I Thought Bose Had Perfected Noise Canceling - Then I Tried These Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) are disposable for $449 successful 5 colors.
• They solidify Bose's warranted assurance successful its design, comfort, sound cancellation, and sound performance.
• The only major, eye-catching upgrades subordinate to artillery capacity and powerfulness management.

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How do you person yourself to salary $400+ for a brace of headphones that look and run almost identically to nan erstwhile generation? That's a mobility I dream to answer, and a mobility Bose hopes its second-generation flagship headphones will reply based connected their capacity alone.

Also: Best headphones of 2025

I spent 2 weeks working, traveling, and lounging successful nan QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2), which I'll mention to arsenic nan QC Ultra 2, searching for really Bose spent 2 years making them much "ultra" than their predecessor. Without awesome upgrades to design, speaker drivers, aliases sound cancellation performance, I'll person to excavation deep.

It's easy to position nan Sony WH-1000XM6 arsenic QC Ultra 2's nonstop competitor, but I wonder: are nan QC Ultra 2 competing pinch their predecessors arsenic overmuch arsenic they are pinch different brands? Let's find out.

Same look, smarter details

The QC Ultra 2's defining taxable is that they don't effort to rewrite Bose's legacy; rather, they refine it. They look identical to nan first generation, isolated from for nan yokes, which switch a matte aluminum decorativeness for a shiny, polished metallic finish. 

The QC Ultra 2's earcups are somewhat shallower than those of their predecessor, which tin origin fresh issues for group pinch larger heads and ears. Otherwise, nan look, feel, and fresh of nan QC Ultra 2 don't bring notable changes, which isn't needfully a bad point -- if it ain't broke, don't hole it.

Bose QC Ultra (Gen 1) (left); Bose QC Ultra (Gen 2) (right).

Jada Jones/ZDNET

More important upgrades dishonesty successful nan smaller details, including USB-C audio support, disposable astatine up to 16-bit/44.1kHz aliases 48kHz. Thus, nan QC Ultra 2 are amended suited for gaming aliases much religious listening than nan first generation. Unlike the Sonos Ace and Apple AirPods Max, nan QC Ultra 2 clasp their 3.5mm headphone jack, which is awesome news for predominant flyers. And dissimilar nan Sony XM6, which do not support USB-C audio, you tin perceive done nan QC Ultra 2's USB-C port, moreover while charging them.

Also: 7 clever iPhone USB-C larboard tricks each personification should know

Although USB-C audio support successful 2025 feels much for illustration an anticipation than a caller characteristic to celebrate, it rounds retired nan QC Ultra 2's audio capabilities.

Beauty is successful nan ears of nan beholder

The QC Ultra 2 person a awesome sound floor plan if you for illustration an exaggerated bass response, somewhat decreased mids, and louder treble. It makes for a awesome reproduction of basslines and front-and-center vocals successful popular tracks, specified arsenic One Direction's "Stockholm Syndrome," and '90s rap, for illustration Craig Mack's "Flava successful Ya Ear." 

Also: Why I support 4 pairs of headphones pinch maine astatine each times (and nan unsocial domiciled each 1 plays)

Conversely, nan QC Ultra 2 aren't arsenic beardown pinch layered, ambient post-rock for illustration Ben Howard's "Time Is Dancing." Songs pinch much subtle philharmonic textures aren't arsenic easy to hear, but decreasing nan bass helps. Overall, nan QC Ultra 2's tuning is warmer and much spacious-sounding, delivering an extended, tighter bass consequence than nan first generation. Their sound should beryllium nosy for astir people.

Bose continues connected pinch its type of spatial audio, Immersive Audio, and introduces a caller spatial tuning for podcasts, TV shows, movies, and different dialogue-heavy media. The characteristic useful -- you tin perceive your media grow astir your head. Personally, I'd alternatively that Bose clasp Dolby Atmos support instead.

Still nan ANC golden standard

Bose's trading conveys to maine that sound cancellation is nary longer regarded arsenic a characteristic of a brace of headphones -- it's a manner choice. Noise cancellation doesn't solely shut up nan world astir you, but helps you create a backstage listening abstraction erstwhile you're successful public. 

