Bose - QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

When you get a working pair, theyre pretty good! Love the bass, really deep, rich and hits you hard. But the treble was also enjoyable for me! I had issues, but their cs was amazing with warranty and eventually returns.  Got the bose qc ultra headphone now!

Big fan of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds https://www.bose.com/p/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds/QCUE-HEADPHONEIN.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BOSE_BR_PLA_US_Catch+All&utm_id=20535762945&utm_term=NA&utm_content=154235567438&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD3l1X1EmuoEc-FYXi0aDMzC3ztbY&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlIG2BhC4ARIsADBgpVRWqoj5NusnRwanNHyI75kciQnOiQeZO-pPKjvzRXGa-UegA9bMPJgaAiSkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

My Bose Ultra QC are great.

Bose QC Ultra for me. Great noise cancellation and sound.

I have owned both the Bose quietcomfort ultra earbuds, and the Sony 1000XM5 earbuds for over a year now. I prefer the Bose over the Sony for work. I pour and finish large slabs as a commercial concrete finisher, and these earbuds allow me to block out the noise from my coworkers, as well as machines. Whether I’m finishing an elevated deck with iron workers a level above me smashing steel, or if I’m tired of listening to my pendejo amigos, I just pop in my quiet-comfort ultras and my day becomes much better

Definitely ANC as others have said. And, if you want the absolute best in ANC earbuds, go with the Bose QC ultra. Anyone telling you otherwise is pretty much lying.

The Bose, at least to me, got better after their most recent update. They sound better to my ears and added multipoint. The ANC is still the best.

I’ve used EX, ultra and Sony. EX sound great for music. There really is no active ANC in them. I sold them because of this, as I needed noise cancellation for use at work. Microphone wasn’t very good either. But if you need them just for music, they’re the best. Bose has best noise cancellation and fit. Latest update brought multipoint connection and to my ear, improved sound. They’re a bit slow to connect to other devices, but they’ve worked fine once they connect. Sound is very good, microphone is best of these 3. Sony are good all around if you get a good seal. I discovered this when I got the Sedna Xlastec (?) tips. I felt I bought new earbuds when I tried them with these. I had no idea the fit was so bad prior to getting them. Noise canceling is very good but not better than Bose. Microphone is worse as well. Music is excellent.

They are good workout/exercise headphones.. They are by no means audiophile monitors but the sound is good.. I've really had no connection issues as some others have claimed... The charging case doesn't have a clear battery level indicator which is ridiculous but The main issue is the damn app... I'm convinced they found the dumbest group of individuals they could find to develop the app... Many things just don't work and it lacks settings too... The active sense switch does nothing it stays on no matter what you do on or off...which is super invasive at times.. The anc kicking on is harder on ur ears than the actual loud sound.. Since the app serves me truthfully 0 purpose I just set up three anc modes set my eq (bass -1 mid 0 treb 0) delete that garbage off my phone and reset my headphones (It saves ur settings)..Basically it was between the sony xm5 or whatever and the bose and the bose had a much better fit and feel imo... All in all...I like them and use them everyday

Yes... But u you have to use the app to set ur modes... Once you do that you can cycle thru them without the app by holding ur finger on the controll pad of the headphones

I have not had any issues w popping while running

I would buy them... I like mine... I use them at the gym and cycling every day...Best comfort and anc out there, much better than the Sony xm5 or whatever imo...and good sound quality... Not audiophile quality by any means but still very good... The main issues I have with them is the people behind running and designing the app have got to be mentally handicapped

Daily-driver buds are all about convenience: something you can throw in a pocket, pop in for calls, gym sessions, or a grocery run, and forget they’re there until you need them. Below are a few models suggestion from my end that tend to rise to the top of tech-forum polls: **1.** **Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)** • Seamless iOS integration, reliable ANC/transparency, and the tiny case make them a no-brainer for iPhone users. • Mic performance is consistently strong for FaceTime or work calls. **2.** **Sony WF-1000XM5** • Class-leading active noise cancellation, customizable EQ, and multipoint Bluetooth. • If you commute on loud trains or value audiophile-grade tuning, these are tough to beat. **3.** **Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro** • Automatic device switching within the Samsung ecosystem, 24-bit audio with supported Galaxy phones, and comfy oval design. • Very pocket-friendly case compared with other premium ANC buds. **4.** **Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds** • The best passive fit + ANC combo on the market; they turn coffee shops into libraries. • Bose’s “Immersive Audio” spatial mode can add a bit of fun for Netflix on the couch. **5.** **Jabra Elite 8 Active** • Rugged IP68 rating and strong ear-lock fit make them ideal gym or outdoor companions. • Jabra’s multi-point lets you jump from laptop to phone without menu diving. **6.** **Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3** • Spacious, hi-fi soundstage and aptX Adaptive codec for Android users. • Case is a little thicker, but battery life compensates. **7.** **Cleer ARC II (open-ear)** • For anyone who dislikes having tips jammed in their ear canal all day, Cleer’s ARC series uses an open-ear “air-conduction” design. You hear your surroundings naturally while still getting surprisingly full mids and highs for music or podcasts. Perfect if you bounce between office chats, street traffic, and quick playlists without wanting total isolation. **Quick decision filter** • iPhone heavy user → AirPods Pro (ease of use) • Loud commute / flights → Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QC Ultra • Android hi-res listener → Sennheiser MTW3 • Rugged workouts → Jabra Elite 8 Active • Need situational awareness → Cleer ARC II

Yes, the QC Ultra earbuds have ANC that's close to the QC Ultra headphones. It's because of custom tune, which plays the same startup chime you hear from the Ultra headphones when you turn them on. That startup chime is used to tune the ANC to the shape of your ear canals, which means the buds can do very well at blocking lots of noise. Sony's buds don't have this, so can't do as well.

On a pure ANC level, the Bose ultra buds cancel out the most amount of noise But you should go for the AirPods Pro 2 as they sound better, and have better eco system integration with Apple devices.

Gen 2 Buzzing noise def still exist subtle on the left side when u connect to the device. But it only last for a few seconds then gone.

I got mine a couple of days ago. I love them. The sound is similar to the headset (even tho ppl have said buds are better I'm not super techy so to me they sound similar) but just more stealthy looking (for when I'm at work, lol). the immersion mode is really cool, but I don't really use it. i like the ability to swipe for what mode you are on, but sometimes when I'm adjusting, it'll read it as a swipe and switch, but you also have the option to turn that off, I believe. transparency mode is really good. feels like I don't have the bud in if i pause my video I haven't had any issues with the bose app so far, and I've had the app for a while since I had the qcII headset. call quality is OK. apple has always had a firm grip on call quality when coming from airpods, but my husband said it's still good, and he has no issues hearing me... he just hears my chewing more clearly lol. if you're on facebook reels or tiktok, if you pause for a min and then unpause they do have that slight second delay before you hear the video compared to airpods that are immediate. again nbd but to some that might irk them. they definitely look bulky bud wise, but it's not that bad once in ears. I second everyone who says it's a plane or train must have. the case size is fine, but I'm also not a picky person about size so long as they're not the size of my hand. when I compared to the airpod pro case, yeah, it's bigger than the airpod case, but again, i don't think it's an issue. my one gripe is that they fall out when I eat, but I think that's a skill issue... i haven't tried all variations on the extra tips and wing things they provide with the earbuds and i eventually will.. when i remember to bring them w me. hahaha they do have a case that supports wireless charging for $50 I think on amazon. I don't use wireless charging so it doesn't bug me but if you like wireless that's a solution. I do hate that it's harder to find a cute case for it haha but what can be done when airpods are way more popular I got the moonstone blue on sale, so they're a bit cheaper than retail rn. :) this is probably the most I can think of as of rn but maybe down the road some of my opinions may change :D

i still really like them! I did have to reset it last week because it the case wasn't charging the buds which did piss me off lol but after the reset I haven't had any issues. they still connect immediately and I wear them pretty much until they die and my ears still feel fine!

Bose qc ultra is a mess. 15db bloated bass ruins all instrumentations. Horrible adaptive eq. You try to decrease bass, treble will increase and become unbearable. Xm5 is miles better but got a bit bloated too after the update. Technics are more refined than these two. I dont have the 100s but have the 80s. I am interested more on jbl tour pro 3 bc of the dual drivers.

Finicky. When they work they work great. But the sound is louder slightly in the right ear now I've noticed. Out of warranty too. Shame, out of the box for a good while no issues besides connectivity. Kinda expected more at the premium price point tbh. The case cover is fine though it does feel flimsy, no wireless charging. I have the qc headphones too I love them. They need to do some work on their earbud lineup, esp in the connectivity and software updates.

They are up with the best when they work. Bose is excellent with hardware, needs to invest in the software side of things (Bluetooth connection can have issues, when it does it is tedious to fix).

Best earbuds I’ve ever had

I got the Bose and it feels a bit scary walking around outside with them on.

I'm just trying to say they block a lot of noise and sound in general. I've used many low-mid range ones before and the difference is jarring.

The trouble with multipoint is that it was designed for phone call convenience a long time ago but potentially at the cost of music audio quality today. There can be an issue with the requirement to use a codec in common across all devices while multipoint is in effect. Although not if you’re AAC across the board (with Windows 11 or Windows 10 + 3rd party AAC driver). People would be better off connecting the QCUE’s to a FiiO BT11 (or Creative BT-W6) alone when wishing to listen to music. I wouldn’t compare these two earbuds without doing this (or testing them with a smartphone capable of aptX Lossless). I wonder if your sound quality assessment would change any. aptX Lossless would put back the mid and high frequency content AAC drops. https://preview.redd.it/j05h2coxy4ie1.jpeg?width=2732&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1d07ed61a9ece170b9676ad38e30f9d50882b80

I’m 47. We only lose the ability to hear high frequency sounds starting about 50. You can check your current ability via YouTube and someone has gathered them [here](https://decibelhearing.com/hearing-loss-overview/high-frequency-hearing-loss/). I don’t think there’s a lot happening up at those frequencies in most music. I could hear the 12K but I couldn’t hear the 15K. The frequencies up to 15K that are missing in AAC, often form details of certain instruments and vocals. There’s a myth perpetuation about only a small number of people being able to tell the difference. This is usually based on very small samples, like 500 people, or the results of random YouTubers’ tests, or the words of Apple’s marketing writers. Much of which was said over a decade ago, not considering advancements in drivers today. Neither would form the basis for a scientific fact. It would largely depend on the ability of the headphone/earphone to resolve the detail but also your familiarity with the music. It’s not something you just take random samples and give it a go. It’s songs you’ve known for years. I remember actually picking up on it with the QCUE’s for the first time. It’s a bit like a subtle muffling you get with AAC. Often described as a veil. You don’t know that you’re missing something until you have heard the lossless version on the same equipment. I realised something was wrong and that’s when I discovered Apple Music had glitched and was sending me the AAC version of a song I’d known for most of my life. It is subtle though. The likes of my casual music fan mother, wouldn’t care even if she did detect it. So, for some people, it’s not a big deal. This is where the difference comes in. For someone that loves a particular artist, they’re going to want to dig for that extra detail they never knew was there. It can be rewarding and some even find it moving. It is not placebo and anyone saying that is simply inexperienced pretending they’re not. I’d actually say the placebo is the other way around. When you haven’t heard it, you don’t know that it exists. I was oblivious myself with the original and QCEII’s. To be fair though, the QCUE’s are not the ideal tool for picking out the distinction. It would be better to have a multi-driver IEM or over-ear recognised for being highly resolving. It wasn’t until I got my first IEM’s that this whole other world opened up to me. A lot of it is “ear/brain training” but when you know, you know. There’s no going back.

There are more variables than just the source though. What you describe sounds like an attempt to judge the driver(s) alone. For one thing, you’d expect your”typical consumer” to be using exactly the same codec on both receiving sets of earbuds. You can’t guarantee that. Certainly not without discussion around determining how to ensure that. I know nothing about the OP. I don’t know that they fit into your imagined typical consumer bracket. My post was to ensure the OP knows that there may be even more for them to unlock in these earbuds because Bose has done a weak job on marketing it. I think people should go on their own journeys of discovery and not have the beliefs and insecurities of others thrust upon them. https://preview.redd.it/wwrfniwlioaf1.jpeg?width=2473&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ffd23ab7dfe27074808bfa875d5ddb690b60ce6 I’ve seen the scientific evidence and have experienced it myself. I don’t really care what anyone else thinks. If particular consumers find they can’t tell the difference then so what? What’s the big deal, other than trying to force other people to agree with you? I’m not interested in those particular consumers. They can return the products if they want to. Some however might just experience and recognise something better and it’s a wonderful experience with the music you know and love. You don’t win any prizes for stealing someone’s experiences from them. I actually picked up that my Apple Music had glitched, and was streaming me the lossy version of one of my well known tracks, with 1st Gen QCUE’s. I knew it sounded wrong. When I corrected the glitch, it was like taking a muffle off. Lifting a veil. If I had been younger I would have heard even more high frequency detail restored that had been thrown away in the AAC version. I can’t stand these pathetic YouTubers giving it all blind A/B tests fail… so what!?! Thats not realistic. That’s not how it works. You have to know the music really well in advance. You have to love it. You have to have sifted through its layers, listening for details. Years can go by and i still discover new details in my favourite tracks. If your big generalisation was correct, why would they still be bothering with it??? Why would i bother with my hybrid IEM’s and planar over-ears??? I should just buy the $20 Chinese buds and listen to free Spotify and be done with it by your book.

I’m dying to find out if they used a newer chip. You could be onto something with the AI because of course Qualcomm went all-out on AI for the generations after the QCC5181. Massively increased the compute capabilities. I’d expect it to be the QCC5229 or maybe the (oddly newer) QCC5191. Hopefully someone will invest in a teardown soon. 🤣 It continues to blow my mind that Bose is not exploiting the aptX Lossless capability in its marketing. It’s like they’re determined to stick to this Apple approach of everything not requiring much thought and just working. Maybe they just don’t believe enough consumers will appreciate the difference. Their “rival of sorts” Sennheiser just did a lossless dongle (BTD 700). I’m surprised Bose hasn’t. They should really be bundling one in the box. I’d really hoped to see them use the S7+ and deliver their first Wi-Fi earbuds. It would have been a massive selling point. If they’ve used the QCC5229, you can bet your bottom dollar they won’t have enabled 24-bit 192kHz lossy, just like they didn’t enable 96kHz lossy last time. I also feel that there is way too much emphasis put on phone calls with these. I don’t think you buy Bose QCUE’s to make calls. You buy them to listen to your music at its best… well as best as a single dynamic driver can muster. Buy AirPods if you want to make a call. Buy QCUE’s if your priority is to listen to lossless music without wires in a convenient form factor with ANC. I’ve been upgrading my Bose earbuds with each launch but this is the first where I’m not in a rush to do so. I’ve evolved a lot, in terms of my headphone/earphone knowledge and experience, this decade and I just expect more now. Even from the drivers inside. There’s so much more to hear and you can’t hear it all with these simple, single dynamic drivers. I’m looking to ear hooks now, so that i can get the best of the IEM world and lossless wireless. I’ve had these ones based on the QCC3091 for a year now and the iFi GO pod Max is here for something a bit more upmarket. Unfortunately, iFi has used the QCC5181 instead of something with 24-bit 48kHz lossless capability or Wi-Fi. The QCC5181 just isn’t worth that price today. Ear hooks might seem more cumbersome just now but it’s the only way to go wireless and retain all the detail IEM’s can reproduce. https://preview.redd.it/8zg36rpq8u9f1.jpeg?width=1973&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79453fbd95ae90604747d081b0d0ab616980f757

Everyone has their opinion on the “best” noise canceling headphones. I read reviews from consumers and companies that dive into specific areas. You need an over the ear headphones. Earbuds won’t block external noise coming in through the area around your ears. Kinda like how Shox OpenRun work. They work off of bone conduction. The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra set up is fantastic for noise and great tunes. I use AirPod Pros at work for noise reduction and a few calls running heavy equipment. Like around 100db sort of noise.

Qcultra earbuds, no connectivity issues at all almost a year of usage, after 4.20.0 no drops at all

Nothing ear 2 on daily. Bose qc ultra when traveling

Exactly same here. No issues after update. I use them a lot.

I'm TOTALLY with you. Like, exactly. The left feels fine, the right hurts my ear canal. I've played with changing the tips and still, ouch. I own many earbuds (I've got a bit of a problem) and these hurt the worst. Just this morning I tried changing the tips again because I WANT to love these. But right now, my Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra, Bose Quiet Comfort 2, JBL Tour Pro 3, OnePlus, Sony, Google, Nothing... ALL feel so much better. I'm going to start googling third party tips now, if I find a winner, I'll let you know and I'd appreciate it if you did the same. I really want these to work as they are supposed to be my best "sounding" earbuds.

I own them both and the Samsung Buds 3 Pro as well. Soundwise this is never an upgrade. Samsung is way better. I terms of ANC the Bose are slightly better. If you use the Bose with Aptx adaptive Bluetooth codec the sounds improves a bit. The Samsung are soundwise especially performing well when used with their own devices and Samsungs SBC bluetooth codec enabled. Crinical rated the buds 2 as the best TWS available once.

Wild because I just posted a video about this comparison and Im happy to hear that we had about the same outlook compared to the APP2! Another thing to add is the call quality seems like APP2 beats it there but doesnt seem like QC is THAT bad Great Points!

I wanted to love the Bose QC Ultra earbuds but didn’t. Can’t get a proper fit; couldn’t get the seal to stay on no matter which combo eartip and stabilizer I used. The earbuds also shift in my ears until they fall out. Same thing happened with AirPods Pro but not having a problem with AirPods 4 with ANC. ANC on AirPods 4 is no where near Bose earbuds or AirPods Pro but I guess earbuds with eartips aren’t for me.

The QC Ultra is love to my ears. The noise cancelling is identical to my AirPods Max. Which blows my mind that an ear bud can noise cancel so much.

Yes they’re amazing. My advice, get them and see for yourself. Return if you don’t like. But the noise canceling is the best I’ve heard in a earbud. Like I said, the noise canceling is better than over ears.

APP are neutral mediocre at best. I have all those and more, the Sony XM5 and Bose can sound better if you have a musical ear with some training. Bose Ultra Immersive mode is newbie to sound mode, they sound impressive for pop but do not stand up to critical listening. The Denon Perl Pro is actually the best sounding if you Can get the calibration correct. It’s not for beginners who think APP are the best you can get lol.

I wish something better existed but Bose QC Ultra with comfort tips are absolutely top tier. If it had the same Find My functions and an easier to release mechanism on the case, nobody else would come close.

Have both the Sony and QC Ultra buds, the Sony do not come close to the Bose IRL at anc.

The biggest weakness of the JBL Tour Pro 3 for me was mic isolation. When i would use them to call people, they could hear me fine but they could also hear a pin drop in the room near me. Also, the case is HUGE. Besides those points, they’re great earbuds. I returned them and got the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra True Wireless. Returned those too, same reason — mic isolation. They were also super buggy, random disconnects and not detecting connections. I returned those and got the Sony WF-1000xm5 and I’m keeping these, for now. The music quality is on par with either the JBL and Bose. Noise cancellation is worse than Bose but better than JBL. Mic isolation is the best of the 3. The fit is the worst of the 3 but I got used to it very quickly. All of this is an experiment to see if there’s better earbuds than AirPod Pro 2. So far, the answer is no. I’d keep my AirPods Pro 2 over any of these. I’m probably going to return these Sony at some point and just hold out for AirPod Pro 3 when they come out.

In terms of sound quality and noise cancelling, I agree the Bose QC ultra win over AirPod Pro 2. In terms of EVERYTHING ELSE, the AirPod Pro 2 win. This includes comfort, connectivity, interface, transparency, and most importantly (for me) mic isolation and call quality. If you want to use earbuds for calls, the Bose simply aren’t an option. On 100% of calls I tried to take on those earbuds, the person on the other end said they could hear my surroundings better than they could hear me. Speakerphone was better. The Bose went back to the store.

I’d say good ANC on the xm5, not great. Great is Bose. The xm5 noise cancelling is significantly worse than Bose QC ultra true wireless. But the xm5 is better in almost every other way.

100%, all this was my exact experience. My Bose QC ultra went back to Best Buy for all the reasons you described.

Been using the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds since launch. They are an absolute beast for music / watching stuff. The comfort is unparalleled to anything else I have tried so far. And the sound signature is really really good - a tad towards the low end which is a boon as I listen primarily to electronic music. And they are really really good while working out too - the fit is super snug and they just don't fall off ever - whatever you do. I wish the call quality in noisy environments was better though. It does a great job at cancelling out the low frequencies but the high frequencies including people talking around you filters through. To the folks who have upgraded to the recent versions of the new QC ultra in-ear buds is there a marked difference in call quality? That imo, will make this unbeatable across all functions.

Ahhh this happened to me once (one being dead) and it was so annoying! You summed it up well

The design is actually really good as well as the sound. Ah hard luck if you exchanged 3 sets lol - best for you to stay away from these in that case

Nobody knows what is good for you. You have to listen to them. Also it's useful to look into their measurements curve. I didn't listen to the Denon,Jabras and Nothing Ear. Sony are linear but will not amaze you with details and clarity. Same to Technics. Sennheisers sounds just wrong for me with no lows. Bose are ok but initial tuning is too bassy for me. It's like one just increased the bass with eq. I personally have Devialet Gemini 2. Very linear with slight increase of lows and trebles which is easily compensated. Amazing resolution, imaging, separations you name it. But again, just listen to them. I listened to Nobles, B&W, Bang and Olufsen and they did not suite my needs. But maybe they are for you.

I've been enjoying my quietcomfort ultras. Wear em for my work meetings and music through the day.

QC ii was a disaster but QC ultra is not. OP is asking about QC Ultra. Last update stabilized most of the connection issues. I would not buy them at msrp but often deals come out for these like $200 a pop and they are worth grabbing around that price.

I'm a bass zealot and my top picks would be the Skullcandy Rail (best bang for buck), Bose QuietComfort Ultra w/bass boost mode (serious splurge but worth it), and Devialet Gemini II (if you have fuck-you money).

No issues for me on iphone. Very comfortable and great ANC.

Depends a bit on you, 90% of my gym is power lifting, so they just need to stay in my ears, not a heavy sweater so have some water protection, but also dust for chalk. For those my top 2 are Sony WF1000XM5 and Bose QC Ultra. Samsung buds 3 pro are my favourites, but unless you are die hard in Samsung eco system I wouldnt get those for gym. If you are a sweater, do more olympic movements, cardio, cross training, def get some with wings or some mechanism to keep them in ear. Personally Bose again, stay in for me and great ANC, but boring sounding. Doesnt matter so much as you wont get how perfect sound is in the gym though. I do see some other good suggestions here like the beats ones, but those are just the ones personally I have tried.

QC … but they’re shit build quality.

bose for sure for noise cancellation

I own both the M5 and the QC Ultra. If I can keep the Sony's in place, their ANC are pretty good, but I have issues with them maintaining a seal. Their touch controls are also stupid sensitive. I find the QC Ultra to be more comfortable and seals completely and consistently with little fuss.

My Bose QC ultra started to have noise coming from my right bud..it's on and off thing...kinda irritated by it too..went on to buy myself technic az100 coming tmr ...hopefully they are good..it's a all rounder buds with good ANC

They have perfect sound and ANC quality and the best comfort. There are some infuriating issues like: \- ANC cant be turned off (only on or transparency mode) \- Cant use wired while charging \- Charging while Bluetooth paired does not charge the battery \- 2.5mm jack \- Some pairing issues once in a while I does not ruin the experience but i'm kinda mad because they are really good in the other aspects.

Out of those I like the XM5 best for everything aside from comfort and NC which I'd give to Bose.  There's plenty of other options outside of the big brand names however. Technics and B&W are worth looking at 

My favorite somewhat recent buds have been 1more evo and bose quiet comfort ultras.

In terms of sound and ANC they are fantastic. But for running I prefer the QCE

I think they use the same fin structure. I have the opposite issue, the L is not big enough, so I bought the alternate sizing kit for the Ultra, which comes with XS and XL (XS might help you) and they fit not only the ultra but also the new 2024 (and cheaper) QCE

For ANC I also second Bose QC Ultra. Sound is very subjective …

I just wish they were more reliable. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled them out of the case and one is dead. Or one won't connect. Or the Audio is out of sync so one side plays right before the other. Great sound, but terrible unreliable

Bose quiet comfort Ultra or non Ultra either is good on long haul flights

Has anyone experienced absolutely terrible phone call quality? I’m almost tempted to return them since any time I make a call even in “quiet” environments I am told I sound way to distant or “like I’m in a container” I have tried adjusting the fitment as well as trying out Bose tips for better voice quality but it hasn’t worked well ! Any tips or opinions? Other than that the overall sound quality and sound options. Thank you

I’m also wearing the earbuds to sleep, but the battery life is only 6 hours which always wakes me up very early in the morning, so frustrating

On just noise canceling I’d go Bose or XM5. However my Technics AZ80 with comply foam beat both of those.

The Bose earbuds work better than the headphones for me as my glasses prevent a perfect seal.

Sorry, I just saw this. The AZ80’s with comply foam and ANC on will block more noise and sound better than the XM5’s or Bose.

I have had Qcu for over a year and had a great experience with them .. enthusiastic recommendation

Better than the Bose qc Ultra?

Okay :). I have them and th sound and nc are the best I've ever experienced, but the Bluetooth connection and everything else about them is imo shit, so looking for something new 😇

I have the bose qc ultra. Best sound and noise cancelling imo, but everything else sucks. Connection is shit, app is not very good, and mine broke twice. God new ones for free, but still enoying. Simce the Sony headphones just came out, i expect that the newest sony earbuds eill release soon as wel. Im waiting for those.

Agree completely. The noise cancellation with the Bose QC Ultra simply cannot be beat (within the earpods class). But with the CONSTANT FU\*\*ING connectivity issues with your smartphone, I cannot recommend them. Outstanding performance when it works, but the (very) frequent problems with not working at all renders them a shitty set of pods in my eyes.

I'm interested about the reliability over time and things related to software/firmware bugs. I never had issues with my PBP in terms of sound quality or ANC or transparency quality "in a vacuum," but they always had various bugs like remaining connected after being put in the case, or going into an audio echo state when in cellular voice calls, or in-ear detection occasionally going wonky and causing other issues. But then I ended up getting a pair of bose QC ultras and noticed how much better their ANC and transparency were. I honestly didn't care that much about the difference of either, but it's mostly the fact that I haven't had bugs like I did with the PBP. With google pushing the price of the PBP2 up toward the more-premium price point, I hope they improved their software/firmware QC.

Bose qc ultra are garbage Don't listen to this guy. The app is trash. The mic picks up background noise more than it does your own voice and there's a wind tunnel effect. Totally trash. Specially in Canada, 300+ for garbage

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds are on another level when it comes to sound, noise cancellation and bass that hits. They help me stay laser focused puts me in another world by myself. Some of the best ear buds I have ever encountered. Very great fit for any kinds of music whether it’s rap, rock, electronic, pop, country. Lovely for exercise, work and relaxation from the world. Must own.

The noise cancelation and sound are good but literally every other aspect is horrible and I would highly recommend not buying a pair. They don't fit in the case right I suppose and will randomly get connected to your phone or whatever even after you put them in the case correctly and close cover. They will randomly get loose, even on a table without moving them, reconnect, then be dead when you want to use them, or interrupt the connection your phone has with something else like a speaker or car. Often times they won't start when you place in ear, the fit is finicky and comes loose, touch controls are horrible with no option to turn them off in app, only change what touches do what. I threw out the 300 dollar pair I got 8 months ago just yesterday and am currently shopping for a new pair. I am rage typing just thinking about them so sorry for run on sentences

I use my ultra earbuds in loud mechanical rooms daily and they work great for constant noises (pumps, HVAC etc). They are not good if you’re around impacts or loud hammering though, when I’m using my impact wrench I switch to proper hearing protection.

I had both QC ultra’s and AirPods Pro 2. I returned the QC Ultras as the mic quality was really pure compared to even 100$ earphones. Noise cancellation and sound quality was really good. Also sometimes had connectivity issues too.

I use the QC ultra with my MBP and P9P. Gestures, pause on removal, basically all the features work on both devices. You touch and hold to switch between your sound profiles which obviously works on both.

I own both and I use them for different things. Airpods pro 2 for gym, shopping and watch TV in silent (Apple TV), and the bose qc ultra when I'm on the computer. Love both.

Bose ultra has good bass. Before i had the denon perl pro the bass on that thing was insane the best i’ve ever heard i loved them so much. Unfortunately i send them back because the mids & treble were lacking no matter what i did with eq.

