear sensors. And within the app you can set what time they eventually power off and use no power. By default, the auto power off is set to 24 hours. I found the auto play and pause from the wear sensors to be pretty accurate. You can also set them to auto answer a call when you put the headphones on within the app if you take frequent calls and don’t keep the headphones on your head. The auto sensor is only on the right ear cup. Personally, I wish it was on both ear cups like the AirPods Max. Call quality is superb thanks to the noise rejection performance. I’ve taking calls next to a vacuum cleaner and the person on the other end said they can still clearly hear me and the vacuum cleaner can be heard but it was faint. That is insane because other headphones would have had my voice become non existent. There are 10 microphones in the QC Ultra which supposedly block out sound in 360 degrees. They work well. Things I would love to see improved is no creaking when twisting the ear cups around, a 5 band EQ as opposed to 3 band and longer battery life because who doesn’t want that? Overall, these are my top wireless ANC headphones and I’ve tried so many over the years. These are incredibly comfortable, sound wonderful thanks to the spatial audio processing, last 3 days of use in terms of battery life for me, fold up into a compact case and has clear calls in loud environments. Highly recommended!

they’re a great pair of headphones. i really like that you can adjust the eq to your preference, and i love the bass, mids and lows on these headphones. it captures and transmits exceptional quality. and the sound is enhanced with the immersive audio (their own version of apple’s spatial audio) with vocals sounding prominent all around and added depth to instruments. the anc is superb and i don’t really ever have to raise the volume past halfway since they’re pretty loud. and the transparency mode is really good too, almost on pair with the airpods pro. they’re also lightweight and fit perfectly on me. the charge time isn’t as long of a wait if you use your own fast charger, given that the included charging cable is usb to type-c. the battery life is great too as i’ve studied for hours without end and the headphones were well above 70% (that is, listening to music on low volume with the transparency mode on), as well as traveling and sitting through a 6 hour-long flight the battery life was at 60-ish% with volume at almost halfway and noise cancellation mode active during most of the flight. the carry case it comes in is sturdy and protective of the headphones. the aluminum band that sustains the headphones is also a nice touch and adds a sturdiness to the headphones, so there’s less worry if you accidentally bang the headphones. i would recommend these to anyone interested as they have provided me great service in times of need. i’ve tried using the airpods max in the past but they were too heavy, tight, and sounded very similar to my airpods pro 2 in terms of audio quality (with the same eq settings on), so i didn’t find them as worthy of my money. but these bose qc ultra headphones knocked it right out of the park. you should consider trying them out for a bit.

