Bose’s latest flagship headphones have been designed with travelers in mind, prioritizing both comfort and quality. These Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones represent a significant departure from their predecessors, offering a genuinely fresh experience. Although they come at a price of $429, they aim to rectify some of the deviations introduced by the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, a model that deviated from Bose’s traditional approach when it was released in 2019, sometimes to the detriment of the user experience.
Bose has made a strategic shift with its latest flagship headphones, returning to a more travel-friendly design while introducing new features such as a spatial audio listening mode, improved call quality, and other enhancements. Although the competition in the headphone market is intense, with strong players like Sony, Apple, Sennheiser, and others, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones showcase Bose at its finest. They offer robust active noise cancellation and exceptional long-term comfort, making them an attractive choice for users.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones – The Perfect Blend of Premium Design and Superior Comfort
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones seamlessly combine features from the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 with the legacy of Bose’s successful QuietComfort series. The result is a product that excels in various aspects. Notably, these headphones can be folded down for convenient storage, a feature that was missing in the Noise Canceling Headphones 700. In terms of aesthetics, the QuietComfort Ultra headphones boast a premium and stylish design, surpassing the QuietComfort 45 in this regard.
However, there’s a minor quibble with the case: it includes indentations for the ear cups, which means that you can only fold the headphones in a specific way for them to fit properly. This design detail has caused occasional frustration. While the headphones incorporate plastic elements for all-day comfort, a necessary choice, the metal arms provide a cool touch and enhance the overall durability of the headphones.
Build Quality of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones offer a comfortable listening experience, even during extended sessions. The broader headband doesn’t lead to discomfort, and these headphones exert noticeably less clamping force than the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, which could become fatiguing after an hour or so of use. While my review sample hasn’t exhibited any creaking sounds during handling, this aspect can vary between units, and it would be frustrating to encounter a noisy pair after investing $429 in them.
Although the craftsmanship of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones may not match that of competitors like the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 or PX8, Bose places a premium on comfort, making their headphones a top choice for wearability.
User Friendly Controls and Improved Connectivity
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones feature more user-friendly controls compared to their predecessors. Instead of the NCH700’s ear cup tap gestures, Bose has opted for their familiar multifunction button, a power/Bluetooth button, and a capacitive strip that allows you to adjust the volume by simply sliding your finger. Notably, these headphones can detect when you’ve taken them off your ears and will automatically pause your music, a thoughtful touch for user convenience.
Unfortunately, there is still no support for USB-C audio, leaving the 2.5-millimeter headphone jack as the sole option for wired listening. (The standard 2.5mm-to-3.5mm cable is included in the case.) However, Bose has enhanced its Bluetooth audio capabilities by embracing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound platform, accompanied by the AptX Adaptive codec, enabling higher-bitrate playback, even though the overall impact might not be revolutionary.
Sound Quality – Unchanged But Still Pleasing
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones maintain the same drivers as the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 introduced four years ago. If you were expecting significant improvements in sound quality or a new audiophile-level experience from Bose, you won’t find it here. Some might be disappointed that Bose chose to retain these drivers, as headphones in this price range often feature more component upgrades across models. However, sound quality isn’t solely determined by drivers, and Bose has never positioned itself as a high-fidelity audio brand.
Ultimately, these headphones offer the same pleasing, clean signature sound that Bose is known for. They manage to preserve both lows and highs even at lower volume levels, providing a balanced and enjoyable listening experience.
Immersive Audio Mode
The core audio profile of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is similar to the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, but with subtle refinements. These newer headphones slightly emphasize the bass while providing a more detailed and warm sound overall. While these improvements may be subtle, Bose aims to set the Ultra Headphones apart by introducing an Immersive Audio mode, similar to the one found in the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. This mode offers Bose’s take on spatial audio.
With the QC Ultra Headphones, Immersive Audio can enhance certain tracks, offering noticeable depth and a more immersive presentation, particularly for classical music enthusiasts. However, the results can be inconsistent, varying from one song to the next. When it works well, it brings out the distinct layers of vocal harmony. But at times, it may make instrumentation and vocals feel compressed in the center of your head rather than creating a more spacious, three-dimensional effect. The head tracking feature, often seen as a gimmick in other headphones with similar capabilities, doesn’t provide a significant advantage.
