But the brand-new QuietComfort Earbuds II raised the bar significantly. Simply said, they provide incredibly good noise cancellation for both strong low-frequency sounds and higher-frequency noise. Anyone who enjoys deep bass and clear highs should enjoy the Bose audio signature, which is still expertly crafted. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II easily earn our Editors’ Choice award for providing the best in-ear noise cancellation we’ve ever experienced. We award products for being the best at what they do. You might have missed it, but Bose’s new QuietComfort Earbuds 2 were unveiled on the same day as the AirPods Pro 2 and iPhone 14 by Apple, and they quickly fell to the wayside. The release of any new Apple products, especially those that are hotly anticipated like the AirPods Pro 2, is like a black hole that essentially absorbs all other news in that week’s tech solar system. However, now that we have the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, or QC Earbuds 2 as they’re more commonly known, we can say that they are unquestionably among the best earbuds of 2022.
Design
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are the successor to the wildly popular (and 5-star) Bose QuietComfort Earbuds that were introduced back in 2020. And the new pair’s design has undergone a significant transformation. As compared to the original QC Earbuds, they are around a third smaller. However, we’re happy to report that comfort levels haven’t changed—at least not in our opinion. Comparing them to larger competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM4, our review team found them to be more comfortable. The new “stability bands” (which replace the previous rubber wings) provide ample of traction without becoming uncomfortable during extended listening sessions. The new ear tips are also incredibly soft, flexible, and don’t dig in like some competitors. The ear tips and wings of the original QuietComfort Earbuds were all made of one piece and required a little more fiddling to get into position. You can now adjust them separately because they have been divided into two halves. Even though there are only three stability bands (small, medium, and large) and three sizes of ear tips available as standard, we still manage to achieve a perfect fit. The design has been expertly updated and refined by Bose into a more covert package. Not certain if the fit is ideal? From the Bose Music app, you can perform an ear tip fit test that will inform you if your seals have been compromised. The new QuietComfort Earbuds are not only smaller than the originals, but they also have a more distinctive stem that houses touch controls. They take some getting used to, especially when it comes to swiping up and down to adjust the volume, according to our research. We only succeeded in tapping them to silence the music on our first few attempts. However, we found that things appeared to be more reliable after honing our method to include brushing the tiny ridge at the top of the stem. Basic controls typically require a combination of single, double, and triple taps, as well as the tap and hold action necessary to cycle through your shortcuts, whether they are various noise-cancelling modes or the voice assistant on your smartphone.
Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds 2 review: Comfort
A new package of alternative-sized ear tips makes it easier to find the right fit for ears of different sizes. The stabilizers fit perfectly inside of our ears, however the new tips found it difficult to keep a strong grip on the canals. Bose’s Eartip Fit Test offered precise input and helped to improve the fit. The’stem’ of the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 should be worn vertically like the AirPods, according to advertisements. Contrary to what the companion app claims, the buds must be rotated back so that they face your mouth. We beg to differ; this is supposed to act as a “comfort seal.” The suggested method not only became looser fitting, but we could also feel the cavity rubbing up against the concha. After about two hours of use, people with high pain thresholds might experience some discomfort.
Connectivity
The included Bluetooth 5.3 technology allows for faster wireless performance, immediate connecting with previously linked devices, and an increase in range of up to 100 feet. Because the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 did pair to two of our devices simultaneously, we briefly believed they supported multipoint technology. When our secondary device’s connection failed a minute later, that dream was short-lived. These buds remember the last seven devices they were paired with, if that’s any solace. One-tap Google Fast Pair wasn’t included, which disappointed us. also you will read our article on Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds 2 review.
Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds 2 review: Noise cancelling
True wireless noise-cancelling technology, currently the best on the market, just got better. For more effective ANC, CustomTune emits a tone that is used to map the shapes of your ear canal. The QuietComfort Earbuds 2’s noise-cancelling filters are then “custom tuned” by an algorithm, which improves cancellation of midrange tones. When surrounded by chatty family members, we immediately noticed a decline in vocal presence. Additionally, Bose improved ANC to offer users a more customized noise-cancelling experience. The two default settings are Quiet (acoustic noise cancellation) and Aware (also known as transparency mode), but you may also select 2 of 10 custom modes that you can store to your profile. We were able to hear track details more clearly while blocking off low and mid-range sounds with quiet. We had more control over the 10 ANC levels thanks to the custom settings; keeping the level at maximum handled high frequencies better. Our ears estimated Quiet to be at a level 8 or 9 rather than the level 10 that Bose claims it to be, which is still fantastic. Our settings were adjusted to the environment, completely muting our toddler during work hours, eliminating the majority of outdoor distractions, and minimizing wind presence.
Audio performance
If Bose had increased the cost, the noise-cancelling, but not the music quality, we would be displeased. Fortunately, the good news keeps coming. The earphones give all you’d anticipate from a pair of pricey wireless earbuds and exude sophistication and refinement. They are perfectly balanced and don’t overpower the music with their personality. You can simply put them in, hit play on your preferred songs, and let them take care of playing the music. You’re not conscious of them, exactly like with the fit. Nothing about their performance stands out, neither the highs nor the lows sound brash, bright, or leaden. Eminem’s Stan from the early 2000s serves as the foundation of our testing. Even the first few seconds of background rain serve as a perfect example of how well the Bose handles minor nuance and texture. The rain sounds realistic and contributes to setting the scene and providing a platform for Eminem’s expressive (and a little unsettling) vocals. The bassline’s deep, dynamic quality blends seamlessly with the strings’ immaculate clarity and the track’s dramatic conclusion. The song’s deliberate, sluggish rhythm is easily plotted by the earbuds. When we change to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, the Bose earbuds perform vivaciously. As they move the track forward, the strings are painted with an astonishing amount of detail. Because to the Bose’s ability to bring textures and fine details to life, you nearly feel like you can reach out and touch the instruments. Along with the dynamic powers of the earphones, there is also outstanding speed and agility on exhibit, which just results in a dramatic and enthralling performance.
Call performance
All earbuds should be suitable for indoor calling, and the Bose are excellent in peaceful settings. But as you step outside, everything change. Any sort of headphone’s Achilles heel will always be wind and traffic, but the QuietComfort II has it worse. Although the wind detection system works tremendously hard to switch between mics based on the ambient noise, it ends up annoying the caller on the other end. The mid-to-high frequency range is filled with a whooshing sound that is triggered by even the smallest breeze. Someone turned on their car alarm a few hundred feet away as we were on the phone with another Review writer, and the sound of the beep completely distracted him and cut off the conversation.
Battery and charging
Bose hasn’t historically placed a lot of attention on battery life. The company’s flagship Noise Cancelling 700 Headphones only have a 20-hour battery life, placing them alongside the AirPods Max near the bottom of the headphone stack. The first generation of QC Earbuds had a maximum battery life of six hours per charge and a total battery life of 18 hours when you count the time spent charging in the charging case. The charging case now holds three full charges rather than two, for a total of 24 hours, which at least moves them into the range of the AirPods Pro in terms of total time. The earbuds themselves haven’t changed (the QCE II still only get up to six hours). Strangely enough, quick-charging them now actually takes longer: whereas on the first-generation, it only took 15 minutes, 20 minutes will give you two extra hours. also you will learn our article on Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds 2 review
Price and availability
The company’s premium wireless earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, come with a price tag to match. They went on sale in September 2022 for £280, $299, or AU$429, as opposed to the originals’ $249, $280, or AU$399 initial price. This places them squarely at the top end of the market, but the price increase is hardly shocking given the state of the world economy right now. Their main competitors are the Sony WF-1000XM4, which debuted in June 2021 and cost £250/$280/AU$450, and the more recent Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, which costs £219/$250/AU$400.
Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds 2 review: Conclusion
Bose has outdone itself as the standard-bearer for noise-cancelling technology with the QuietComfort 2 headphones. And while though the CustomTune ear mapping may sound like marketing speak, if you’re serious about locating the maximum degree of ANC, it hits the spot. Additionally, the earbud’s Aware Mode is easy to activate with just a tap and provides a natural-sounding entry into external sound when you need it, such as while commuting, shopping, or even at home. It also blocks out all that noise you don’t want to hear.