These are absolutely some of the best Noise Canceling Headphones you can get right now. BOSE created the field of ANC Headphones many, many years ago and these new Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones prove they are still at the top of the class when it comes to high quality headphones with amazing sound and comfort and mindblowing active noise cancellation. I previously had a pair of AKG ANC Headphones and these are such a huge leap over those. These are on par with the Apple AirPods Max and the best ANC Headphones from Sony and others. First, lets talk sound. The quality of sound you get from these headphones is audiophile quality. Music is crisp, dialogue is clear, and the bass is nice and smooth. Right out of the box without any adjustments I could already hear the superior audio quality from these. Listening to familiar songs through these headphones was like listening to them for the first time because I could hear every instrument. But BOSE didn't just stop with high quality speakers in the headphones - the built in software to really take listening to the next level. Besides the standard stereo mode, they also included two versions of immersive listening modes - one that includes head tracking. And let me tell you, the immersive listening mode is not just a gimmick - it really does take the listening experience to a whole new level. I absolutely love their implementation. It truly sounds like you are standing in the middle of the room and the music is all around you. And with the head tracking mode, it gives you the feeling that you're at a live concert and the band is on the stand and you're front and center. These headphones are also great for watching movies or having phone conversations as every sound comes through rich and clear. Second, let's talk about the Active Noise Cancellation. As I mentioned, BOSE really spearheaded that technology and the QC Ultra headphones prove they are still at the top of the game. The noise cancelling on these is amazing! You can be in a loud environment and experience complete quiet serenity hearing nothing but what you play through the headphones. I'm genuinely blown away by how awesome these are. And you can adjust the level of Active Noise Cancelling easily in the app or you can turn on the ambient listening mode that uses the mics on the headphones to make sure you hear everything rather than block out everything if you need to do that. They really made sure the Active Noise Cancelling on these was not only the best in the business but also that you could make it work for you, the way you need it to in any situation. When it comes to style and comfort, BOSE spared no expense on making sure these headphones look great and feel great. The earmuffs are extremely soft and comfortable and can be worn for long periods of time without bothering me. I love the folding design that makes them easy to pack into the molded case and throw in a carry-on bag or backpack. I chose the white color which is more of an ivory than a true white and I love them - they stand out and look great! The control designs on these are simple and brilliant. One button to turn them on/off, one button to control play, and a slick touch slider for volume control or calling up your phone/tablet assistant! The bluetooth button rarely needs to be used because these also have auto-sensing built in. When you remove the headphones for more than a few minutes they automatically go into standby mode - if you put them back on they automatically go into active mode. If the headphones are in standby mode for an extended period they will cut of completely for you. (You can also set up in the app to have whatever your watching or listening to automatically pause/play when you take them off and put them back on - brilliant!). The multi-function button is easy to use via 1-press, 2-press, 3-press commands and only having one button I have found is great because with my old headphones sometimes I'd press the wrong button but that won't happen with these. Then on the smaller part of the earmuff is a slightly raised line that controls volume by sliding. your finger on it or triggers a customizable shortcut (like calling up Siri, or cycling through immersive listening modes) by long pressing it. In addition to all these features the accompanying BOSE app lets you customize the headphone experience even further, fine tuning the noise cancellation, setting up custom equalizer settings, and creating various modes that you can easily switch between when the headphones are on by long pressing the multi-function button. The headphones also include sound cues and spoken voice prompts to help you know the battery level, and the status of the headphones while wearing them. These headphones are just absolutely amazing - I couldn't be happier with them. There are maybe one or two other companies with headphones in the same class as these, but I don't think anyone can claim to be better. BOSE has really knocked it out of the park with these QuietComfort Ultra headphones and as far as I'm concerned is back on the the top of the Active Noise Cancelling Headphone market.

