Bose recently launched the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation), the flagship of the brand’s more affordable headphone models.
With a plastic build to save a few euros, the brand did not leave out sound quality, comfort, or noise cancellation in the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones.
What can we find in the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation)?
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The new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) bring a fresh approach to this lineup, as the design has undergone some changes compared to the first model.
These new headphones bring many features that, until now, we only found in the Ultra models.
Here we have Cinema Mode and Spatial Audio, marking the debut in this lineup of the Bose TrueSpatial technology to create a sense of space around the user.
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We now have Lossless Audio via USB-C and it integrates Active Noise Cancellation like a true flagship. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) feature a 6-microphone system with QuietControl technology, which proves essential for eliminating all surrounding noise.
Being made of plastic, they become quite lightweight (230g) and the ear cushions, despite being thinner than those on the Ultra models, maintain full wearing comfort.
The new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) also have all controls handled by physical buttons, even for raising and lowering the volume, which always gives us a dedicated button to control something or change a setting.
The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) are available in Black, White Smoke, and Eucalyptus Green, with prices starting at €399.
Superior audio quality and good noise cancellation
In the sound department, the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) do not disappoint anyone. With good room to sit around the ear, we get a sound experience very similar to the Ultra models, with all tones extremely well balanced.
In this regard, there is only a slight difference in the mids, which end up being a bit less present when compared to the higher-end models.
Furthermore, spatial audio, despite working well, cannot deliver a result quite as good as the Ultra, though it is more than enough to please the vast majority of users because, in fact, if we have nothing to compare it to, it is good spatial audio that Bose managed to pack into these headphones.
In the midst of all this, outside sound is something we might want to keep away from our ears and, as such, ANC comes into action. The 6 microphones work together to reduce all the noise surrounding the user.
Perhaps because the ear cushions are thinner, they end up not having as effective passive sound isolation, which ultimately hinders the ANC and lets some louder or very close noises through.
Battery life up to 24 hours
In terms of battery life, the company promises a total of 24 hours on a single charge with ANC turned on, and the numbers drop to 18 hours if we activate spatial audio.
These are not bad numbers at all, easily lasting for a week of use without any battery issues; however, the advertised figures fall below other competing models within the same price range.
In our case, with sporadic daily use, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) manage to go more than a week without being charged, so we don’t feel there is a major impact on battery life with our type of usage. For those who spend hours a day listening to music, you might notice some difference compared to other models.
To charge the headphones, simply use a USB-C cable, which leaves the device with a full battery in about 3 hours. Fast charging allows for about 2.5 hours of use from a 15-minute charge.
New features meet tradition
With a refreshed design, yet staying true to the lineup they belong to, the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) keep all controls via physical buttons.
The buttons are distributed across both sides of the headphones, and each button has a very firm and pleasant click, showing no sign of inferior build quality.
Overall, the fact that they are made entirely of plastic only prevents them from having a more pleasant and premium finish, because in terms of build quality they maintain good sturdiness that does not seem easy to break at all.
A curious point that did not make its way to the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) was the wear sensor; that is, whenever we take off the headphones, they continue playing whatever we are listening to until we press the button to pause.
Additionally, the Bose app allows you to adjust all settings and modes, as well as customize the equalizer to balance the sound to your liking.
Who are the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) for?
The new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) did not come to compete against the company’s Ultra models, but rather to allow more users to have access to top-tier audio technology without having to invest as much money.
The new headphones offer very good sound quality, with all tones very well balanced and clear, leaving us completely immersed in the sound we play. Having integrated spatial audio now raises the bar a bit higher and gives a sense of space, making it feel like the music is all around us.
Spatial audio causes a slight loss in audio quality, especially in the bass department, which becomes less punchy on every beat in order to create this 360º effect.
The new, sleeker design offers a more modern look which, combined with the plastic construction, makes them quite light and comfortable to use. Of course, we lose a bit of the comfort of the thicker cushions or that nicer touch of the metallic finishes used in the Ultra models, but it is precisely this point that defines who the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) were designed for.
The consumer looking for headphones that deliver superior audio quality, industry-leading noise cancellation, spatial audio, and who doesn’t mind having physical buttons instead of touch-sensitive controls, can find all of this integrated into these devices.
The battery life, which can reach up to 24 hours with ANC turned on, also offers good freedom so that it isn’t just another device to plug in every single day.
Overall, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) deliver the best of Bose in terms of sound and ANC within the limitations of the lineup, compromising practically nothing for the consumer.
The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) are available in Black, White Smoke, and Eucalyptus Green, with prices starting at €399.
- Very good noise cancellation
- Comfortable to wear for long periods
- Lossless audio via USB-C
- Spatial audio available at this price range
- Battery life below other competing models in the same segment
- Spatial audio not as effective as on other models from the same brand
We thank Bose for providing the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Generation) for review.
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