Among the ones you listed here, the Bose will blow you away. However, I recently switched from my Bose QC Ultra to the Nothing Ear 2024—they are better in every way except ANC imo. But staying on topic, I also have the Ultra and M4 over ear headphones and have had way more problems with the M4’s than I have had with both of my Bose headphones+earbuds combined. I haven’t had any connection or hardware issues with my QC Ultra earbuds aside from accidentally poking a hole in one of the dust filters while cleaning it, I think that part is made very fragile. The one thing that is annoying to me are the swipe controls, I am just not a fan. In the gym I will sometimes brush against them with my shoulder and it will pause the music, make a loud thud from impact, or turn up/down the volume. Sound wise, the bass of the Bose absolutely blows away my AirPods Pro’s 2, since getting them about 6 months ago I have not once ever reached for the AP2’s again, they’re just so outclassed by the Bose. My primary music genre is EDM / dubstep though, so I do enjoy a more bass heavy sound.

ANC and working out Bose QC ultra, for everything else I love Nothing Ear

They are the best in the earbud category. I've tried a lot of different ones in the noisy place I work and they are the best I've used so far.

The Bose QC ultras are the best ANC on the market for in ear. Their sound quality definitely isn't adjusted for classical music. The XM5s are about as close as you can get for decent sound plus decent ANC. Everything else is going to be a trade off between ANC and sound quality. If you consider over the ear, you'll have better options.

My headphones died on my last flight, so I've been exploring an in-ear wireless replacement. While I don't consider myself an audiophile, I am very particular... I'm a classical musician and want high-quality sound. I need great ANC since I travel frequently, and long bike rides introduce lots of wind noise. I'd like them to replace my desktop headset for calls if the mic is good enough, and being able to customize the controls is a must. So far here are the ones I've tried: * **Sennheiser MTW4:** Love the sound (one of the best), controls are customizable enough for me, the fit is amazing right out of the box with max isolation. ANC is excellent and wind reduction is amazing (the best). I was riding about 15 mph into a headwind and it sounded like a weather channel reporter in a hurricane. Turned on wind reduction and if not for feeling the wind, I could've been in a concert hall. App is easy, intuitive, simple, and fast. Unfortunately the mic and call quality are atrocious. * **Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2**: Great sound (not the *best*, but very good (although they do *not* support aptX). Controls are customizable enough for me. I feel like the fit would be amazing if they went just a touch further in. Again, if I could get a better fit, I think the ANC is outstanding. The wind reduction isn't as good as the MTW4, but I suspect that's mostly due to poor isolation: I'd welcome recommendations on replacement ear tips. Call/mic quality is the best. The app is a little confusing, and has some neat features. My first pair was defective--constant static in the left earbud. Customer service was phenomenal and I had a new pair with next day shipping for free. * **B&W Pi8:** Overall sound quality is amazing. I'd consider these the best. ANC is on the better end, but leaves quite a bit to be desired with ambient noise. Wind reduction is pathetic, but this isn't marketed for an active lifestyle. The controls are not very customizable, and there's no way to enable/disable ANC without going through the app (which doesn't help me if I'm listening from a laptop). The app is straightforward, though a little bloated, and it took me three attempts to get them paired with my devices. Mic/call quality is very good. Apart from lacking good wind reduction, my chief complaint--and it would have been enough to send it back regardless of everything else--is the obnoxious (and obnoxiously loud) haptic noises when using the controls. I couldn't figure out how to adjust them, so even when listening at low volume to a quiet section of a song, you get acoustically assaulted by a chime. These were sent back, and I'll add their customer service is horrendous and slow. * **Bose QC Ultra:** Outstanding ANC in the low and low/mid range. Doesn't work as well for intermittent sounds or higher frequencies. Fit is so-so even with the wings, sound quality is what you'd expect from Bose: an inauthentic representation of highs and lows to make the illusion of superior sound. I was sufficiently turned off by the fit, sound, and controls that I didn't test anything else. * **Apple AirPods Pro 2:** Quite honestly, I hate white and was reluctant to even try them. I couldn't get these to fit comfortably any which way, so they went back. I'll confess some of this may be personal bias, so don't write them off on my account. My wife uses hers all the time and I know from being on the receiving end the call/mic quality in noisy environments leaves a lot to be desired--even worse than the MTW4. * **Sony WF-1000XM5:** The default sound really (I mean *really*) emphasizes the lows and highs. For classical music lovers, I'd advice against these. The balance of ANC, wind reduction, and controls makes them all-around a good product. Controls are good, but I couldn't get a great fit that truly isolated the sound and made them feel secure. Since everything else was "good" I didn't bother with other tips and sent them back. * **Denon PerL Pro:** Takes a little bit to personalize the sound, at which point they sound pretty good. Not the best, but they pass my tests across multiple genres. Something feels a little "off" with the default frequency response curve, but I don't have the equipment to test it. Fit is great right out of the box. The wings fit in my ears perfectly and they feel the most secure out of them all. App is straightforward, wind reduction is good; not great, but good enough. Controls are the most customizable of them all. Worth noting: you can also customize whether they pause automatically when one or both earbuds are removed. Call quality hasn't been tested yet. Also, and this is a real annoyance: they're really hard to get out of the case. I have to turn it upside down and shake it to release the earbuds, so one-handed use isn't possible. I'm going to hang on to these a while longer--they definitely make the final cut along with the Jabra and MTW4. * **Technics AZ100:** Out of the box, the sound was... weird. There's definitely some heavy bass, but also a really pronounced high end. This was immediately striking me as a turn-off and would be exhausting to listen to all day. The fit was good--it took a little finagling to get them firmly in place, but once I did, I barely knew they were there. App was pretty buggy for me. Despite supporting multipoint connections, I couldn't control the EQ on the earbuds from my phone while listening from my computer. Controls are highly customizable. ANC works on all frequencies (unlike some others which are more effective on certain frequency ranges). but it's effect isn't as dramatic as Bose or Sennheiser. Haven't tested the mic/call quality or wind reduction yet. What other earbuds should I be considering? (Before anyone jumps on it: yes, both my computer and Qobuz are sending via aptX.) ETA: Updated with description of pros/cons of each.

Bose QC is definitely great ANC, and if I wasn’t a classical music buff and flew a lot but didn’t need any of the other features, it would be my pick. But I feel it works best on low frequency white noise, and does do great with higher frequencies or intermittent ambient sound. The XM5 is still in the running, but definitely heavier on the low frequencies.

Bose quietcomfort ultra for stability, anc, and good overall.

Thanks for the review. I have the bose quietcomfort ultra, like anc and fit but bored with the sounds (also sony wf-1000xm4). I guess I would be blown away by the Denon and the bw pi8.

Bose qc ultra maybe. Very secure fit and perfect anc for a shop. Also anker seems to have this. Sennheiser momentum sport or beat sport.

Bose QC Ultra, had the non ultras and they failed, went to sony XM5 and really don't like the fitment

I've got the Bose QC Ultra in both the buds and over ear. I prefer the over ear a million times over but both are the most comfortable I found. I use the over ear for work and basically everything and keep the in ear in my purse for stores and any place where I didn't bring my big ones really.

Sounds really good , anc is amazing but facing lot of connectivity issues , it disconnects very frequently, will be returning back and get Samsung buds 3 pro

Bose qc ultra if you want bass, clarity and ANC. It’s boosted but a fun sound signature

I have both the air pros and the ultras. The ultras are far superior.

I have both the air pros and the ultras. The ultras are far superior.

It's depends on your priorities. Based on my personal (and very recent) experience, paired with an Android phone. Pro and cons: * ANC is absolutely excellent. * the sound quality is impressive (especially bass, extremely deep yet well-defined without any distortion). * Very confortable and easy to put on and stay firmly (your mileage may vary depending of your ears shape) * no feedback sound of touch controls (volume, assistant interaction, play/pause, etc ...). I really hate this. * *"OK Google"* doesn't triggers assistant (you must use a long press on one side and the lack of audio feedback for "assistant listening" is problematic) * case doesn't feel very premium neither solid. * software could be better (especially the widget is terrible) * I havent found a way to get exact battery level of the case. There are only a led showing 3 different colors, and the software shows only values of L&R earphones batteries

A few months ago, I tested out a bunch of noise cancelling earbuds, so here are a few I have experience with: - Jabra Elite 10: to my ears these have the best ANC with the lowest noise floor and they're pretty comfortable, however they fall out relatively easily, but it's not that bad either. Jabra also stopped their earbuds division so it won't get new updates anymore. These are the ones I ended up keeping and using the most. - Airpods Pro 2: great noise cancelling and audio quality imo but bad compability (need to borrow an iPhone to enable ANC off otherwise you can only switch between hearthrough and ANC). I kept these too, but use them less than the Jabras. - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: best for compability with Samsung obviously. However, mine had some sort of whistling/ringing noise with some sounds, like my rubbing against clothing or hair, which I found annoying. ANC was good but not as good at the other two. - Sony WF-1000XM5: great passive noise isolation but very lackluster ANC in my opinion. I really don't get why people are so enthusiastic about it because I could barely hear any difference between ANC on or off. They did fit great in my ears though, and it seems like a lot of people do think the noise cancelling is great, so it might still be worth a try. - Bose QC Ultra: personally I returned these immediately because they have an awful noise floor; unless you're in a pretty loud envirenment you constantly hear white noise and can't even turn off ANC. Idk about the ANC itself anymore because this issue bothered me so much.

For ear cans, I like the Bose QC 35s. I have the Ultra headphones as well, but the 35s are more comfortable, and I like having buttons. For buds, I got the Bose QC Ultras. All of them block sound really well and have good sound quality. I buy white ones so everyone can see I'm vibing.

Far better ,it's has one of the best ANC in the market.

Mine are working fantastically; no issues. They're working great until now. I personally find a slight sound difference between the Buds 3 Pro and 2 Pro, so I went with Bose instead.

Lol, I went to listen to the Buds 3 Pro, WH-1000XM5, and Bose. Let me tell you — Bose may not have the best soundstage in the market, but the sound quality is far, far better than the Buds 3 Pro and 2 Pro. One thing I liked about the Buds 2 Pro is that the instrument separation is very good.

Yeah, definitely. The Buds 3 Pro are good, and I was about to buy them, but I thought I'd try Bose and Sony. I really liked the Bose sound, so I went with them.

Ahh, so my Bose do not act ugly atleast for now, for that, I made sure to buy form Bose store only and with this year manufacturing unit only, so I got mine manufactured in March, so far they are working great, also the replacement policy of Bose is best, they easy provides you with new pair sometime even if they are out of warranty for free

Yeah, the call quality is bad, but my sole purpose was sound quality and ANC. And yes, many people do face connectivity issues that's why I made sure to buy the latest manufacturing unit. I also saw people commenting that the latest software update has solved many issues, and now they rarely face any problems.

Initially, I planned to get the Buds 3 Pro only, until I tried Sony and Bose. Then I decided ditched the Buds 3 Pro and chose between Sony and Bose. I ended up getting Bose; compared to the Buds 3 Pro, there is a definite sound difference, and I can feel it. Plus, Bose's ANC is king, without a doubt.

I personally found bose sound to be way batter

not good, they are solely for good music experience and ANC

No doubt about it buds 2 pro is one of the best earbuds, instrument separation is great everything is great, but bass is decent, but I dont remember the firmware update, just stick to that, after that update has made buds 2 pro shit, so i downgraded my buds 2 pro to that firmware.. so for now it they sounds great

Don't know why, but personally I found Bose to be far better than the buss 3 Pro. I was initially convinced to get the buds 3 pro, but giving Bose a try changed my mind.

I had to send my first pair of QC Ultra earbuds back because of some charging issues and received a new pair. This new pair, I've messed around with the settings and found i can reduce the noise reduction to eliminate the wind noise and other nuances. Mess with the ANC. I wish they had the turn off function like the 700's.

The Bose ANC is awful compared to Sony. I own both QC ultra and XM5 and work in a very high noise environment and the XM5s make the QC ultras look like a pair of $40 earbuds 

The Ultras ANC is literally garbage. Idk where you use these buds but must be in a quiet environment. Take them out in an environment with constant noise and pitch changes. You’ll be begging for the XM5s. Sony literally destroyed Bose on all aspects but most people use ANC in quiet environments. I work in a very high noise environment and my XM5s are the best at blocking all levels of noise. The Bose are best at blocking low frequencies but can’t handle frequent changes while the Sonys hold a more constant and more solid ANC

Only part I agree on is the ultras suck. But Sony takes the cake in literally aspect over Bose. I own the QC2s, QC ultras and the xm5s and the xm5s make Bose look like a child’s earbud for $10

I have both the Pixel Buds Pro (original) and the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra. The Google ones are "smarter", but have poorer ANC and are definitely not loud/immersive enough. I use them while walking on the street, at coffee shops etc . Casual use because they are smart enough to allow external noise to filter in when required (say, a car honking!) The Bose are what I use when I'm travelling, or for important calls or when I just want to enjoy the music. The sound quality is definitely superior to the Google ones. I had the earlier Sony 1000-XM4.. they died and I replaced them with the Bose. Equivalent in most respects.

Bose has the best ANC. But if u want the overall best I say Jabra or Sennheiser. They are all top tier when it comes to ANC. The difference is pretty small between them.

Personally I would not care about the codecs, they still sound better than Bose, Airpods and XM5. When it comes to ANC they are not that far behind, and they lack the white noise you get from the Bose.

I'm using the Bose QC ultra earbuds. They are great, ANC works well enough that they replaced over the ear ANC headphones for short plane flights. Transparency mode is also good if you plan to wear them while walking in public.

If I didn't really like Bose products I would never touch them again because of the buggy app. Pisses me off frequently. I had the Sony buds, the Bose has better sound cancelling and mids are better. I use an outside equalizer as the Bose app EQ sucks. Have to have the app for anc to work it seems.

Anc works without the app? I hate the app. I agree with your reply completely. I'm going to try that again. When I deleted app I didn't have anc.

I am experiencing Bluetooth problems with the Bose like once a day. Out of all TWS I've owned, they are by far the worst ones. And they also happen to be my most expensive pair 😭

they're *fine* but you're not paying for *fine* at $300. i think they sound worse than the old soundtrue ultras. maybe a step below the old sound sports. they lack bass and i get complaints about the mic whenever i try to take a call with them during workouts.

I've had them for a few weeks and haven't used the app. Do you all recommend that I just don't download the app? I don't need to set up my own settings because I'm happy just having the base 3 settings (quiet, aware, immersion). Can I just continue without the app or should I use the app for updates?

I like them so far, no complaints! I've had them for a few weeks and haven't used the app. Do you all recommend that I just don't download the app? I don't need to set up my own settings because I'm happy just having the base 3 settings (quiet, aware, immersion). Can I just continue without the app or should I use the app for updates?

Got my ultras to replace AirPods Pro 2, I’ve found that before I was just listening to the music but now I’m really enjoying all of my music. Don’t be fooled by apples special audio claims, the Bose are so much better.

Love my Bose QC Ultra. Use them almost daily for the gym. Great sound and fit.

I have a pair and never had any of these issues. Gyess I must just be lucky.

I just went from the Galaxy Buds Pro to the Bose QC Ultra and the noise cancelling on the QC Ultras is much better than the Galaxy Buds Pro

Absolutely love them. Just bought an extra pair on sale for $180. Can’t go wrong.

QC ultra. The new sony music connect app greatly reduced the XM5 anc.

Recently joined the Bose club. I briefly heard the XM5's and they sound really good, but the ANC strength will vary, depending on the tips you use. People seem to be getting the best results with foam tips, but to me these are a lot less convenient since I want to be able to take the buds in and out quickly. The Sony also rely quite heavily on the passive NC from said tips, meaning they act like plugs and transfer noise into your ears from things rubbing on them. I haven't really been able to test them during a workout, so I don't know how well they stay in place. The Bose QC Ultra have silicone eartips that make them super easy to pop in and the passive seal isn't really where the magic happens. They fit snugly, but comfortably and the little wingtip holds them in there perfectly. I was previously using the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC buds and there's a world of difference between them. The ANC is miles better and so is the out of the box sound. I've heard plenty of good things about the Airpod Pro's. But I'm an Android guy and those just don't make sense, but for you it just might. As far as issues with the QC Ultra's, so far, I didn't find any, aside from the sound disappearing sometimes when only having one bud connected. It happened maybe twice. Other than that...nothing. After the buggy mess that are my Sondcores, those things are a godsend. If that's of any concern to you, the AirPods will probably do the best in terms of call quality out of those three, followed by Bose. Spent all day yesterday at the airport plus 2 flights enjoying the silence with my QC Ultra's. The case of the Bose is significantly larger than the other two, but it's relatively flat. Oh yeah, the touch controls are much better on the Bose, compared to the XM5's. You can swipe to change volume and you have to tap 4 times to do that on the Sony's. And one thing that you need to know is that ANC cannot be turned off on the QC Ultra's. You can only switch to awareness or immersive mode.

Finally happy with them. The update a couple of weeks ago essentially solved the background whine and connectivity issues I was having. I’ve had one refusal to connect incident since then that I was able to solve without resetting, which is a huge improvement over their prior behavior.

That was in August. I made my 4th and 5th returns in October, the 4th pair being defective OOTB, so I returned them right away. To their credit, Bose upgraded me from the II's to the Ultra during this process over a couple of years, it was all new product, it was free, and I never had to speak to a human. For the 5th replacement, I went with the black color for the first time, having previously opted for one of two white colors. I'm still using these black ones 9 months later, typically at least 6 hours per day. Probably once every month or two, I've had to reset them, but that's tolerable. The fit, comfort, sound, and ANC are the best I've experienced. AirPods Pro 2 easily lose seal, Sony's foam couldn't even achieve a seal, and all the rest have markedly inferior ANC.

I was gifted a set of Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra. I chose the gift since I'm now on my 3rd pair of PBP2 under warranty (probably have at least another) since they have the fatal mic failure flaw that will always appear a few months in. I'm glad to have a backup but I figured you all may wonder what are some pros/cons between the two and where PBP2 wins. Bose has given me issues in the past (all have been gifts) so I refuse to give them money. But we will see how these go after PBP2 inevitably die and I'm out of warranty. There should be a Class Action on this BS. Here are some "lowlights" and "highlights". **Orchestral "rush" - Bose** Whenever you put your buds in (yes every time), it plays a moderately loud orchestral sound that supposedly calibrates the buds. It's about 1 second but at a pretty high volume, higher then I usually listen to music at (a bit higher then Google's ear tip seal check melody). This cannot be turned off and literally NOBODY ever talks about this. You have to dig. I can put up with it but if you put them in let's say at night when you are wanting to relax/drift off, this will have the opposite effect. People with sensory issues or sensitive hearing, this will be an absolute deal breaker. **Build Quality - Case/Buds** With Bose, the buds have a nice feel and they are well made. The case however, loses to pixel buds. It's larger (buds are larger too so makes sense) but the lid is thin plastic. It doesn't creak like the PBP2, but it just feels cheap. I like how the PBP2 is thick and feels like a solid piece. **Sound Quality - The "Bose" Sound** I would describe the PBP2 as excellent sound. Very high quality and I'd say sits pretty well at the top tier. The sound quality of Bose is better. Not by a lot but it's still the Bose sound. Better bass, nicer separation. I'd describe the PBP2 as "rich, lively, & warm". I'd describe the QuietComfort as "fun, rich, clean, warm, lively, accurate". Do you remember when you would want to revisit your music on a hi-fi or good sound system? Example my cousin had pickup truck with a "system". Subwoofer etc. We wanted to play our tapes in it and be wowed. That's what Bose is. It can "wow" you. I love how songs sound on them and still the case with QC Ultra. **Connection/Features** Google wins hands down. I like the subtle tones Google uses for connections, mode switching etc. Bose still uses the same old voice prompts for everything. PBP2 has better features. Wireless charging, conversation detection etc. Bose still is behind. Also connections sometimes drop with Bose. They just still don't have this stuff down. Their app is also archaic. I LOVE how simple the PBP2's are and work. Touch controls are not as refined on the Bose. They always seem to struggle with this for some reason. Google has it down perfect. **ANC/Transparency** Bose wins on ANC (but not by a whole lot). It's stronger/better at blocking but I feel a lot of that is due to the size. It's very comfortable but takes up more ear space as it's a bit bigger. PBP2 don't fill the whole ear space so I think that makes transparency better but ANC is a little down. However, I prefer Google's balance because I use transparency more then ANC. **Call Quality** Don't use Bose for phone calls. If you think PBP2 is bad... Ask me questions if you are thinking about getting the Ultras. Kind of cool to have them as a backup. I will be using the PBP2 the most (that is until they fail again) and find myself reaching for them more.

I've had since launch but on my 3rd pair. Both times pressure relief failed but the first pair also had issue with sound quality in ANC off mode. The battery does seem to drain in the case faster then I think it should. I have to charge maybe every 3 days and that's the only using the buds maybe 1-1.5 hours a day. Most seem to have mic failures for RMA's. But also other issues.

I Vote for the **Bose QuietComfort Ultra**. The best Noise canceling in my opinion

Just to clarify, they are NOT hearing protection. so that's a large negative to using them in construction. Secondly the ANC works better for consistant noises (like aircraft/train engines), and sudden noises like hammers and impact tools won't be blocked as much. Neither will tools being used right in front of you. You then have the issue as to whether your co-workers/managers are OK with listening to music on the worksite. I would think it provides a larger danger to yourself and others. You may find that certain insurances may be voided by wearing these while working (It may depend on local laws, but I'm not familiar with those). Needless to say, I wouldn't recommend them for your use.

To be honest, your replies make me even more certain that these are not the right product for you. I work for myself - Probably even more important to find out whether you will still be covered (for accidents to yourself or others). But only you can know that by asking your insurer. Using Pass-through - I am certain you won't get the effect you are after (ie just blocking the tools noise). I think any noise cancelling headphone with passthrough would be useless for this. Add music to this (Music + Passthrough + ANC) will just be noisy and the sound will probably be messy. They certainly are hearing protection - WIth the exception of the professional headests (for pilots use) Bose have always been very careful not to recommend them as hearing protection (take this as you will, but I used to work for them and it was always "these are not to be used or recommended as hearing protection) Try it and see, but I'm 99% certain you'll be returning them and that you won't find something that works the way you want. But anyway, that's all I'll say about it.

Mine broke after a couple of months. Which is a shame, cause their sound blew me away.

I bought the Bose and JBL ones people have been suggesting here. The Bose indeed has better noise cancelling, but I ended up returning it and staying with the JBL one because the app is much better, the ear fit is much better, and the case is significantly smaller, while the noise cancelling is _almost_ as good.

Agreed. Have these and for wireless earbuds they have incredibly good ANC.

Yeah, bose qc ultra take the cake for sure

Around about the one year mark, the glue that holds the buds together wore off and the ear tip just came off in my ear. That has happened to me once with the Ultras and once with the previous generation. Both times, I got a no-hassle replacement from Bose. It wouldn't put me off buying Bose again, but it is a bit of a chore. If you're looking for ultimate reliability and outstanding after sales service, Apple all the way. I had the Gen 1 AirPods pro and they went wrong a lot (every 6 months) due to a manufacturing defect. Every time, the apple store hooked me up with new buds. I've had my current Airpod Pro 2 since launch and they've never gone wrong at all.

QC Ultras. I also have APP2 and they're really good, but QC Ultras are better.

To preface, I am not an audiophile. However, I love music and am constantly looking for new ways to experience it and have been for quite some time. That being said, I have been browsing this sub for a while. After reading numerous reviews about what the best earbud on the market is, I ended up purchasing the Technics AZ100 about three weeks ago. While debating which earbud to get, my top 3 were the Technics AZ100, Sony WF-1000XM5, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Although I got the Technics, I was browsing through Walmart today and saw both of the other two I had considered were being sold there. So I had to purchase both and compare. If anyone was in my situation between these three, here were my thoughts comparing all three for many hours. I did not re read or check my grammar after reviewing so sorry in advance haha Bose QC Ultra Noise cancellation 10/10 Transparency 7/10 Bass 9.5/10 Sound quality 8/10 Fit 10/10 App 7.5/10 I am so very impressed by the noise cancellation and I LOVE the fit. The app is nothing special, I’ve been used to it for my QuietComfort (gen. 1) earbuds. The immersive is cool but nothing I would use regularly over the default mode probably. Bass stand out on these. The sound quality is good, it doesn’t feel quite as clear and completely lacks the detail the Technics and Sony have. And to me, it’s not that close. The volume level on these are much louder than the Technics. Technics AZ-100 Noise cancellation 8.5/10 Transparency 9.5/10 Bass 8.5/10 Sound quality 10/10 Fit 8/10 App 9.5/10 Sound quality is much more “open” and detailed than Bose. The sound quality on these remind me more of the Sony’s than the Bose. However, the sound quality still better than the Sony. Bass doesn’t quite have the power as the Bose but is still very good. The bass isn’t muddy at all, it’s just less clear than the Sony’s, if that makes any sense. The app and especially the detail of the in-app EQ makes it much better. I like the fit, but prefer the design and fit of the Bose. The volume level is definitely improved over the AZ-80s. (I got the AZ-80s for Christmas but was unaware of the AZ-100s being released weeks later so I exchanged them) Sony WF-1000X5 Noise cancellation 9/10 Transparency 8/10 Bass 9/10 Sound quality 9.25/10 Fit 8/10 App 9/10 Sound quality is very very good. Better than the Bose but not quite on par with Technics. Regardless, still impressive sound quality. Bass is good. Very clear and punchy. Had a very similar punch as the Technics but are slightly more clear, IMO, so the edge goes to Sony. Bose still has more powerful bass than both. Fit is similar to the Technics. Ive never tried foam tips before but I actually like these. Don’t know which I prefer. The app has many features and customization options along with other analytics. The edge goes to Technics due to the in-app EQ being more customizable and detailed. Other notes: The Sony and Technics are much more similar in terms of performance than the Bose is to them. The things that stand out about each: Bose’s fit & design, noise cancellation, volume level, and bass. These earbuds would be EXCELLENT for the gym. However I already have Bose QC (gen. 1) so I will just continue using these for the gym. If I didn’t have these, however, I could see myself keeping the QC Ultras. Technics’ soundstage, sound quality, transparency mode, and in-app EQ customization. Nothing else about the Bose or Sony’s really blow me away like the sound quality does on the Technics. The only other thing I would say that is very impressive is the Bose’s noise cancellation. Sony’s sound quality is extremely good. Nothing else stands out over the other Technics and Bose. That being said, these are not bad at all! These earbuds are great. They do many things very well, and are very balanced. I would recommend Bose to someone looking for earbuds for the gym or other loud environments, Technics for someone looking for the best listening experience and sound quality. Sony for someone looking for excellent all around earbuds. They are all great in their own way. However, I still believe the Technics are the best listening experience.

Same. What I found that fixes all my connections issue is to delete the Bose app after I configured everything. This is on my Android phone. Haven't had any issues after deleting the Bose app

I have the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds and the Apple Airpods Pro 2 (for my wife). Fit: Both are comfortable. But I'd say Ultra is better because after using it for a while, I sometimes forgot I was wearing the earbuds. Apple is deeper into the ear canal so you'll always feel it, however they are light -- no big deal. ANC: Ultra blows Apple out of water. No contest there. When my range hood is on high, Ultra blocks everything but there's still quite a bit from Apple. Sound quality: I'd say the Apple sounds more balanced out of box. Bose is heavier on the bass, which I don't prefer. However, I use the wavelet app on Android to EQ it back to a balanced profile. When doing so there isn't too much difference. Connectivity: I noticed the Bose would occasionally turn off in one of the ear as well. It's annoying but doesn't happen very often. There is sometimes the statics and electronics noise from the left bud, personally I'm okay with it. Personally I'd pick Bose Ultra. But hey you can buy both of them :) As for Bose QC -- they are not comfortable for me so I tried and returned them. Edit: grammar

Hey there. I noticed the popping happens when it moves in your ear. Once I got a better fit, the popping stopped.  I still have an annoying buzz in the left ear, even after swapping them out for a new pair under warranty, and then the dealer said nothing was wrong with them. Now the Bose dealer wants to keep them to test for a longer period. So I just held on to them and didn't send it back yet because I use them daily. 