I really wanted to like these headphones enough to keep them, (I have since returned them) and there are some things that I did really like so I’m going to start with those things. The first thing that I enjoyed about these headphones is how light and comfortable they are! They weigh basically nothing. And they are cute. They have a very sleek design. I also enjoyed how I could control my personal sound experience through the app. Mind you, it is a three band equalizer, so you don’t have much control over the sound but it’s enough to make a difference with your experience. Immersion mode was enjoyable, you could experience some cool things by selecting “still” mode and walking around, it would create a sort of “far away” experience, almost as if you’re at a concert and listening on a speaker. I also enjoyed how user-friendly and straight to the point the app was. I would describe the sound as very clean, although I did experience some weird audio / bluetooth glitches. The sound itself was partially enjoyable, I enjoyed hearing parts of songs I hadn’t noticed before and playing around with the EQ like I previously mentioned. I listen to a lot of music, and I enjoy feeling like I am part of the song when listening. Here are some of my issues with the product and why I decided to return them: Instantly when I first put the headphones on, the noise canceling had a certain frequency to it. I understand that all ANC headphones are going to emit some sort of white noise, however these headphones have a very specific sound to them. It made my ears feel like they were being sucked outwards and it gave me a headache. The pressure was personally way too much for me. The issue is that you cannot fully turn off noise canceling, but these are $400 headphones (assuming you add a protection plan, it totals out to be around/above that price.) and I feel like if you’re spending that much, you should have the option to turn it on / off. Because of the intensity of the ANC, it always felt like there was a gap between me and the song. Like the white noise/frequency/pressure almost made it hurt to listen and stood between me as the listener and the song itself. Another thing that I noticed was when I would walk, I would sometimes hear the hardware of the headphones clicking and the stomp of my feet would overpower the music in my ears. I also found that wearing them around my neck was pretty uncomfortable for some reason. It felt like it was choking me so I would end up putting them away when not in use. But, putting them back in the case requires you to fold them, and you have to adjust them back to the smallest size every single time. Going back to the options you have when listening, there are multiple settings that you can listen on - the main three being aware, quiet, and immersion (still mode or motion). The aware mode is the closest you can get to having no noise canceling, aka no ear sucking, pressurized sensation. The issue with aware mode is that it amplifies the ambience around you, so no matter how loud your music is, the voices/sounds around you will also be very present. No matter how low I turned the noise cancelling feature, and it’s important to note that you CAN control how much there is - it still felt too intense for my ears. It seems that while you can control how much noise cancelling there is, you can’t really control how intense it is. When I went to return these today, the man helping me actually told me that he had the same experience, except that after using these headphones for a few days - he had some hearing issues that lasted a couple weeks from the noise canceling feature. Like I previously said, the sound is very clean, bright, and mostly enjoyable (I ended up listening mostly in aware mode in quiet settings.) Something I did notice though, as I listen to a lot of R&B, Rap, bass heavy music… is that the bass felt a bit underwhelming for me. Even when turned all the way up, the bass sounded almost separate from the music. I wanted to like it at first, because I felt like I was hearing parts of the song that I had never heard before. After having them for almost 2 weeks, I just started to get annoyed by this. No matter how high I bass boosted the song, or turned up the actual volume - Yes, I could feel the bass and it was nice and clean but not really integrated into the music. It didn’t get me hype. If turned up all the way, It would overpower everything else in the song after a certain point. As I wrote previously, I like to feel like I am a part of the music and because of the white noise “gap” I was describing, and the bass situation… I just didn’t find it that enjoyable to listen. I read another review saying that it just didn’t “give them joy” or “pack the punch” they needed. I fully agree. Another really important thing to note, is that you cannot use these headphones unless they are charged. Meaning, that you cannot use the aux cord unless the headphones are on. And even if you are listening with an aux cord, the noise canceling feature still cannot be turned off. I think this product will be good for somebody who: 1. Isn’t bothered by this specific ANC feature. I know that everybody is different and that some people would probably really enjoy how quiet these get, even with no music playing. 2. I would recommend these for somebody who flies frequently, or genuinely needs this level of noise cancellation for school, work. 3. Doesn’t mind the fact that they are only usable when charged, regardless of aux cord usability. I would not immediately recommend these for: 1. People with autism. Everyone is different like I said, but the pressure I experienced from the ANC was painful and distracting and uncomfortable. If you’re a person with autism, and are looking for something noise cancelling to help you function… just keep in mind that this feature may cause discomfort or further overstimulation. 2. Someone who listens to bass heavy music. I just think there’s better, less expensive options that sound better when it comes to bass. The selling point for these really seems to be the ANC and immersion mode features that add the extra price tag. 3. Someone who wants to be able to listen to music at any point, regardless of charge. This is my personal experience as somebody who both listens to music and creates it. I also am autistic and often get overstimulated by my surroundings, and use music to retreat into my safe space. These headphones simply did not allow me to fully enjoy my music and so I decided to return them. Given all of this information, I encourage everybody to try out all of the options and make their own decisions based on their personal needs. I never write reviews, but I felt compelled to this time. As for battery life, it was pretty good. However, the ANC uses a lot of battery life. I had a few issues with connectivity, like I took them to the beach and was about 5 ft from my phone and they started glitching. It happened for about 5 mins and then stopped. I also recall trying to pair my phone with my partners pair (we got matching ones, black & white) and it was impossible for both of us to pair our phones with the others headphones. I have since purchased the Sony XM5’s and am enjoying them so far, as the ANC on these is completely different and way less painful and uncomfortable. It’s barely noticeable compared to the bose, and I don’t really mind them being less “powerful” in that way. It just didn’t feel healthy for my ears.

