Impactful upgrades to a well-known method

Bose took a distinct strategy with its new merchandise in 2025. As a substitute of fully redesigning  its QuietComfort Ultra lineup, the corporate unveiled upgraded second-generation fashions of the flagship-level earbuds and headphones. Just like the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds that debuted earlier this 12 months, the brand new Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones ($449) don’t provide a complete overhaul. Nevertheless, the adjustments present sufficient efficiency enhancements to additional cement these as the best noise-canceling headphones you can purchase proper now. Belief me, we’re significantly better off with this revamped model than we might be with a 12 months (or longer) look ahead to one thing model new with the 2023 mannequin.

What’s new on the QuietComfort Extremely Headphones?

Bose debuted a couple of new options on the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds in August that it carried over to those new headphones. First, the corporate improved its already stellar lively noise cancelation (ANC) with tweaks to its ActiveSense know-how. Particularly, the system can reply to sudden spikes in environmental noise by adapting extra exactly. It’s not one thing you’ll discover on a regular basis, however whenever you want it, you’ll be glad it is there. In any other case, the superb ANC efficiency right here is simply as efficient because it was on the earlier mannequin. Extra on that in a bit.

The immersive Cinema Mode that Bose added to the QC Extremely Earbuds can be out there on these headphones. It’s a sound profile that enhances dialogue readability whereas preserving the remainder of the soundstage as broad and enveloping as potential. I prefer it greatest for motion pictures and TV, because the identify suggests, however per Bose’s suggestion I additionally tried it with podcasts and audiobooks. Cinema Mode might be overkill for these varieties of content material, until you’re listening to reveals or titles with a number of background results.

One of many greatest adjustments on the second-gen QC Extremely Headphones is how Bose determined to deal with energy administration. Most significantly, the corporate prolonged battery life in all use circumstances. With ANC on (and Immersive Audio off), you’ll stand up to 30 hours of listening time. Flip off ANC and that jumps to 45 hours. Once you resolve to allow each ANC and Bose’s spatial Immersive Audio, you’ll be able to anticipate as much as 23 hours on a cost. In comparison with these on the first-generation mannequin, all of those numbers are up by at the least 5 hours, which is a major increase.

Just like the earlier QC Extremely Headphones, this mannequin has an automated disconnection characteristic after 10 minutes of standby . However the firm went a step additional on this model by including a low-power mode that the headphones enter after half-hour of idle time. And if you wish to disconnect them rapidly, you’ll be able to rotate the earcups and lay them on a flat floor. That’ll make them go right into a deeper standby mode that Bose says can run “for months.” All of this implies you’ll be able to successfully flip the brand new QuietComfort Extremely Headphones on and off by placing them on and taking them off. Should you’re utilizing them repeatedly, you’ll by no means must press the ability button.

Sound-wise, the massive improve on these headphones is the addition of lossless audio over USB-C. Like the AirPods Max, this mannequin might be linked with a cable to your cellphone, pill, laptop computer or desktop to stream or play higher-quality tunes from suitable companies or your library. Bose says you’ll be able to anticipate 16-bit 44.1kHz or 48kHz audio relying in your supply. It’s yet one more nice-to-have characteristic that’s changing into commonplace fare on premium wi-fi headphones.

What else is nice concerning the QuietComfort Extremely Headphones?

Like most Bose over-ear headphones, the second-gen QuietComfort Extremely Headphones are supremely snug. Even for lengthy durations of time, they by no means grow to be a burden, and that’s thanks largely to the tender, pillowy ear pads. I may simply put on these for a whole trans-Atlantic flight with minimal discomfort and I’ve been carrying them for complete workdays at residence.

As I already talked about, the ANC efficiency right here remains to be top-tier. In truth, these QC Extremely Headphones will quickly exchange the first-gen mannequin on our best noise-canceling headphones checklist. Each the Immersion (ANC + spatial audio) and Quiet (simply ANC) modes present strong noise blocking that surpasses these by Sony, Sennheiser and others. Should you’re making your shopping for resolution based mostly solely on ANC efficiency, that is the best choice. You’ll take pleasure in aid from fixed ambient noise sources like followers and sound machines, plus the QC Extremely Headphones do a good job with human voices. Heck, I couldn’t even hear my canine barking on the imminent risk from falling leaves outdoors.

Lastly, Bose’s tackle spatial audio remains to be fairly good. The corporate calls it Immersive Audio and the characteristic doesn’t depend on specialised content material like different headphones. Music sounds clearly fuller and barely louder when the sound profile is lively due to Bose’s technique for upscaling stereo content material. There’s additionally enhanced vocal readability and parts like percussion and synths are much less compressed than ordinary. The headphones lend a very ethereal really feel to the tracks of Ruston Kelly’s Pale, By the Window, an acoustic-driven assortment of soulful, country-tinged tunes. His vocals float atop enveloping acoustic guitars and tight, punchy drums.

What’s not so good concerning the QC Extremely Headphones?

The largest challenge with the second-gen QuietComfort Extremely Headphones is the worth. To be clear, the likes of Sony, Apple and others cost across the identical quantity for his or her top-of-the-line fashions, however $449 remains to be a major funding. If that’s too steep for you, Bose has the extremely succesful QuietComfort Headphones in its arsenal for a barely extra palatable $359.

My different gripe is that the one actual design change Bose made for the up to date QC Extremely Headphones is that the steel headband yokes now have a gloss end. Relying in your private choice, this may be a dealbreaker for you. It’s least noticeable on the black and violet colorways, since these have a tone-on-tone look. After a couple of weeks with the bronze and tan Driftwood Sand hue, I’m not a fan of the extra stylized aesthetic. It’s flashy, for positive, but it surely’s a tweak I may’ve performed with out.

Wrap-up

Just like the second-gen QC Extremely Earbuds over the summer time, Bose didn’t make big upgrades for the up to date model of the QC Extremely Headphones. However what you do get here’s a first rate enchancment over its predecessor. The corporate devised an intuitive setup for energy administration and even addressed one in all my most important gripes with the unique by including help for lossless audio over USB-C. Plus, the prolonged battery life is important in all sound modes, and never simply by an hour or two right here or there. To prime all of it off, the QuietComfort Extremely Headphones stay the best choice for pure noise-blocking skill, and that’s not more likely to change any time quickly.