Bose took a special strategy with its new merchandise in 2025. As a substitute of fully redesigning its QuietComfort Extremely lineup, the corporate unveiled upgraded second-generation fashions of the flagship-level earbuds and headphones. Just like the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds that debuted earlier this yr, the brand new Quiet Consolation Extremely headphones ($449) don’t supply a complete overhaul. Nonetheless, the modifications present sufficient efficiency enhancements to additional cement these as the perfect noise-canceling headphones that you may purchase proper now. Belief me, we’re significantly better off with this revamped model than we’d be with a yr (or longer) look forward to one thing model new with the 2023 mannequin.
What’s new on the QuietComfort Extremely Headphones?
Bose debuted just a few new options on the second-gen QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds in August that it carried over to those new headphones. First, the corporate improved its already stellar energetic noise cancelation (ANC) with tweaks to its ActiveSense expertise. Particularly, the system can reply to sudden spikes in environmental noise by adapting extra exactly. It’s not one thing you’ll discover on a regular basis, however if you want it, you’ll be glad it's there. In any other case, the superb ANC efficiency right here is simply as efficient because it was on the earlier mannequin. Extra on that in a bit.
The immersive Cinema Mode that Bose added to the QC Extremely Earbuds can be out there on these headphones. It’s a sound profile that enhances dialogue readability whereas protecting the remainder of the soundstage as huge and enveloping as doable. I prefer it finest for films and TV, because the title suggests, however per Bose’s suggestion I additionally tried it with podcasts and audiobooks. Cinema Mode might be overkill for these varieties of content material, until you’re listening to reveals or titles with a number of background results.
One of many greatest modifications on the second-gen QC Extremely Headphones is how Bose determined to deal with energy administration. Most significantly, the corporate prolonged battery life in all use instances. With ANC on (and Immersive Audio off), you’ll stand up to 30 hours of listening time. Flip off ANC and that jumps to 45 hours. Whenever you determine to allow each ANC and Bose’s spatial Immersive Audio, you may count on as much as 23 hours on a cost. In comparison with these on the first-generation mannequin, all of those numbers are up by no less than 5 hours, which is a major enhance.
Just like the earlier QC Extremely Headphones, this mannequin has an computerized disconnection characteristic after 10 minutes of standby . However the firm went a step additional on this model by including a low-power mode that the headphones enter after half-hour of idle time. And if you wish to disconnect them shortly, you may rotate the earcups and lay them on a flat floor. That’ll make them go right into a deeper standby mode that Bose says can run “for months.” All of this implies you may successfully flip the brand new QuietComfort Extremely Headphones on and off by placing them on and taking them off. In the event you’re utilizing them recurrently, you’ll by no means need to press the ability button.
Sound-wise, the large improve on these headphones is the addition of lossless audio over USB-C. Just like the AirPods Max, this mannequin may be related with a cable to your telephone, pill, laptop computer or desktop to stream or play higher-quality tunes from appropriate providers or your library. Bose says you may count on 16-bit 44.1kHz or 48kHz audio relying in your supply. It’s yet one more nice-to-have characteristic that’s changing into normal fare on premium wi-fi headphones.
What else is nice in regards to the QuietComfort Extremely Headphones?
Like most Bose over-ear headphones, the second-gen QuietComfort Extremely Headphones are supremely comfy. Even for lengthy durations of time, they by no means grow to be a burden, and that’s thanks largely to the tender, pillowy ear pads. I might simply put on these for a whole trans-Atlantic flight with minimal discomfort and I’ve been carrying them for total workdays at dwelling.
As I already talked about, the ANC efficiency right here remains to be top-tier. Actually, these QC Extremely Headphones will quickly substitute the first-gen mannequin on our greatest noise-canceling headphones listing. Each the Immersion (ANC + spatial audio) and Quiet (simply ANC) modes present sturdy noise blocking that surpasses these by Sony, Sennheiser and others. In the event you’re making your shopping for choice based mostly solely on ANC efficiency, that is the most suitable choice. You’ll take pleasure in aid from fixed ambient noise sources like followers and sound machines, plus the QC Extremely Headphones do a good job with human voices. Heck, I couldn’t even hear my canine barking on the imminent menace from falling leaves exterior.
Lastly, Bose’s tackle spatial audio remains to be fairly good. The corporate calls it Immersive Audio and the characteristic doesn’t depend on specialised content material like different headphones. Music sounds clearly fuller and barely louder when the sound profile is energetic because of Bose’s methodology for upscaling stereo content material. There’s additionally enhanced vocal readability and components like percussion and synths are much less compressed than normal. The headphones lend a very ethereal really feel to the tracks of Ruston Kelly’s Pale, By means of the Window, an acoustic-driven assortment of soulful, country-tinged tunes. His vocals float atop enveloping acoustic guitars and tight, punchy drums.
What’s not so good in regards to the QC Extremely Headphones?
The most important difficulty with the second-gen QuietComfort Extremely Headphones is the value. To be clear, the likes of Sony, Apple and others cost across the identical quantity for his or her top-of-the-line fashions, however $449 remains to be a major funding. If that’s too steep for you, Bose has the extremely succesful QuietComfort Headphones in its arsenal for a barely extra palatable $359.
My different gripe is that the one actual design change Bose made for the up to date QC Extremely Headphones is that the metallic headband yokes now have a gloss end. Relying in your private choice, this could be a dealbreaker for you. It’s least noticeable on the black and violet colorways, since these have a tone-on-tone look. After just a few weeks with the bronze and tan Driftwood Sand hue, I’m not a fan of the extra stylized aesthetic. It’s flashy, for positive, however it’s a tweak I might’ve carried out with out.
Wrap-up
Just like the second-gen QC Extremely Earbuds over the summer time, Bose didn’t make big upgrades for the up to date model of the QC Extremely Headphones. However what you do get here’s a first rate enchancment over its predecessor. The corporate devised an intuitive setup for energy administration and even addressed considered one of my primary gripes with the unique by including assist for lossless audio over USB-C. Plus, the prolonged battery life is critical in all sound modes, and never simply by an hour or two right here or there. To prime all of it off, the QuietComfort Extremely Headphones stay the most suitable choice for pure noise-blocking means, and that’s not prone to change any time quickly.
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