Bose headphones have consistently been celebrated as the pinnacle of audio excellence, and it’s easy to understand why. Their superior sound quality delivers rich, balanced audio with deep bass and crisp highs, allowing listeners to experience their favorite music as it was intended. The active noise-cancellation technology is unparalleled, effectively muting background distractions whether you're on a busy street, a noisy airplane, or in a bustling office. Comfort is another standout feature. Designed with plush ear cushions and lightweight materials, Bose headphones can be worn for hours without discomfort, making them perfect for long listening sessions. The intuitive controls, long battery life, and seamless Bluetooth connectivity add unmatched convenience. Moreover, Bose’s dedication to innovation ensures that each new model incorporates the latest advancements in audio technology. Whether you're an audiophile, a frequent traveler, or someone seeking the ultimate listening experience, Bose headphones truly set the standard for quality and performance.

Sound - Very good, although this is subjective these sound noticeably better then my Sony XM5’s. Although it isn’t by much they do feel more rich and have less of an empty feel. Notice: both headphones sound bad out of the box in my opinion. After tuning their EQ in the app is when they will start to sound better! Sound is personal for everyone so play around. Overall though these sound better out of the box. XM5’s are very muddy compared to these out of the box. Winner - QC ultra Design: Although in my opinion the XM5’s do look better these do a great job at staying lowkey. One of my favorite features that back is that it actually FOLDS up. This is a feature I thought at first wouldn’t be important to me but after having a bag always filled, having headphones that also fold is a must. However looks wise XM5 has ultras beat. Winner - XM5 Comfort: Although heavier then the XM5’s they are much more comfortable due to the padding just having a bigger surface. Some will prefer the lightness of the headphone but these ones sacrifice Abit of weight for more comfort. I would give this a tie as both are very comfy. Winner - tie ANC- Long story short these have better ANC. They also came out more recently so that is understandable. Winner - UC ultra Battery life - XM5’s has 30 hours UC ultra has 25 hours Winner XM5 Build quality- Both are mainly made out of plastic and both feel very good. However I would say the Bose outshines just alittle due to the metal construction of the hinges. Although this adds some weight it gives it a very premium feel. One thing I would like to watch out for is hinge failing on the XM5’s as that is a problem! Winner - QC ultra Connectivity - If multipoint is important for you the QC ultra have a better system as they actually pauses the other device when you press play on a new one. Besides from that they are the same and both are very reliable and equal in strength. For Bluetooth reliability XM5’s are just abit better. I have never had any issues with Bluetooth for the XM5’s but on the UC ultra it does have a hiccup very occasionally. Both are still very reliable headphones.

I’ve been a fan of Bose headphones for a long time, and I was very excited to get my hands on the new QuietComfort Ultra series. These headphones deliver some of the best noise cancellation, spatial audio, and general sound quality. These definitely live up to the hype! The visual design is sleek with a premium feel. The aluminum parts and the soft leather ear cushions look and feel incredible. They can also fold flat and fold up, which makes them easy to store and carry in the included zippered case. The build quality of the headphones is not unsurprisingly top-notch. They feel sturdy and durable, without being too heavy or bulky. The headband is adjustable and padded, and the ear cups swivel to fit my ears comfortably. The buttons are well-placed and easy to access, and the headphones come with a USB-C cable for charging, a 3.5mm audio cable for wired listening, and an airplane adapter for travel. The sound quality of the headphones is great. The sound is balanced and detailed, with rich bass, clear mids, and crisp highs. They are great for streaming apps and created a great sense of immersion, while doing an incredible job. The most impressive feature of the headphones is the noise cancellation. Bose has always been the leader in this field, and they have outdone themselves again. The headphones have 11 levels of noise cancellation, including environment passthrough, that you can adjust using the Bose Music app or by pressing a button on the left ear cup. The noise cancellation is effective and adaptive, blocking out any unwanted sounds from your environment. They don’t produce a high pressure feeling like many other products in the same space. Overall, these are worth every penny for their amazing performance, features, design, and comfort. They are the best headphones I have ever owned, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who loves high quality audio and wants to enjoy it in peace!