When it comes to earbuds, nothing comes close to the Bose QC Ultra's ANC. Except the older QC2: I never had a chance to compare the two side by side but I owned both on separate occasions and felt the ANC was roughly equivalent. The Sony XM5 ANC isn't in the same league, despite what a lot of people say. It's among the best *non-Bose* ANC, but the Bose is miles ahead of that pack. The Technics AZ80 ANC isn't even close, though they are truly excellent earbuds in most characteristics, their ANC is only so-so for a premium set of earbuds. That said, I haven't tried the Comply foam eartips that another commenter suggested. I'm interested in trying those, because improving the AZ80's ANC would make them nearly perfect. But even with improved ANC, I can't imagine they come close to the Bose. I don't have experience with noise cancelling headphones, but I'd be willing to bet Bose is in the lead there too. If I were to guess, I'd assume that your best option is whatever the latest premium Bose over-ear headphone is, and your second best option is the QC Ultra earbuds. But you may want to research the headphone side of things because I'm just extrapolating. For the record, I'm not a Bose fanboy. In fact I don't particularly love my QC Ultras. They do sound good, and if they were my only set of earbuds I wouldn't have much to complain about, but I have other sets that I like much more overall and wear much more often. But if I want the strongest noise cancelling, I reach for the Bose without a second's hesitation.

Nothing compares to the ANC in Bose earbuds. As for the Pi8, I find their ANC to be pretty average. It will be a big step down from the Bose ANC. Pretty much every earbud will be a big step down in ANC from Bose. I find the best ANC *after Bose* to be on the Devialet Gemini 2, Sennheiser MTW4, Sony XM5, and Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 if the oval eartips are a good fit for your ears. All of these have better ANC than the Pi8. The Pi8 ANC is functional but it's nothing special.

Another vote for the Bose QC Ultra. Nothing else is even close when it comes to noise cancelling. If you're on a budget you can probably find the QC2 for cheaper, and their noise cancelling is nearly as good.

I don't use mine daily, I break them out when I need the extra noise cancelling, but I've never experienced problems with the software or connectivity. They're not my favorite earbuds but honestly if they were my only set I think I'd be perfectly happy with them.

The best ANC, by far, is the Bose QC Ultra. Nothing else even comes close. Next best is Devialet Gemini 2, but these are expensive as hell. They are incredible sounding though. After that, the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2, Sennheiser MTW4, and Sony XM5 have very good ANC. They all cancel noise slightly differently, but they are roughly tied.

I’ve had mine for about a week. Only earbuds I’ve ever been able to leave in my ears for any significant amount of time. Every other pair I’ve ever tried has been uncomfortable almost immediately. So yeah I’m ecstatic with them

Is that the new bose earbuds 2024 version? Are they comfortable? I had an issue with the ultras where the fin would dig into my ear. Even the smallest fin

Wearing them as I type on a plane. Sound and ANC are top notch. The connectivity issues are a bit of a pain. Mine went thru a period of dropping connection after an hour or so of listening and then flat out wouldn’t connect. Had to connect them to my laptop for an update to get them to work again. Seem fine so far but I’m expecting issues down the road.

The Bose app delete didn’t work for me on the iPhone so I had to do the update route.

I chose the Ultra for the ANC, my primary requirement. Independent tests online show its ANC is much better than the QC, so I went with that. The Apple was tempting but too far out of my budget. In my own testing, the ANC is excellent, and the sound is great for music, atmospheric and a real life sensation for movies (like they’re in the room with me), and terrible for ebooks.

Hi, - No hissing - Stable in the ear - Bass and treble can easily be adjusted in the app - Music has been great so far, I listen to pop and rock

I bought the 4's and within weeks, one of them would drain within an hour. Returned them & reordered. 11 months of average use & well, RIP to the battery. I feel dumb not knowing the battery could be replaced but I'm over Sony right now however, happy to know, thanks! I'm so happy with Bose Ultra which I should've ordered in the first place.

I cycle daily outdoors for cardio and hit the gym 3x per week. I use Bose Quietcomfor2 earbuds (same exact design as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds). They've been used and abused daily for two years without issues - I've even biked through rainstorms without killing them!

Bose has been making noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds for decades - they also design noise cancelling headphones for aviation pilots. Needless to say, they have been perfecting their ANC algorithms for a LOT longer than other brands. If ANC is key, Bose Quietcomfort ultra is going to be at the top of the list - AS LONG AS you mix/match earbuds and wingtips to find the perfect 'fit' - it could take a few weeks before you get a nice tight seal in the ears. The Sony XM4 earbuds scored quite high on ANC compared to the Bose in real-world testing, but some firmware update from Sony effectively killed the battery life on the XM4 earbuds, and it seems the XM5 also have battery life issues. Jabra has gotten a fair amount of praise as a mid-priced quality earbud. HOWEVER earlier this year Jabra announced they were stepping out of the wireless earbud market - so there is no more hardware or software updates coming from Jabra, and no clue how they'll honor warranty claims if there is one. Sennheiser is really popular all around. The MTW4 are on sale for a good price and perform pretty well. However from my experience with the Momentum Sport earbuds, the ANC works well enough, but not the best I've handled.

I don't run so I can't really answer how they'd be for that specific case. I use them for my outdoor cycling needs (daily for about 45 minutes), and my gym needs (every other day for around an hour). For my needs, I use the Bose Quietcomfort-Ultra earbuds (I had the Bose QC2 before the Ultras which were essentially the same earbud with a few minor changes). They lock into my ears comfortably and do everything I need them to do.

For noise cancelling, I like my Bose QC Ultra earbuds. They are also very comfortable to wear and have sufficiently good sound quality (not the best, but good enough). But call quality is not that great. I personally am not a fan. I do not use them for taking calls unless necessary. One thing to keep in mind is that Apple being what Apple is, uses a higher bitrate when streaming AAC to apple-brand products. So even though the Bose has AptX-Adaptive, and Sony has LDAC - an iPhone will stream AAC.... but at half the bitrate you get using any other Apple (or their other internal brand, Beats) brand product (this is intentional to force you to stay within their ecosystem, of course). Fun side note - AptX is open-source and any phone company could use the software to build it into their phones, but they choose not to. I would say that Sony XM5 likely has better sound quality than the Bose Quietcomfort, but the Bose wins on better ANC and better styling (in my opinion), and better comfort (I have worn mine for four hours straight without any issue with comfort or battery life). Apple is..... apple - it has it's pros and cons. I avoid apple in general, but I get why people like them

They are not the best sound quality, but certainly good sound quality (better than most budget grade earbuds), and the ANC is best in class - Bose QC Ultra. But the ultra might be slightly out of your budget, in that case I'd be looking at the Bose QC Earbuds II (also called the QC2) - they are essentially identical to the Bose QC-Ultra. Now discontinued by Bose, you can still find them on eBay for around $150 new in box. Been using them for about four years working out in my gym, and cycling daily (45+ minutes on a bicycle outdoors). Only time I really worry about them falling out is if a dribble of sweat happens to work it's way into my ear - then the rubber gets slippery on the earbud. But it's simple to fix - dry everything off including earbud and ear, and it rarely happens (maybe once or twice a year I need to remove the earbud and dry it off)

Shure AONIC 215 Gen2 is a higher end earbud with ear hooks. Shure makes lots of high end earbuds for everything including professional musicians. So they should have pretty amazing sound quality for the price. Personally for my cardio bicycling (outdoors) and gym needs, I use Bose Quietcomfort-Ultra earbuds which have wingtips that lock perfectly into my ears. Been using Bose QC earbuds for five years (first the QC1, then QC2, and now QC-Ultra) for my gym needs and have no complaints. I wear mine daily when cycling. But I get some people prefer ear hooks.

For years, I wore Bose earbuds for my gym needs - the wingtips locked into my ears and the sound quality was upper tier (not the best but above mid-grade for the industry at large). Now I discovered ear-clip earbuds and have a set of soundcore aeroclips - the full open-ear transparency makes them much safer for my outdoor cycling and gym needs (natural open transparency is always going to better than ANC transparency mode). The volume is plenty loud enough but still not too loud to block out *all* noise. But from a comfort standpoint, ear-clip style earbuds are much more comfortable for the gym and my cycling needs. They have never come loose on me. One major downside (aside from the well known poor bass) is that at max volume people can hear your audio clearly from a meter away lol (your ears deflect the sound outwards so people can hear that). So when I really want to crank it in my gym at max volumes, I still fall back to my Bose Quietcomfort Ultra earbuds which lock into my ears and the ANC allows me to block out all noise. However since they are totally sealed off - they will still 'thud' when running which may annoy you (for my cardio they never bother me since I'm on a bicycle lol)

>get a cheaper set (of ideally open-ear style buds) for the gym and another set for everything else. Sweat-congealed earwax is the biggest killer for TWS Funny, I cycle daily and lift in the gym every other day - so my earbuds get at least 10 hours weekly of use/abuse while sweating like crazy and my Bose QC earbuds have been going strong for years. Wax has never been an issue for me. From what I've seen this varies greatly from person to person - not all eardrums are shaped the same way and trap wax the same way. For some people they have massive ear wax issues for TWS earbuds regardless what they do (exercising or not) and others like myself have minimal issues (in fact the worst issue I have is oils from my skin building up on the rubber earbud tips and wingtips - it's as simple as dropping in my ultrasonic jewelry cleaner every few months to keep them clean so they stay put in my ears better)

I haven't handled the Eleven's personally (yet, I was very tempted). I'm a Bang & Olufsen fan, I have a speaker setup from B&O I use daily. > The lackluster ANC and the inability to customize controls bother me about the EX, and I haven't heard much from people who actually own the Eleven yet. I can't speak to the ability to customize controls, but indeed the ANC was the biggest complaint I saw about the Beoplay EX earbuds. And indeed people I've seen who have both mention that the ANC is substantially improved over the EX earbuds. How it compares to other brands on the market like Bose's ANC system I'm uncertain. In my personal opinion, I would say if you already have the EX, keep those and enjoy them for the sound quality. ANC is a fun feature to have, but for highest fidelity sound, it's probably best do deactivate it anyway. I'd say use that money and invest in an alternative brand so you can switch up sound quality and ANC features as needed. It'll make your ears appreciate what you have more. Recently I've been using my Soundcore Aeroclips a lot (because they are very comfortable to wear all day and the open-ear design means I can still hear people/things around me crystal clear when my music is turned down to a reasonable level). Anyway the sound quality is terrible (essentially no bass due to the open-ear design), so now whenever I wear my Bose Quietcomfort Ultra earbuds, I'm blown away by the beautiful bass notes. Bose isn't the best brand for sound quality, but dang my ears appreciate them much more after wearing Aeroclips for a few days haha.

>premium earbuds >sub 300 dollar pair of earbuds Lol, oh. I think you're going to get a ton of different answers. My definition of Premium earbuds these days for top sound quality and noise cancelling would go to earbuds above the $300 mark. But I also consume 7-8 hours of music daily so I spend a lot more money on speakers/headphones/earbuds than I do on televisions haha (I still have an old samsung 1080p TV - haven't even upgraded to a 4k yet!) I was going to suggest something like the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Ex earbuds which you can currently buy for about HALF the original MSRP. They have some top-rated sound quality, but the biggest issue about them was always the noise cancelling. If someone is paying $500 for earbuds, they expect good ANC in addition to good sound quality, and they were mediocre. B&O's new Eleven earbuds fix that complaint, but those are crazy expensive. So the Beoplay EX at $250 is a great deal if you only prioritize sound quality. But given that you want both, I still think my personal suggestion would be to get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (or save money and buy the Bose Quietcomfort 2 earbuds new in box on ebay - they're basically the same thing minus AptX-Adaptive and immersion modes)

I love my Bose QC-Ultra, but they are not the "top" of the line for sound quality (but they do have amazing ANC and are very comfortable). From your list, the B&W Pi8 gets my vote. I'm a big Bowers & Wilkins fan (love their headphones). However, I suggest you also add the Bang & Olufsen Eleven to your list - those are also really nice higher end earbuds.

Lol the Bose StayHear wingtip earbuds indeed works very well. But the new quietcomfort ultra earbuds have a two-part design where you get to select both earbud and wingtip sizes that fit best to block out external sound (passive noise cancelling so the ANC system works better). Jabra made some good earbuds for a while, but last year they announced they were pulling out of the TWS earbud market. They still have a bunch of inventory left, but they're not making any more. Some of their TWS earbuds got good reviews, especially the last premium model they made. But still the sound quality was only a step above average, it wasn't a premium high-fi experience. Currently for my cardio and gym needs I'm actually often reaching for my Soundcore Aeroclip ear clips which are insanely comfortable. The first earbud I can wear all day long until the battery runs out. They are open-ear so it lets me hear the world around me, while still enjoying my music. Biggest downside to ear-clips is the sound quality - all of them have worse sound quality due to the design (placing the sound driver further away from the eardrum) leads to a severe lack of bass response. But it's a trade-off for my cardio needs - do I want better sound quality and base with my Bose QC-Ultra, or do I want to actually hear cars around me for safety and save the high-fidelity for home enjoyment. Good luck with your hunt!

In reality if you want the best for flying, you probably want over the ear headphones as opposed to earbuds so you can fully isolate the ears from the noise - paired with good ANC and you're golden. Plus you'd get better sound quality in the process compared to small earbud drivers. I think that's the route I'd go if I traveled frequently (instead my earbuds are mainly for gym & cardio with the occasional travel needs) That said, crazy to hear you didn't like the QC2. I had them and the QC-Ultra and rarely ever have any connectivity issues (using two different Samsung Galaxy class phones). I know that Sony's ANC is pretty decent, but battery life lags behind Bose from what I understand. Still the XM5 might be what you're looking for

I have used the QC II and the QC-Ultra for about 18 months each (maybe a bit less for the QC-Ultra, I think I got them about a year ago and still using them daily). >The predecessor QC II also seems to have just as good ANC? The QC II is almost essentially the exact same earbud as the Bose QC-Ultra with a few minor changes: * AptX-Adaptive protocols - fun to have, but only if your phone is compatible. I discovered that Samsung will likely never support this protocol so that's useless to me * Immersion mode - the earbuds use motion-tracking to enhance to create something like spacial audio (but not exactly, I'm not a fan of immersion mode so I don't use it often lol) * Slightly improved styling - a plastic back has been replaced with a glossy metal piece that looks snazzier haha. * Tiny (0.5mm) notch added to the wingtip-band channel to keep the band from rotating as easily when trying to adjust earbuds in your ears (it's a very minor issue with the bose QC II - easily fixed by removing the earbud from your ear, and adjusting the wingtip band until you feel it "click" into place) So, essentially the Bose Quietcomfort Ultra earbuds are basically the Bose QC v2.5 >The Method 360 seem to be technically identical to the QC II? It will not match the Bose Quietcomfort's ANC system. Bose was one of the first companies to sell noise-cancelling headphones decades ago (simple static generator noise cancelling at the time, not active noise cancelling). They sell higher end headphones to aviation pilots for small craft airplanes and such. So they have been perfecting ANC longer than most other brands have been in business. >very other feature can pretty much be ignored, I just need the best ANC possible in an earbud. Real talk, I feel like higher end ANC headphones might be better for flying because they have the ability to better isolate the ears for passive noise cancelling before you even enable the ANC system. The Bose Quietcomfort Ultra (and QC2) earbuds have amazing ANC systems (best I have personally ever experienced) - but a key factor is the wingtip part of the earbud which helps block sound from entering the ears. It will take you weeks fiddling with the different sizes of rubber earbud tips and wingtips to find which sizes isolate ALL sound from the outside so the ANC system can work better. However, from a convenience standpoint, the Bose QC earbuds are amazing. They fit into your pocket when needed, and on a plane they're one of the best you can get in the industry. I have flown several times since I got these earbuds and they've been a godsend - flying is way more enjoyable now with ANC earbuds compared to my older non-ANC earbuds that I used to wear for flying. And true to their name, they are very comfortable. I have worn mine for over four hours straight without any ear discomfort Personally, if ANC was a concern and I wanted premium sound quality there are a few other options like the B&W Pi8 and B&O Eleven, but those earbuds are focused on higher fidelity sound - the ANC is more of an add-on feature and not the main focus of the show. I know I often recommend them, but I really think Bose is your answer here. The Quietcomfort Ultra are your best bet, and if you're on a budget hunt around for the Quietcomfort Earbuds II - but those are old stock by this point so they may have a shorter battery lifespan.

> Random disconnects, audio changing to mono mode for each earbud, only one earbud connecting That happened most with my QC2 earbuds when I was in areas with more radio frequency congestion (lots of bluetooth devices around for example) - the system had trouble hopping channels properly. In rural areas they were rock solid earbuds in my experience - I used mine for over 18 months without major issues. I only experienced this when traveling into downtown or whenever a bus full of people rode past - it seems like the Bose QC2 and QC-ultra earbuds have a weaker radio antenna and has more trouble hopping to a new channel for a clean signal when compared to other decent earbuds on the market. It is a downside to these earbuds >The QC Ultra earbuds have some connectivity bugs No more or less than I had with my QC2 earbuds - mainly when in congested areas like in an airport or downtown city life I had interference issues where the system is slow to hop to another channel. > and older units produce a mosquito buzzing in the left ear That is a defective microphone providing inaccurate data to the ANC system. That would be easy to confirm if Bose offered a dang way to completely disable the ANC system but they don't unfortunately. I only know because my QC2 earbuds started doing this after a deep cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and a bit of liquid got onto one of the microphones. I thought I broke them until the liquid dried up a day or two later and it was back to working again with perfect ANC function. I have seen other reports of buzzing and static on the bose earbuds - if it's from the start, it's a manufacturing defect, if it happens later it's dirt/grime/liquid intrusion. I have been wearing Bose wireless earbuds since their original TWS earbuds hit the market several years ago (the original Bose Quietcomfort earbuds) - I actually have them sitting on my desk right now. They're still decent earbuds (although they are massive and ugly by comparison to the newer TWS earbuds from Bose)

>Don’t get the Bose QC Ultra If sound quality is the biggest reason, sure I'll agree >and they have severe connectivity issues Having handled the Bose QC original, QC2, and new QC-ultra. The connectivity issues only happen in congested areas (lots of people) - in suburbs or rural settings there is essentially never any connectivity issues. I only encounter issues a fraction of the time when I'm traveling through downtown or in an airport (and even then, the signal hops to another channel and the music continues). >and bugs such as? Because I can't think of one that I'd complain about having handled the Bose QC2 / QC-ultra earbuds for three years now. Not trying to dispel your opinions on the other earbuds, just trying to add some clarification because it bugs me when people flat out make the claim that bose have connectivity issues when it heavily depends on where the person is using the earbuds. For me, I have essentially zero connectivity issues unless I'm in heavily congested areas with lots of bluetooth noise. Just my $0.02

Damn, because I really never have issues with my QC earbuds, never had to replace them, despite wearing mine daily for 1-2 hours on average (mostly cycling and traveling). So crazy the difference in experience. Just curious - where are you located? Rural setting, small-mid sized city, or suburbs? I wear other brands of earbuds as well, but in terms of connectivity, my earbuds have never had the major connectivity issues others have experienced. I know the antenna sensitivity is lower than other earbuds, but yeah in my situation I haven't experienced the major connectivity issues others (not just you) complain about. I use my earbuds with Samsung Galaxy phones (multiple different models), and my Win10 PC setup. Sucks you had a bad experience, but I get the hate when it comes to connectivity.

I have the Bose QC-Ultra, before this I had the Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds ii (QC2, the QC-Ultra is basically QC2.5). So I've been using them as my daily earbuds for about three years now. I'll give you my opinions based on your critera: >Great sound (deep bass but still clear) Bose products have a 'signature sound' - some people like it, others don't. There is good bass, but it's not over-powering. There are better earbuds for MAX BASS so to speak. I'd personally score the sound quality as a 8 out of 10. With 10 being premium stuff like Bang & Olufsen grade stuff. Having handled budget grade earbuds (like soundcore) and then comparing them next to the Bose, there is no comparison, Bose is a nice upgrade in sound quality. >Comfortable for long wear (I’ve got big ears) It'll take about two weeks messing with the earbuds to find the right fit of rubber ear-tips, and wing tips that match your ears. Don't be afraid to mess around with other sizes until you find that perfect fit. You said you have big ears. Bose actually sells an accessory pack which contains X-large and X-small earbuds and wingtips, so if things don't fit - know that you can always order the XL size if needed. To me, it doesn't get anymore comfortable. Bose has been making comfortable earbuds for over twenty years (originally with the stay-hear wingtip earbud design, and now these new quietcomfort earbuds). I can wear them for hours when traveling and have no complaints. I'd actually love to splurge on other premium sound quality earbuds (better than Bose), but I wear my earbuds for working out and cardio (cycling outdoors daily) so I need wingtips that lock into the ears for that added security >Solid battery life (5+ hours minimum) Honestly, I have never fully drained the batteries on any bose quietcomfort earbud - they have long enough battery life to the extent that before the batteries run down to zero, I've already tossed them back in the case while doing something else. They gain an extra hour or two within a 10 minute charge so that usually gets me through the days when I'm traveling and wearing them for hours at a time. >ANC that actually works well Bose has been building noise cancelling headphones for decades (first for aviation pilots, then for consumer products). It's a big part of their brand. Their ANC doesn't just work well, it also does a good job not distorting or altering the sound quality of the music playing (scores very highly on bench tests). My ONLY complaint with the ANC system is the fact that I can't boost the transparency mode (to act as a hearing aid) - sometimes I'd like to be able to hear more of the world around me when I got the music pumped up. Still I have no problem carrying on a conversation when the music is turned way down. Plus it has a nifty feature where if you take off one earbud, it pauses the music and activates full transparency mode regardless what ANC mode you were on. >Good mic quality for calls I rarely use earbuds for making calls (I need to get in the habit of it). I just did a test since since I've never done it and the sound quality sitting at my desk with my earbuds on was actually better than expected (sounded better than my samsung galaxy on speakerphone). I'd say they aren't bad - certainly not the worst in the industry Overall the Bose QC2 and now the QC-Ultra (since the black friday sale) have been a solid investment - I wear them reliably every day. Of course as an audiophile with style, I long for some other premium earbuds that don't look like ugly lug-nuts on the side of the ear haha. I'm seriously interested in the Bang & Olufsen Eleven (which is basically the Beoplay EX with better ANC), but they lack wingtips and I really need comfortable secure earbuds to ensure they don't fall out when I'm doing 30kph on my bike

>I'm looking for a great pair of earbuds something with solid sound quality, good noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit For me and my personal needs - the answer to this list of needs is the Bose Quietcomfort Ultra - top-tier noise cancelling and great fit with the wingtips + earbuds (the wingtips really help lock the earbuds into place while remaining comfortable for hours at a time). The bose sound quality is good - but not top of the line. There are other brands which can do better sound quality - but ANC and comfort might not quite match what bose has to offer. So for me, the Bose QC-Ultra are my current choice for noise cancelling earbuds. However for day-to-day use, I find myself using the Soundcore Aeroclips because the open-ear clip design makes it very convenient for everyday use interacting with people and hearing stuff (transparency is nice on the Bose, but nothing beats natural open-ear transparency!)

I have seen plenty of earbuds with adjustable noise cancelling for the speakers so you can block out external noise. I do not recall ever seeing or hearing of any app which allows you to adjust call quality settings like that. But, I know exactly what you're talking about because the noise cancelling on my mother's Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds is terrible for her - sometimes it sounds very muted like her voice is getting cancelled out. She has to stop and start talking louder before the system pickup. Never had that issue before with her and earbuds. My only suggestion is to research earbuds with higher ratings for call quality and see what you find. For example I love my Bose Quietcomfort Ultra earbuds for their amazing ANC and decent sound quality. But the call quality isn't great at all. I find myself using my Soundcore Aeroclips more often for calls (for a few reasons) and never seem to have complaints about call quality.

For my gym and cycling needs, I found the Bose Quietcomfort Ultra fit great and were very comfortable. Some people complain about connectivity issues - and it seems like that happens if you're in a crowded area (downtown areas for example) or using an iPhone. I don't have those issues with connectivity and have used them (and the older QC2 earbuds) for the past few years without any issues.

Yeah, I haven't found anything else as comfortable that locks into your ear with amazing ANC. Although I'll be honest, for cycling I recently stopped using my Bose QC-Ultra because while it does have transparency mode, it's not that great when cycling with the wind rushing over the microphones. So for safety reasons I now use Soundcore Aeroclips which are insanely comfortable open-ear buds. I can hear the world around me while jamming out, except they lack ANC capabilities, and the sound quality is not good (lacks almost all bass because of the open-ear design)

Had mine 3 weeks. No connectivity issues, very comfortable, ANC performance is wildly better than any headphones / buds I have ever used (this is my 3rd set with ANC). Immersive audio is a gimmick that I find myself using more and more often and missing when it isn't turned on. Things I don't like: The charging case is bulkier than my Jabra case was and feels way more cheaply made - too much flex/squeak, especially the lid. It's a minor gripe - doesn't interfere with carrying in a pants pocket for me like some of my cheaper buds did. Touch controls are also not as pleasing to use as the real buttons on my old jabras, but this is forgiveable since it allows for full control when wearing just one earbud in either ear, which my jabras didn't support. On the whole I am very happy with them and would recommend them to anyone.

The QC ultra earbuds are my third set of active noise cancelling headphones, and the noise cancellation on them is \*stunningly\* good. Connectivity isn't a problem although sometimes the app doesn't seem to be aware when the phone is connected to them. Minor gripes: I don't like touch controls as much as the physical buttons I had on my Jabra 85T's -- but I am willing to forgive this since this allows for full control with only one earbud (my jabra earbuds didn't pair independently of each other) I also find the QC charging case to be a bit on the large side, and build quality isn't as good as my Jabra case was. Sound quality is excellent, and I enjoy immersive sound even though it's clearly a gimmick.

Bose QC ultra earbuds have stunningly good noise cancellation which makes sense since Bose invented ANC.

Sony XM4s as XM5s hinge breaks faster And Bose Quietcomfort ultra Easy

That is very interesting. I have only a few minutes ago opened my brand new Ultra buds, which are my 3rd replacement, and 1. The white noise seems to be lower, and 2. I did not hear the mosquito sound that my light blue ones had. These are a darker blue, and they passed the test regarding the noise. I will use them again in a few minutes and double check. Hope these will be keepers. Fingers crossed.

OK, thanks. No, I don't have "2nd gen" on the box. I don't know why they wouldn't have sent me that. However, the mosquito sound has gone, and they seem to stay connected. Maybe I will get the 2nd gen if these still act up. Need to use them some more.

My iPhone is connected to 36 Bluetooth headphones and earbuds （also includes Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds） and has never had any connection problems. The current iOS is 18.3.2

Showing documented issues with these buds. please.

My connection is fine, so there is no need to research. I have proved from my own experience that your words are misleading.

Hey I know it's late bit do you get a static noise or mosquito like noise in you're qc ultras?

Glad you're cause of death wasnt bose qc ultra earbuds. I hit them up as well and they offered to replace them. But i think ima sell them instead. I just tweaked with the XM5 buds and im blown away with the audio now I switched to LDAC, turned on lossless, and dolby atmos audio, along with spatial on apple music and prioritized audio quality and it's christmas in my head. I'm never cheating on sony again.

I enjoy my TW4, I am liking the Bose QC ultra a little more now though

I have BoseQC ultra and sennhieser TW4, for sound quality I say TW4 but only slightly. I only grabbed them for music, I find the calls on TW4 or ordinary at best though. For sound I recommend TW4, if you take bulk calls I recommend Bose. It’s all personal preference at the end of the day though

I see plenty raving about the demon pearl being the best on the market, I have BoseQC ultra and the M4, well my kids do and I borrow both. I can only see minor differences in either of those models. I am guessing and it’s only a guess that there would only be minor differences between all models

I hated them for the gym I tried every assortment of the ear plug and positioning in my ears and no matter what they were constantly falling out.

I loved them when I first got them. Noise cancelling features are great! BUT about a year into using them they started crapping out on me. They always disconnect randomly from my phone. They won’t turn on after charging them. They’re super finicky.

I'm currently using Bose "Quiet Comfort Ultra" and I'm pretty happy with the sound and comfort. the also have App to operate all functions. easy ANC on/off by tap and hold. However I have not much experience with other high quality products. And no money to spend just for testing :) so i come to ask your honest opinion, as i really like DENON products and feel it could be an asset for my audiophile profile to have one of those PerL Pro for exchange. What would be your take on this ?

The mic quality especially in noisy environments sounds better in the gen 2 based on that video. I am curios how well it works on android. I feel android handles sound process is different

That would be amazing. I tried the gen 1 on my pixel 7 but unstable Bluetooth, and mic was horrible. I even tried my wifes airpods on my android and it did not do as well as when she uses it on her iphone. Thats what made me suspect that apple does something to the audio it receives from the mic to make it clearer.

