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Review of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: Block the World


Image credit: Billy Steele / Engadget

This technology also effectively supports ANC and ambient sound. For active noise cancellation, CustomTune calibrates the noise reduction signal, which is significantly better at blocking voices and crying babies than the previous model. As for transparency mode, QuietComfort Earbuds II can pick up strong noises and apply a degree of sound blocking so they don’t startle you or damage your hearing. It’s an aspect of CustomTune called ActiveSense.

As for Aware mode, CustomTune helps keep those desired ambient sounds “natural and lifelike”. I don’t understand why most headphone companies are bad at transparency mode, with Apple being the only exception. Almost always, the sound is muffled and far from “natural” because you obviously still have something in your ear that affects volume and quality. Bose isn’t the best at Apple, but it’s a definite improvement. While you’ll still notice that you have buds in it, the overall sound is clearer, which also saves you from having to scream when ordering your cortado at the bartender.

Sound quality

The noise-blocking crown is safe.  Bose has upgraded the level of sound it cancels out on the QuietComfort Earbuds II, canceling out more everyday noise including voices.  Sound quality is also noticeably improved, and the smaller buds provide a more comfortable (and less awkward-looking) fit.  There's still room for further improvement as the company has delivered on basics like multipoint connectivity and wireless charging.

Billy Steele / Engadget

The biggest leap forward on QuietComfort Earbuds II is ANC, but we’ll get there soon. First, you should know that Bose has also made strides in the audio department. Since CustomTune does its job automatically and I can’t figure out how to disable it, I don’t have a frame of reference to know if that fraction of a second makes a difference in overall sound quality. are not. What I can tell you is that QuietComfort Earbuds II is a huge improvement over the first version.

I always thought the sound on Bose headphones was strong. It never let me down, but it did a good enough job to complement the company’s noise-cancelling capabilities. On the QuietComfort Earbuds II, the sound is much more lively and open. I notice it most in the nuances of the low end, especially when it comes to things like kick drums and synths. There’s texture and detail to those bass elements – they’re not just generic thumps. This is evident on songs like “Tupilak” by Russian Circles, “Levitating” by Dua Lipa and “Wait In The Truck” by Hardy.

In addition, the sound on the QCE II is also enhanced with depth. I talk a lot about open sound, a term I use for sound quality where everything seems to exist in space rather than a compressed mess. Here, the instruments stand on their own, creating depth in addition to manual tuning. The drums on the Boz Scaggs “Lowdown” and the thunder and sirens in the aforementioned Hardy track are prime examples of this, and the effect is enhanced even further as details actually move through the elements. channels.

Collection: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review | 16 photos


When it comes to active noise cancellation, that’s where the QuietComfort Earbuds II really shine. Sure, that’s to be expected with a Bose product, but the improvements the company has made from generation to generation are night and day. The first QuietComfort headphones were great at minimizing distractions, but version 2.0 can completely shut out the world – so much so that you’ll forget anyone else is around. In fact, I think this is the best ANC performance you’ll find in a set of true wireless headphones right now.

Things like vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, dryers, and white noise generators are all completely eliminated. True to its promise, Bose has also improved its ability to block human voices. Even if someone is making a call right behind your back, it’s much less distracting on the QuietComfort Earbuds II. You’ll still hear them, but not nearly as much.

Call quality

For calls, Bose says the microphone on the QuietComfort Earbuds II can filter out environmental noise to keep the focus on your voice. A lot of companies make claims about call clarity that end up sounding like you’re using speakerphone, even with the headphones controlled to reduce background noise. Performance is slightly improved thanks to a Self Voice feature that allows you to adjust how well you can hear yourself during calls, though your voice is still muffled when it comes to sound.

Overall, call quality here is pretty mediocre. You sound like you’re using external speakers and ambient noises like TV or running water come through clearly. This is another case of yes, you can use them for calls, but they’re not great and you’ll want to be in a quieter place while doing so.

Battery life

The noise-blocking crown is safe.  Bose has upgraded the level of sound it cancels out on the QuietComfort Earbuds II, canceling out more everyday noise including voices.  Sound quality is also noticeably improved, and the smaller buds provide a more comfortable (and less awkward-looking) fit.  There's still room for further improvement as the company has delivered on basics like multipoint connectivity and wireless charging.

Billy Steele / Engadget

Bose promises up to six hours of battery life with ANC enabled, and three additional full charges via the case. It doesn’t support wireless charging, though, which is a big hit for a $299 set of earbuds. There is, however, a fast charging feature that will give you up to two hours of playback in 20 minutes. In my tests, the results were just below Bose’s figures, and I managed 5 and a half hours before having to test the buds in the case.

Competition

The closest replacement for QuietComfort Earbuds II is was released last year. They are also much smaller with great sound quality, solid ANC, wireless charging, and 360 Reality Audio support. I’m not a fan of the new ear tips and the redesigned buds are still huge, but Sony has always delivered the most powerful feature set. Plus, even at the full price ($280), they’re still cheaper than the latest Bose and we’ve seen the M4s That might be enough savings to sway your opinion. For all that Bose has done on the ANC, Sony’s flagship buds are still better in terms of pure sound quality.

If sound is your main concern, should be your other consideration. The company has always been at the forefront of sound, with a blend of clarity and detail coupled with a punchy bass that is rare to match. At $250, they’re cheaper than both Bose and Sony, but you’ll have to sacrifice the best-in-class noise cancellation on the QCE II and the 1000XM4’s in-depth feature set.

Pack (again)

If that’s the ultimate noise-cancelling you’re looking for in your next set of true wireless headphones, To be the option. With the updates Bose provides here with the help of CustomTune, the ANC is not only significantly better than the previous model, but the overall sound quality and ambient sound modes are also improved. Sure, I’d like more than six hours of battery life, and conveniences like multipoint connectivity and wireless charging would be the standard fare at this point. For $299, I expected some of those basics to be included, and Bose has passed on them.

All products recommended by Engadget are handpicked by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at time of publication.



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