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CNET
cnet.com › tech › mobile › headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra headphones review: sony has serious competition
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Review: Sony Has Serious Competition - CNET
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose's new flagship QC Ultra Headphones make a very compelling alternative to both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Rating: 9.2/10 ​
Discussions

Bose Quietcomfort Ultra review. Some poor product decisions by Bose.
I ordered a pair and returned them. ANC was great but I felt that the build quality was quite poor, the buttons felt very plasticky and the top of the headband is plastic, instead of being covered in faux leather like the QC35ii. The volume control slider was also a bit fiddly. More on reddit.com
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268
January 11, 2024
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra 2nd Gen Headphones Review, or how I was Converted - PianoClack Forum
Hi everyone, It looks like 2025 is the year for ANC (active noise canceling) headphones. Sony, B&W, Sennheiser and Bose all have new products introduce... More on pianoclack.com
🌐 pianoclack.com
November 5, 2025
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Review : bose
![img](1nxww102tavb1) Hey guys! I'm pretty new to reddit in terms of posting but I wanna start doing so because I am that friend in the group... More on old.reddit.com
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Update: bought and tried Bose QC ultra Headphones - review
I do agree that the surround sound ... the apple AirPods Max I think Bose hasn’t done quite as well in that area. It’s still good. ... it doesn’t feel cheap however some of the parts such as the swinging mechanism used to fold the headphones are very loose, this isn’t ... More on reddit.com
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October 12, 2024
People also ask

What is the range of QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have a range of up to 30 ft (9 meters) from the source device. This range may be reduced by physical obstructions, such as walls and doors, or by interference from other electronic devices. Pops or a cracking noise may be heard if there’s interference with the Bluetooth connection. If that happens, move away from wireless routers or microwaves and bring your headphones closer to the Bluetooth device.
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bose.com
bose.com › home › headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra headphones
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Bose
How is total noise cancellation in Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones achieved?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones utilize both active and passive noise reduction technologies. They use a sophisticated proprietary electronics approach for active noise reduction, placing microphones both inside and outside the earcups. The electronics system senses the sound in almost any environment and then measures, compares, and reacts — instant by instant — to produce an opposing cancellation signal. Meanwhile, passive noise reduction is achieved by the combination of earcup fit, design, and clamping force of the headband.
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bose.com
bose.com › home › headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra headphones
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Bose
How do I charge QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
The headphones can be charged using the USB-C cable supplied in the box and plugging into a USB port on a PC, laptop, or wall charger. Allow up to 2 hours for the headphones to fully charge. The battery light indicator will show an amber light while the headphones are charging and turn green when fully charged. When you don’t have time for a full charge, the fast-charge feature provides up to 3 hours of play time from a quick, 15-minute charge.
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bose.com
bose.com › home › headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra headphones
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Bose
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SoundGuys
soundguys.com › home › earbuds & headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra headphones review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review - SoundGuys
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
After a few years without a new model, we welcome the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to the fold: but are they top contenders? Bose's new top-of-the-line headphones are a welcome upgrade over past models.
Rating: 8.2/10 ​
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The Guardian
theguardian.com › technology › 2023 › nov › 06 › bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-review-supreme-comfort-and-noise-cancelling
Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones review: supreme comfort and noise cancelling | Headphones | The Guardian
November 6, 2023 - With it off for regular stereo the QC Ultra are Bose’s best-sounding headphones yet, with punchy and detailed audio across the spectrum with a slight emphasis on bass. They still have the firm’s rather clinical sound, which some may not ...
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TechGearLab
techgearlab.com › audio › headphone reviews
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Review | Tested
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
World-class noise cancellation meets superb sound quality, all packaged in a design so comfy, you can wear them all day and then some. The Bose...
Rating: 4.7 ​
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/bose › bose quietcomfort ultra review. some poor product decisions by bose.
r/bose on Reddit: Bose Quietcomfort Ultra review. Some poor product decisions by Bose.
January 11, 2024 -

I'm eager to give this feedback to both, other potential buyers as well as Bose, who I believe can greatly improve this product by just a few tweaks.

I bought the Ultra Headphones as an update for my previous QC45, I've also used 700's for some time ago, borrowed them from a friend to compare to my QC's. So I can talk about how these compare to all other latest Bose Headphones.

I was very excited about new immersive sound, better aptX codec, updated design and other features. Anticipation of all those improvements felt like a fair reason for increased price, but as a result the product lack a lot of important things. I will divide my feedback to a few categories:

  • Sound Quality
    Overall it is great, comparable with the rest of top consumer-grade Bose earphones. However, Bose advertised support for aptX codec, which is, if fact, doesn't work with most phones, because QC Ultra support only aptX Adaptive version which needs to be also supported by your other device. aptX issue is a result of a bad communication about a product. Immersive mode is nice, but at the end of the day, I almost don't use it.

  • Comfort
    While the general comfort is stunning, headphones are light, soft, greatly built, but there's a but. It is heavily compomised by a bad controls. I've described all of that below.

  • Durability
    Seems good, the only thing I personally don't like is a coating of a black headphones, it collects fingerprints and skin oils as crazy.