So I just got these a week ago, app said there was a firmware update did that and after one day of listening, I put them back in the case to charge and the next day still dead. Yellow light came on the case but in the online help it says it might be the charger. So I changed chargers and the yellow light comes but next day still no charge to earbuds. Tried another charger still nothing. Now I need to figure out how to get them replaced or repaired. Update: Filed for a warranty repair, shipped my earbud and later Bose does not repair and send back this product. Instead they send you a replacement, however they did not have any new QC Ultras and are sending me a referb set. I called and expressed how much I would rather get my headphones back or a new set as these were "brand new". They offered me a small refund and ensured that even though it was labeled referb is was an unused product. (referb sets on BOSE website are cheaper then a new set at this time, hence the small refund)

I returned them because the ANC/transparency can not be turned off. Battery life is lacking and no wireless charging I opted for the cheaper quiet comfort earbuds and they do everything I can ask for including just using them as headphones without any other processing of outside noise for over 100$ cheaper.

I tried a lot of Earbuds, Google Pixel Buds 2, Samsung buds pro 2, Bose qc ultra, jabra elite 10, one plus... Everyone of this add a good anc. Sony don't. And I even tried 3 xm5 units. If you tried anc on and off its the same thing. No difference what so ever. That's my experience. And I love sony products. I own xm5 headphones for example

Ok I believe you Bird that's not my experience... On the other side for example qc ultra block everything. It's a night and day difference

These earbuds are terrible. I've had them for a year now, planning to get something new soon. Initially the size hurt my ears when wearing them for about an hour, so I ordered their smaller size set and that helped. I have continuous connectivity issues with this device with both my laptop and iphone. Recently I noticed the left ear is much quieter than the right ear and I have gotten to the point where I just won't wear them anymore because it drives me crazy. The sound quality is good but not great, I bought these expecting bose as a top brand in headphones and speakers to have good quality earbuds but this is just not it.

I'm beginning to think that it's all subjective. I have the Buds 2 pro but with aftermarket foam tips. I bought the Bose QC ultras thinking I would upgrade. But I did a side by side comparison with all different sounds and environments being able to wear 1 pair and immediately switch to the other. The Buds 2 pros actually blocked more out and sounded quieter. When playing music, they were equal in ANC and I couldn't tell much difference, but on just ANC alone, the Buds 2Pros with foam tips was noticeably quieter and blocked out more voices, and random sounds. I returned the Bose. Yes the Bose work great for sure. But add foam tips, and the Buds 2 Pros have them beat, noticeably. My 2¢.

QCU without a doubt.

Bose quiet comfort ultra earbuds. Incredible ANC

I know exactly what you mean. I had those same old earbuds too, and they were bugging. The ultra’s are significantly better. They are not buggy like the old ones. I don’t know if you’re a Costco member or not but they are selling the ultra earbuds there. You can buy them and try them if they don’t work out just return them full price returned In terms of noise cancellation I have tried everything out there and the Bose are the best.

You are correct they are buggy what I did was. I called Bose and complained and told him about my issues. They replaced them with ultras for free. I highly recommend you call Bose and complain about the issues. They will send you a replacement pair of ultras.

I just brought the Bose quiet, comfort ultra, and they are the best headphones I’ve ever owned so much so that I sold my AirPods Pro because in ear earbuds no longer work for me. They caused too much pain with my allergy ears so I would go for the ultras. The sound quality is awesome. The noise canceling is just fine and they’re the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever owned. Hope this helps.

Best sound - Denon PerL Pro https://amzn.to/3UDbDyV Best ANC - Bose https://amzn.to/3UElULs Best combo - Sony https://amzn.to/40x2fAG To me, Sony doesn't sound as good as the Denon and Bose beats it on the ANC side, but it's a great total package.

Does anyone with QC Ultra Earbuds have excessive hiss (white noise) (even with ANC disabled)? I purchased two sets in Lunar Blue and they both had a poor noise floor. Turning off quiet mode and creating a custom mode with ANC off only reduced it slightly. I ended up returning but otherwise really liked them.

So disappointed with the ultras. When I run with them on I get popping sounds and they suck for phone calls. Loved the sound but fuck for the price they can’t fix that shit. Trying out the sennheiser sports now. A bit quiet and hear a whooshing sound but way better for phone calls.

lol yeah I don’t understand how any running review article rates them as one of the best. So disappointing and I’ve read on here that many users sent them back and got new pairs more than once and it was the same issues. Suck cause the sound is mint but can’t pay that price tag and have issues like that, sorry.

Oh how I was so excited to get mine and I loved them until I went for a run. Sound is amazing but there was a random popping noise in both buds when my feet hit the floor. That and the poor audio on phone calls. The person on the other end could hear nothing. I loved my Bose sound sports. Don’t know why they couldn’t have kept those around. Simple no bs headphones.

I couldn’t bear them for working out. Sent them back. Crazy popping sound when running. 🏃‍♂️

You’re lucky. I did a deep dive and it’s a very common problem.

Bose QC ultra are great

I have Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I like them, comfortable, connection is straightforward. I had the Sony XM3 or 4 and didn't like them.

Theyre fantastic. Anc is the best I've experienced. Sound and call quality is superb. Real life battery is ~5hrs with anc all the way up. If I had to find a fault I'd say the app can be glitchy.

It means DO NOT GET THEM. Get the Bose QC Ultra.

Airpods Pro 2 if you're on iphone and it's probably the QC ultra for android.

I got my wife and I each a pair. One black and one white. We haven't had any issues. My wife has had some whacky connection issues but that's only because they somehow got paired to her Fire tablet we don't use anymore and it kept taking over the connection. Once I unpaired them from that, I haven't heard her complain. The noise cancelling is great and sound quality is awesome. I don't know how they compare to Beats though. I have seen lots and lots of complaints here though. Mostly connection issues, problems with one bud not working, static in the left bud, and buds not charging properly. I'm not sure if this is a quality control issue, a device issue, or what. But be aware of the issues, thoroughly test, and be prepared to return them or exchange them if you experience issues. I will say, though, that the charging can be interrupted if the fin/wing part isn't properly aligned. I learned this when my wife complained about 1 of her buds not working anymore. Upon investigation, it was dead (battery). I tried to charge it and it wouldn't. But it was kinda squishy in the case. The wing was just slightly out of alignment, enough to keep the bud propped up away from the charging pins. The wing has a tab and the buds have a notch for the tab to fit in. This aligns it properly to fit the charger without issue. It's not very obvious this becomes a problem, which is why I'm mentioning it.

Great sound and the ANC is awesome when you're on a flight. Downside is i seem to sometimes get popping noises when I'm walking about but only in the right earbud occasionally. Never had any connection issues.

Bose QC Ultra. I used them on a flight from London to New York and the ANC was amazing, that eliminated about 90% of the noise of the engines

I've had the Sony XM5 for a little over a year. If ANC is what you're looking for, the Sony's are very overrated. It's terrible. I have quite a few other gripes about them as well. I had the XM4s before and IMO, they were better earbuds overall. From your list, I would go with the Bose Quiet Comfort. In my quest to replace my XM5s I'm currently trying out the Technics AZ80s and Bowers and Wilkins Pi8. If ANC is what you're after, I definitely look into the Technics as well. Noise cancellation is pretty fantastic. They don't touch B&W from a sound quality perspective, but ANC is great.

Same. I have been using AirPods since ages as I am in the mac ecosystem. I was apprehensive about buying the Bose qc ultra earbuds. I have been using these for a month now. Made two flights - absolutely amazing ANC, use for running and outdoors- never felt that they would slip out! And they connect smoothly with my Apple Watch, iphone, MacBook. Sound quality is amazing too, the immersive mode really works. The app has an EQ which can be tweaked to your sound preference. Ticks most boxes! Haven’t tried the Other high end earbuds to compare sound quality so won’t know if they sound the best!

I personally liked my ultra QC earbuds, there was some connection issues at times but overall they were very good for the little over 2 years I had them until they weren’t. Recently I was tryna take the silicone tip off and the whole left earbud tip broke off, and after doing some research there’s a bunch of issues like this quality wise. Luckily Bose has a pretty solid trade in program and I got the headphones for about half off and absolutely love them.

I'm kind of late, but I see a lot of positive comments here so I just wanna give my experience. Mine have degraded significantly in just a few months- they started out great but quickly got a bunch of technical issues. Sometimes after charging they don't work at all and I have to reset them to get them to respond to anything. The Bluetooth goes out randomly while I use them but still looks like it's connected so once again, have to rest them to get it to work. And you HAVE to plug them in to rest it, so sometimes they're just completely useless when I try to bring them somewhere. Very annyoing. The case is also VERY flimsy and easily breakable compared to competitors. Airpods for example have a metal hinge that stands up to the test of time. On these the hinge is cheap, thin, plastic. Mine is already partially cracked just from normal use. Very unimpressive for the price imo. Had them for about 5 months. Personally would not recommend considering they're on the higher end price wise.

Software updates fixed those problems a long time ago btw

I just returned my 3rd set of QC earbuds. Upgraded from SoundSport wireless for a discount on QCII. They failed within 3 months. They gave me a free upgrade to QC Ultra. They failed within 4 months. I asked whether I could get the Ultra Open earbuds or a credit refund for the QC Ultras toward the Open earbuds, and they said no. So what I'm going to do now is get my second pair of QC Ultras (third pair in the QC earbud line) and sell them in the sealed package locally. I'm going to put that money toward a pair of TOZO open earbuds to try them (they were way cheaper and on discount). If they're no good, I'll try Shokz. I told this to Bose in my comments regarding service. I was willing to try the Open earbuds, but I did not want another pair of QCs. They do not fit my ears, even with the extra sized tips I had to special order (free, but still inconvenient). They fell out all the time when I walked, cycled, or chewed, especially if I got sweaty. The SoundSport tips were great and I loved that the buds were connected to each other. The sound was good, the fit was good, and, aside from charge time, battery life, and calendar degradation, they were great headphones. They could easily improve upon all three of those problems with a new version and new technology.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

I haven’t had this issue. And sound quality has always been good. Battery life is good not great though.

I have the Bose QC Ultra for when I'm mowing the lawn, or doing anything that has a lot of noise. But for daily out and about ill use the Airpods 4 ANC. Just so comfortable to use

The Bose Ultra ear buds are absolutely amazing. Most times when I wear them, I say-dang, that sounds really awesome-like other high end headphones. But, I don't think it's the best choice for sports etc.

I'm on the similar boat, mine developed a distracting hissing in the left ear in Aware mode. and I found it is being sold in Canada while I was in Canada over the weekend, but they don't have physical store any more and delivery estimation is two weeks

Do as you will with the previous comments but I highly recommend the Bose QC Ultra earbuds. Yes, they “occasionally” have connectivity issues but it is not majority of the time that it takes away from the overall experience and quality of these buds. Having multiple earbuds to compare to, both ANC and latest AirPods, these are the best in ANC, comfort, and fit, and the sound is excellent. Strong mids, clear highs, and plenty of deep clean bass across the board – all of which can be tweaked by the EQ in the app to your taste. I also think the buds look stylish and premium with its glossy and metallic finishes and are built very good. The cons: mic is terrible, battery life is average, and the case, although looks nice, could be better quality (build and no wireless charging). To help further future proof them, it has the latest Snapdragon chip for future Android devices, continuous firmware update improvements via app, and Immersion modes for Spatial Audio. Try them for yourself, Bose offers a risk free 90 day return and Best Buy offers 14 day with no restocking fees. Goodluck! https://preview.redd.it/0wgmhxxe3ope1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=00a88caf3aa6f48732d3b98da7833d218c69e4aa

Bose ultras are great ! There was an offer on Amazon few days back ,

I just got the Bose quiet comfort ultra earbuds and they’re my favorite so far

Best Sound Sennheiser, no doubt. Best anc Bose

I do not recommend Bose quiet comforts. I loved them, they were the best earbuds, until they stopped connecting. Had them less than 2 years and now they won't sync with each other or with a device. My research into it has discovered this is a big problem with Bose, they know about, and don't care. They'll just use it to try to upsell you into buying another 300$ pair. Just a warning to anyone considering them. 

They’re exceptionally good. I’m comparing them to my AirPods Pro 2. 

Bose QC ultra. They do everything you want them to.

Yeah, I think that might just be yours. I have none of those issues. I'd still get the Sony or Bose instead, though.

The first version of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds were amazing in terms of comfort, fit, and noise cancelling and just lacked modern features like One Ear listening (only allow you to close the case and listen with the right earbuds). I have mine from 2-3 years ago and they're still kicking (albeit they're definitely worn in). I just got the QC Ultra Earbuds and they're riddled with hissing, beeping, and crackling issues. If you're gonna rock these earbuds without music at all, skip these. I hear the issue is the same on the QC II earbuds.

Yep, no longer buying bose noise cancelling until they fix this.

Take a look at the Bose QC ultras. They have different modes that you can customize for noise cancellation. I ditched AirPods for these and love them.

I wanted to love the bose SOOOOO badly, but holy shit bose can't code a peice of software if their lived depended on it. Constantly cut out, and they would constantly disconnect from my s23. I hope they fixed them now.

I love mine. I haven’t had issues with the not connecting / not syncing thing and use them multipoint throughout the day, every day for 8 months now. The one thing I’ll say though. Do not use these for phone calls. People can’t hear me. The microphone quality is not that great.

I love them, but recently returned mine when I saw the leak for the Gen 2s. I'll pick those up when they release.

That's quite the audio line-up, and one hell of an endorsement for the Bose QC Ultra earbuds. Do you still stand by them? How do the QC Ultras stack up against the XM5 in terms of comfort? I like how the XM5 case is smaller and supports wireless charging, but I think I would prefer the fit and comfort of the Bose QC Ultra. I can also buy the wireless charging case for the QC Ultra if I really want to add wireless charging on top of additional protection. My previous (striked-out) and current audio line-up is: * ANC Over-Ear headphones * ~~Bose QC35~~ * ~~Bose Headphones 700~~ * Sony WH-1000XM5 * ANC earbuds * ~~Bose QC20~~ * ~~Samsung Galaxy Buds~~ * ~~Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro~~ * ~~Google Pixel Buds Pro~~ * Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro * Open/bone conduction * ~~Shokz OpenRun~~ * ~~Shokz OpenFit~~ * Bose Ultra Open Earbuds As a runner and cyclist, my mostly used type is open earbuds, since being able to hear my surroundings while I'm exercising is extremely important. Also, their comfort is unmatched, so I always find myself gravitating towards open earbuds. But open styles are horrible when traveling, so I use both over-ear headphones and ANC earbuds for that. Headphones if I can spare the bag space, and earbuds if I can't. I've been in search of the single ANC TW earbuds that could replace the bulky headphones, but I never found a pair that was comfortable to wear during long international flights, and offered similar levels of ANC. Which has gotten me eyeing the QC Ultra, especially after how happy I am with my recently purchased Bose Ultra Open.

They have the best noise canceling/immersive mode my ears have ever experienced!🍻

I have been using this pair for 5 months now. While it’s less stable than Sony and Sennheiser, it's not too bad overall. I used to experience random connection losses a few times a week... until now. Since last week, it disconnects from my phone after just a few minutes of listening. Putting them back in the case doesn’t solve the issue either. So, I’ve reset them and am now trying to see if it happens again after a fresh connection. It’s been fine for the last two hours. Another issue I’ve noticed is that the newly added multipoint feature doesn’t work well. The sound cuts off too often for about a second when connected to two devices simultaneously. I’ve used most of the top earbuds in recent years, and so far, the QC Ultra’s connection quality is the worst. However, I’ll keep enjoying them as long as the problem doesn’t reappear, simply because the sound quality is truly exceptional.

If you sweat, the Bose earpads probably won’t hold up very long. If you like the Bose sound profile, I’d recommend trying the QC earbuds. They have great ANC and really good sound performance and are currently on sale for $149…assuming you’re in the US.

Love the fit, the ANC and enjoy the sound. Connectivity issues have been on and off for me. They’ll work great for days, then randomly they’ll have all kinds of issues.

I have the ultras and use them for lifting, but I can’t use them for anything like running or jumping. They’re fine for walking, but anything more jarring transmits the impact to the earbuds resulting in thumping or popping sounds.

Appreciate the honest review. So many of the reviews are biased and paid for. "Wowy Zowy...Bose has done it again!!" I'm interested in your experience after you've used them for a while. Mostly, I'm curious about connectivity and stability. I'm on my second pair of Ultra gen 1 and they are getting progressively less reliable as time goes on.

The question I would ask is what do you use headphones for when you travel? For me, I don’t listen to music on the plane. I’m either listening to an audio book or watching something on my iPad. If I’m going to try and sleep (yeah, right!), I don’t keep my earbuds or headphones on. I have the Bose Sleepbuds (version 2) and they are extremely comfortable for their one use and do a great job masking noise for me (both on the plane and in hotel). Interestingly, I never had over the ear headphones for travel and only used earbuds. I travel a lot - both flying and driving - and decided before my last trip (which included a couple of long flights) to purchase the Bose Ultra QC. Yes, they took up room in my backpack but I didn’t have to sacrifice anything to make room. I workout with earbuds when on the road, so I kept my AirPods Pro. The noise canceling and comfort while watching movies and listening to my book was worth it for me. Also, because I travel so much, for me it’s worth it - even if I end up not using the QCs much once I’m at my destination.

With the recent update there is an improvement to the sound quality and soundstage of the product including multipoint connectivity, so i’d go for it. My two-cents worth, i guess the moonstone blue is a better buy in terms of color since its a newer batch, i dont know if it’s just me but it sounds better than the black that i have

With the recent update there is an improvement to the sound quality and soundstage of the product including multipoint connectivity, so i’d go for it. My two-cents worth, i guess the moonstone blue is a better buy in terms of color since its a newer batch, i dont know if it’s just me but it sounds better than the black that i have

I returned mine. The sound kept cutting out every 30 seconds even after troubleshooting and deleting the app. They hurt my ears too. I really wanted to love them cause the ANC was amazing. I like my over the ear Bose QC ultra but still trying to find a good earbud.

Great question. I mostly listen to Prog Metal, Metal, and rock music. I tried the Bose quietcomfort ultra. While they sounded great, I had many issues with it. The worst one was a loud thumping noise while running because of the ANC and you can't turn the thing off. Before this I had the Samsung buds which were great but call quality wasn't good. I read many reviews, watched many YouTube videos and finally settled on the Jabra.

I can’t get mine to stay in my ear, despite trying every combination of silicon thing Meanwhile my AirPods Pro are perfect fitting All the reviews I’ve seen are the opposite of my experience Otherwise NC and sound is as good as QC35/45 but less comfortable in ear

Try the accessories tips from Bose store Try the smallest inner part and largest widest part Does the job for me at the gym, but will keep the AirPods Pro for running

Actually Get the extra tips from the Bose store Put the smallest plug and biggest ear thing It did the trick for me

Nice review. I've tried most earbuds (including these) and I think (at the end of the day) fit is going to be the deciding factor. They can be the best on the market at this or that, but if they don't fit well, it's a moot point. Example. The AZ-100's are very good, yes... but the fit was terrible for me (so I returned them). I've always had issues, though, with getting something to fit right (AirPods Pro, Sony's, etc.). For some reason... Bose fits me perfectly (I returned the QC Ultra's, however, since my QC 2's were as good; the immersion thing didn't impress me and Apple's spatial is better)... even though the sound quality is a bit lackluster. Like someone else mentioned, the Pi8's are fantastic (and if you use their case trick, it skyrockets to #1 as far as great audio). I'm heavily wedded to Apple's ecosystem, so I use AirPods Pro for most things... but if I'm trying to block out noise (which I'm sensitive to)... Bose all the way. Always. Every time. I haven't tried the super pricey ones (Devialet Gemini, B&O Beoplay, etc.), but I'm not spending $500+ on earbuds. While I know everyone hates them, the AirPod Pro's do the trick most of the time (for me).

I’ve been very happy with the momentum 4 - both wired and wireless performance. ANC is good and the battery lasts forever. The touchpad is a little twitchy but haven’t had any real problems. Just more careful when taking them on/off. Got them for $209 so I am quite pleased with price/performance. I have the older px7. They sound good but there is a hissing when used in wired mode. Search the web for px8 hissing and it sounds like there is a different problem with them. I hadn’t noticed because I was usually using them wirelessly - but after Apple Music put out hi-res lossless I was super disappointed to find that the px7 were unusable with wires. The Bose ultra line has the best anc. My wife went with the ear buds and loves the anc. They note have multipoint connection and the Bluetooth seems ok for them. (There are reports of Bluetooth issues but my family doesn’t seem to have experienced any issues)

Ultra. They also feel super light in the ear. I tried Sony's that sound good but are very dense. Stick with the ultra.

I have these and they are excellent. 

I bought the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra earbuds last year and have been very happy with them. List price I think was about $300, but I got them during Prime Days and they were about $100 off. Good sound quality for my not-very-demanding ears. I too was worried about them falling out, but after a little experimenting with the included tips and stabilizer rings, they have been solid. No issues even when working out. Most days I only have them in for an hour or two, and they stay charged for about two weeks at that usage level.

I sold my Bose Quiet Comfort ultra and I'm now trying the AZ100 - the sound is noticeably better but the ANC is definitely worse

I have the Bose QC Ultra and Pixel Buds Pro 2. My wife has the air pods pro. Bose are definitely the best. Air pods are by far the worst. The pixel buds are probably the most comfortable though.

I had the XM5s. I liked them a lot. A little uncomfortable with their tips but workable. Then I lost them. (I’m sure a hotel housekeeper has them. “We looked and looked and can’t find them ANYwhere!” 😒 I bought the Bose QC Ultra and I LOVE them. But they crapped out after 10 months. I’m waiting on a replacement from Bose. This experience has shown me Bose’s quality reputation with these buds is pretty bad. I bought AirPods Pro 2 and returned them the next day. I must have big ears. I could not get a solid fit. Move-around stability and ANC were atrocious, I’m sure because of the fit. I ordered and am waiting on a pair of Technics AZ100. From everything I’ve read I’m hoping with foam tips I’ll be able to get to very good ANC levels.

Bose ultra quiet comfort. ANC was so good I didn’t hear people alighting from my shuttle bus and I almost went home with the driver

Awesome as for me. Only one connection issue but sounds great, fits great, battery life great i think they r well worth it

Sound is ok but microphone is totally useless if you have a little bit of background noise. Bose fan for the past 10y but after this fail wont be buying bose anytime soon.

For me the Bose quiet comfort ultras, they also have astonishingly low bass the only issue is that they’re kind of glitchy. ANC is world class too.

I'm using the Bose QCUE. I bought the Quiet Comfort II Earbuds shortly after they were released, on EBAY, but I started having issues with charging them. Instead of fixing them, BOSE sent me a FREE, upgraded pair of the Bose Ultra Quiet Comfort Earbuds. They are SO much better than the QC II. Every time I get a product, I just take the time to register them, and now the replacements are still covered under a new warranty. 10/10 Customer Service. They recalled some of their Acoustimass Subwoofers, which are not expensive used at Goodwill, or local online. I've been debating buying one in the bag serial number range because I hear they'll send out Smart Soundbars instead.

Sony's or Bose's top option. Sony's have better ANC Bose are more comfortable

But low battery if you choose anc, right?. Like 4 hours

The best earbuds for working out have silicone tips. The ones without Ala airpods and galaxy buds 3 are not great at all. I use Bose QC Ultra AND Galaxy Buds3 Pro for the gym. Both are comfy and pretty secure. The Bose are better for ANC. Jabra Elite 10 & Elite 8 actives are also very good. Sennheiser Momentum Sport are fairly new and have the added advantage of little wingtips. They also come with a heart rate sensor built in. All the above do have silicone tips though. So without silicone tips u could something like Shokz or Bose Open buds (forget the exact name). Neither will have ANC and wont block out the rubbish background music that most gyms tend to blast out.

Unfortunately there are NO "one size fits all" and there are NO "best wireless earbuds" at rhe moment. Sound, ANC, fit & comfort are very much dependant on how they fit you. Eartips FROM Azla, Spinfit and Comply also enhance the experience with better grip and comfort. I've had all the buds on your list. I see Sonys mentioned a lot in this thread. They are awful imo. Very small footprint makes them loose in my ears. Terrible hybrid foam tips which are too small and have no grip. It's ANC gives a bad thudding body noise when ur exercising or when there's a loud noise near u. Turn anc off and it's gone. Call quality very average and poor in noise environments. They also have battery issues which u can read with a quick Google. Technics AZ80 have very good sound quality and decent battery life but they didn't stay in properly for me. ANC is average at best. The customisation and app is one of the best out there. Jabra Elite 10 are solid. Esp when paired with Azla eartips. Good anc, good sound good call quality. Bose QC Ultra have good sound, best in class anc but they also have a thudding noise when anc is on, although not as bad as the Sonys. Call quality is average and bad in noise environments. App control and connection and stability are not great. Sennheiser MTW4 are what I stuck with. Good sound (esp when personalised and tweaked), good comfortable fit for me, good anc, good battery. Call quality is average. Good app and customisation.

Jabra Elite 10 don't give this thump. I've had a few sets. Try Azla eartips on them to improve the sound and stability. Sennheiser MTW4 don't have this thud either. Bose QC Ultra do have the issue. Sony XM5 do have the issue. Technics AZ80 don't have the issue.

Yes but unfortunately no one earbud set contains all of the good things. Best ANC = Bose QC Ultra Best sound = MTW4, Technics Az80/100, Pi8, Devialet Gemini 2 etc etc Best comfort = Bose QC Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro imo Best mic and call quality = Galaxy Buds3 Pro imo. Some say Huawei pro 3 Best battery.. Most are 6hrs+ without anc and up to 6hrs with There are prob buds I've forgotten but I have tried a lot and my faves up to no have been the MTW4's. Not the best at everything but the best all round imo.

I had the issue, replaced with 3 separate sets. Every pair had the same issue. Gave up and got a refund. Extremely poor design from Bose.

Struggling to see how they're the best when basically every comment here describes reliability or design issues. The sound nice but they're very badly made, and designed.

No connectivity issues with my **Gen1** QC ultra earbuds (the potato looking ones). ANC is great, though they aren't great for running.. yeah. swipe controls are annoying, I just don't use them. Battery life is great, in regular use, I typically don't charge the case for the whole week (full time student, about \~4 hours of use per day) Iphone / MacOS

they're good for walking, they won't budge for regular use. I run about 5K and keep having to adjust them, but that's the only time. Gym, weights, walking, everything else is perfect. Keep in mind I'm using the Gen 1 with the ear fin design and heavier earphone.

Ever since I've flown with my Bose QC over ear headphones, it will take a lot of convincing to myself not to take them. I do a onebag + personal carryon and stuff them in there. I interchange between the over ear and airpods pro or Bose Ultra QC buds just to make things interesting. Otherwise, there's nothing like defending your ears from the awful engine hum of a long flight. Only reason I wouldn't take them is if I had a 6 hr or less flight. I found I use them a lot once at destination, esp. hotel room, beaches, walking around a city.

All of my problems were fixed by tweaking the settings I wanted. Then just... uninstalling the app completely. No popping sounds/disconnections. Sound distortions, and whatnot. But, I still have an issue with the white noise coming out of the bose qc ultras than the sony wf-1000xm4s (previous pair before battery drain issues forced me to return them)

I'm disappointed at the amount of white noise I'm hearing. It's annoying, when you are in a naturally quiet room, bose punches out non existent white noise

The Bose have great noise canceling but have very bloated bass. You can EQ the bass down to help balance the sound more. The spatial audio on the Bose ultras works pretty well. I'm on Android so not limited by the codecs like on Apple devices. It does seem the AirPods Pro 2 are probably your best bet since you are in the Apple ecosystem.

The QC Ultra shouldn’t even be mentioned. I bought two of them last week as a gift to my wife and sent them back. Bose tried to save way too much money on them. The ANC has a very high level of continuous background noise with music on pause. It’s even hearable in low volume stuff. Also. The left earbuds of all of them have these static sounds and interference constantly. It’s so bad it’s insane Bose dares to ask this much for them. Internet is FILLED with people with these issues having gotten 3 replacements all with the same issues. Unless they fix them, don’t go near them. The sound is good though. But for the rest they suck. If you want constant noise and insanely annoying static and interference go for it. My AirPods Pro 2 are WAY better (just not in the sound department. I hope Apple updates that in a next iteration). I am even thinking to buy my wife AirPods Pro to use on her android just for how good they are. ANC is super quiet, sound is good. No strange noises. No connectivity issues. Only haven’t tried Sonys. If my wife likes them I will get her those.

Bose QC Ultra earbuds have way superior ANC compared to my APP2’s.