I purchased these headphones to switch from my airpod max. Here are the great, good, bad and terrible: Great - sound quality, case, weight and comfort. I have a large head and they fit perfectly with room to grow and can wear for hours on end at work. Good - multi device connections, bose application, style. I like the ability to connect to both my work and person phones. The application and setup is very user friendly. Good looking set of headphones that don’t look cheap. Bad - volume control, finger print magnet, sweat and oily ear cups. I am coming from fabric ear cups that seemed to hid sweat and oil better. When i place these on my desk ear opening down, they leave a oil residue that takes a few wipes to clean away (i realize this is my own problem but i do not wear any products on my face or hair). The volume control on the right ear cup is not precise. I for evey 1 click on my physical phone the headphones (when asjusted by the volume control on the device) skip 2-3 levels of volume. The black pair also attract a lot of fingerprints. Terrible - third party phone support, sound transparency, lowest volume is still toonloud for office use. We use a web based phone program in the office that has an application on my iPhone. When accepting calls ising my phone the headphones are not detected. I can get around this by accepting the call by pressing tjr power button on the right ear cup. The combination of poor sound transpancy and the lowest level of volume being pretty loud, these are not great in an office setting. TLDR: good heaphones if you are fine with some workarounds and can deal with some very nitpicky problems. 4/5

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra NC are extremely comfortable, which is surprising because i have quite large ears and normally over the ears press down and can be uncomfortable after a while. The over the head padding and ear padding is plushy and has a nice feel and finish. The battery lasts a really long time. I've used them for a few days on and off a few hours at a time and i'm still sitting at 80% Overall this is a very good looking set of headphones. the case is sleek and just big enough for the set, with no wasted space which is great when you have to pack tight. the case has a loop to attach a clip of some kind. Personally its a big deal because i've had other high end headphones that failed to do this so i need to makeshift a way to fasten to my bag. so its nice Bose thought of this. there's a nice pouch for your charge cable and AUX cable should you want to plug in for reasons. i tend to on planes when using their head rest screens. There's a tab that has a picture of how to arrange the headphones in the clamshell. I will say the fit isn't the best. when you put them in, they don't just drop it, its hard to notice but there is a bit of tension put on the headband to folded ear piece joint because its a big snug. I don't think this will be a problem long term, but just something to point out if you are packing them and it doesnt feel "just right". dont worry you didn't mess up set up is pretty easy, pairs quite quickly to your device. There are two buttons and a slider. the slider is for volume which is nice, however given the location of the slider, i tend to accidentally adjust it every time i put on or off the headphones. One button is for on/off, pairing, and a short cut button that you can program within the BOSE app. the other is for literally everything else. 1 tap for pause/play, 2 taps for seek forward, 3 taps for seek back. long press cycles through the different sound modes. More buttons/sliders would have been preferable. i always preferred simplicity in function, not aesthetic. instead of memorizing 10+ functions of one button and sequences, it'd be nice to have more variety.. think increases control of using an android with multiple buttons vs 1 on an iPhone The noise cancel is incredible. You won't hear a thing. I had my kids test it with me, where they'd scream and then have them wearing them and i yell. you won't hear a thing. So great for travel/planes/desk work when you want to be left alone Aware lets you hear your surroundings, so if you're walking and need to take care. Everything around you sounds clear and clean. The app can do quite a bit, including programming holding the slider to function as a shortcut button. i like mine to give me my pending battery. but you can launch an assistant or spotify. The equalizer could be better. it only does Bass, Mid, Treble. perhaps allowing you to be more granular would have been better. especially at this price point. Another cool feature is the still vs motion Immersive audio. i can see this being really useful if you're a gamer, so the sound will adjust as you turn your head around. great if you're playing with long curved screens/multiple screens OnHead detection works well. if i take them off to talk to someone near me, it automatically pauses my audio and resumes when i put them on my head. Auto-Off is neat but depending how long you set, could be annoying. when you take them off, it puts them into a low power 'sleep' mode for quicker resume and continuation when you want them. after X time that you set, they'll go OFFOFF. took a bit of tweaking and learning curve, because i was using the headphones, and then tossed them in the case, but because i was still nearby, they stayed paired to my phone and when i tried to answer a call, i couldn't hear anything because the call was going into the headphones in the case on the table. depending on your personal use case, you may be able to make it work for you, but i'm too fidgety and jump around thing's too often that i may just disable that feature overall great product, but dinged a star because for the price they cause, controls could be a little more convenient/user friendly and the equalizer could be more robust, but they still sound great for what most people will use them for.