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Bose leans into this philosophy, arsenic noise-canceling upgrades aren't astatine nan forefront of nan headphones' release. Despite small fanfare astir sound cancellation improvements, nan QC Ultra 2 are somewhat amended astatine canceling sound than their predecessor. Additionally, nan QC Ultra 2's ANC amended encompasses higher-pitched noises, specified arsenic keyboard clicks, and lower-pitched noises, for illustration nan rumble of an airplane engine, than nan first generation.

When nan headphones' progressive sound cancellation (ANC) is engaged, moreover erstwhile nary audio is playing, there's virtually nary sound floor. That feat is highly awesome and connected par pinch Sony's WH-1000XM6. The quality betwixt Sony's and Bose's latest-gen ANC is negligible; you'll person to find different class to thief you prime 1 marque complete nan other.

Also: I tried Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds' AI sound cancelling, and can't spell backmost to regular ANC

Bose besides refined its AI-powered adaptive sound cancellation feature, ActiveSense. This characteristic maintains transparency mode and activates sound cancellation erstwhile nan situation becomes excessively loud. ActiveSense is my favourite characteristic connected nan QC Ultra Earbuds 2, and it useful conscionable arsenic good connected nan headphones. 

The champion characteristic is nan astir unexpected

To me, nan standout characteristic of nan QC Ultra 2 is their improved powerfulness management. Along pinch expanding nan artillery life from 24 hours connected nan first procreation to 30 hours connected nan second, Bose besides rendered its product's powerfulness fastener obsolete.

You tin usage nan headphones' powerfulness fastener to move them connected and off, but it's not necessary. Instead, you tin return nan headphones disconnected your caput and laic them level -- earcups up aliases down -- and they'll instantly disconnect from your devices, disable Bluetooth, and statesman conserving power. Simply put them backmost connected and they're fresh to go.

Also: Bose took my favourite AirPods Max powerfulness characteristic - and did it better

I emotion this characteristic because powerfulness buttons connected headphones are nan bane of my existence. If you don't property nan fastener agelong enough, nan headphones won't move off, but if you property it for excessively long, they'll participate pairing mode. You person to clip your agelong property perfectly to get your headphones to cooperate.

Bose's power-up was peculiarly confusing and malfunctioning, causing nan institution to present nan first-gen QC Ultra's only firmware update to reside nan rumor specifically. To me, not needing to usage nan powerfulness fastener astatine each is simply a lifesaver.

A companion app done right

Many headphone brands are notoriously known for their lackluster companion apps. Glitchy features and boring personification interfaces support maine distant from them. Bose's app is nan best, offering a reliable, enjoyable, aesthetically pleasing, and easy-to-use experience. 

Jada Jones/ZDNET

The app highlights nan QC Ultra 2's improved customization features, offering users nan expertise to move disconnected nan headphones' touch power strip, 1 of my slightest favourite features from nan first-gen QC Ultra. I've ever believed that nan touch strip's bottom-right earcup placement is awkward, and its minimal existent property is ripe for accidental power triggers. You tin now besides wholly disable ANC, which was antecedently intolerable pinch Bose's headphones.

The only rumor I person pinch Bose's app is its constricted equalizer. Instead of allowing users to set nan headphones' EQ by wave bands, Bose only offers increases and decreases to wide bass, mids, and treble without specific, granular, quantifiable measures.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Bose QC Ultra 2 present subtle upgrades to nan headphones' sound cancellation, design, sound profile, powerfulness management, and personification customization. They're not a peculiarly breathtaking second-generation merchandise that pulls headlines. Instead, Bose doubles down connected what it does best, offering insignificant yet meaningful refinements to reside its fewer unsighted spots.

If you already person nan first-gen QC Ultra, support them until nan wheels autumn off, aliases hold for what Bose does next, which could beryllium a larger merchandise overhaul. If you person nan Bose NC700, QuietComfort 35, aliases 45, and they're astatine nan extremity of their road, nan QC Ultra 2 would beryllium a important upgrade for you.

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

Briefly, betwixt Sony and Bose, Bose delivers a much stylish design, little cheap-feeling integrative build materials, a much relaxed fit, and USB-C audio. However, Bose's sound floor plan heavy leans toward warmth and softened treble to relationship for beardown ANC processing and semipermanent listening sessions, peculiarly erstwhile walking aliases working.

Sony's sound floor plan is besides warm, but its equalizer allows much personalization. The WH-1000XM6 person a tighter bass response, clearer mids, sharper treble, and a much freely soundstage. Its sound is much analytical, but it tin go fatiguing aft a fewer hours of listening.