I had the QC Ultra that I returned during their 90-day trial and replaced with the Buds3 Pro. The Bose had the best sound and ANC based on my experiences but the connection was glitchy from time to time with sometimes only 1 bud connecting. Features were also limited, but my goodness were they comfortable. As I'm in the Samsung ecosystem, the Buds3 Pro just did a lot more and was the better daily drivers. I enjoy the hands-free voice options to control music and engage Bixby to control my smart home devices, set timers etc. No idea how such an expensive Bose earbuds only offered wireless charging via an additional accessory case.

The Bose Ultra Quiet are trash to take a call with😞

I’ve tried a variety of buds to cope with a noisy colleague at work who talks loudly and types even louder. And the winner is the BoseQC Ultra hands down. Once I put it on I’m in my special space. The NC is far stronger than the next best Sony WF1000xm5.

I'm surprised, no one mentioned the Yamaha E7B, they have their own warm sound, and no fatiguing highs like Sony or Bose Trust me, I'm saying this with experience, most industrial consumer grade earphones have this high-mids combo which can be fatiguing, but at least the Yamaha try to tone it down for a bit for warmer sound, warm but a bit on the neutral end. The Bose QC ultra are really good but when you push it to limits they sound harsh and can distort and sound unatural on tracks with lots of treble. I always tend to reduce the volume of QC ultra through app to 1 bar less than full and 2 bars less on my device's volume button.

I agree strongly. I own the following earbuds: XM5, Buds 3 Pro, Liberty 4 NC, and the Bose QC Ultra. I took all of the earbuds and my Bose QC 45 headphones on a flight recently. I wanted to finally see if any of these earbuds can compete with my Bose QC 45's. I got tired of all these claims of this is better than this. I wanted to see what to MY ears provided the best ANC. I find earbuds more comfortable anyways because of my glassses. I found Bose QC Ultra earbuds easily rivaled the Bose QC 45's! I was shocked. I don't know what king of magic or voodoo they are doing but they are my main ANC audio gear for flying. I am contemplating on buying a 2nd pair or just bring one of my other earbuds as a backup to circumvent the battery limitations on long duration flights. Carrying 2 cases of earbuds is a lot smaller and easier to pack than headphones too.

terrible bluetooth connectivity in my experience

Bose ultra. The ANC on them is top notch. The Bluetooth pairing seems to be fixed and that was my only issue ever with them.

Didn't know about multi pairing,I only have them paired to my phone. I wear mine basically all day, one at a time so they last as long as I want. But if I'm somewhere loud, or doing something loud like using an electric sander or cutting wood, I throw both in and can't hear a thing besides what I'm listening to. I can still hear it faintly in the background but whatever I'm listening to, I hear completely without any burden.

I'm having the same issue. I think I'm going to return them.

Hi - as you were so helpful, I thought I'd let you know, I actually returned the open box ultra's. I was fine with them and resorted to using them for work calls and normal life but not jogs but their bluetooth was just bad. too many connection issues and wasn't great for work because you don't want to start every call with "can you hear me". anyway i did get the Bose QC 2024's and I did a short jog. They had a much much less pronounced thump AND you can turn off ANC to completely make it go. so these don't have that issue. thanks so much for all your insight!

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds had the best ANC overall. On a plane, they blocked out engine noise almost completely, and even in noisy cafés, they handled voices really well. Sony WF-1000XM5 were a close second. Great at blocking low-frequency sounds like fans, traffic, or office hum. They let a bit more high-pitched noise through (like sharp voices), but still very quiet overall. Technics EAH-AZ80 had decent noise cancelling — enough for a train ride or a coffee shop, but I noticed more background sound slipping through compared to Bose and Sony.

I think they are fantastic in terms of AND and sound

Honestly this is my first bose product and probably my last. I don’t know what people are talking about when they say that the sound quality is amazing it’s rlly not all that I’ve hear better from other companies. For me it just sounds mediocre. I cant confirm if any other modes work but i can tell you how much i don’t like noise cancellation…. It just doesn’t work. I still hear everything and if the noise is too loud like a car door it makes this pulse or a muffled noise (best way i can describe it) that disturbs my music. For all ik mine could be defective but this is not a product i would recommend and had a really bad experience 😵‍💫

They were brilliant. ANC and sound quality the best I ever had. After a couple of hours sometimes the right bud starting making crackling sounds but it was ok because the sound quality was so incredible. Pitty I got headaches from them, a rare side effect of using them

I have Google Buds Bose QC Ultra a d B+O EX The EX blows the others away for sound, battery life awful and next to no ANC, these are my got to at home , crap app Ultra is a superb fit and great all rounder Pixel buds for when I dont care if I lose them so on the beach

I ordered the QC Ultra 2nd Gen via Amazon in Germany and received it on Friday. Conclusion: Sensational. I previously had the Sony wf-1000xm5, but the Bose ones are better. Tested on a plane today. The ANC is incredibly good. Total peace, you have to experience it for yourself. Clear purchase recommendation!

I just bought them as well. I've been using Bose for many years for my household entertainment, and was looking for a running set to replace my fading Aftershocks, which I love except the grind behind the back of my ear after a while, and on a plane you can't lean your head back without them pushing forward and you loose the sound. I see folks using pods all the time, and I thought Bose would have this down; so seeing the sale the need for work headphones with noise cancelling to focus and conference calls and running I picked them up. The Noise Cancelling is no contest Amazing! The surround sound or even awareness modes are also awesome, but while running they bounce in your ear just enough and the pick up the sound like a drum being beat in your ear. I haven't run far enough in them for them to start falling out, but every time you touch/brush/bump them to firm them in place, it F's with the settings, pause, volume, they're just not tech operating friendly. I'm torn between keeping them for work only and calls or returning and just getting something else. I don't need 3 different pairs of headphones/buds....

Ultra comfort Bose 2

I have them. They are alright. Best anc in the game. Sound is good and has eq in the app but the stock tuning is terrible. Pretty comfy but come loose during workouts. When they come loose, they fall out. Major annoyance is the white noise that you hear when no music is playing or during spoken word content it’s infuriating. Sometimes you get this little mosquito noise in the left bud. Also connection with iPhone has always been terrible. Dropped connections, sometimes it just won’t connect. I bought the AirPods Pro 2 after and have been using them ever since. I absolutely love them. Stock tuning is pretty much perfect with all genres. No eq though but honestly doesn’t need it. They are more comfortable and stay in my ears better. Add foam tips and they literally don’t move and sound even better. If you’re not an apple person, then maybe not for you but I love them.

I vote for Bose QC ultra. Only have experience with Bose and Airpods from your list. Among those two, Bose is far far superior in every way for my use. While ANC and comfort of Airpods are good, sound is terrible and not even as good as cheap $20 earbuds. Bose sounds great, good ANC, works with Android, iPhones, Mac, Windows and TV and they are super comfortable for longer periods of use in my ears .

Bose QC ultra is really good and they sound great too. Airpods pro 2 are good at this as well , but they sound terrible compared to Bose and as you are on Samsung phone , won’t make much sense anyway.

Love Bose QC Ultras.

If you're looking for the absolute best ANC earbuds, then it Bose II or the Bose Ultra — hands down. Nothing else is better than these right now. Something may come along, but as of today, as of this moment, they are my go-to earbuds when I need the best ANC. If there is something better out there, I would have them.

The IIs are slightly less effective than the Ultras, which are hardly noticeable in my experience, but both are amazing. As far as ear pressure goes, I can't speak to that because I don't feel it.

I have the BOSE QC Ultra to help with concussion symptoms. Noise and voices trigger bad headaches. I can say they're awesome. Adjustable ANC so you can "tune" them to allow a certain volume through. The app isn't the best but for I only use the buds to reduce sounds and works awesome for it

Bose quiet comfort ultra. Best noise cancelling in the industry. Best buy has them on sale $80 dollars off, too.

Look it has some connectivity issues that piss me off so much sometimes, but once you get the fixes you will love em. The bass is on point, it's very bassy and somehow still manages to pump out equal highs and mids. Other products that are bassy often ignore the bass accuracy but bose have considered that and you can really notice it. Super comfy as well Great earbuds overall once you get over the connectivity issues.

Bose QC Ultras with a Bluetooth dongle in the 3.5mm jack. That way it switches from whatever I'm already connected to (usually my PC) to the portal, and back when I'm done playing. Sounds amazing, and no need for multiple headphones.

Bose QC ultras and samsung galaxy buds pro. I use the bose when i'm at home and the buds pro when i'm traveling.

Mini review sorry: The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra in ear buds have been pretty good for me (an autistic and work from home adult) , but they are quite quirky in some of the issues they have and require getting used to. Firstly they can block out outside noise quite well. They physically fit really well, and if they don't fit well with the available attachments, you can email bose and they'll send you an extra kit that's designed for people who have ear shapes that don't fit the standard set they send with the earbuds. The ANC is pretty great. Often I'll be listening to music and my partner will have to flick the lights on and off or physically move within my view to catch my attention. They're not perfect though. Someone talking loudly nearby for a consistent period of time, or there being lots of other noise and talking, means some of their voices might leak through (not consistent in every situation though), but it's still pretty great and even whatever the reduction in noise in those rare circumstances is still pretty good. And even then, when you actually start listening to music, the music + ANC +physical fit work together really well. It struggles with higher pitch sounds due to the way ANC works, but I've rarely wanted *more* from the ANC really. The issues... It's an expensive product for something that can be finicky. Firstly, connection can be a bit funny and you'll have to get used to regularly resetting the earbuds in the pod the first few weeks as you get used to the reasons why it may be acting up. Secondly, you do have to get to understand why it acts up. Little quirks like the earbuds acting funny, even if they're full battery, when the pod itself has a really low charge (I don't know why this is but I just know that it *is*). Others have issues with hardware but I've never had them in my first pair of Earbuds. The latest update to the earbuds has done a great job at fixing alot of issues, but a few small ones still remain and they can be annoying for people who aren't good with intuitively understanding that tech can have hiccups. If you get them on sale (they regularly are on sale, apparently) and are willing to try them for a couple weeks and return them if you don't like them, then it's worth it. But it's a bit overpriced imo when there are lots of quirks you have to familiarise yourself with whereas other headphones are just pick up and play. The ANC is best, but the software and hardware leaves a little bit to be desired. I still am happy with mine, but it's always a very cautious recommendation.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Undisputed kings of active noise-cancellation. Totally worth the piece of mind. They're not particularly good for calls but they're okay and I don't want calls to last long anyway. As for music, I don't listen to anything anymore; exclusively audiobooks. Bonus feature: When I get tired of listening to "someone narrating inside my head", immersive audio projects the sound outwardly similar to a pair of desktop speakers.

I tried them both .. Nothing ear, after EQ, has amazing sound quality but very poor ANC and transparency… Bose has the best ANC, comfort and a pretty efficient transparency. Sound quality is solid but below the nothing ear… if I have to pick one I would take the Bose Qc ultra though .. I ended up picking the technics az80 which, overall, was a better package for me

I tried the ultras and the Sony XM4s both are terrible with wind noise. I ultimately went back to wired in ears the Etymotic Er2SE. Those are like earplugs with sound no wind noise no weird popping sounds. Plus they sound really nice with a Fiio BTR5 Bluetooth receiver.

I have the Bose. They are great.

Have all three; qc ultra > xm5 = AirPods Pro 2. But my GOD, do not get bose. They have so many problems, like connectivity, random disconnects, 5db buzzing in one earbud… the list goes on (mind you, I’ve gotten two replacements). Not to MENTION there’s no setting in the app to disable the pause function...

Surprisingly good noise cancelling. The upgrade allowing 2 devices was really good. I do have problems keeping them in my ear, especially with a little sweat. I use Apple devices with them and they sound great on planes and coffee shops.

I’ve had the QCU earbuds for about 5 months or so. Everything was fine until the other day when I opened the Bose app to change one of the modes I created and I see that the slider for the ANC is no longer available. The ANC works as it’s supposed to on the existing modes (modes Bose included and that are locked as is - quiet, immersive, and active and my 2 additions) but even after I reset the earbuds, and followed the standard re- pair connections, app is up to date (I deleted and re downloaded). I’m using an iPhone 16 with it. Any suggestions?

I just got bose qc ultra too after returning buds 3 non pro for being too big. Bose is very comfy downside is that call quality kinda sucks and I have had one or two time where it doesn't connect. Don't know if I'll keep them but they are so comfy I might overlook the minor drawbacks.

Best ANC in the game. With a noisy upstairs neighbour they have truly saved my mental health.

Anyone use these for running? Or even bumpy public transport for that matter. When running, or when they have a bit of vibration, the whole earphones shutter, it's hard to describe but you feel and hear the shutter in your ear. If on public transport and its particular bumpy it does this too. Really noticeable, anyone else notice this?

Good to know this isn't just mine. It's real annoying as it doesn't take much for it to occur. I've played around with the base and EQ, but even with the music paused it happens

I don't understand how I've not seen more people saying this, but their firmware is garbage, so garbage in fact that it makes them entirely unusable. I am on my 6th pair, yes, 6th, because they keep continuously crashing, refusing to connect, and crashing some more, having extremely loud noise in one earbud all of a sudden, all kinds of random bs. I could write a 4 part essay, just listing every firmware / software issue these things got. I have never in my life gotten so angry from owning a product as with these literal pieces of manufactured e-waste, to the point I actually want to punch the firmware developer in the face. And a important note, this is the 4th device from Bose which has had these sorts of issues. Bose clearly does not give 2 shits about their firmware. I've had 4 pair of sleep buds, 4 pair of first gen Bose quiet comfort earbuds, they all broke through firmware issues. I have their headphones, literally need to factory reset them every single time I disconnect from my pc. And my 6th pair of quiet comfort ultra earbuds is again randomly crashing. And what makes me most angry of all is that if these pieces of garbage had proper functioning firmware, they would literally be the best earbuds on the market imo. I really want these things to get outclassed by any other company, so I can finally throw these out of a windows, drive over them with my car, smash them to pieces with a massive hammer, and set them on fire. But no, not a single other alternative I tried comes even close to the anc performance and comfort of these. I've tried plenty other ones, and they are just so much worse, I kept coming back to the Bose quiet comfort ultra's out of sheer desperation, just hoping they will have finally fixed the firmware, just to find out they probably just added 6 more bugs. These earbuds are like a toxic love hate relationship, there are moments where it's good, real good, better than anything else, and nothing comes even close, but the bad just is so bad, it's not worth it. Anyways, that was my 4am ramble. tldr, they are really good, but also the worst product on the planet, don't buy them

I use them for calls all the time and like them for that too. They only fail me when there's too much wind and when I'm busy in the kitchen (that annoys the people I'm in a fall with lol )

If you have the budget, I highly recommend [Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds](https://www.bose.com/p/earbuds/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds/QCUE-HEADPHONEIN.html?srsltid=AfmBOooVtNmHHUlxiCNI55Fvs6EAs6lDEc6ADIP4G8EerJzoKXalLEZZ). Bose has a really good noise cancellation, and this model provides 3 different sized eartips so magffit talaga siya sa ears mo. I also like how you can customize the noise cancellation and the battery life just fits my needs. The only con for me is how pricy it is locally. You can buy it sa [Shopee](https://s.shopee.ph/8KYTWcDY9a), [Lazada](https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.MhXu1) or [Amazon](https://a.co/d/digoT8K).

Just hours ago I purchased a set of Bose QC Ultras and am loving the noise cancelling. Given I have had them for about 6 hours, but I think these things will kick ass for flying based on the few things I have tested them with around the house.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra are standout choices—amazing sound and noise-canceling. Excited to see everyone's experiences with these!

Lol . Mate ... I have MTW4 as well as Bose QC ultra. If you think that by replacing this with QC Ultra earbuds, you'll have a trouble free experience, boy have i got news for you !! BTW.. my MTW4 has been totally trouble free. My situation is also exactly the same as you, sent MTW3 for warranty replacement and got MTW4. This was jn may and till now there has been no issues.

Although I'd say Bose QC headphones are better than Momentum 4 headphones. Especially if ANC is important to the person

I have a 3 months old wf-1000xm5 and it's rock solid in battery performance actually. Other than that what you need to choose depends on your priority or budget. For best ANC it's Bose QC ultra earbuds. For sound quality it's a toss up between sennheiser MTW4 or technics eah-az80

If ANC is your biggest criteria, and price is not an issue, then Bose QC ultra hands down.

I have both Bose and Sony. And Samsung buds 2 pro. Sennheiser MTW4 and technics eah-az80. I'd rank Noise cancelling as follows : Bose >> sennheiser mtw4 = Sony wf-1000xm5 > technics eah-az80 > Samsung buds 2 pro

Audio quality depends on person to person. I like punchy bass and am basically a slight bass head!! For me it's as follows : 1. Sennheiser MTW4: works on most number of genres. Awesome bass but not overpowering. 2. Bose QC Ultra: the most booming bass. Like it when I'm listening to hip hop, edm etc. But vocals are good too. Treble is a bit weak but I'm very treble sensitive so don't really mind. 3. Technics and Sony wf-1000xm5: very smooth and balanced. Sony has slightly more bass than technics. Respond well to EQ. I love these when I don't want to drown myself in bass. Particularly for classical, jazz, country music etc. 4. Samsung buds 2 pro : weakest bass in this bunch. But very bright and clear sound. I mostly use this for movies and podcasts but sometime I listen to classical on this.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds known for arguably the best noise canceling in the game.

So, like the title says, this will be a review of the Bose QC Ultra Open earbuds. Sound - As a fanatic of openears, the sound in this is obviously not as good as ones that go into your ear canal. However, I am someone who needs the open experience as I just do not like in ears. That being said, the sound on these is fantastic. There is a clarity here that I find tough to find even in in-ears. These are truly top tier in the sound department. Comfort - A lot of people rave about the comfort of these, however BE AWARE if you have bigger ears, you will feel a pinching sensation on your ear that got quite uncomfortable after about 2.5 hours of listening. If you can make the fit work, I am sure they're comfortable however I frankly hated that pinching sensation. The style is neat and more low-key, but on my end, I just couldn't get to liking these in the comfort area. Connection - This area is a weird one. They were very tough to connect, and took some troubleshooting. Luckily I only had issues the first time, and no static noise like on the normal Bose Ultra in-ears. One area that annoyed me was there is a white hissing noise that occurs every now and again, that almost kinda sounds like they are trying to find a signal. Switching from music to youtube also for whatever reason would cause an audio glitch. Connection wise, not great. Case - No issues, honestly felt better built than the Ultra in-ears. However I did notice I dont believe there is a way to see your battery percentage for the case. Not a huge issue but one to note. Features - They don't leak sound much at all, and that is literally about it. You do not get multi-pairing (this is subject to change as Bose says it is coming soon). You also get immersive audio which is good with some songs, however undeniably gimmicky. It really drowns out certain songs. It also drains the battery like 30% faster. Personally didn't find any use in it except for action movies maybe. No wireless charge, instead you have to buy a specific case from Bose for wireless charging if you want that feature. Price - Boy, this is a doozy. This can be summed up in one sentence. These are not, by any means worth $300 + tax. They just aren't. Some people will buy these and love them, however if you are considering, PLEASE note that there are much better options that are cheaper. The fact that these are the same price as their flagship is kind of insane and honestly a terrible marketing strategy. These should be $150-$200 openears. In their current state without wireless charging and multi-point, you could realistically drop $50 off that price. As a fan of openears, these are frankly a cash grab by Bose. Rating - 3/10, simply due to the sound. EDIT: Forgot to add, they have snapdragon sound. You need to have a specific phone that supports it, but if you do, then that is something to consider as well.

Just return them if you can, this current iteration just isn't worth it.

Simple: everything else sucks and is over priced.

I had them for a day before I returned them. Noise cancellation is great and all but couldn’t stand the constant buzzing mosquito sound in the left earbud. I’d expect more for $300 earbuds.

Bose QC ultra for me. I’ve always wanted to try the Technics AZ80 but Bose is doing well for me so I haven’t had the need to spend money on the Technics

Best ANC best Sound. Some issues. I can't set ANC levels in the app iphone, I can't create shortcuts in the app iphone, I can't create custom modes in the app iphone. Any clues ?

I tested APP2 and Bose QC Ultras - the ANC on APP2 is nowhere near Ultras and particularly for human voices they are terrible. In fact, I think for safety purposes Apple lets through human voice selectively because otherwise they feel very well done. Also, for me at least, APP2 puts too much pressure on my ears.

I meant the QC Ultra earbuds, so the race is very much among horses so-to-speak. I paid about the same price in-store at Bose (after discount) as Apple in-store price for APP2 (no discount available) here in Hong Kong. Mind you, if not for the ear-pressure I’d have compromised and got the APP2 because I’m deep in the Apple ecosystem. For the OP, it is important to block out noises and human voices, and APP2 is quite horrible at blocking out human voices (which I think is by design rather than failure) - so APP2 would be an extraordinarily bad choice for OP.

Mainly posting this for future people like me who consider switching from Apple AirPods Pro 2 (APP2) to Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (QC). I made the switch because I was looking for earbuds that I could use simultaneously on my iPhone and work Windows laptop. AirPods are terrible for that. Here are my comparisons: - **Sound quality:** win for the QC. They are a bit too bassy for me, but they do go deeper and also they have more detail and soundstage/imaging than the APP2. I prefer APP2 for classical and folk music, QC for all others. Dub techno on QC is heaven. - **Comfort:** small win for the QC, due to the stability wing things they are less likely to slowly vacate your ear. But both are very comfortable. - **Connectivity:** win for the QC, multipoint is very nice to have. If you only have Apple gear probably the APP2 are better in this regard. - **ANC:** clear win for the QC. They block more noise, and it’s not close. On APP2 it’s easier to switch between ANC and awareness mode. See below. - **Controls:** win for the APP2. On the QC you can do more stuff directly from the buds themselves, but because they do not really have a “stem” you’re punching them into your ear canal while doing it generating an unpleasant feeling and sound. Also the touch things on the QC are very sensitive. - **Case:** win for the APP2, their case is way smaller and has wireless charging. The QC case lid feels flimsy as well. - **Others:** the extra ANC modes you can setup on QC are nice. APP2 has head gestures to acknowledge notifications on iPhone, which is nice. QC work very good for Atmos content from Apple Music. The sound the QC plays when you put them in is jarring. Overall, more or less a tie. Hoping this is useful for someone :)

Mine hiss for the first 10 seconds. Then they stop.

I paid €230 for them. €300 would be too much for me as well.

The JBL Tour Pro 3 have a very nice EQ to tune their sound. Coming from Bose QC Ultra, I love that the JBL resolve detail a lot better than those. If you like the QC tuning better, you can get close by using the JBL EQ. Bose have better ANC and comfort. But connecting takes soooo long and there are so many connection issues.

ANC and sound quality wise a great recommendation. For "quality of life" and daily use I would not recommend these. No wireless charging case. From "put in your ear" to "ready to play audio" takes by far the longest of any wireless headset I ever tried. Bluetooth connection very buggy. Touch controls transfer a lot of noise to your ear, like you're poking your eardrum. Random noises will "set off" the ANC which will then suddenly play a loud anti-noise which hurts your ear.

For future Redditors: What worked for me was the Beats Studio Buds + with the XS tip. I used this XS tip also in my Beats Fit pro and Bose Quitecomfort Ultra. So my solution was this XS tip

Bose qc ultra followed by az80 followed by xm5. Large gap then everything else.

bose qc ultra? best anc and its new update increase signifficantly stability. Or Mtw 4 senheiser, Az80 technics, Diavalet Gemini 2. Lastly, B&O Beoplay Ex😱

I've tried all the brands before (though not your exact models). Bose is going to have the best ANC if money is no object. Apple didn't have as good a seal or as comfortable, Sony didn't have as good anc, and sennheiser does not do good anc (though their sound is immaculate). Evrything else you can forget if you're not on a budget. Reviews that say Jabra or soundcore are as good for a lot cheaper are disingenuous - yes they can be decent on a budget, but they don't compare in terms of anc. I've tried jabra, soundcore, earfun, you name them.

They are pretty damn far behind. I've commented it elsewhere but no brand holds a candle in terms of anc to bose and Sony (and maybe Apple) earbuds. Other brands are good on a budget, but comparing them to the likes of bose is incredibly misleading. I've tried them all after reading reviews that say that they're comparable - they're not Edit: I was wrong about the Jabra. I tried it out Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 based on the comment below, and ANC is comparable (though slightly worse). I would recommend the Jabra over the Bose because of Bose's shitty software.

I have tried the latest AirPods Pro 2, the Bose QuietComfort 2, and the Sony WF-1000XM4, and now I have just bought the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I have an Android phone and move a lot when listening, like cycling and working physically. The Sony headphones did not fit properly, and I lost one pair, so I bought a new one. They have good sound, but the noise cancelling is not overwhelming. However, what bothered me the most were the buds, which disintegrated, were difficult to clean, and did not fit very well in my ear. Maybe the ..5 are better? The Airpods fit very well in my ear. I like the desing and the way they glide into the case which is nice and smal. The noise canceling is as good as the from the Bose quietcomfort 2. Sound is good but still I like the sound of the Bose better. I liked my Bose 2 but the microfone stopped to work after 2 years of almost daily use in all weather. The only draw back was the quality during calls with noise around. Finally the Bose ultra. Which I think are amazing right now. They fit very well in my ears. I read a lot of reviews on them and I was not sure if they would fill my needs sound wise. On the other hand most of them were are year old. I updated the Bose earbuds at once. The sound is like always Bose, which I like best. The noise canceling is very, very good for being earbuds. Of course not yet as good as the Bose headphones but quite close. There was a lot of critic around the immersive sound. I listen a lot to audiobooks and it makes a big difference. I love the way they become more kind of a tale told in a room. Also for music it gives a feeling of space. I have tested the voice quality during calls, which is good, including moderate noise that worked very well. However, I have not tested it with heavy machine noise yet. So for me the Bose quietcomfort ultra were a good choice without major drawbacks beside the price.

If you love the sound of buzzing and beeping in your left ear constantly- get the bose qc ultras! Bose now have it on their website that this is a common expected artefact :)

I just retuned my Ultras and got the AirPods Pro 2. The ANC and fit are great, but I was at my daughter’s volleyball tournament Saturday and when there was a loud clap or anything they would “clip” sort of. Then the left one started crackling. Apparently you can delete the app and it fixes that, but I didn’t like that I was having issues after a week or two. I’ve used my 1st gen AirPod Pros for 2+ years and never had a single problem. My first experience with Bose and it wasn’t great.

Agreed! I have a bunch of “premium” earbuds (Denon PerL Pro, Beats Fit Pro, Technics AZ100, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and the Bose QC Ultra) and the noise cancellation on the Bose is easily the best. In terms of sound quality, the Denon Perl Pro are my favourite, but not by much (I really also like the spacious sound of the Sennheiser Momentum TW 4s). The Bose QC Ultras have a hyped sound, but its quite immersive so in terms of excitement they’re also good. I don’t love the Technics, got them cause of all the hype, to my ears they’re somewhat ordinary (good in every department, not great in any), but that could also just be me and my preferences/physiology. In the end, none of these will match a great set of headphones in terms of sound quality, so you’re best advised to try a few out and see which one you like best (if you have that available to you of course). Fit & comfort are also very important and highly personal, as well as extended features (eg mic quality, weight, IPX rating etc etc).

I’m a very tiny person and I have a pair of the Bose Quietcomfort Ultra earbuds and I love them. The ANC is fantastic and I find them to be very comfy. I’ve worn them for 6+ hours without issue. I also nap in them sometimes without discomfort. They’re pricey but so worth it IMO!

I had poor connectivity and they did pop when I ran. I took back to Best Buy and tried ultras again, same issue. Not worth it for 300 bucks. I heard if u cancel the app the connectivity issue is resolved.   I then purchased the quiet comfort ones non ultra)  and they are perfect. Stay in ear nicely when running and connectivity is good. Sound quality is still great.

I have Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra. Complete noise block.

With music playing 100%

I use them on the Tube (very loud) and don't hear a thing with music on, is bliss.

I’m still evaluating the Method 360 ANC. I’ll provide more info soon. I’m very pleased with the sound quality and comfort. Those are the biggest qualities I want in earbuds. Everyone wants to compare them to the Bose QC Ultras, but realistically they are likely based on the less expensive, but still excellent Bose QC 2024 earbuds. (I’d post pictures if I could. Let me know if there is a way.) Externally, the resemblance to the Ultras is strong, but the business side (microphones and charging points) are identical to the QC 2024 earbuds. They even have the same irritating issue of the stability bands coming loose when I take them out of my ears. For some reason, that has never happened once with my Ultras. Also, the app is identical to the QC 2024 which is not the same as the Ultras. I think the QC 2024 earbuds indeed have excellent sound, comfort and ANC. Just not as feature rich as the Ultras. But you can trigger a picture on your phone if that works for you. Skullcandy has a reputation for loudness, but these (and the Bose) don’t hold a candle to my B&W Pi6/8s. Those are the loudest earbuds I’ve ever heard.