I have a pair of Bose 700, Apple AirPod pro 2, and Apple AirPod max. So I have used many upper end headphones. Out of the box you can feel how much lighter they are than my 700s and my AirPod max, significantly lighter. After you notice how lightweight they are you can see how nicely they fold and the great carrying case. I paired these very easy with my iPhone 14 and my iPad. You do get pushed to download the app which you do need for the features. This is my only complaint on the headphones, the noise cancellation is less than my 700s and my AirPod pros. My only complaint. I used them at home, office and some of the gym. They really did not keep up with other headphones. You can make your own choices in settings for noise reduction. I listened to some music, including spatial audio. For me, it is not worth the battery Drain but it does sound good. The bass was good but not over powering. There is an EQ for your music. Phone calls worked very well even in a crowded hallway. I watched a couple of movies wearing the headphones, I totally forget I had them on they are so lightweight. Unlike the 700s and AirPod max. I like the charger and the app worked nice for me.

I recently purchased the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones 60th Anniversary Diamond Edition, and I must say, they are nothing short of spectacular. From the moment I unboxed them, I was impressed by the elegant design and premium build quality. The sound quality is exceptional, with rich, deep bass and crystal-clear highs that make every genre of music sound amazing. The noise-cancelling feature is top-notch, effectively blocking out ambient noise and allowing me to immerse myself fully in my music or podcasts. Whether I'm on a noisy flight or in a bustling café, these headphones create a serene listening environment. Comfort is another area where the Bose QuietComfort Ultra excels. The over-ear design and plush ear cushions provide a snug yet comfortable fit, even during extended listening sessions. I never experienced any discomfort or fatigue, which is a testament to Bose's commitment to user comfort. The wireless connectivity is seamless, with a strong and stable Bluetooth connection that never faltered. The battery life is impressive, lasting for hours on end, and the quick charge feature is a lifesaver when I'm in a hurry. Overall, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones 60th Anniversary Diamond Edition are worth the purchase. Highly recommended!

Just purchased these 3 days ago and I haven’t been able to keep them off. I’ve been using them for everything between my phone, tablet, laptop. Sound quality is crisp and clear. Noise cancellation works really well and is very impressive. Definitely blocks out noise when wanting to focus or just not be bothered with outside noise. The design is sleek. Headphones are very lightweight. Easy setup and pretty seamless with switching between devices. The carrying case is also a nice touch. There are tons of different options available depending on what you are looking for. These are definitely premium and cover all the bases. The Bose app is easy to use and customizable to your preferences for sound.

I love this Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones! I usually don't like wearing over the ear headphones, from vary reasons(bulky, uncomfortable etc) but do i love this headphones. Seems that Bose knock it out the park with this model! I tried them even during my workouts at the Gym sometimes i was even forgetting i had them on (no problem during my running session) they grip so good and are so puffy and light. Material and built quality is Top Tier and the sound is immersive that makes you feel the music not just hear it. And talking about hearing, this headphones are champion in Noise Cancelation and Awareness mode too. With a single touch you can toggle thru the 3 different modes and i'm telling you they are all good! The connection it's strong and 30ft are more then enough for my need. I had it connected to my phone as well as my Tv and i was able to fast switch between them i taught that was pretty cool. I tried a phone call while outside on a normal walk and the person on the other end was contempt with the quality of the microphone. It is my first pair of OverTheEar headphone that i really like and i can see myself wearing them for a long time to come!