  • Ease of use
    This is a massive downside in my opinion because of a few things:
    Bose did not include a conversation mode from 700's which is insanely useful feature for a noise-cancelling headphones. I thought it would be available as a new "shortcut" action, but it is completely missing. Massive fail, I hope so much they will bring it back in an update.
    All controls are on one right earcup, would be much more usable to have at least one of them on the other cup, better for usability.
    Cost-cutting completely defeat usability, just one button for most controls, play/pause/next/previous by short presses, switching between modes by long press. Combine this with the absense of a conversation mode and as a result it is easier to just take them off completely every time you need to hear something.
    The last massive issue with Ultra's for me is that smooth sliding headband combined wit ha new case. New case for Ultra's have a dedicated concave place for each earcup. In order to put them back into case you need to push the adjustable headband into a fully retracted (closed) position. Otherwise they won't fit. And so every time you get them from the box, literally, you have to adjust them again by smooth sliding, because they don't have that clicky steps of different positions (like QC45 had) that you can rely on.
    I ended up marking my perfect fit with a black permanent marker on both sides of a headband. Disgusting thing which I'm getting reminded at least twice a day when I pack and unpack my headphones.

  • Appearance, Noise Cancellation and Voice Pickup are just fine, everything is just as I expected.

Conclusion.

These could easily have beed the best Bose headphones so far, real "ultra" headphones, but they just don't because of a few very strange product decisions that Bose made. Some of which can be easily fixed with a firmware update, some of them can't.

P.S. I've also posted this review to Bose website, but hopefully by also posting it here we can kick-in some conversation and rise Bose awareness about some issues.

Wondering what other issues I've missed.