Yes they are good and comfortable. Not out of the world though. They get a little hot in the ears which makes your ears warm

I’ve tried every high end wireless anc earbud. Bose QC ultra are soo good even compared to the Sony xm5 earbuds especially after being a long time Sony user since the

It's not just reddit. There are a lot of people who have been reporting bad sound quality, reviewers as well have stated as such. So... I too was just in the market for new earbuds. I reviewed a ton of different ones. I have an issue with buds staying in my right ear. Fit was very important to me and sound quality is an important second. I ended up going with the Bose QC ultras. They do not move. I lift heavy. Laying down on the bench is when I would feel buds move. These don't. The sound quality is fantastic. You can tune them to however you like and the bass sounds really good. The only issue is connectivity. You might see reviews with people having connectivity issues. I had that issue but found that the Bose app was the culprit. I set the buds up how I liked them, deleted the app and have had zero issues. Good luck on whatever you get.

I have had all of them except the Sony buds. The Samsung buds and Apple AirPods are very much alike, buy the ones that fits your ecosystem the best. However I would not recommend the Bose buds, a lot of people have reported a summing noise in the left(?) bud (dont sure if it was the left or right). When I bought my Bose buds ultra I had the same summing noise. Quality control issues most likely.

I just got the Bose QC ultra and they are amazing. Best ANC I have ever head in earbuds. I have a flight this weekend where I'll try them out and see if they can replace my over ears which I can't seem to part with solely because of flying.

Been testing the buds 3 pro for the last couple of days and find them amazingly close to audiophile level sound quality, when using the right codecs - SSC UHQ, like on a Flip or Fold 6. Compared them to Bose QC Ultra earbuds with aptx adaptive at 24bit/96khz using the Creative W5 adapter, as also a wired IEM, the Noble audio XM1. Compared to the Bose the Buds 3 pro gives much more clarity and soundstage where the Bose has too much bass, it more V shaped to Buds 3 pro W. The Bose of course shines in comfort and noise cancelling, they are king, but the buds 3 pro are not far behind, and I can accept that compromise for the better sound quality on the new galaxy buds. I can use both for hours with little discomfort. I do have a issue with the noise cancelling 'pressure' that both generate, so I. Switch off noise cnacelling when not required for the increased sound quality. As noted in another thread, I did have to switch the ear tips for a larger size, for better isolation, fit and sound quality. No quality issues on my buds, so far.

100% agree with this … use them more than Bose headphones and AirPod pros.

Bose the music is great but if you use them to talk on it is the worst ear buds I have ever had. Every one I talk to complain how terrible it sounds on their end

I had a pair of Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 - very good all round but failed in about 6 months. Tried the sony XM5 next and they were returned after 1 trip - could not get them to consistently noise cancel and ergonomics/controls were poor - have returned them due to issues with the ANC. So I'm onto the standard QC now and so far impressed with the fit/comfort and the ANC seems very good immediately, will try them on a flight next week.

Can confirm. I have 2 pairs. One at home one at work. One at home doesn't let me sync to new devices anymore. I hold the button down and the light shuts off lol

Can you please tell me, did you experience the rumbles and bumps sound distortion from the beginning? I recently bought mine and I can swear that they behaved differently when commuting but recently I noticed that while riding the bus I've been getting some really loud bangs and rumps.

I really appreciate the quick response. When I first bought them, I believe I mostly tested them with music while commuting and if the volume is high enough, those bumps are masked quite well but if I'm listening to a podcast, they can be really annoying. Someone said they managed to sort this issue by changing the size of the silicone thingy, something to do with air being caught and transmitting the waves in a weird way. I will give this a try before deciding to send them back. I got them for 199£ on Prime Day which is not bad at all but the main purpose was to have something to help me disconnect while commuting.

I have a dedicated Plantronics headset for voice calls. So far, used both Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless and Bose QC Ultra, both are quite bad for voice calls.

I am an airline pilot, recently bought a pair of QC U Earbuds and tried for the first time while flying deadhead. The ANC is...unbelievable. It is miracle-level good. If ANC is your priority, get a Bose. I did not have any connectivity issue.

The Bose QC Ultra buds were my number one for the gym until I tried the Denon Perl Pro with the wing tips. They sound better and they really lock into your ear. I use the Bose now for airplane travel.

Bose QC ultra or Denon Perl Pro. The Denon's fit better with the larger wings tips but the ANC on the Bose is top notch and the fit is still pretty good.

Never had an issue with mine and while the ANC on the Bose is better, it’s very good on the DPP. Drown out the gym music which is all I need. But any device can have issues. Just my experience.

The cracking on the Bose were fixed in the last firmware update they put out. As for the Denon’s, yea they’re big but once they’re in, they don’t stick out. For me they really lock in which is great.

I have them all! The xm5s are formidable on all spectrums (I use them without anc in the gym because the passive insulation is excellent!) The AirPods are very good but the sound is much worse. The Jabra are comfortable, good active isolation and much better sound over the AirPod Pro 2. The momentum is excellent in sound quality, the ANC is equivalent to the Jabra. The Bose are excellent in anc but their really low end. If I had to give you an ultimate choice, if you listen to a lot of music and quality and reduction are important to you, Sony is the best placed. They are part of my daily and my favorite pair for listening to music with the Denon Perl Pro.

You have Elite 10s and the call quality is bad? I'm getting the same complaints about my Bose QC Ultras. Just walking around my house it sounds like I'm in a wind tunnel. Did you settle on anything? I'm tempted to go with airpods despite not having an iphone

The sound and ANC are really good — however it has only 3 band EQ adjustments (and this mattered to me because I didn't like the sound out of the box). The fit isn't the best. They're not the best for running or other situations where you'll sweat a bunch. The mic is quite bad, but from what I've read, the mic quality for most True Wireless earbuds is subpar. I got these for 50% off the MSRP so I'm fine with them, but if I knew all of this before I bought them, I would've thought twice before going through with it (and that's with them being half off). And all of this doesn't even take into account a lot of the issues other people have faced with them (connectivity, app crashes, individual earbuds not working altogether). My recommendation would be, look at something else in this price range. The new version of Jabra Elite 8 Active is supposed to be very good (and they have a ton more features too)

The only earbuds that I’ve encountered with hearing protection are the AirPods Pro 2. You can set other earbuds up for this in iOS. But the results aren’t nearly as accurate or good as the AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 2 are supplying the iPhone with better metrics and can even serve as hearing aids. If you’re on an iPhone, the AirPods Pro 2 are going to be it. The Bose app can’t warn you of listening to music too loudly and I haven’t encountered other earbuds that do. Even if they do, their app would need to run in the background whereas iOS doesn’t require any additional apps for this to work with the AirPods Pro 2. The Bose QC Ultra earbuds are also buggy. The AirPods Pro 2 provide a rock solid connection to your iPhone and won’t require a monthly factory reset, unlike the QC Ultra earbuds. The only things the QC Ultra earbuds have over the AirPods Pro 2 are a small increase in ANC and you can adjust their EQ in Bose’s mediocre app. The AirPods Pro 2 provide more health features, a better connection, and a smaller package that can recharge using 4 different methods (USB C, Qi, Qi 2/MagSafe, and an Apple Watch puck). Bose’s case is comically huge but doesn’t have Qi charging.

The Bose QC Ultra earbuds have the best ANC on the market. I don’t recommend them though. They’re terribly buggy (I went through 5 pairs across 3 different time periods and have given up) and have horrendous call quality for their prices. Stepping back just a smidge in ANC with the Sony WF-1000XM5 will give you an ask string better experience. Smaller earbuds with almost the same level of ANC, better sound quality, better call quality, a smaller charging case that has Qi charging, and a better app along with earbuds that have less bugs. My Bose earbuds would constantly cut out with my devices (make iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max, also S24 Ultra), the left side would usually not connect and require that the earbuds be reset (they need to be plugged into USB C power to do this), and the left earbud still has a mosquito-like buzzing. I owned the WF-1000XM5 at launch and they were solid. I sold them just to get the brew color Sony recently released and they’ve still been solid. It will take years before I trust Bose again.

The AirPods Pro 2 have the best mics between the three, but Sony’s are worlds better than Bose’s mics. They’re often downright unusable in some situations. Sony’s ANC is behind Bose’s due to its reliance on passive noise isolation. Use Sony’s hybrid foam/rubber ear tips and their ANC is on par with Bose’s, they just filter out different frequencies better. Sony’s ANC always did a better job for me with the lower frequencies (helped by the seal) while Bose did better with higher frequencies. I’d rather have no ANC than deal with Bose’s garbage, buggy earbuds though. Their app and firmware is so bad they contracted out to a different company for their latest $180 earbuds. They use a completely different app with more features and those earbuds have Qi charging. Why or how Bose couldn’t fit that in the QC Ultra’s abnormally large case is beyond me. Sony’s case takes up 1/2 the space and has it, Apple’s case is almost 60% smaller than Bose’s and has it.

It’s blasphemy to say Bose sounds better. It’s just bloated and muddy, especially their flagship QC Ultra earbuds that are just a buggy mess. But the B&W Pi8 do sound better, even the Denon Perl Pro. But Bose is the only one that competes with Sony in terms of ANC. The Momentum True Wireless 4 have ok ANC, the Perl Pro’s ANC is subpar (even at their $150 sale price), and the Pi8’s ANC is only slight better than that.

If bass is your concern, the WF-1000XM5 offer a healthy amount of it and you can tune them how you want. They also have great ANC, second only to Bose. But I wouldn’t buy Bose true wireless earbuds. I don’t recommend them after years (and I do mean years) of constant exchanges that started with the QC earbuds 1, went through the QC earbuds 2, and stopped with the QC Earbuds Ultra when the pair they sent me had mosquito buzzing in the left ear and still experienced Bluetooth issues (mainly audible blips and connection interruptions). I will never buy Bose earbuds again. There’s also a difference between bass and mud, Bose focuses on mud.

I guess I offended someone (not you) with my anti-Bose comments. Seriously, fuck Bose’s true wireless earbuds. They spend more on ads than they do their products. They’re just a shadow of their former selves. When I had my Ultras, I had to put them in transparency mode to run or else the loud thudding would make music almost inaudible. Their mic quality is trash. One of the worst flagships true wireless pairs of earbuds on the market. I used to hate it when people said this but Bose stands for Buy Other Sound Equipment at this point.

That’s what I did with all my earbuds. It started with the QC earbuds 1 and I went through 5-6 pairs before asking for a refund. I purchased directly from Bose because they’ll often have items at reduced prices and still add military discounts on top. Then I did the same thing with the QC earbuds 2 until the Ultra launched and Bose replaced my 2 with the Ultra. They refused to give me a refund, so I just sold them at a loss on fleabay. But my Ultra had connectivity issues with random disconnects, a consistent mosquito buzzing noise in the left earbud that didn’t initially bother me but that’s all I heard after a while, and the cherry on top was switching audio sources from my smartphone to tablet require a factory reset, which meant putting the earbuds in their case and plugging that in. That’s when I was done, no more. Bose is also missing features in their earbuds that others have, like wireless charging. Bose would rather sell a $100 wireless charging case than put it in their obnoxiously large case (there’s plenty of room). They didn’t release the firmware for multipoint until recently, almost a whole year after they announced it. After listening to the Sony WF-1000XM5, Sennheiser Momentum 4 True Wireless, and even the Jabra Elite 10 (along with a slew of Chi-fi IEMs), I realized Bose focuses on muddy bass with their sound signature. It’s the Harmon curve greatly exaggerated, I hate it after hearing tighter, more controlled bass that still thumps along with highs that don’t pierce my ears. All this in a pair of $250+ earbuds? No thanks.

The Ultra are the right choice if you value ANC and a stable fit over all other aspects. Bose’s ANC with the QC Ultra is unmatched. If you have an Android phone with Snapdragon sound (not a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel), you should have less issues with connectivity. But the QC Ultra earbuds are such a mixed bag for connectivity and overall bugs. Some people have zero issues while others, like myself, need to factory reset them while taking a walk and that requires putting them in their case and plugging into USB C power, because that makes perfect sense… I’ve gone through 4 pairs of QC Ultra earbuds after going through 5-6 pairs of QC Earbuds II and the 5-6 pairs of the original QC Earbuds. I still have my last pair of QC Ultra earbuds and they’re generally fine now, but it took a while to get to this point. The JBL Tour Pro 3 will provide better sound quality but their fit can be an issue for some people and their ANC is about 98% of what Bose can do. The Sony WF-10005 are similar. I prefer their sound signature and Sony’s app, albeit crowded, is not buggy like Bose’s. But their fit is divisive and their ANC is about 94% of Bose’s. There isn’t a perfect flagship pair of ANC earbuds and ones that value audio quality are going to have much worse ANC (like the Technics AZ100 and Bowers and Wilkins Pi8). If you can live with the bugs, or be lucky enough to not experience any, the QC Ultra earbuds are great. Bose did a lot of positive things with them like their comfortable fit, the earbuds are lightweight (but bulky), their touch controls can handle both volume adjustment and playback controls, their audio quality is bass-heavy but I like the sound signature (especially after EQ’ing), and their ANC is the best of any pair of true wireless earbuds. But they’re buggy, their charging case feels cheap and is bulky without having Qi charging, their battery life is average, the app is easy to use but buggy, and the microphone quality is terrible.

The Bose QC Ultra earbuds have the best ANC on the market for earbuds, they’re measurably the best. The JBL Tour Pro 3 are a close second followed by the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 tied for 3rd. If ANC is your sole focus, the Bose QC Ultra earbuds are it. But they’re buggy, have connectivity issues, their battery life is on the lower side, and they have bugs that will require you put them back in their case, close the lid for 30-60 seconds, then take them out again. If you don’t want to deal with that and are interested in getting ~2 more hours of battery life, get the JBL Tour Pro 3 and use their foam tips. If you have an iPhone, the AirPods Pro 2 are also great as they’ll have more features and solid connectivity to your source device.

According to Rtings, the Bose are still better and Sony’s ANC is heavily reliant on their passive isolation. Take that away and their ANC isn’t great. I’d also hesitate buying into a brand that isn’t making consumer audio gear anymore and whatever stock is left is it. They’re already becoming more difficult to find at MSRP.

Yes. When the earbuds aren’t connected due to a bug, they can (and will) just go into a weird state where their ANC is off and so is their transparency. I’ve experienced where one earbud does this, both, and sometimes they do something even weirder. That’s why I will never recommend the Bose QC Ultra earbuds; they’re just too buggy.

I think Skullcandy developed Bose’s app for their standard QC earbuds and this started the collab. I also think Skullcandy is using leftover QC earbuds II drivers and casings. I just hope Skullcandy fixed the buggy Bluetooth and firmware of Bose’s QC earbuds lineup. I’m not surprised the ANC is measurably lower than the QC Ultra earbuds. Bose wouldn’t want a $100 pair of earbuds outshining theirs. Either way, I wouldn’t go with Bose but would rather roll the dice with Skullcandy. It just depends on the firmware, app, and if they’ve fixed things. They already fixed the below average battery life. Maybe they could fix the buggy experience.

I’d take out the Technics, Sony, and Samsung if ANC is your focus. Their ANC levels are all mid-tier, at most. If you have an iPhone, I’d also add the AirPods Pro 2 to your list. I also suggest adding the JBL Tour Pro 3. In terms of ANC, it goes Bose, JBL, then Sony/Apple. Some argue that the Jabra Elite 10 version 2 have the best ANC, but they let in sounds that were cancelled out by both the Bose QC Ultra (there is no such thing as the Bose QC Ultra 3 earbuds) and JBL Tour Pro 3. If you don’t want to deal with bugs and can take a small, nearly unnoticeable hit in ANC, get the JBL Tour Pro 3. If all you want is ANC and you’re ok with bugs, the Bose QC Ultra earbuds are it.

Random disconnects, issues where the left earbud will produce a popping sound and they won’t connect making you either reset your device or put them back in their case for a couple of minutes, having only the right earbud connect, the earbuds remaining connected after they’re in their charging case with the lid shut…. The left earbud is also known for producing a mosquito buzzing when no content is playing. Sony’s ANC is fine (still lower than Bose and JBL) when you use their foam/rubber hybrid ear tips (or 3rd party foam ones). Switch to just silicone ear tips and their ANC is terrible. It heavily relies on the passive isolation from their ear tips. All the others have solid ANC regardless of ear tip material.

What device are you pairing them to? You could look at the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if you’re on Samsung or the AirPods Pro 2 if you have an iPhone. Either one has strong ANC, though I think the APP2 have that edge, and god audio quality (I think the Galaxy Buds have the edge with that). Your ear shape looks prime for stemmed earbuds. Those never fit mine, I didn’t have any issues with the AZ80s. I would recommend the Bose QC earbuds Ultra with their fin tip, but they’re far too buggy for me to actually recommend and I will outright refuse to buy any Bose product for a while. There’s also the Denon PerL Pro. They have wing tips. ANC isn’t as good as Sony or Bose, but I enjoyed their audio quality after going through their testing. Lastly, there’s the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. They have wing fins as well and can help stay in despite not being stemmed earbuds (like the Denon). I hate stemmed earbuds, the only pair that stayed in my ears were the B&O EX and I thought their ANC was terrible. Their app also isn’t the best. EQ’ing them is done through a “feelings” page rather than just giving you a 3-8 band EQ like most other earbud apps.

Your current earbuds have the best ANC on the market. They’re buggy as all hell, but you aren’t going to find earbuds with better ANC. The AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-10005, and JBL Tour Pro 3 all have competitive ANC with Bose, but Bose still has the best. The AirPods Pro 2 will provide a more solid experience if you’re using an iPhone. The Sony will have ANC a notch below Bose. But they do get a couple extra hours of use, their charging case is small and supports Qi charging, and I think their sound quality is better than Bose. I have the JBL Tour Pro 3. When music is playing, I can’t hear anything. Better audio quality than Bose and longer battery life (the same as Sony). Their charging case is large, but at least it has Qi charging and can act as an audio source for the earbuds. The touchscreen seems like a gimmick, but I actually use it from time to time instead of relying on the JBL app (which is a little slow but worlds better than Bose’s buggy app). I will never buy Bose earbuds again. I went through 5-6 pairs of QC earbuds 1, the same number of QC earbuds 2, and 4 pairs of QC Ultra. I just kept exchanging them for connectivity issues (Android and iOS), buzzing in the left ear on the Ultras, needing to factory reset the 2 and Ultras (which means plugging them into a USB power source), and overall just terrible experiences. I had the Sony WF-1000XM5, but their hybrid foam/rubber ear tips weren’t my favorite. Then I received a pair of JBL Tour Pro 3 and kept them because of their sound quality (I can get booming bass without distortion, unlike with Bose), competitive ANC, and having damn near every feature under the sun. The only thing you can’t do is control audio playback and adjust volume directly with the earbuds. But their case, my Apple Watch, or my iPhone can handle that.

The Sony have 2 extra hours over the Bose QC Earbuds 2 and Ultra. Sony also doesn’t charge $50 for Qi charging.

The Method 360 have less ANC than the QC Ultra. I wouldn’t get the QC earbuds II, they were far too buggy to purchase and Bose has been swapping them out with QC Ultras for customers. If ANC is your top focus, it’s going to be the QC Ultra earbuds or the JBL Tour Pro 3, they both have the top ANC on the market with the Pro 3 coming in second to Bose. The QC Ultra earbuds are buggy, but they’re have the best ANC.

The bugs with the QC earbuds II or the Ultra? The bugs are so bad with the earbuds II, they should never be purchased. Random disconnects, audio changing to mono mode for each earbud, only one earbud connecting, a strange voice bug where the left dominates at less than 50% and the right dominates at more than 50% (with the right turnoff completely at 25% volume and same with the left at 75% volume), weird ANC moments that produce a high pitched ringing because they tried to compensate for outside noise too which, and I’m sure there’s more. The “solution” to all of these is to factory reset the earbuds, which requires plugging them into a power source, until they happen again. The QC Ultra earbuds have some connectivity bugs and older units produce a mosquito buzzing in the left ear. I haven’t had nearly the save amount of bugs with my QC Ultra earbuds and lost resolve around the YouTube app being open in the background. If I close that, they tend to be fine.

You’re in a Bose sub so will get Bose recommendations. Are you just looking for sports earbuds or everyday earbuds to use with sports? The phone you have will can also change the recommendations. The Beats Fit Pro are good sports earbuds, but their ANC is lacking and I wasn’t a fan of their audio quality. Bose doesn’t offer a pair of sports earbuds anymore. Just the QC series with the QC earbuds II, QC Ultra earbuds, and their QC open earbuds (whatever they’re called). You’ll get stellar ANC and good audio quality with either the QC earbuds II or Ultra along with sweat resistance and a stable fit. Sony has the LinkBuds S with ok ANC but good sound quality, their fit seems fine for most people though they don’t have a stability fin. There’s also the WF-1000XM5 with ANC second only to Bose and, in my opinion, even better sound quality but their fit is even more divisive. Jabra makes a slew of earbuds with good sound quality and average ANC, especially the Elite 8 series made for exercising. There are others as well. It all depends on your phone, what you want out of them, and how you prioritize ANC.

Don’t get the Bose QC Ultra. Their sound quality is bass-heavy and they have severe connectivity issues and bugs. I’d also throw another pair in there to consider: the JBL Tour Pro 3. I’d go with those over both Sennheiser and Technics. I wasn’t a fan of either, mainly the fit and lack of ANC with the Sennheiser and the overall sound quality and lack of ANC with the Technics. I think tbt Tour Pro 3 walk the line the best between having ANC that is better than Sony and right up there with Bose along with audio quality that can be as accurate or fun as you want with EQ’ing. They don’t sound great out of the box, but neither do any of the other true wireless earbuds. They all require EQ’ing.

I went through 5-6 pairs of QC earbuds 1, earbuds 2, and Ultra earbuds. They all had connectivity issues even in my office or isolated outdoors, bugs that required factory resetting (only one earbud connecting or not connecting despite saying they were connected), and weird volume issues where the right earbud dominated at above 50% (and the left one turned completely off at 100%) and vice versa. Absolutely terrible earbuds and I used them across 3-4 iPhones, a couple of Android phones, iPads, 2 MacBooks, 3 Windows systems, and an Android DAP. I will never buy Bose true wireless earbuds again because they’re far too buggy and Bose knows it. They’re so buggy they had Skullcandy develop the app for their QC earbuds.

Hi, I review tech stuff for work and I recently tested both the QC Ultra Earbuds and the QC Earbuds. The non-Ultra version is way better. IMHO, there are literally no reason to buy the Ultra version. I tested the Ultra only a few months ago (way later then most of the reviewers online) and I was frankly shocked how bad connection and microphones are in the Ultra. I had TONS of connectivity issues and static noises on the left earbud. On the other hand, the QC Earbuds are way more stable and reliable. I experienced some little connettivity quirks, but overall they are so much better than the QC Ultra. Moreover, they are cheaper and supports wireless charging. And the differences in audio quality and ANC are neglectable. Compared to AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-100XM5: I would say ANC a little bit better than AirPods (also because of the rubberish eaband), about the same level to WF-1000XM5. About the sound, I prefer the Sony equalization (the most neutral one) and the Apple one, but if you're a fan of punching basses you'll love the Bose sound.

Hi, I review tech stuff for work and I recently tested both the QC Ultra Earbuds and the QC Earbuds. The non-Ultra version is way better. IMHO, there are literally no reason to buy the Ultra version. I tested the Ultra only a few months ago (way later then most of the reviewers online) and I was frankly shocked how bad connection and microphones are in the Ultra. I had TONS of connectivity issues and static noises on the left earbud. On the other hand, the QC Earbuds are way more stable and reliable. I experienced some little connettivity quirks, but overall they are so much better than the QC Ultra. Moreover, they are cheaper and supports wireless charging. And the differences in audio quality and ANC are neglectable. Compared to AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-100XM5: I would say ANC a little bit better than AirPods (also because of the rubberish eaband), about the same level to WF-1000XM5. About the sound, I prefer the Sony equalization (the most neutral one) and the Apple one, but if you're a fan of punching basses you'll love the Bose sound.

Sony wf-/1000xm5 have weak bass. Bose is better with quiet comfort series

Bose QuietComfort Ultra. The best noice cancelling in my opinion.

I loved the QuietComfort back in the day but they are the same now, right? Micro USB to charge, outdated Bluetooth version, same price as before? That’s just insulting to technologically minded people. Give us a spec bump, add USB C and I’d get those. Otherwise, I prefer the Quiet Comfort Ultras. Airpods Pro 2 are…earbuds, right? You are asking about the difference between over-ear earphones vs earbuds? The AirPods Pro are frankly one of the best inventions that have come along in my lifetime, but you can’t compare them to over ear headphones.

I’ve had experience with a few of these, and I can give you some insights based on your priorities. Here’s what I think, in terms of sound quality, Sony and Sennheiser are usually considered the best, with crisp highs and deep bass. For ANC, Sony and Bose are top-notch, but the Technics and Jabra also do well. Call quality is solid across all, but I’d give an edge to the AirPods Pro and Sony for clear, noise-canceling calls. Would love to hear what you decide!

Bose for the ANC. Might want to try the B&O EX, they sound amazing!

I had them and returned them. Very good sound and anc but mic is terrible . It's slow and like 3 people ask me why they ear me so terribly. I never had a comment like that with airpods pro 2 that I still keep.

I tried multiple bluetooth options, including the Bose Quitecomfort Ultra earbuds that support Snapdragon Sound (aptX Adaptive codec) to try and get lower latency, but that didn't do it. In fairness to the headphones it's the Quest 3 that either doesn't support Snapdragon Sound, or doesn't do it well because the latency was maddening. Would not recommend.

Best anc bose

bose qc ultra

Just got some static sometimes

I got them quite a while back at this point and I still think they're pretty trash. It's wild to me how far marketing can play into people's perceived experience because they flat out suck along with the Bose QC Ultras. Recently got a pair of Soundpeats Capsule 3 Pro+ and they're just so much better at everything. Once you put some SednaEarfit Xelastec IIs on them, the ANC is straight up better than the QC Ultras. Stock tuning on the Momentum 4s and QC Ultras is awful and the personalization feature is nowhere near good enough on either of them.

I bought the Bose ones but they were bad for phone calls. The volume would be too low at the max, and they would constantly drop from Bluetooth—that is just for the calls. I ended up returning them for those reasons and went with the Sony’s. No issues with Sony.

I tried both bose quiet comfort ultra & airpods pro 2. The airpods were uncomfortable and the anc didn't do anything. I don't get the hype...

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds...No one and let me repeat no one has the level of noise cancellation that Bose has, not even Sony or Apple and they are comfy. Of course, different discussion when talking over the ear headphones. That being said, I moved to headphones due to the noise cancellation issue which was the issue for any flight. But, Bose QC Ultra earbuds are the only earbuds today that can compete with a headphone.

B&W Pi7 S2 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra

QC ultra connectivity issues has been resolved with a software update. I am using with an iPhone and I am not experiencing it. Are people still experiencing it ? Also, If you buy them right now they are priced okay at $220 plus $50 gift card currently on Costco.

Do not buy. The ultra earbuds worst product they have to offer noise canceling cannot be turned off completely. Feels like your underwater when talking on phone calls cause it sound canceling your own voice. The calling audio is hands down thee worst dollar store quality they have to offer! Came from the quiet comfort earbuds OG and they were fantastic, cannot get them anymore. Go with another brand bose has dropped off completely when I call for troubleshooting they just offer me a replacement. 3rd pair.

i have tried bose quietcomfort ultra (im wearing them now) and airpods pro 2nd gen, after you wear bose for a whole day and the next day you switch back to airpods pro, you might doubt whether you turned on ANC. lol. About sony, I havent tried the one you said, but i have wh-1000xm4, this is not as good as bose qc, but maybe it's because of my big head lol. i guess its supposed to be better than earbuds but i felt the opposite.

but if you have an iphoen and do care about the overall experience - anc is not the most important factor, then maybe choose airpods pro. bose has some bluetoth connection problems and the case quality is definitely worse than airpods

I've been using S24 Ultra in collaboration with ultra earbuds.When i first got the buds,they do disconnect frequently.However the issue was gone after the latest update.They are much stable now.At least for now

Based on my personal experience,the white noise is rather subtle,much better than older software version after the latest upgrade.I would say basically neglectable.The ANC is definitely superb.