I've had them over a week now and they're good enough for me to come back and give a 5 star review here. I tried the xm4s, couldn't stand how they sounded after many eq attempts, tried the momentum 4s and loved those for music but they proved too uncomfortable to wear long term (the right ear driver jabbed into my right ear) And I tried B&W px7 in store, airpod max in store, bang olefson in store - all those were just kinda meh, in my opinion. I really think i prefer the ultras in every category, they might be the best all around over-the-ear blue tooths you can get right now. They check every box pretty solidly. I do prefer the sound of sennheiser momentums but it's a trade off i can accept, and the bose ultras do sound good too. I don't mean they good enough, I mean they sound actually good. But it's a unique good sound. I've never necessarily been a fan of the bose sound, not that I hated it, but I always considered it only good enough. It's its own vibe, I guess. But these, the ultras, this version of the bose sound, I actually like. I can say for sure these are more enjoyable to listen to than the QC35 II which I've used a ton. And there's the spatial audio, which I think some people are hating on. But I think it's fine and more or less pretty good. It enhances more often than hinders a thing, and it hasn't been my experience that it degrades any thing I've listen to. And I kinda like both of the spatial settings. The one that follows your movement - it's a little different than how apple does it, in that the sound stage still has a bit of float to it versus being glued in place, and in my opinion this creates kind of a positive effect when I'm bobbing my head along or just bouncing a bit walking down the sidewalk. As far as far as battery, ux, nc, weight and comfort...good, good, great, awesome and awesome Any other minor tech quirks i bet will get ironed out down the road, but that said, nothing has really bothered me personally [lastly, i apologize for hating on sony too hard, that was really uncalled for. honestly, if you really like sonys, great! - keep on rockin on]

Outstanding Audio Experience with Unparalleled Comfort - Bose QuietComfort Ultra I recently got my hands on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones in black, and they have truly transformed my listening experience. Here’s why I believe these are a standout choice for anyone seeking top-notch sound quality and comfort. Design and Comfort: Right out of the box, the sleek black design of the QuietComfort Ultra headphones exudes a premium feel. The over-the-ear design is incredibly comfortable, with plush ear cups that provide a snug fit without feeling too tight. I can wear these for hours without any discomfort, thanks to their lightweight build and well-padded headband. Sound Quality: The audio quality is simply phenomenal. Bose has once again delivered rich, balanced sound with a clarity that brings every note to life. Whether I’m listening to classical music, podcasts, or bass-heavy tracks, the QuietComfort Ultra handles everything with remarkable precision. The bass is punchy yet not overwhelming, and the mids and highs are crystal clear, making for an immersive listening experience. Noise Cancelling Performance: The noise-cancelling capabilities of these headphones are unmatched. They effortlessly drown out background noise, whether it's the hum of a busy coffee shop or the drone of airplane engines. The adjustable noise-cancelling feature is a game-changer, allowing me to customize the level of ambient sound I want to let in. This feature is especially useful for staying aware of my surroundings while still enjoying my music. Wireless Convenience and Battery Life: The Bluetooth connectivity is seamless, providing a stable connection without any drops or delays. Pairing the headphones with my devices was quick and hassle-free. The battery life is impressive, offering up to 20 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. Plus, the quick-charge feature gives me an additional 2.5 hours of playback with just a 15-minute charge, which is perfect for those moments when I’m in a hurry. Smart Features and Controls: The touch-sensitive controls on the ear cups are intuitive and responsive, making it easy to adjust volume, skip tracks, or take calls without needing to pull out my phone. The built-in voice assistant support is another convenient feature, allowing for hands-free operation and quick access to my phone’s assistant for various tasks. Conclusion: In summary, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones in black are a top-tier choice for anyone who values exceptional sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and all-day comfort. They are worth every penny and have quickly become my go-to headphones for both travel and daily use. Bose continues to set the bar high in the world of audio equipment, and these headphones are a testament to their commitment to excellence.