Top answer
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I ordered a pair and returned them. ANC was great but I felt that the build quality was quite poor, the buttons felt very plasticky and the top of the headband is plastic, instead of being covered in faux leather like the QC35ii. The volume control slider was also a bit fiddly.
2 of 3
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I got the 60th anniversary version of the QC Ultra comforts. Absolutely in love. Don't see any of the issues presented whatsoever except that aptX codec is not available on iPhones. If you look up aptX codec and compare the quality improvements - its extremely small. And if you're in a profession or hobbyist that needs that marginal difference then you wouldn't be connecting it to an iPhone in the first place. Controls, all on one ear is totally subjective preference. For me personally I find that to be even better than having both ears have buttons because now I can just grab any part any time of my left ear to grab/hold/move/etc. my headphones without worrying about hitting a button or changing any settings. The case is amazing, yes it has indents for ear cups and requires you to slim down the headband if its too extended, this however ensures that its locked in and proper for travel especially flights which I have to make frequently for work. And the noise cancelling is very good especially on the plane haha. And I don't understand where there's any issue or even need to perfectly mark where to set the headband, just put it on your damn head it'll expand as much as it needs to fit automatically and that's why I love the headband slider instead of the traditional 'clicky' ones because the clicks usually falls JUST between where I actually need it to be for it to be perfect. These headphones, I take out of the case, I put it on my ears, it AUTOMATICALLY powers on, Instantly connects bluetooth, and off I go. I literally just put them on. And it works. Sound quality is great. Comfort is great. And the volume slider is quite responsive I tested it thoroughly just after reading this review. Appearance of mine is beautiful, highly recommend this pearly white 60th anniversary version, no difference whatsoever just appearance. Take reviews with a grain of salt, objectively speaking these are great headphones and the issues listed are mostly subjective opinion/preferences unique to every user. You can't make a one size fits all without pissing someone off. Bose went for a specific product design for a more specific set of users, and for me they nailed that. For OP, well, he sounds disappointed.
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WIRED
wired.com › review › bose-quietcomfort-ultra
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review: Killer Noise-Canceling That Costs | WIRED
October 31, 2023 - It might feel like more of the same, but nonetheless it's impressive to hear Bose continually one-up itself, planting its flag once again atop Mute Mountain with the QuietComfort Ultra. There’s more to the Ultra than just killer noise canceling, including a posh new design, delicate yet powerful sound, and Bose’s much-hyped new spatial audio system, which is likely to draw both detractors and defenders like most competing systems. Unfortunately, also like the competition, the Ultra follow a trend of premium headphone cost creep started by Apple's AirPods Max (8/10, WIRED Recommends).
Find elsewhere
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RecordingNow
recordingnow.com › blog › bose-quietcomfort-ultra-review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review: WORTH IT in 2025?
June 3, 2025 - Compared to its peers from Apple, Sony, and Sennheiser, I would personally choose the QuietComfort Ultra over any of those at the time of this writing, and I’m daily-ing them as we speak. This one really shocked me. Admittedly, I was never “wowed” by Bose headphones when it came to sound, but after applying some EQ to these bad boys, I think these are in another tier. Still, the competition is as stiff as ever these days, so it’s worth checking out my other reviews if you are interested in any of the models mentioned in this article.
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Bose
bose.com › home › headphones › bose quietcomfort ultra headphones
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Bose
2 weeks ago - Quiet Mode engages full noise cancellation so you can focus. Aware Mode feels as if you aren’t wearing headphones at all. ... Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is rated 4.5 out of 5 by 930.
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Techaeris
techaeris.com › home › bose quietcomfort ultra review: still the king of noise-cancelling
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review - Still King Of ANC
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Overall, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones retain king of the hill in terms of noise-cancelling. I actually will be reaching for these on all my upcoming flights because of the ANC and improved sound. They probably won’t be my go-to while at home, but for travel, these are difficult to beat. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are an excellent Christmas gift for that traveler in your family. At the time of this review... It has been a good number of years since I've used a pair of Bose headphones. I remember liking the pair I used a lot, the noise-cancelling was off the chart. Now, I finally have
Rating: 9.4/10 ​
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Tom's Guide
tomsguide.com › audio
I've used the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for 6 months — here's what I like and don't like | Tom's Guide
May 9, 2025 - It remains on, like a constant reminder that the battery life could be better, but Bose locked you into mediocre longevity. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. ... There’s one thing I’ll never lament for whenever I slip the QuietComfort Ultra headphones over my head — and that’s their effortless, all-day fit.
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Amazon
amazon.com › Bose-QuietComfort-Wireless-Cancelling-Headphones › dp › B0CCZ1L489
Amazon.com: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling with Mic, Up to 24 Hours of Playtime, Black : Electronics
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones take everything music makes you feel to new highs. The high-end headphones start with world-class noise cancellation that’s quieter than its predecessors. Breakthrough spatial audio headphones allow your music to feel more immersive than ever before.
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Head-Fi.org
head-fi.org › home › forums › equipment forums › portable headphones, earphones and in-ear monitors
New Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Oct 2023) Impressions Thread | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
October 24, 2023 - One thing is that isn't so drastic or artificial like some comments and reviews I seeing, but is VERY clearly audible and making difference in sound in, generally, very good ways. My surprise is that Bose isn't doing really a gimmick here but doing proper research. BIG surprise. 4. The design is excellent, very similar to QC35 and having combination too with the NC700 design, so we getting a new headphone with very nice appearance AND excellent comfort...and isn't a heavy headphone at all.
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The Guardian
theguardian.com › technology › 2025 › oct › 14 › bose-quietcomfort-ultra-2-review-the-most-comfortable-noise-cancelling-headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 review: the most comfortable noise cancelling headphones | Headphones | The Guardian
October 14, 2025 - The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are a quality set of cans that deliver more of what the firm is known for: good sound, great noise cancelling and supreme comfort.
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Tom's Guide
tomsguide.com › audio › headphones › over-ear headphones
I ditched my Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for no headphones — and I've never felt better | Tom's Guide
November 13, 2025 - But the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 look at me with a sultry gaze, tempting me back to the noise-canceling fold. But I stand firm, my inhuman will to hear the outside world stronger than the quiet comfort of Bose's headphones. I will resist.
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RTINGS
rtings.com › home › headphones › reviews › bose › quietcomfort ultra headphones (2nd gen)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Review - RTINGS.com
October 30, 2025 - The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the 2025 follow-up to the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless from 2023. Rather than reinve...
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PianoClack
pianoclack.com › general › talk › audio
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra 2nd Gen Headphones Review, or how I was Converted - PianoClack Forum
November 5, 2025 - Hi everyone, It looks like 2025 is the year for ANC (active noise canceling) headphones. Sony, B&W, Sennheiser and Bose all have new products introduce...
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Amazon
amazon.com › Bose-QuietComfort-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling › dp › B0FDKR293G
Amazon.com: Bose New QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen), Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling with Mic, Up to 30 Hours of Play time, Black : Electronics
Awaken your sound with QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). Obsessively engineered with Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones, plus spatialized audio to expand sound, every beat hits harder and every melody takes up more space. Bose Immersive Audio takes what you’re hearing out of your head and places it in front of you for a more natural listening experience.
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Mark Ellis Reviews
markellisreviews.com › home › blog › bose quietcomfort ultra earbuds (2nd gen) review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review - Mark Ellis Reviews
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review
We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies. 90% 90% The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Generation earbuds improve upon their predecessors in some minor ways like multi-point connectivity whilst retaining the core components of industry-leading sound quality ... The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Generation earbuds improve upon their predecessors in some minor ways like multi-point connectivity whilst retaining the core components of industry-leading sound quality and noise cancelling.
Rating: 9/10 ​
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AVForums
avforums.com › home › hi-fi › headphones, earphones & portable music
Discussion of the news: Bose unveils the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | AVForums
September 5, 2025 - Annoyingly, it’s Bose again - 5 Star Bose QuietComfort 35 review - 4.5 Star Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review - 4 Star Bose QC35 wireless headphones: simply unrivalled noise cancelling - 5 Star Bose QuietComfort 25 - 5 Star Home review 5 Star Comparisons to QC15's .... from 2009 ! Like I say, I really hoped we were past all this nonsense. Looking forward to a real review from AV Forums. ... Couldn’t agree more berkeley384! I own a pair of Quietcomfort Ultra mk1 over ears and after eq they are every bit as good as any other bluetooth headphones in the same price range.