I’ve had Sony XM5, Bose Ultra Open and Quiet Comfort Ultra, Jabra 10’s, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4’s. I used them all for working out/music/work (switching between Teams calls and cell) and the Sennheiser Momentum 4s beat out the others in just about every category that’s important for me (comfort, connectivity, app UI, and call clarity). They’re wildly underrated buds compared to what’s popular right now. I don’t know if they’re still on sale, but they were just $100 off at Best Buy for $199, and I HIGHLY recommend them over the other high end choices available.

Bose quietconfort ultra. No wuestion. I skate with them on and they never even moved and I barely noticed they are even in my ears. Best ANC also.

Yes those. Soooooo much better then the sports.

I have the QC Ultras and they've been great so far. Can recommend. Very good sound stage and noise cancelling. Battery lasts a long time too

I would say mine are on the smaller side and they seem to fit pretty well for me

I've had them a week and hate them. I have apple, Samsung, Sony, and now Bose pairs. Apple is by far the best. Specifically for Bose, they cut off after 2 minutes of no audio playing and then you will need to redock them and undock them to restore connection.

They are all good in this area, in my opinion. I would probably say Bose may be the best by a hair but the connectivity issues experienced with almost $300 earbuds is beyond annoying to me.

The main issue is the type of noise reduction Bose uses, while they do great with audio playback and playback DSP that adjusts to your ears, they still use an older style of noise reduction even though many other brands, including smaller brands that are certainly not developing their own unique DSP, have all moved past. Bose uses mic processing similar to what you may see on older PC sound cards from 2013, where it does short term sampling for some consistent noises, and then an adaptive noise gating similar to what many phones do. The problem with that, is it picks up nearly all noise directly in front of you, thus you can't do something like talk to someone while washing dishes, otherwise it picks up the dish washing just as loud as your voice. A more modern approach is to use a more narrow field mic pointing away from your mouth to sample the environment for sample based noise reduction, then use wider field mics pointed towards your mouth, and then artificially restricting the field by measuring the timing of the sounds as they reach each microphone. This allows them to dynamically narrow the to effectively be as close to the area of your mouth as possible, while also rejecting sound that impact the ambient mics and front facing mics equally. This effectively allows them to cancel out most noise based on the technical properties of the sound rather than relying heavily on samples. Then the remaining audio stream can then have basic sample based noise reduction done. That overall results in cleaner audio and a fuller sound. For example, compare the bose QC ultra to the cheaper Soundcore Liberty 3 pro [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/anker/soundcore-liberty-3-pro-truly-wireless](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/anker/soundcore-liberty-3-pro-truly-wireless) Bose QC Ultra earbuds: [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/bose/quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-truly-wireless](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/bose/quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-truly-wireless) Scroll down to noise handling (about 70% down the page). Bose uses better quality mics in their earbuds, but they consistently score worse than many cheaper earbuds in call quality. PS Bose has less bass due to them using an older voice call audio profile. (basically old noise reduction and older style of 2 way audio mode). The newer styles of noise reduction ma be more complex, but these are things that have become hardware accelerated for years now. Overall for Bose, it is a firmware limitation and not a hardware limitation. It is as if call quality when it comes to vocal capture is an afterthought.

I went through so many pairs of noise cancelling buds. Don't waste your money on beats. Bose Ultra quiet buds are game changers and super adjustable.

The new Bose QC earbuds; the ones that came out this year. The battery life is long enough to surpass an 8-hour workday, and you don't need to mask with sound to block unwanted noise. The Ultras are awesome, but their battery doesn't last as long and it has a lot of premium stuff that I just don't find myself using much for office work. The misses actually gets a little annoyed sometimes because she's trying to get my attention and I can't hear her. That's because I didn't realize I still had the buds on even though I finished work! I have to warn you though that the shape is different from most Bose units in the past. It's a bit top-heavy like the newer Sony's, so there will be more contact on the upper part of your ear to keep the buds stable. This can be problematic depending on the shape of your ear. Personally, I get a bit of irritation putting them on at first, but after a while, it goes away.

QC Ultra are the best by far and nothing else is close. That being said they have had issues with quality over the years, sometimes disconnecting and having other weird glitches. My latest pair seem to be doing ok though.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra I wish I'd gotten the Bose open ears instead - noise cancellation is great on planes and other forms of public transport, but it turns out I really hate not being tuned into my surroundings when I'm walking. They are absolutely fantastic though, can't fault them.

Tapping to pause or play media is 50/50 in my experience which is annoying, I'll tap 5 times to pause so I can listen to somebody speak to me and I just end up not being able to communicate. While being connected to two devices, sometimes randomly my ear buds will choose to disconnect from what I'm actively using, to switch to rhe other device for no apparent reason, and when it does that, if it's in quiet or immediate mode, there will be a very noticeable uncomfortable pop in ur ears. Which is annoying as well as uncomfortable, so I never connect to two devices because it actually hurts, so that feature is nonexistent to me. There is also no feature to find lost buds, other than a location GPS to show where u last had them connected (ur head) which is pointless, there needs to be a feature for them to audible signal where they are. Other cheaper ear buds have this, very disappointing. Sound quality, they are amazing. But for functionality, a huge pain, if u put them in ur head, say goodbye to interacting with the world, the only fix is ripping both out when needing to do extroverted things, a pause feature should be reliable.

As an owner of all three of those, if I’m hopping on a flight, I’m taking the QCU’s with me.

Bose QC Ultra :)

Correct, these are some of my current earphones and the ones I use the most. I've come from Sony WF-1000XM4 which gave me a lot of trouble, with battery drainage issues. I had them replaced twice... I don't know, I've read similar cases with the 1000XM5. The Bose ones might be larger and probably have a worse microphone, but I prefer their audio signature. Also, their noise cancellation is much better, at least compared to my 1000XM4.

The Bose noise cancellation is way better compared to the XM4; I haven't tried the XM5 so I can't speak on those. As for connectivity, I use them with a Creative BT-W5 to make the most of aptX Adaptive. On my Samsung phone, it only supports AAC, so the audio quality isn't as good. If your phone has aptX, you'll have a great experience. I've heard about connectivity issues too, but I haven't had any problems myself (or battery drain) up to now.

I've had mine for 4 months now and they're absolutely fantastic. They're the only earbuds I've been able to find that fit securely in my ears but don't hurt them. I previously had the pixel buds pro, which were great earbuds but the bloody things just kept falling out! The noise cancelling is second to none and I love a nice punchy base so the sound is fantastic for me. The immersive audio setting is also very cool. Another feature I really love is their ability to detect when there are loud noises in transparency mode and automatically quiet them. I'm autistic and this feature is invaluable to me when I'm at a social gathering and want the transparency to bring in people's voices but block out any sudden louder noises e.g. somebody suddenly shouting/laughing loudly. My only gripe is they don't do well with rumbles or bumps for example when I'm taking the bus, they're likely to make the journey more noisy rather than less by somehow amplifying the sound every time the bus goes over a hump. But overall a very positive experience with these buds, I've had none of the connectivity issues people tend to report

This came through at a funny time, as it happens I'm on a bus right now wearing the buds and they just did the banging thing🤣 yes they've done it from the day I bought them, I went on a bus that day and remember being worried about the quality of them but it turned out it's only on buses or anywhere really very noisy like a concert or at live music that they do it

I have both AirPods Pro 2 and Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra. The ANC is very slightly better on the Bose than the Airpods. I also have ADHD and Autism and so cutting down on the volume of speech is more important to me than the lower frequencies of plane engines. The Bose are better at this than the AirPods. On top of that, they sound good too!

Sound is great, don’t have any of the issues in this thread but I do get thumping when running every stride…anyone had that issue and solved? Am returning if I can’t figure it out

Returned mine as wanted to run in them and then thumping every step was horrible. Went AirPods Pro and they are great. Sound on Bose was better but as soon as you start moving hold on to your eardrums cause they will get smashed

I have both the Bose QC Ultra and Sony XM5 right now, trying them out before going with one. Bose has much better low frequency response and ANC, IMO. Their connection to devices is slower and there's a longer status chime, during which you cannot hear audio from your source - i.e. being in the car then switching over to earbuds when getting out. The case doesn't have wireless charging, is bulky, flimsy and doesn't feel great, it feels like the lid spring is already deformed / provides reduced retention force, and I've only had it a week. Sony has better software/app, quicker Bluetooth connection without the long status update chime. The ear canal fittings themselves are a strange material that doesn't seem like the usual neoprene-ish stuff, it's more like Styrofoam and is showing creases/cracks after only a week of use. The case is a lot nicer, more compact, slick matte material, and has wireless charging. I really do like the Sony for overall user experience, but the Bose ANC is bar none, turning it on feels like flipping an OFF switch for my eardrums. For this and the improved bass response, I may have to get over the case and connection issues of the Bose over the Sonys... Jury is still out. Going to take them both on a flight with me and make the call after that.

This is exactly my experience. Would add that CS is good and they always replace broken headphones with new pair.

Honestly sir you go from xm5 to bumps qc ultra you will be disappointed with the quality of the sound and the finesse of the soundstage.

Qc ultra and xm5 are the only two earbuds with the best ANC. The xm5 has better ANC on bass frequencies (metro, train, plane, car.) While the qc ultra has better ANC on other frequencies. The qc ultra are also much more comfortable. On the other hand, the sound on the xm5 is much better, the spatialization and soundstage is incredible, I have never heard that on headphones.

OK. I hate apple. My kids begged for phones when we got them phones, and part of that is needing to monitor their usage, which requires an apple device. I didn't really want a tablet at that time and I needed a phone so I got an phone 14pm. So. I loved my android phone and me husband's 25 is pretty darn slick. I tried a bunch of earphones/buds. I have a pair of pro 2s and they are the best of the bunch with the 14pm. If I had a Samsung there's a few gas are pretty good but none. The bose were super comfortable. I do like his Samsung buds, although they are a few gens old now so I'm not going to speak to their noise canceling. I get weirdness from most noise canceling tech. The pro 2 does not make me nauseous, or dizzy. I do get some vertigo if I remove one from my head, but it usually is short lived. So I'd definitely go with the airpods.

The Boses are very sensitive to sweat and wax so I personally can't recommend them for sports. The sound changes and dampens abruptly when that happens. It's hard to get them so clean that you won't notice the difference between the two buds anymore, and for me this ruined the buds for me.

I had the same problem with XM4's a few years back but I had them for way longer back then and it wasn't as abrupt. I also made a huge mistake and used alcohol to try to dissolve the ear wax which ruined the earbud. But the Boses are way more sensitive, went through two in less than a year and gave up with them and bought 1more EVO's instead. I've once noticed a slight volume difference with the EVO'S but that was after weeks of running regularly, and using a soft toothbrush while holding the bud towards the floor, and after that using a microfiber towel has worked perfectly for me.

I own a pair of QC ultras. I would not run with them. I feel them jiggling around when I walk outside to an aircraft and it’s a bit windy so for running it would be a no no.

I can’t speak for the XM5 but I think the AirPods are better at cancelling higher pitch background frequencies (think office spaces) while the Bose is better at lower frequency elimination (airplanes). The Bose does have a far superior fit as the AirPods need 3rd party “wings” to just as secure on the ear.

I just swapped my older bose ear buds for the new quiet ultra 2, the noise canceling isn't great. Very unhappy with them. The old pair was amazing.

Yeah, I've had this issue since day one unfortunately! Both with the ultras and the regular ones that I used to have before. It happens when I hit bumps on my road bike too. No clue as to how to get it to go away.

i use it for work and and workout and immersion mode is great. Complete noise blockout in noisy gym and doesn't fall out at all and feels securely fit. I've been using airpods pro for several years because of its comfort which others didn't have. surprisingly QC ultra earbucs is not suffocating and relatively comfortable, not hurting my ears in my personal case and have been using for four months now. i recommend but definitely with discount.

The Bose are quite good in my humble opinion.

Bose qc ultra earbuds, much more compact and the imaging is meh but the sound isolation is immersive

I absolutely love using the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones! The noise cancellation is on another level—it completely blocks out distractions, whether I’m working, traveling, or just relaxing at home. The sound quality is crystal clear, with rich bass and detailed highs that make every song feel immersive. Plus, they’re so comfortable I can wear them for hours without any discomfort. These headphones are a game-changer for anyone who values great audio and peace of mind!

Bose quiet comfort ultra

I have them they are very good

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the best noise cancellation buds

Welcome to the club I love my ultras I've had them for 2-3 months shy of a year. I can go on about the sound quality and ANC but what really got me was the fit. The only complaint I can think of is sometimes when you put them in your ear they won't automatically pair you have to put them back in the case and put them in again to recognize but that rarely happens.

I concur with your assessment; I possess 2x Ultra earbuds, Qc 2024 earbuds, Ultra headphones, and Qc headphones. I enjoy the audio, comfort, and design, but the application is awful. I also have 7 other earbuds, but my top choice is FiiO Fw5 (no ANC, chosen for sound). The FiiO app is significantly inferior, plus they produce some crackling noise; however, the sound quality is incredible. Additionally, Melomania M100 offers fantastic sound, decent ANC, and transparency, great comfort, and excellent battery life, with a working app. Sony offers decent active noise cancellation and okay audio quality, but the battery in the earbuds is poor; it's best to avoid Sony. I evaluated AZ100 and Gemini 2; they sound good, but I wasn't impressed otherwise. I believe their prices are too high. AZ80 offers better vocals, which I find clearer. This is just my perspective; don't trust all that you hear. People quickly become attached to brands and tend to exaggerate. Comfort and sound are subjective. If you desire active noise cancellation and good sound, consider Bose. However, if you're looking for affordability in earbuds, the Cambridge M100 will impress you with its sound, comfort, and incredible battery life.

https://preview.redd.it/1cfy4dxuayje1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94888ef0cb61dfca55dc87a6c6272498231830b4 I purchased them yesterday and they have interruptions. I own Sony wf-1000xm5, Cambridge M100, Fiio Fw5—about 20 earbuds—and Headphone Bose QC Ultra and Bose Ultra earbuds have no issues at all, only with this QC 2024 model I am experiencing problems. I found on Google that many others have the same issues. I believe the app or multi-point is causing the problems.

Both Airpods and Bose QC ultra connected very well. No lags or drops.

The Bose we ultra were amazing except for the fact that you can’t turn off ANC. If you do it turns on aware mode and there is not off options for both. Had to return them because of that. Going to try these ! Look to be a great deal.

Best will depend on your preferences, and whether you value comfort, ANC, or sound quality. Here's my personal shortlist, having tested dozens of these sets in the past few years: **Sound quality:** Denon Perl Pro (with AAT), Technics AZ80, Sennheiser Momentum 4 (with Sound Personalization), AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-1000XM5s (with personalized EQ, Clearbass set to off), Beats Studio Buds+/Beats Studio Buds, Beats Fit Pros, Bose QC Ultra **ANC:** Bose QC Ultra, AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-1000XM5s, Sennheiser Momentum 4s, Technics AZ80, Denon Perl Pro, Beats Studio Buds+, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds **Comfort:** Beats Studio Buds+/Beats Studio Buds, Sony WF-1000XM5s (with Dunu S&S tips), Denon Perl Pro, Bose QC Ultra, Sennheiser Momentum 4s (very dependent on concha; ranked higher if you have larger ears), Technics AZ80 (another one that depends more on outer ear physiology) Any buds with a "locking" mechanism, or small ear hook, is very dependent on your individual ears. The Momentum's take this a step further, actually locking in behind your antihelix, resting in your concha. If these fit you, they're one of the most secure and comfortable fits on the market. They rank higher for me because they fit well, but are lower on my list because I think this can vary dramatically by person. For sound quality, I've gone back and forth between the Perl Pros and AZ80s on which sounds best. I used to rank the AZ80s higher, but I have a second AAT profile for the Denons, with Immersion at a +2, that handily beats the AZ80s. This could be due to the initial AAT profile being poorly done -- and yet, still somehow performed better than most of my other sets. With that profile, the Denon's compete with some of my midfi IEMs. They are exceptionally good. The Devialet Gemini IIs are also excellent, but are well outside of your budget and, honestly, not worth the investment. Gemini IIIs may be, if they improve codecs, BT support, etc. Don't sleep on the Beats brand of earbuds; for the price, they are genuinely great sets. The Buds+ are very good performers and the most comfortable set I own. With the Spinfit Omnis, these disappear in my ears. ANC is solid, transparency is serviceable. Sound quality is very good. The Fits Pros are the best option if you're active; one of the best "secure" fits out of dozens of buds, second only to the Powerbeats Pros. The Beats brand gets a lot of eye rolls due to brand stigma, but I don't care about the label on the box. If something works well for its intended use, I'll buy it. In this case, depending on the sales, the Buds+ can be an exceptionally good value. I did not include the device manufacturer earbuds on my list, like the Galaxy and Pixel Buds Pros; these are honestly excellent sets in their own right, but I do not use the devices they're most integrated with and thus I cannot test them fully so it's hard to do a fair comparison. But if you use those devices, they are also great -- and cheap -- options. For my part, I ended up daily driving the Sennheiser Momentum TW 4s; although it's not at the top of any of my lists, it is the best all around performer, getting close to the sound quality of the Technics and Denons, ANC that's nearly as good as the Sony's, but with an app and features that are more robust (and with better UX) than the Technics and Denon apps. On the whole, it's my favorite set to use for work and travel, some light media consumption, and around the house use. However, if I don't want to pull out one of my wired IEM, but I want to listen to music or other media and have the best possible experience, it's the Denons or Technics.

My ranking (pictured [here](https://imgur.com/a/tws-ranking-left-to-right-MBqgKk5)) based on sound quality, battery life, app, and features: MTW4 (w/ Sound Personalization) > Technics AZ100/AZ80 > Denon Perl Pro (w/ AAT) > B&W Pi8 > Devialet Gemini II > Sony XM5 > APP2 > Bose QC Ultra Sound quality isn't an empirical measurement. It will be based on preference. Most TWS within a certain price range aren't going to suffer from "qualitative" issues and will all perform well, but will be tuned very differently from one another. Recency bias also plays a major role in recommendations within the community, so keep that in mind. MTW4 with SP was the best balance of tuning, battery life, features, and user experience for me, and is my typical go-to. I'm also a fan of rock/metal and hip hop, thus a set like the AZ100, which excels in many other areas -- including battery life and ANC -- and beats the MTW4 in some genres, gets ranked lower as the timbre and tonality in genres with high gain guitars is lacking. It's as if Technics applied a high shelf filter and rounded off the treble, which diminishes some of the dynamics and energy/attack of guitar-based tracks. AZ80 is better in this regard, but a downgrade in ANC and battery life. The Perl Pro sound stellar with AAT, but AAT can be hit or miss for some and is very tip dependent. AAT *should* be used in conjunction with EQ to get the most out of the Perl Pros -- something many users miss, as AAT is correction, not intended as a replacement EQ -- and I'd recommend looking at alternative tips like the Dunu S&S, Divinus Velvet, Spinfit Omni/Neo, etc. B&W Pi8 sounds very good, but is a bit too neutral for my tastes. It was also plagued with connectivity issues. I replaced my original unit, and had the same problems, so that set is rarely used. I know a lot of users that swear by this set, but it was not near the top of my list even without considering the connectivity issues. EQ could not fix my issues with the tuning; in some cases, it introduced sibilance. Outside of ANC, the Bose QC Ultra is at the bottom of my list. And to be fair, that list is much larger than what was pictured above as I have tested dozens of TWS sets. The tuning of the Bose is just not for me, but I know other hobbyists that swear by it. The ANC is world class, however. One of the few sets I quickly returned as I had no interest in keeping it around, even to collect dust. TLDR; this is very subjective, and I wouldn't recommend basing your buying decision on one user or reviewer's opinion unless you know your preferences align -- and even then, you may be disappointed with the results. If sound quality is your one and only goal, there are better options. Even the best TWS in my rotation will rarely beat out a dedicated IEM, running on something like the Q5k, iFi Go Pods, or the FiiO UTWS5 -- the former and the latter both have access to EQ. Unless I need ANC or TWS features, this is what I use the majority of the time.

Apple AirPods Pro are near the bottom of my list for sound quality. Their value is in feature set and ecosystem integration. It no longer owns the top spot in ANC, which goes to the Bose QC Ultra. If you want the best earbuds for sound quality and balance of features, Denon Perl Pro with AAT, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 with Sound Personalization, Technics AZ100, Technics AZ80, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, Pi7 S2, and the Sony WF-1000XM5. In that order. If you need a cheaper option, the JLab Epic Lab Edition is a great “budget” option. I don’t own the JBL sets, but I’ve heard good things. Which buds you choose should be based on personal preference. If I preferred a more neutral tuning, the Pi8 would probably be higher on my list. I prefer JM-1 or V-shaped tunings, with strong low frequency emphasis, and bright, clear treble. The best overall performer if you places ANC and sound quality on the same scale would be either the AZ100 or MTW4. Both have solid ANC, with the AZ100 coming out ahead, but the MTW4 beating the Technics in tuning due to the AZ100s strange upper mid/treble timbre. Anything below the JLab, you’d need to reassess your expectations. Some sets have decent enough sound quality, but below a certain budget you’d might as well shoot for a dedicated IEM and something like a Qudelix 5k for your wireless connection.

I have the AZ80 and Bose QC Ultra, the latter is way more comfortable so the answer is not that simple. 

I'm perplexed. I've read multiple reviews of people being impressed with the sound quality of these earbuds (I purchased the $300 Ultras). I had no problem with connectivity (a continual problem with my previous Sony WF1000's) nor the fit (very comfortable). But the sound quality is terrible at this price level. About equivalent to a $25 generic headphone. I tried all of their modes and EQ, and ran through the app several times. The app itself isn't horrible, but the UI/UX is not good. Way to busy, and not intuitive. I don't understand why anyone likes these earbuds, unless they are some sort of Giffen good where price determines opinion and desirability.

Edifier Neobuds Pro probably costs a bit more than $100, but from my own experience, its ANC reaches maybe 80%~90% of the best of the best but much more expensive Bose QC Ultra (buds). I actually tested both of these on the plane, along with Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 pro. The galaxy buds 2 pro ANC just seem non-existent compared to those two. It's it's also worth mentioning, the Bose QC Ultra ANC is just out of this world. It just seems to work differently from any other buds, and it just makes me feel the passive isolation doesn't do anything as the Bose but doesn't even go deep into the ears. The fact this Edifier could go this far with ANC while working more like other non-bose brands (and remains comfortable to wear) is amazing to me as well. And music sounds better on the edifier than on the Bose to me. Too bad my edifier right bud broke just after one year of use.

If you value ANC capability the most, I don't think anything else could compete with Bose QC Ultra. Somehow its ANC just works differently from the others. I've compared it to most of what you listed. And it doesn't even need to fit tightly. It could be very comfortable or even a bit loose and the ANC is still rock solid. Its ANC actually gives me a wow factor. Before I tried Bose QC Ultra, I thought my Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 pro ANC was somewhat effective for low frequencies (ineffective for mid frequency like human voice). But after I got the Bose, I no longer feel its effectiveness at all. The downside with the Bose is its app. I think it's bugged as it made me suddenly lose connection to the buds multiple times. Deleting the Bose app solved the problem. Galaxy Buds2 pro excels at sound quality of music though IMO. The ANC of the very cheap Edifier Neobuds pro is much more effective than the Samsung, and maybe 80% of the Bose, so it's definitely a very good budget pick. The edifier sounds quite good to me too.

UK redditor hear I tried these earbuds (black) on and fell in love with them but not 300 pounds in love (price was a wee bit steep for what I felt I was getting) Came across this flash-ish sale (40% off) and a few things came to mind: 1. I assume it's a steal when you slash 40% off RRP ? 2. Wondering if there are any other earbuds in this discounted price range that acheieve the same as the QC ultra Wireless or better 3. Also curious about anyones experience with blue bose products? is the blue durable (it won't ''wear'' off)? Disclaimer: wasn't a fan of Sony xm5s https://preview.redd.it/tum92f8lk00f1.png?width=2668&format=png&auto=webp&s=1aa19e3832cbbffa749274173ba98ea0b87ff56e

Counter points 1. the main perks are locked into Samsung ecosystem.  2. I disagree that they're hardly an improvement. Fit is probably one of the most important features. Personal experience I found that the weird white hissing noise was non-existent on the ultras during ANC 

Biggest piece of shit I’ve ever owned. Unfortunate too because the sound quality is great. Bluetooth connectivity is a fucking nightmare… you will run into problems guaranteed. You’ll be doing a hard reset on these regularly to get whichever earbud is no longer connecting back in play. The battery life on these are a joke. For whatever reason they stay on and connected after putting them back in the case using up all the battery life. Unless you’re standing still, good luck keeping them in your ear. Add a little pep to your step and they are flying right out. Also, little bonus, when you go to readjust them they’ll stop the music because of the cool touch-to-stop feature. These things drive me mad and I’d like to kick the team in half that put them out into production. Gun to my head… I’d chose a boombox over these. Hell, I’d rather walk around with an active beehive in hand than these. That’s how I feel, hope your experience is better. 3/10

Wow wow wow these are amazing but I need to listen to more more music to give my verdict, but so far so good, update soon.

Yes, kind of, but slightly under the radar. I returned my WH1000XM6 and brought the Bose. And they are awesome; I wore them to the cinema for my first test, and the noise cancellation was awesome for the ads and crowd noise (obviously, I took them out when the movie started). Today I wore them to the gym, and I could only hear my music. The aware mode is good enough, and the best part for me is immersive audio is great too. So, for babbling on. I just wanted to update everyone who’s interested.

echoing everyone else here, these things fuckin suck. i have the cans, use them daily for work and love them so i thought i’d snag the buds on sale for travel. so sad i did, huge regret. same issues as everyone else, i spend so much time troubleshooting i barely get use out of them. that said, once they do connect they’re fine — but it’s a serious issue and i’d never recommend them to anyone.

Just got these from Costco a few days ago. The fit/finish/sound-quality seems fine, but they have terrible wind noise when running/bike riding or even just being out on a windy day. I don't know if this in just an inherent problem with these, or if there is a way to actually turn off all active noise cancellation. I had to find a "mode" that actually has the noise cancelling feature unlocked, and I still have terrible wind noise with the "Noise Cancellation" swipe-bar set all the way to the lowest setting. Is there a way to fix the wind noise on the earbuds?

I just got mine and I love them. I’d been using Sony WF 3, 4, and 5, and the noise canceling is significantly better than those; not just a little bit. They are also equally as comfortable. I can’t say I hear a tremendous difference in audio quality either way, but perhaps a side by side is needed. One downside, there is a little bit of white noise going on in quiet mode. It’s like a faint hiss of some sort. It appears to be normal for these, or at least common, but I’ve never heard it on any other buds until now.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but they are expensive. A cheap option is the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC. I also have ADHD and I would like it to be accepted in my environment to simply put on headphones when I'm overloaded but since that's not the case I resort to the old "I have to go to the bathroom" trick lol. Cheer up!

I just got some. The old ones were better. Their sw that controls when they stop start is messed up

I had buzzing in my left ear almost immediately unfortunately. Returned them. Touch controls are really really sensitive so I’m trying the nothing brand ears as they have squeeze controls like AirPods but I’m just over Apple products.

I like them well enough, price for price I prefer the AirPods Pro but I got a good deal on these and they are fine. I find they have a weird ANC pop/breakthrough during pressure pulses like on a train or very loud things like a leaf shredder, something the AirPods Pro never do, but they are good enough for quiet sit-down stuff.

The bose are pretty punchy. The devialet Gemini IIs have better, deeper more rumbly bass than the bose.

Simple answer is no. A lot of review sites claim that some buds are as good if not better by presenting "measurements". Based on my own testing, it's all BS. Bose QC Ultra earbuds are the best at noise cancelling, end of.

I have the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra, noise cancellation is amazing. They also have a pass through mode if you want to hear or talk. They're not cheap at $300. Sorry I don't have a suggestion for something cheaper.

1. Sound cancelling is impeccable on these earbuds. 2. Sound quality excellent IMO. Not an audiophile or anything just used to Apple and Samsung earbuds and these QC Ultra Bose were much better in terms of sound quality, cannot even compare. 3. Bluetooth connectivity and syncing with the phone was atrocious. I'm sorry but this is inexcusable since I've had some cheap earbuds and headphones at work and I have never had as many issues with connectivity as these premium Bose earbuds. 4. You cannot disable the touch control on the earbuds. This blew my mind. I cannot believe that this option doesn't exist after people have complained for a few years about this. WTF?! Anyway, because of reasons 3 and 4 I returned mine in 10 days. It was bittersweet since I liked the way these sounded but I just couldn't accept this other BS.