One point of confusion is Bose’s decision to bypass Dolby Atmos music in favor of its proprietary processing for spatial audio. This approach differs from the use of Atmos mixes for spatial audio, which could offer a more consistent and standardized experience. Apple also follows a similar path by spatializing stereo content instead of adhering to Atmos mixes for spatial audio.
Bose QC Ultra’s Top-Notch ANC
The Bose QC Ultra headphones offer a brilliant immersive audio experience, but this feature may not be the game-changer that persuades customers to invest in Bose’s premium headphones. The QC Ultra headphones are sought after for their exceptional comfort and industry-leading active noise cancellation (ANC). Similar to AirPods, they provide an overall experience that surpasses the sum of their individual features.
The noise cancellation is on par with the best in the industry, with marginal improvements over the NCH700. These headphones will undoubtedly provide the tranquility you seek during a flight, a crowded train ride, or in a noisy café when you need to concentrate. A new wind block setting prevents unpleasant microphone distortion in blustery conditions. Bose’s transparency mode, known as Aware, continues to sound more natural and is in close competition with AirPods Max, though it hasn’t quite reached the same level yet.
Improved Call Quality with Bose QC Ultra Headphones
While I’m not someone who typically engages in extended voice calls while wearing headphones, Bose’s claims of enhanced call quality appear to hold true with the QC Ultra Headphones. According to feedback from people I spoke with, these headphones outperform the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 in isolating the wearer’s voice during calls, making them a viable choice for important meetings and conversations.
Battery Life and Connectivity Features of Bose QC Ultra
The battery life of the Bose QC Ultra headphones is rated at an impressive 24 hours of continuous listening. However, if you frequently use Immersive Audio, this figure drops to 18 hours. While Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 headphones still reign supreme in this department with an astonishing 60-hour runtime, as long as your headphones can last through an extended flight, that’s generally sufficient.
The Ultra Headphones provide multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to pair them with two devices simultaneously. Furthermore, they’ve been upgraded to Bluetooth 5.3, and Bose promises support for LE Audio in the future.
Bose QC Ultra Headphones – Pros and Cons
| No. | Pros | Cons |
| 1. | Outstanding comfort: These headphones offer all-day comfort, thanks to a broad headband and less clamping force. | Hit or miss performance of Immersive Audio: The Immersive Audio mode, similar to spatial audio, can enhance certain tracks but might be inconsistent in its effect. |
| 2. | Superb noise cancellation: Bose’s industry-leading noise cancellation ensures a tranquil listening experience in noisy environments. | Immersive Audio consumes battery more rapidly: Using the Immersive Audio mode can reduce the headphones’ battery life compared to regular usage. |
| 3. | Enhanced clarity in transparency mode: The transparency mode (Aware) delivers a more natural sound, making it suitable for important calls and conversations. | Lack of USB-C audio support: These headphones still rely on a 2.5mm headphone jack for wired listening, lacking USB-C audio support. |
| 4. | Improved voice call quality: The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones perform exceptionally well in isolating the wearer’s voice during calls, making them suitable for professional use. | Annoying indentations in the case design: The case has specific indentations for the ear cups, requiring you to fold the headphones in a specific way for proper storage. |
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones excel in comfort, noise cancellation, and call quality, making them a top choice for travelers and those who prioritize long-term wearability. While the audio quality remains pleasing, the Immersive Audio mode might not consistently deliver the desired effect. Despite some minor drawbacks, these headphones represent a significant upgrade over their predecessors, particularly in terms of comfort and design.
The Verdict – A Significant Upgrade
When evaluated according to the criteria that hold significance for Bose’s loyal customers, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones represent a substantial improvement over the Noise Canceling Headphones 700. These headphones excel in comfort, surpassing alternatives from Sony, Apple, and other competitors. They continue to deliver robust noise cancellation, a hallmark of Bose’s products.
The sound quality remains consistent with what one can expect from Bose headphones. Immersive Audio, however, can be somewhat hit or miss. Although they come with a higher price tag, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a better fit for the top spot in Bose’s lineup compared to their predecessors.