This is Bose's current flagship over the ear headphones. I'm reviewing the White Smoke edition. Style and comfort: Very comfortable, can wear these for hours without any discomfort. The headband is very well cushioned, with links that are metal, in a brushed nickel finish. The styling is very much like traditional Bose products, with more refined lines and the metal links giving it a more modern and appealing look. Sound: Like with other Bose products, the sound is very natural and crisp. The large drivers provide a lot of detail and nuance. There is a three-band Eq through the app. In it's basic setting, adjusting the Eq to my liking provides a very enjoyable soundstage. Controls: Everything can be controlled through the Bose app, which is very clean and intuitive. However most of the time I'd be using the controls from the headphones. Bose went back to the drawing board with this and is now much simplified and intuitive. First of all, the headphones automatically play and pause when putting them on or removing them. Then there are only two buttons: The smaller on the bottom is the Bluetooth and power: One press turns the headphones on or off, and holding it goes into pairing mode. Removing the headphones goes into standby after 10 minutes and stays in standby for 24 hours, however I changed it through the app to power off instead of standby. The amount of time is configurable. The other, larger button controls everything else: Click once for play/pause, 2-click for FF and 3-click for REV. Holding it changes the audio modes. For volume control there is a touch-sensitive strip that's clearly marked and can be easily felt. I usually dislike touch controls on headphones but I have to say, this works very well. It's on an indentation on the back side of the right headphone and it's very easy to use. Also, holding this strip instead of swiping enables an optional shortcut that's configurable via the app or disabled. For example, can be used to invoke the phone's assistant. The multi-function button also works for phone calls. Charging is via USB-C and also has a 2.5mm analog audio jack. Audio modes: The hallmark of QuietComfort headphones is the noise cancellation. This works very well. I used it while using a gas lawnmower and the noise became a faint hum and I was able to listen at normal levels. I also very much like the aware mode which amplifies external sounds in a very unobtrusive way, and will also mute very loud sounds. I generally use this around the house or when walking. One of the improvements on these headphones are the immersive audio modes: There are basically two of these: - The still immersive mode maxes up noise cancellation and adds soundstage to the audio. It gives a small echo and some equalization to make it sound more present; it automatically adjusts fade as one moves the head left and right to make the sound feel like coming in front of you. It's interesting and works very well. - The motion immersive mode is similar but for when walking, so the center stage effect is not as pronounced. The Bose Music app is the same app that works for all of their recent Smart Speakers and other Bluetooth devices. Pretty much everything can be customized from the app: Controls, Eq, sound modes, and Bluetooth connections. The app is very simple to use and very intuitive, with a clean design that obviously Bose put a lot of thought into it. The Bluetooth implementation on Bose headphones is to me among the best: One can rename the headphones, and it allows for multipoint connections: It can pair to two devices at the same time, like a phone, tablet computer or a newer Bose soundbar (which I use and works as intended). The list of paired and connected devices can be controlled from the app. It's very easy to remove a device from the app itself. Great if lending the headphones and don't want to reset them afterwards. One doesn't have to mess with combinations of clicks on the Bluetooth buttons as everything is logically organized in the app. Phone calls work very well as expected, and the headphones announce the calling number on top of the phone's ring tone and calling name. The mics on the headphone work well as expected. Some specs: Up to 24 hours battery, BT 5.3 with LE, and Bose now uses Qualcomm chips so it also supports APT-X. It also comes with a color-matching semi-rigid case, as well as color-matching USB-C to USB and 3.5mm audio cable. The earcups are replaceable. The case is minimalistic and doesn't take a whole lot of space. The headphones fold flat. Overall, excellent, top of the line headphones (with a price to match).