So I own the xm5s the Bose QC ultra and just picked up the pi8 this evening. When I first put them on I thought something was broken because there was so much treble the high pitch sound hurt my ears. I changed up the eq but the bass on the pi8 is nowhere near as hard hitting as the other 2. Yes the bass is more clear on the pi8 but it doesn't give that sensation that I get from sitting in a car with a sub like the xm5 and the Bose QC ultra I use comply foam tips on all the ear buds for comparison

I like the sound of the QC ultra and xm5 better then the pi8 I have since returned them and purchased the beoplay ex hopefully they are more to my taste. I just can't see how the Gemini 2 are worth 750 dollars for something that will eventually be garbage unless they're repairable (changing out the batteries) My first set on Sony's I changed the batteries in them 3 times and kept them for 4 years.

Five months in and love them. Never had any issues. So comfortable and comes with really strong ANC. Together with Jabra Elite 10, these are my daily drivers.

No. They are not. They feel cheap and delicate, the sound isn’t amazing and there are fewer features than the original QuietComfort earbuds. They do not support wireless charging any longer and for that option, there is a $50 (frequently returned product on Amazon) silicone case that people describe as cheap. I returned mine as they definitely did not live up to my expectations from Bose. If you must have Bose, go with the original QuietComfort buds. Or check out the Amazon Echo buds and you will be delightfully surprised and will save a ton of cash. I think they sounded better than the Bose.

I could go on and on about why the Ultra are inferior to the previous originals.

Started off with Pixel Buds Pro 2 and have tried several others including Boss QC Ultra, Earfun 4, Soundcore Liberty 4 NC/Pro, and Cambridge Melomania M100. 3 of these stood above the rest for me- Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro, Earfun 4, and the Cambridge. The Liberty 4 Pro and Earfun 4 are very, very similar to me in both sound, NC, and features. I think it almost comes down to preference on looks/fit, to which I personally prefer the Liberty 4 Pro (especially in white as it includes a case that isn't a shiny fingerprint magnet) for its fit and finish. Then you have the Cambridge which are so underrated. The NC might not be quite as good as on the other 2 but it isn't a huge difference, but the bump up in overall sound quality is noticeable, especially if you take the time to do hearing tests (when applicable) and then further tweak the EQs to your preference. It would be a hard to pick a single winner from these, they are all 3 great Side note- the Liberty 4 NC are very nearly as good as my above 3 picks and are a great buy at their current sale price of $70. The NC is pretty much identical to the Pros, main difference to me is you can get slightly more out of the dual drivers on the Pros when you EQ them.

Bose QC Ultras is the only right answer. They are consistently rated the best. However, expect much faffing around with connectivity issues.

I agree with most of the above, particularly that the Bose are extremely comfortable too, but wouldn't say (in my opinion) that the XM5 sound quality is 'much better'. I bought both to try out and, to me, they both sounded about the same, with the Bose just edging ahead on not feeling like the soundstage was deep in my ear canal. Each to their own though!

Bose QC Ultra. Just get those. But also be prepared for connectivity issues.

Pixel pro 2, most comfortable earbud from my collection Bose QC ultra best NC from my collection A30i soundcore best value for cheap price A40 subscribe, good all around for a budget Past model that went to recycling were Sony x...3 and Jabra. 7 ( don't recall exact model but I won't my earbuds from either. I love their headphones though)

I love mine. 6 months going good

I would say the Bowers are not in the same class as Momentum 4 or QuietComfort Ultra. I'm slightly confused on exactly what Bose buds you had because I don't see a "QuietComfort Pro" anywhere. The QC has more sizes of ear tips and fins, plus the tips are oblong (not round) which, some people find more comfortable. The QC will probably sound better overall to you, especially if you listen to bass rich music. Alternatively, the Momentum have a less bass heavy, more neutral sound suited to a wider range of genres. As for which is better for activity and travel it's a toss up. The Momentum have better overall noise isolation but don't block out low sounds (like engines) quite as well. However, the Momentum have a better mic and IP54 protection against dust and water splashes, whereas the Bose is only rated IPX4 (no dust protection). If you had the QC or QC II, I'd say try the QC Ultra. If you had the QC Ultra, I'd say try the Momentum 4. https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/compare/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-truly-wireless-vs-sennheiser-momentum-true-wireless-4/44628/49892

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. I've tried a few before settling on the Bose. For me, it works better than the Sony XM5 and all of the galaxy buds.

I would say change the batteries of the Sony, it’s not too hard. Can buy the batteries off aliexpress. Other than that, AirPod pro 2 or Bose QC ultra are fantastic

Can’t say I did. But I ended up having to sell them as I was allergic. Bose customer service are fantastic so you should hit them up with your issue.

O my i just tested these again during a number of calls and using different phones and wow they are awful!! - quiet environments these are good but then again most earbuds are good in quiet environments hahaa but once it gets a little challenging these fall apart (still better than the gen 1 but not by much at all) A complete fail sorry.. You know what the biggest difference is... the mesh guard on the tips!

Interestingly they talked up improvements to active sense and that I can tell instantly. It's very well implemented now

With the original for me the anc was just instant and a bit jarring With the gen 2 isn't gradually increased and works really well. I tested by slamming some cupboards. Also I've got 2 pairs (Bose error) so I've tested calls with the second pair and I'm getting barely any background noise cancellation with either set my results are not as good as yours... My voice comes through clear but the background is still there but maybe 30% of the volume. Tried with crowd noise at 65db

I really like the Bose ultra quiet comfort. The NC is excellent, earbuds beat over the ear in terms of ultimate NC IMHO and the other main factor for me was I can sleep in my side with them in, and in long haul business that makes a difference….

The Bose QC Ultra blows the Airpod Pros out of the water Both in terms of sound quality and noise canceling I like it's version of a pause button better as well - it's almost the same thing but you don't need two fingers to do it

Oh yeah, we have completely different use cases I've given up on earbuds for calls Bluetooth connectivity is easy with both brands I like the way the Bose QC buds feel better. I like the around-the-ear Beats Pro even better than that

I have used Bose Ultra Quiet, Air Pro, Powerbeats Pro, and Pixel Buds. The Bose Ultra Quiet are the best of the bunch Both for sound quality and noise canceling If anyone has specific experience of something being better than the Bose Ultra Quiet, let me know

I switch between Bose QC Ultra and Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds if I'm not using IEM's and a DAC. I had Pixel Buds Pro and Pro 2 and gave them both away. To me, the QC Ultras sound better, but get uncomfortable after an hour or so with the stock tips. Getting Comply tips makes a huge difference. The XM5's are much better "outside" earbuds for me, though. The ambient sound and voice passthrough ANC functions work very well, and the call quality is much better than the QC Ultra's.

Is the N5 worth the $300? Not available on Amazon either so can't just return them if I don't like them. I think the thing I care about most is ANC, and then secondary to that microphone quality. I'm currently using Bose QC Ultra earbuds and they are definitely good enough in the ANC department, it's just they have more latency than I would like, and bluetooth headset mode is awful.

The QCUs have really really good ANC. But they lack features that are common in other buds. The multi-point connection is not very stable. Hell, the connection randomly cuts out for me and it's annoying as hell. The microphone is terrible for phone calls, especially if you are on Samsung since Voice Focus doesn't work for buds. On Apple, Voice Isolation works for them and makes it significantly better from what I've heard. I wouldn't personally know since I have a samsung phone. The fit and comfort is really really good. That's why I use them. They actually stay in my ears and don't cause discomfort now that I got the XS tips. I can shake my head very violently and they stay put. That's my biggest gripe with all other buds. Overall, I'm glad I got these at the reduced $220 they were at Costco in March. I wouldn't buy them again and have been looking at the Samsung Buds3 Pro since the ANC is good enough, I can't tell the difference in audio, and I commonly use my buds for phone calls. Luckily Costco has really good return policies

I have both, I would tell you to get the AirPods Pro 2, they are more versatile, you can use them at the gym, for going out, at home... they are more comfortable as they are earphones. I always use AirPods Pro 2 for the gym and to leave the house and at home I only use Bose QC Ultra. As for the sound, Bose will have more bass and the AirPods will have more treble. trust me, get the earphones also because they don’t keep you as hot as the Bose ones (also think about summer) and they clearly cost half the price ahahaha

The WF XM5 is dog shit and a big waste of money. Honestly, the pair that will probably cause you the least headaches are the AirPods Pro 2. Both the XM5 and QCU have their own share of software issues.

Have you tried using the Bose on public transport? My pairs would pop in my ear for every bump and door that would open/close.

No. Don’t do it, it’s not worth it. They’re horribly unreliable.

Bose quiet comfort ultra. Best anc, one of the best sounding. Stays put.

With in the ear buds (as opposed to over the ear headphones), I have found it is all about the personal fit. For me, the highly rated Sonys don't work at all even with third party tips and AirPods Pros are only marginally better, again even with third party trips. Bose work the best for me, though I have to buy their accessory tip kit and use the extra large tips (with the medium stability bands). This configuration gives me excellent passive noise cancellation (i.e., with the earbuds off), and superb active noise cancelation, which was excellent with the QuietComfort II buds and even better with the ultras. This is obviously a personal matter of fit. I have not found them to be buggy at all. With the latest firmware, they have multi-point connectivity so I can easily connect them to two Apple devices simultaneously and cycle to other ones. Not quite as easy as the AirPods Pro, but for me the trade off is very much worth it. With earbuds, a trial period is essential because of the variability of ear shapes. If you don't get good passive isolation with a particular brand, you won't get good active cancellation. The appeal of the over the ears is that fit is less of an issue (though comfort it). All of this to say, for my ears the Bose QC Ultra buds are superb and for my purposes a much better solution than over the ear. Obviously, YMWV.

Thanks for the review! I tried the bose and loved them, except that you can in no way turn the ANC off completely. This results in wind noise when outside, which was a dealbreaker for me. Would love for Bose to roll out an update to fix this, then I will happily but them again.

Believe it or not, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra EARBUDS cancel noise better than the Sony or Bose over the ear Bluetooth wireless headphones. And not by a little-it’s a noticeable difference. It might be because they have a double seal; or it might be because the noise projector is in the ear canal.

I love everything about them.

There's no such thing as "best" - there is only the best for each particular person. Everyone likes different things, so this is really a useless question. You get a bunch of replies that say a certain brand or model which tells you nothing. I have both Sony WF-1000XM5 and AirPods Pro 2nd gen. I use them both almost every day for different reasons. Neither is "better" than the other which is why I keep both of them. I have also listened to Bose QC Ultra and for the couple minutes I played with them, I thought they sounded good and that the ANC was excellent (was in a loud pub). I want to get those for myself and spend more time with them. I prefer the sound of my Sony XM5's over all three, but I did not like them at all until I switched to silicone tips. At the same time, the Sony's are not great for running or excercise for me because I hear "thump thump thump" in my ears from my feet, but I do not get this with the AirPods for example. So many different elements to consider, which makes it hard to choose. It is almost as if learning more makes it even harder.

1 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds best earphone i can recommend this

Absolutely no go; read through this thread and you will see there are endless connection/sound/interconnect issues, no wireless charging, and these are NOT gonna stay in your ears if you are aggressive in the gym they just released multipoint firmware upgrade a day or 2 ago for these so called "premium" buds, which should have been pre installed 6 months ago, when they came out, but these things are a rip off at 300 bucks plus tax, although if you can try them for 230 and return them if they are problematic for you like so many others it might be worth trying.. I've had multiple pairs of bose buds/headsets, and they have been going down hill for so many reasons over the last few years, I would NEVER buy their products again..

There has never been a better time after the arrival of update 4.0.20 that added multipoint connectivity and ironed out some software issues. People get these for their unmatched active noise cancellation. No other brand matches them.

I just got mine 2 weeks ago. I dropped and scuffed the case, so idk if I can return them. I feel like I will use my Bose because I spent so much on them, but overall feel like it wasn’t worth the upgrade. I would tell past me that I like them but don’t $300 like them.

The Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) just came out, and one of the main improvements anticipated is in the area of voice call quality using AI-based noise reduction. So if anyone is interested to see whether there is any improvement over the 1st Gen (and if so by how much) then check out this comprehensive voice call quality comparison, which also includes other popular stem based earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen and the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro with the latest and greatest firmware. PS. here is my initial impressions for other features of the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) **- ANC** = Still the best but I don't hear any significant difference over the 1st Gen **- Transparency** = Still Top 3 but again I don't hear any significant difference over the 1st Gen **- Sound Quality** = Still good and again I don't hear any significant difference over the 1st Gen **\* Mosquito Buzz noise in left earbud** = GONE on the 2nd Gen. Still briefly present on my 1st Gen for first few seconds when putting on. Cheers!

Yes, the mic quality scored better on the 2nd Gen than the 1st gen in all the noisy environments. It's just that I had expected better results, especially in the Dynamic Loud Noise environment with multiple distinct loud voices talking beside and in front of you, to at least match Apple or Samsung. Hopefully, Bose can fine tune the AI further on future firmware updates. Will try on Android when I get some time, but based on my experience with recordings of the 1st Gen on both Android and iOS, there was no perceivable difference between the two platforms in any noise environment, so I would expect the same with the 2nd Gen. But will keep you posted and may post a quick comparison video. Cheers!

You're welcome! "The call quality is far from sufficient to make the QC Ultra earbuds useful for professional use in noisy environments." 100% Agree! The good news is there does not seem to be any connection issue so far on the QC Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, which is definitely a good start! And for call quality, I'm hopeful that Bose can optimize their AI even further in future firmware updates, so they eventually can be used for professional use especially in Dynamic Loud Noise environments.

That's what it looks like, even the cardboard packaging and charger case looks the same! I would have liked to have a much more smaller and compact charging case :-( At least Sony put some effort in their new WH-1000XM6 carrying case and made it smaller with a much easier to use open/close mechanism that might be a game changer in the carrying case accessory space which I anticipate we'll see some manufacturers copying. Going back the the 2nd Gen buds, I'm guessing that it's still using the same Qualcomm QCC5181 chipset as the 1st Gen, but I can't be too sure since there does not seem to be any documents indicating this chipset supports any AI-based background noise suppression technology. In any case, I hope Bose is able to tweak their AI to improve background noise suppression especially Dynamic Loud Noise environments, where it's able to distinguish your voice from other voices talking around you and remove those. The EPOS Impact 1000 series the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 (and 3) are the golden standard example of AI noise suppression done right on wireless headsets and earbuds, which Bose should use for reference in their future firmware improvements.

Lol, yes that, and no mosquito buzzing in left earbud (at least for my 2nd Gens). I'm still hopeful that Bose will make some optimizations on the AI noise suppression in the next firmware update 🤞

Really? I did a book drop test onto a hard floor, with ActiveSense On and Off, on both the 1st Gen 2nd Gen, and there didn't seem to be any difference. In fact, when ActiveSense is turned off in Aware Mode, it still activates once the book hits the floor. Maybe it works for other scenarios??? How did you check to see the improvements here? Thx

If the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen is using a newer chipset than the QCC5181 for AI noise reduction, that would be very good news, since it would mean that there is higher possibility for Bose to make further improvements to call quality in Dynamic Loud Noise environments with added training datasets and DNN optimizations to their AI implementation, in future firmware updates. Agree, that hopefully we see a teardown posted of the 2nd Gen to confirm which chipset is used for their AI-based background noise suppression, similar to the teardown someone posted for the 1st Gen which confirmed the QCC5181 used in those earbuds. As for not exploiting aptX Lossless capability in its marketing, I'm not sure. Maybe because it might not actually be fully supported, or they know it's still practically not usable. For example, I've only been able to see "aptX Lossess | 44100 Hz" in my Sennheiser Smart Control App, when I use my MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 Earbuds, and even then it would keep switching from "aptX Lossess | 44100 Hz" to "aptX Adaptive | 44100 Hz" when I was 3ft or more away from the phone. So I think the underlying [Bluetooth Spec and hardware](https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/18oy29h/upcoming_bluetooth_6ghz_enhancements_will_support/) needs to be updated to allow for higher bandwidths and more robust modulations or whatever to make Lossless connection reliability better over 3ft distances or when putting your phone in your back pocket and not having your own body drop the Lossless connection to Adaptive.

The Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) just came out, and one of the main improvements anticipated is in the area of voice call quality using AI-based noise reduction. So if anyone is interested to see whether there is any improvement over the 1st Gen (and if so by how much) then check out this comprehensive voice call quality comparison, which also includes other popular stem based earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen and the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro with the latest and greatest firmware. PS. here is my initial impressions for other features of the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) **- ANC** = Still the best but I don't hear any significant difference over the 1st Gen **- Transparency** = Still Top 3 but again I don't hear any significant difference over the 1st Gen **- Sound Quality** = Still good and again I don't hear any significant difference over the 1st Gen **\* Mosquito Buzz noise in left earbud** = GONE on the 2nd Gen. Still briefly present on my 1st Gen for first few seconds when putting on. Cheers!

Yes, the mic quality scored better on the 2nd Gen than the 1st gen in all the noisy environments. It's just that I had expected better results, especially in the Dynamic Loud Noise environment with multiple distinct loud voices talking beside and in front of you, to at least match Apple or Samsung. Hopefully, Bose can fine tune the AI further on future firmware updates. Will try on Android when I get some time, but based on my experience with recordings of the 1st Gen on both Android and iOS, there was no perceivable difference between the two platforms in any noise environment, so I would expect the same with the 2nd Gen. But will keep you posted and may post a quick comparison video. Cheers!

You're welcome! "The call quality is far from sufficient to make the QC Ultra earbuds useful for professional use in noisy environments." 100% Agree! The good news is there does not seem to be any connection issue so far on the QC Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, which is definitely a good start! And for call quality, I'm hopeful that Bose can optimize their AI even further in future firmware updates, so they eventually can be used for professional use especially in Dynamic Loud Noise environments.

That's what it looks like, even the cardboard packaging and charger case looks the same! I would have liked to have a much more smaller and compact charging case :-( At least Sony put some effort in their new WH-1000XM6 carrying case and made it smaller with a much easier to use open/close mechanism that might be a game changer in the carrying case accessory space which I anticipate we'll see some manufacturers copying. Going back the the 2nd Gen buds, I'm guessing that it's still using the same Qualcomm QCC5181 chipset as the 1st Gen, but I can't be too sure since there does not seem to be any documents indicating this chipset supports any AI-based background noise suppression technology. In any case, I hope Bose is able to tweak their AI to improve background noise suppression especially Dynamic Loud Noise environments, where it's able to distinguish your voice from other voices talking around you and remove those. The EPOS Impact 1000 series the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 (and 3) are the golden standard example of AI noise suppression done right on wireless headsets and earbuds, which Bose should use for reference in their future firmware improvements.

Really? I did a book drop test onto a hard floor, with ActiveSense On and Off, on both the 1st Gen 2nd Gen, and there didn't seem to be any difference. In fact, when ActiveSense is turned off in Aware Mode, it still activates once the book hits the floor. Maybe it works for other scenarios??? How did you check to see the improvements here? Thx

Currently applied for a refund through Amazon. For me problem was constant disconnections, product doesn’t disconnect after putting in case, I always need to repair in win 11 with multipoint mode in, the ANC is quite uncomfortable for me in when nothing is playing due to that pressure and there s frequent annoying air leak like sounds in the right side. About your important points, never seen better ANC and fitting elsewhere. But the sound quality is not the best in the market, definitely not close to AirPods Pro’s as per my view which is on par in terms of ANC. Maybe about half of these are just for my unit but I have seen a lot of other people about similar things. If you can adjust to such things, I wish you luck.

The new Bose Ultras are great. And Shokz bone conduction ones.

Yes, [Bose’s QuietComfort Ultr or Sony’s WF-1000XM5](https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductsDiscussion/comments/1hzvkj5/best_noisecanceling_earbuds_for_sleeping_workout/) Both are solid picks for noise cancellation! Bose is super comfy with a more balanced sound, while Sony has great bass and customization. Both are good to go.

QC Ultra are top teir

Same! I had no idea the 2nd gen was being released. But I bought directly from Bose, so I have returned them (90-day window) to be recirculated through their refurbish program, no regrets. I should get my 2nd gen in a day or 2

Does your left earbud not have a static noise? When I bought mine few months ago there was weird static noise when its silent and looking at this post [https://www.reddit.com/r/bose/comments/184ui6b/warning\_quietcomfort\_ultra\_earbuds\_have\_a\_static/?sort=new](https://www.reddit.com/r/bose/comments/184ui6b/warning_quietcomfort_ultra_earbuds_have_a_static/?sort=new) the issue still persists with others

I have these, and the Sony xm4s buds. The Sony's noise cancelling is head and shoulders better than the Bose. It's not even remotely close. I'd say the Bose are maybe a touch more comfortable, but the Sony's sound better (probably because there is so much isolation you can appreciate the actual sound output much better).

I find that my Bose QC Ultra buds are excellent for passthrough. I often just leave it on, and can listen to music with minimal distortion, and without disturbing others while still hearing everything happening around me. They are miles ahead of the Sony XM4 buds that I had before. However, I don't like auto switching, and can't speak to that.

So far I believe it would be the Bose quiet comfort ultra and Sony WF1000XM5

I have used Pixel Buds Pro (1), Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and WF-1000XM4. I got the Bose when I lost my Pixel Buds in October. I wonder about the Pixel Buds Pro 2, but the Bose and Sony both blew the Pro 1 away with the noise cancelling. The Bose noise cancelling is so good that I haven't bothered taking my WH-1000XM5 headphones (over-the-ear) on my last few flights. However, I find that my WF-1000XM4s can be worn for a long time. I also use them with my PC for work calls. This is actually my second pair. My first set had the right one die after nearly two years. But I used them a ton. After doing a lot of reading on the XM5 vs XM4, it seemed like the XM4 was better (and I knew I liked them). When using my Bose with my MacBook for calls, the microphone quality seems not great (like if I record my self in a test call).

I use the XM4 for all of my work calls on my PC and it's excellent. I frequently have to give presentations, and I'll review the video recording afterwards to assess my performance and see how I can improve. And the audio always sounds excellent. It's been awhile since I've tried them with my MacBook, but I can't recall any issues. I use the Bose with my Pixel 9 Pro and MacBook. for listening to music I prefer them more than any other headphone I've had.

The Ultras had a new firmware in the last few days, now provides multipoint and in my case has improved connectivity and mic quality. Version 4.0.20 I think.

From being a consumer the last half a decade, they're at the bottom when it comes to mic/call quality. I don't think it's ever been their strong suit, as that's an important feature for me.

I have both and late to this. Got Bose as a Christmas present from parents. I’ve had AirPods forever. The Bose actually sound a lot better on a call. People have trouble hearing me on work calls using AirPods. I also have a Dell laptop. Hoping these help. Likely use Bose for the gym, work calls and traveling. Walking around likely AirPods. The sound quality with music is far superior imo. I plan to keep them because it was a gift and I’m a 42 year old man who can buy what he wants. If I was younger and had to pick as an iPhone owner, get the AirPods.

Bose sadly has trash reliability with there wireless earbud, they get red white Lite of death anywhere within the first 4 years. I had 2 pairs of new qc ultra buds, the old qc earbuds 2, the QC earbuds 1 and the first true wireless earbuds before any of them had NC Sound sport free. All of them except the Soundsport free and my current pair of ultras got the same issue where at first I could just Reset then but at some point it just doesn't fix it anymore and Bose support offers you little money off on your overpriced ear buds. I use Sony xm5 headphones and after the 3th pair having these issues now I'll be sticking with song as their anc is Equal if not better and they also sound amazing.

If you are thinking about using them without playing music just for mere noice isolation keep in mind that most anc earbuds produce more or less slight white noice. I use anc earbuds for meditation as a dad of toddlers and that white noice is a dealbreaker for me. Bose qc earbuds II/ultra have the most of this white noise I ever experienced, while having undeniably the most effective anc on the market these days. I can recommend the Sony linkbuds s for the best balance between effective noice isolation and the least white noice from it. The xm5 also don’t have a lot of white noice, but the foam tips are pretty uncomfortable to wear. If that doesn’t bother you, I’d recommend these too.

That’s very subjective, but I always end up with my AirPods Pro 2, the whole package is just too compelling at least when you are in the apple eco system. They are like amongst the top three best anc earbuds and everything else is so fluid and reliable while the sound is solid but nothing special. My second most used earbuds are the Sony linkbuds s, which I prefer over the xm5 due to the better comfort, at least in my ears. The Bose qc (II,ultra, gen 2) are supposed to have market leading anc, but as far as I tested them, the connection wasn’t reliable enough and there was too much white noise for my taste. And the cases are too bulky for me to carry them always in my pocket - I don’t use what I don’t have at hand anytime. I wish there was something more exciting than the AirPods, but nothing could beat them for me for longer than a week so far. I don’t have tested many over ears, I own the xm4 and the Bose quiet comfort 45. Both are supposed to be great last generation anc headphones but I don’t get more anc out of them than with my AirPods. Since these are way more convenient, I usually don’t come up using overears. When I sit down in order to listen to music concentrated I use my sennheisers or betweens and so on, but that happens very rarely. 99% of the time I use my AirPods especially while commuting, when reliability is key and I want to make sure that a during a long day out of the house my earbuds won’t let me down.

Budget line, samsung buds+/FE. Best anc/ambient, bose ultra/quietcomfort gen2 earbuds.

If anc is a big priority then definitely Bose, the anc is way better. There are videos on YouTube and articles that compare anc, sound quality, and test things like bass and treble. I recommend looking into those if you can’t choose

I use Bose Quiet Comfort ear buds. They have noise canceling and seem to work well. Battery life can be a concern. Mine are good for about 6 to 8 hours of use before needing recharge. The case also includes a battery so they will charge in the case without plugging in.

Ah. Shame. Thanks for taking the time to update- currently on the fence about my next pair of buds after my QCs just shit the bed (left one literally came apart at the seams).

I feel like the ultra quietcomfort earbuds are barely an improvement over the $150 quietcomforts except in terms of their aesthetics. Maybe they fit better. Galaxy buds 3 pro are around 180 and I think they are as good if not better than the ultra earbuds.

I feel like the ultra quietcomfort earbuds are barely an improvement over the $150 quietcomforts except in terms of their aesthetics. Maybe they fit better. Galaxy buds 3 pro are around 180 and I think they are as good if not better than the ultra earbuds.

Bose ANC is top notch. A must go to if you care about Noise canceling the most.

yep. For ANC, Bose is king. Second would be Sony.

Bose Amazing ANC. They will probably break in 1 or 2 years. But those 1-2 years you'll have the best ANC, hands down. Better than with over-ear headphones.

I’ve purchased almost everything at this point. I’ve compared them all back to back and side by side. The best ANC TWS you can get while actually having a working app is the new Bose Quietcomfort that just came out. Second is going to be Jabra Elite 8 second edition tied with AirPod Pro 2 with excellent fitting tips. After that, when you get into budget buds it’s a tough go. The Soundcore Space is OK, the Tozo NC9 is OK but definitely less than the above listed buds. If you’re using them for sleep at all, the Jabra and Bose fit me a lot better than AirPod Pro 2 but if you can use the stick style there are a lot more options out there for you.

I just bought both the Sony XM-5 and the QuietComfort the other day. The Sonys are better, they offer better ANC than the Bose, I want them to use while 3D printing in my office, and the Sonys totally block out the sound of them, but the Bose did not. I also like the ear tips on the Sony better, they seem to fit better in my ears.

Bose QC earbuds are really good, blocks out all the noise from the outside. I power wash/ use an impact/ saw/ vacumn and I hear zero noise.

None. For me, they don’t stay in. Sweat eventually wins. I’ve since switched to Bose QC earbuds.

I’d go with the [Bose quietcomfort earbuds](https://productbible.com/product/bose-quietcomfort-bluetooth-earbuds). theyre durable, good battery life, and can take a bit of a beating. I’ve dropped mine plenty of times and they’re still doing fine. Plus, the noise canceling is great. Way better than Raycons.

Bose QC is a good option since it has amazing sound quality and noise cancellation but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who wants to wear them to the gym because they are a bit on the larger side as compared to other sports focused earbuds. Since you are looking for earbuds specifically for the gym, you should not compromise on these features: - Secure fit: Earbuds with adjustable ear tips so that they stay in place when you’re working out - Water resistance: Sweat and moisture resistance is very important. Look for smth w IPX4 rating or higher - Battery Life: Should be at least 6-8 hours for long gym sessions - Light weight: You don't want them to make you uncomfortable during intense physical activity. Many brands are now making earbuds specifically for gym purposes....just google a bit you’ll find really cool options like [these by blackview](https://dbestlists.com/dp-B0CL2DQWSW).

Bose QC/Ultra. Best ANC in the biz