Bose Quietcomfort Ultra 2 Vs. Sony Wh-1000xm6: I Compared The Two Headphones, And This Pair Wins

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Sony and Bose released flagship headphones this year, delivering caller features, upgraded audio performance, improved artillery capacity, and astir importantly, nan champion progressive sound cancellation (ANC) successful nan industry. 

Bose was erstwhile undefeated successful its noise-canceling capabilities, but Sony's WH-1000XM6 are a fierce competitor. Bose is backmost pinch a counterpunch successful nan shape of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Can Bose reclaim nan ANC crown from Sony? Are location different areas successful which they're better?

Aside from beardown sound cancellation, Sony and Bose connection different experiences and features to users, each excelling successful categories wherever nan different struggles. I've worn some models and highlighted nan cardinal features to thief you make a buying decision.

Specifications

You should bargain nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 if...

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1. You want a sculpted sound retired of nan container

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) sound excellent, and while I still for illustration nan wide audio consequence of Sony's headphones, they each connection a somewhat different tuning retired of nan box. Sony's sound is crisper and much analytical, but Bose's sound floor plan is suited good for semipermanent listening, particularly while traveling. For some, that whitethorn mean nan Bose headphones are a amended buy. Bose's headphones sound much sculpted, pulling backmost nan mids and prioritizing nan bass and precocious frequencies. 

Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

If you're looking for a neutral sound profile, you won't get it from Bose's headphones. However, if you're looking for a consumer-friendly, bass-heavy audio consequence pinch bully clarity successful nan precocious frequencies, nan Bose QC Ultra 2 are fresh to spell without immoderate tweaking.

2. You want USB-C connectivity

Both Sony's and Bose's headphones person analog inputs for wired listening. With nan Sony headphones, you'll get a modular 3.5mm audio jack, while Bose's headphones person a smaller 2.5mm to 3.5mm jack that still useful pinch nan cablegram included successful nan box. However, nan Bose QC Ultra 2 person a USB-C larboard that's compatible pinch high-resolution wired listening, which nan Sony WH-1000XM6 lack. 

USB-C makes wired listening much accessible, arsenic galore caller smartphones nary longer person a headphone jack. In different words, you tin link nan Bose headphones straight to a machine aliases different root utilizing a USB-C cable. Unlike different headphones that switch a headphone jack for a USB-C port, Bose offers both, catering to modern sources for illustration your smartphone, and analog ones for illustration an airplane infotainment center. 

3. You want a much comfortable fresh

Both headphones connection a very comfortable fit; however, I find nan Bose headphones to beryllium somewhat much comfortable. Both headphones are akin successful weight, but Bose's headphones look to administer nan weight much evenly crossed nan apical of my head, while nan clamp unit is somewhat lighter, and nan earcups person softer padding. The extremity consequence is that while I'm happy to deterioration Sony's headphones for extended periods, I find that nan Bose headphones stay much comfortable complete longer periods.

Also: Bose conscionable did what Apple couldn't pinch nan QuietComfort Ultra headphones - and I'm sold

Again, nan quality successful comfortableness level is minor, and you'll apt find that different factors play a much important domiciled successful your buying determination owed to nan minimal difference. Additionally, different caput shapes mean that different headphones tin beryllium much aliases little comfortable for you. If you tin find a spot to effort them connected for yourself, it's worthy doing truthful if you're concerned astir comfortableness and scheme connected utilizing your headphones for activities for illustration long-haul traveling.

You should bargain nan Sony WH-1000XM6 if...

Jada Jones/ZDNET

1. You want amended ANC

When they launched, nan Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones offered somewhat amended sound cancellation than Bose's first-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones. Unfortunately for Bose, nan ANC isn't each that different successful its second-generation model, meaning that Sony still comes retired connected top.

Review: Sony WH-1000XM6

However, comparing noise-canceling capabilities betwixt nan 2 models is different area wherever we're splitting hairs. The ANC built into nan Bose QC Ultra 2 is not only impressive, but it's besides amended than everyone other successful nan industry, except for Sony. Bose's QC Ultra 2 artifact sound incredibly well, making planes quiet and different sound earnestly dampened -- and easy to drown retired pinch moreover medium-volume music.

If you want nan azygous champion sound cancellation nan manufacture tin offer, past nan Sony headphones are nan measurement to go, but if each you want is fantabulous sound cancellation overall, some headphones person what you're looking for.

2. You want a amended wide audio response

The Bose QC Ultra 2 sound great, but nan Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones person a much neutral sound and connection much customization successful position of audio tuning. The EQ built into nan Sony Audio Connect app is great. Even if you're not looking for neutrality from your headphones, you tin tune them to your preferences, moreover approaching nan aforesaid audio consequence that Bose offers. 

Also: Your Sony headphones person caller tricks successful a free update - but there's a catch

By contrast, nan Bose QC Ultra 2 activity pinch nan Bose app, which is simply a coagulated app overall, but has a subpar three-band EQ pinch bass, mids, and treble bands that aren't branded by circumstantial frequencies. The deficiency of circumstantial labeling intends that you person constricted options erstwhile it comes to tuning nan audio consequence of Bose's headphones.

3. LDAC is important to you

Both models connection high-res audio via Bluetooth, but do truthful by offering different codecs. The QC Ultra 2 support Qualcomm's AptX Adaptive standard, which is great, but not arsenic wide disposable arsenic LDAC, which useful pinch astir modern Android phones. If you want wireless high-res audio and person a telephone that supports AptX Adaptive, past you astir apt don't request to interest astir LDAC. 

However, if you require wider wireless high-res support, past LDAC amended serves your needs than AptX Adaptive. Just retrieve that nan Bose headphones connection USB-C wired audio support, which could thief span nan spread for high-res listening erstwhile you want it.

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