Bose QuietComfort 700 Wireless Headphones Review
Bose is renowned for its noise cancelling technology, which can to block out the rumble of airplane engines as well as other sounds. Bose also makes a variety of premium wireless headphones.
The new Bose Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless are slimmer and sleeker design than the QuietComfort buds, and a superior microphone that can take calls. They are also sweat-proof, and come with a charging case.
Active Noise Cancellation
The Bose QuietComfort line is known for its superior noise cancellation, but the company produces a variety of premium headphones and earbuds that do not require or provide it. Its products typically occupy a premium price point and make use of top materials, however, they're also light, sweat-resistant and comfortable enough to last for long listening sessions.
The flagship 700s are a fantastic example of this. They come with an upgraded eight-microphone system (six for cancelling sound, two for picking up voices) and 11 custom ANC modes that allow you to listen to the world, or block it completely. They also have a "Conversation Mode" button that lets you temporarily pause your music in order to make a call or make a quick announcement.
Bose TruSleeve is another excellent feature. It's a removable ear cover that wraps around your neck and sits over your upper ear to cut down on noise when you're out and about. It's available for all QuietComfort models and can be adapted through the app to suit your ears and lifestyle.
Compared with our top choice the Sony WH-1000XM5, the 700s offer a better quality microphones for phone calls. This makes them a good option for those who make calls frequently and want to be heard clearly moving around.
The headphones can be connected to your mobile device via Bluetooth 4.2, and Bose’s proprietary A2DP protocol. They are compatible with aptX Adaptive, aptX HD and are perfect for audiophiles with devices that support the higher-quality wireless codes. Bose comes with a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable for wired listening. They're also optimized for Google Assistant and Alexa. The headphones have a battery life of up to 20 hours, and a USB-C charging port on the right earcup.
Sound Quality
Bose has earned a name for its noise cancellation, which effectively shuts out the engine noise of aircraft engines or office chatter. However, the brand also offers headphones and earbuds that have good sound quality as well. All models are compatible with Bose Connect (older models). They offer a variety of options that include audio settings including battery monitoring, adjustable controls and listening modes. They're also platform-neutral and work with Apple, Android and Windows devices.
The QuietComfort45 headphones from Bose are Bose's best-sounding wireless over-ear headphones. They utilize Bluetooth 5.1 to allow multi-point pairing, with the USB-C port for charging on the bottom of the cup. They also include the cable that has a 3.5mm plug on the other end for wired listening and feature an ANC button on the left earcup. You can adjust the ANC to three levels through the app, and turn on hear-through modes for ambient noises.
The headphones are lightweight and designed to be worn for long periods of time. They come with soft cushions that feel comfortable on the ears. The sound is dynamic and bright, with well-controlled bass response. The treble doesn't sound as crisp as you'd get from top-rated rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Jabra Elite 85H, however it's punchy enough for most music genres.
They also come with a great microphone for hands-free calling and include a voice assistant which does a good job of distancing your voice from the background noise when answering questions. The Bose Connect and Bose Music apps allow you to adjust the audio settings and alter the EQ. The Bose voice, which informs you about battery status and if you're connected, sounds somewhat robotic, in comparison to the more natural voices found on the Sony and Jabra models.
Comfort
Bose headphones are comfortable, whether they're over-ear or on. The headphones of the company are typically comfortable and don't feel too tight on the head. They also come with a balanced sound profile, making them suitable for a diverse range of genres. If you want to tweak the sound, you'll notice that many Bose headphones include a companion application with a graphic EQ to help you tune your music to your preferences.
The Bose QuietComfort45 wireless over-ear headphones feature a pliable headband, plush earpads, and an earband that is soft and flexible. They are among the most comfortable headphones that we've tested. The headphones are lightweight, sweat-proof and comfortable to wear for long durations of time. The earcups can be swiveled around the plastic stems which extend from the headband. This gives you flexibility and helps ensure they are secure around your ear.
In our tests, the Bose QC45s provided impressive noise cancellation and excellent audio quality. The sound is rich, detailed, and punchy with clear mids and crisp highs. The headphones have a neutral midrange response so voices are reproduced well. The only downside is that they do not support the most recent Bluetooth codecs like aptX Adaptive or LDAC, which allow playback that is lossless.
The Bose Sport Earbuds have a slimmer, more elegant design than the QuietComfort Earbuds that are the company's most popular product. They are ideal for working out and running. They have a five hours of battery life, which is enough to last through most workout sessions. The buds come with an inbuilt microphone and are waterproof. You can control the buds using the remote included or with the companion app. The app allows you to adjust settings for Bose Aware Mode and ANC.
Controls
In contrast to the majority of Bose headphones, the 700s don't have physical controls on their ear cups. There's an electronic touch panel on the right ear cup that can be used to swipe and tap your finger. Tap twice to play/pause, swipe up or down to alter the volume and move forward to skip tracks. A single-tap answers calls, and a double-tap blocks an calls that are incoming.
The headset also lets users to switch between the mode of "aware," which enables some sort of a view of your surroundings. This is a useful feature for anyone who wants to be aware of their surroundings while listening to music or making phone calls.
A motion detector turns off your headphones when you are not using them. It's a nice feature for those who forget to switch off their headphones or get distracted while using the headphones. The Bose Connect App lets you change the Auto-Off feature on your Bose headphones.
The app allows you to modify the features of the headphone s, such as the audio settings, noise cancellation levels, and languages for voice prompts. You can also download updates for your Bose headsets. You might be asked to provide some personal information to enable this however that's normal for this type of application. It's also where you can define your Bluetooth connection preferences, and it has an important battery reading feature that lets you know how much battery is left in your headphones. You can download the free Bose Connect app from your iOS device's App Store or Google Play. The application requires that your smartphone or tablet be connected via Bluetooth. Once connected you'll be able to select a profile, and then locate your headset.
Design
Bose is known for its comfortable headphones, and the majority of their models do an excellent job of keeping the listener's ears insulated against ambient sound. Their sound is usually well-balanced and able to function across genres without much adjustment. The headphones are portable and durable, making them a great option for traveling.
Bose headphones are known for their noise cancellation. The NCH 700s have 10 adjustable levels of noise cancellation, and even at its maximum, it's quite impressive. Their microphones are also stellar, with six of the eight microphones in the headband, helping to separate voices from ambient noise. Two of the microphones function as noise-rejection sensors to help eliminate echo and background hiss when making calls.
Unlike some of their competitors, Bose headphones tend to have a simple design with just a few buttons on the headband. The left cup has an adjustable noise-cancelling feature and the right cup has switches to power/Bluetooth and launch digital assistants. On the right side of the cup, there's a capacitive touchscreen that allows you to play/pause music, change tracks and adjust volume with simple gestures.
Bose headphones are ideal for use on the go. Most models that sit on or over the ear, come with plenty of padding to ensure a comfortable fit. They are also light and portable, making them an excellent option for travel. Bose's wireless headphones do not block out as much background noise as their rivals. This shouldn't be an issue for all, especially since Bose also makes dedicated active noise cancelling earbuds that are designed for exercise (like the QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless). This allows you to monitor your surroundings while enjoying the convenience of your music.