Bose Quietcomfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Review: Impactful Upgrades To A Familiar Formula

Bose took a different attack pinch its caller products successful 2025. Instead of wholly redesigning  its QuietComfort Ultra lineup, nan institution unveiled upgraded second-generation models of nan flagship-level earbuds and headphones. Like nan QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds that debuted earlier this year, nan caller Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones ($449) don’t connection a broad overhaul. However, nan changes supply capable capacity improvements to further cement these arsenic the champion noise-canceling headphones that you tin bargain correct now. Trust me, we’re overmuch amended disconnected pinch this revamped type than we would beryllium pinch a twelvemonth (or longer) hold for thing marque caller pinch nan 2023 model.

What’s caller connected nan QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?

Bose debuted a fewer caller features connected nan second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds successful August that it carried complete to these caller headphones. First, nan institution improved its already stellar progressive sound cancelation (ANC) pinch tweaks to its ActiveSense technology. Specifically, nan strategy tin respond to abrupt spikes successful biology sound by adapting much precisely. It’s not thing you’ll announcement each nan time, but erstwhile you request it, you’ll beryllium gladsome it's there. Otherwise, nan fantabulous ANC capacity present is conscionable arsenic effective arsenic it was connected nan erstwhile model. More connected that successful a bit.

The immersive Cinema Mode that Bose added to nan QC Ultra Earbuds is besides disposable connected these headphones. It’s a sound floor plan that enhances speech clarity while keeping nan remainder of nan soundstage arsenic wide and enveloping arsenic possible. I for illustration it champion for movies and TV, arsenic nan sanction suggests, but per Bose’s proposal I besides tried it pinch podcasts and audiobooks. Cinema Mode is astir apt overkill for those types of content, unless you’re listening to shows aliases titles pinch tons of inheritance effects.

One of nan biggest changes connected nan second-gen QC Ultra Headphones is really Bose decided to grip powerfulness management. Most importantly, nan institution extended artillery life successful each usage cases. With ANC connected (and Immersive Audio off), you’ll get up to 30 hours of listening time. Turn disconnected ANC and that jumps to 45 hours. When you determine to alteration some ANC and Bose’s spatial Immersive Audio, you tin expect up to 23 hours connected a charge. Compared to those connected nan first-generation model, each of these numbers are up by astatine slightest 5 hours, which is simply a important boost.

Like nan erstwhile QC Ultra Headphones, this exemplary has an automatic disconnection characteristic aft 10 minutes of standby . But nan institution went a measurement further connected this type by adding a low-power mode that nan headphones participate aft 30 minutes of idle time. And if you want to disconnect them quickly, you tin rotate nan earcups and laic them connected a level surface. That’ll make them spell into a deeper standby mode that Bose says tin tally “for months.” All of this intends you tin efficaciously move nan caller QuietComfort Ultra Headphones connected and disconnected by putting them connected and taking them off. If you’re utilizing them regularly, you’ll ne'er person to property nan powerfulness button.

Sound-wise, nan large upgrade connected these headphones is nan summation of lossless audio complete USB-C. Like the AirPods Max, this exemplary tin beryllium connected pinch a cablegram to your phone, tablet, laptop aliases desktop to watercourse aliases play higher-quality tunes from compatible services aliases your library. Bose says you tin expect 16-bit 44.1kHz aliases 48kHz audio depending connected your source. It’s yet different nice-to-have characteristic that’s becoming modular fare connected premium wireless headphones.

What other is bully astir nan QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?

Like astir Bose over-ear headphones, nan second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are supremely comfortable. Even for agelong periods of time, they ne'er go a burden, and that’s acknowledgment successful ample portion to nan soft, pillowy receptor pads. I could easy deterioration these for an full trans-Atlantic formation pinch minimal discomfort and I’ve been wearing them for full workdays astatine home.

As I already mentioned, nan ANC capacity present is still top-tier. In fact, these QC Ultra Headphones will soon switch nan first-gen exemplary connected our best noise-canceling headphones list. Both nan Immersion (ANC + spatial audio) and Quiet (just ANC) modes supply robust sound blocking that surpasses those by Sony, Sennheiser and others. If you’re making your buying determination based solely connected ANC performance, this is nan champion option. You’ll bask alleviation from changeless ambient sound sources for illustration fans and sound machines, positive nan QC Ultra Headphones do a respectable occupation pinch quality voices. Heck, I couldn’t moreover perceive my canine barking astatine nan imminent threat from falling leaves outside.

Lastly, Bose’s return connected spatial audio is still rather good. The institution calls it Immersive Audio and nan characteristic doesn’t trust connected specialized contented for illustration different headphones. Music sounds evidently fuller and somewhat louder erstwhile nan sound floor plan is progressive acknowledgment to Bose’s method for upscaling stereo content. There’s besides enhanced vocal clarity and elements for illustration percussion and synths are little compressed than usual. The headphones lend a peculiarly airy consciousness to nan tracks of Ruston Kelly’s Pale, Through nan Window, an acoustic-driven postulation of soulful, country-tinged tunes. His vocals float atop enveloping acoustic guitars and tight, punchy drums.

What’s not truthful bully astir nan QC Ultra Headphones?

The biggest rumor pinch nan second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is nan price. To beryllium clear, nan likes of Sony, Apple and others complaint astir nan aforesaid magnitude for their top-of-the-line models, but $449 is still a important investment. If that’s excessively steep for you, Bose has nan highly tin QuietComfort Headphones successful its arsenal for a slightly more palatable $359.

My different gripe is that nan only existent creation alteration Bose made for nan updated QC Ultra Headphones is that nan metallic headband yokes now person a gloss finish. Depending connected your individual preference, this mightiness beryllium a dealbreaker for you. It’s slightest noticeable connected nan achromatic and violet colorways, since these person a tone-on-tone look. After a fewer weeks pinch nan bronze and tan Driftwood Sand hue, I’m not a instrumentality of nan much stylized aesthetic. It’s flashy, for sure, but it’s a tweak I could’ve done without.

Wrap-up

Similar to nan second-gen QC Ultra Earbuds complete nan summer, Bose didn’t make immense upgrades for nan updated type of nan QC Ultra Headphones. But what you do get present is simply a decent betterment complete its predecessor. The institution devised an intuitive setup for powerfulness guidance and moreover addressed 1 of my main gripes pinch nan original by adding support for lossless audio complete USB-C. Plus, nan extended artillery life is important successful each sound modes, and not conscionable by an hr aliases 2 present aliases there. To apical it each off, nan QuietComfort Ultra Headphones stay nan champion action for axenic noise-blocking ability, and that’s not apt to alteration immoderate clip soon.