Bose has been on a refresh roll over the last couple of months. First, there were the new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2. Now, there's the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 — and I've got my greasy mitts on a pair to see how they compare to the first model.
The first generation of Bose's flagship cans are currently the best ANC headphones that money can buy, but they're not without their weaknesses. The battery life could be better, the touch controls aren't fabulous and the sound could use a little work.
The second generation has arrived to address the shortfalls of the first model. I've been hands-on for about a week and I can give you my first impressions.
Well that looks familiar...
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are a handsome pair of headphones. The metal armatures affixing the earcups to the headband are metal and finished in lovely shiny chrome. The glinting Bose logos on the outside of the earcups lend some extra class, and the off-white finish is... different. Still, they look nice.
But there's a glaring elephant in the room, and it's taking up quite a lot of space. They look exactly the same as the old model. If you were to place the two side by side, you'd find it very difficult to work out which was which. The White colorway, which I have here, is the worst offender.
In some ways, that's a shame. Part of the fun of a new model is a different design, bringing new elements to see and experience when you get your shiny new headphones. But, on the other hand, there's a lot to be said for "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The QuietComfort Ultra headphones look nice and are built well. Do they really need an update?
Another benefit is that, with less spent on a new design, more investment can go into the internals, which is what Bose has chosen with the Ultra Headphones Gen 2.
More ANC
The Gen 2 don't reinvent the ANC wheel, but they re-cement Bose's place at the top of the noise-canceling tree.
If I've said it once, I've said it approximately 1 million times — the QuietComfort Ultra headphones have the best ANC around. It blocks out almost everything, making buses, offices and airplanes a whole lot more comfortable. The Gen 2 don't reinvent the ANC wheel, but they re-cement Bose's place at the top of the noise-canceling tree.
There's slightly more noise canceling at the top end, so noises like keyboards are better blocked out. Tire noise is negated more, and there's even more neutrality and natural sound to the transparency mode.
It's not enough of an improvement to say "wow, they're so much better!" but there's still a tangible difference in ANC performance.
Massive battery improvements
It's no secret that the battery life was the primary downfall of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. 24 hours of battery life simply didn't stack up against the competition, and left a dark stain on their product specs. Not so with the new version — the battery life is now claimed to be 30 hours from Bose.
During my short testing time, I've found that the battery life is better than the old model in real-world use. I've had to charge them less while using them, and I've not heard the 'low battery' chime as often.
You can even charge them while in use — which is very cool indeed.
Better sound and more modes
The sound of the Bose headphone line has always lagged slightly behind the competition. I've always needed to dip into the EQ to dial the sound in just right, with too much bass response straight out of the box. There's still some of that with the new version of the Ultra Headphones, but my adjustments are more subtle this time around.
Sound is still clear and detailed, and most people are going to really appreciate its warmer tone. Pop music sounds excellent as you might expect, but lovers of hip-hop, rock and other genres are going to find a lot to like about the Bose sound signature.
There's a new Immersive Audio mode as well, and the main setting continues to be one of the best in-house spatial audio setups. I'm still not a big fan — it stretches the music out too much for my liking — but I can understand why people like it.
The new mode is one designed for movies; and I like it a lot more than the standard one. Dialog becomes much clearer, and the sounds of your movie are placed well in a pseudo-surround setup. If you're one for watching movies and TV on the train or the plane, it's a fun extra. It does tank the battery down to 24 hours, however.
Overall, though, sound is good — and improved over the first-gen headphones.
Early verdict
If you're wielding a pair of the first-generation Ultra Headphones, you needn't worry about upgrading. While there are some key differences between the two sets of headphones, they don't warrant enough of a change to make me think that spending $449 of your hard-earned dollars is a good idea.
If you're looking for a way into the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy today, however, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones gen 2 are a fantastic buy. They're still extremely comfortable and offer all the upgrades you'd want out of a second-generation product. They might be more expensive, but they are better.
I just wish I had the red pair. Oh well, we can all dream...
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
