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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.4
Review updated Mar 13, 2018 at 09:12 am
Latest change: Test bench update Feb 07, 2020 at 01:52 pm
Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless Picture
7.3
Mixed Usage
7.2
Neutral Sound
7.8
Commute/Travel
7.7
Sports/Fitness
7.3
Office
5.7
Wireless Gaming
5.6
Wired Gaming
6.6
Phone Calls

The Bose QuietControl 30 are above-average wireless earbuds for most uses cases, that deliver a satisfying sound quality. They're decently portable and offer more control over their noise cancellation than other Bose headphones we've tested so far. However, the noise canceling is not as strong, and although they're stable enough to exercise with the around-the-neck design won't be for everyone.

Our Verdict

7.3 Mixed Usage

The Bose QC30 are good headphones for most use cases. They're comfortable, portable and isolate well in loud environments. They're decent commuting headphones and stable enough to take to the gym. Thanks to their low leakage, they're ideal to use at the office or in quieter environments like a library. They also sound good enough to please most listeners but they may not be the ideal headphones for pure critical listening.

Pros
  • Comfortable and stable earbud fit.
  • Very low leakage.
  • Above-average noise isolation.
Cons
  • The neckband design won't be for everyone.
  • Laggy when watching videos.
7.2 Neutral Sound

Decent for neutral listening. They have a good bass, a well-balanced mid and treble range, but due to the small and closed back design of the earbuds, they don't have the best soundstage. They will sound good enough for most listeners but won't deliver the ambiance that some neutral listeners are looking for. They also do not have a customizable sound which makes them a bit more restricted when compared to the similarly designed Sony WI-1000X.

7.8 Commute/Travel

Good for commuting. The Bose QuietControl 30 are comfortable, easy to carry around and isolate well in loud environments. They also have a decent control scheme that's easy-to-use especially for NFC-enabled mobile devices.

7.7 Sports/Fitness

Suitable for sports use. The StayHear+ tips provide a comfortable and stable fit which, combined with the around-the-neck design, means they will rarely fall to the ground even when exercising intensely. However, the neckband can sometimes get caught on items of clothing which may pull the earbuds out of your ears, but it's a rare issue that really depends on what you're wearing.

7.3 Office

Above-average for office use. They barely leak even at high volumes and isolate well enough to block the chatter of a lively workplace. They're comfortable, they have a decent control scheme and wireless range and they have a decent battery life that lasts long enough for a typical work day.

5.7 Wireless Gaming

Below-average for gaming. The Bose QuietControl 30 have a mediocre-at-best microphone, and a bit too much latency to be suitable for gaming. Their companion app is also not as customizable as most gaming-oriented software.

5.6 Wired Gaming
6.6 Phone Calls
  • 7.3 Mixed Usage
  • 7.2 Neutral Sound
  • 7.8 Commute/Travel
  • 7.7 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.3 Office
  • 5.7 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.6 Wired Gaming
  • 6.6 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Feb 07, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  2. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
  3. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  4. Updated Jun 18, 2019: We've updated the feedback score of this review to better represent how hard the buttons are to press.
  5. Updated May 02, 2019: We've updated the Volume Control score to reflect the latest update.
  6. Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
  7. Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
  8. Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  9. Updated Mar 22, 2017: Review published.
  10. Updated Mar 20, 2017: Our testers have started testing this product.
  11. Updated Jan 11, 2017: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

Comparison picture

The Bose QuietControl 30 are good commuting and office headphones that are stable enough for the gym. They're one of the best earbuds we've tested; they barely leak and have and a well-balanced sound quality. They’re versatile for almost every use case except watching videos because of their relatively high latency. Their around-the-neck design also won’t be for everyone and they’re fairly pricey compared to competing headphones. See our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds and the best wireless earbuds for iPhone.

Sony WI-1000X Wireless

The Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless and the Sony WI-1000X Wireless each have something good going for them. If comfort is the most important thing for you, get the Bose. If you prefer having sound customization, get the Sony, since their app offers an EQ, which the Bose are lacking. They are both pretty good ANC headphones, but the Bose leak a bit less. However, even if the Bose have a more neutral sounding sound, their treble range is less flat than the Sony. The Bose's build quality is slightly inferior to the Sonys with reports of the rubber coating of the Bose peeling off over time.

Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20

The Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless are a better option for most uses if you want to go wireless; however, for a wired earbud, the Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 are a good choice. The QC 30 benefit from the greater range of a Bluetooth connection. They also have a bit more control over their noise cancelling feature when compared to the QC 20. On the upside, the QC 20 have no latency, since they are wired. They also have a slightly stronger noise isolation performance than the QC 30. Also, since they have a simple wired design, they are a bit more portable and will easily fit into your pockets, unlike the QC 30.

Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016

The Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless are a better choice if you want a compact earbud design, but if you prefer over-ears, then get the Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 instead. The QC 35 are a bit more comfortable for everyone, thanks to their lightweight and well-padded over-ear fit. They're also a bit easier to use overall than the QC 30 and have a better battery life, wireless range, sound quality, and soundstage. The QC 30, on the upside, are a lot more compact and travel-friendly and still provide enough isolation for most commutes and long flights. They also barely leak so you can play your music louder without distracting the people around you, which is great for the office.

Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless are a much better wireless noise cancelling headset than the Sony WF-1000X Truly Wireless. The Bose have a more comfortable earbud fit, better noise isolation performance, better sound quality, and a longer battery life and wireless range than the Sony. They also have a better latency performance, although both headphones would not be the ideal choice for watching a lot of video content. On the upside, the Sony are a lot more compact than the Bose and will more easily fit into your pocket despite their fairly large charging case. The Sony also have a slightly more premium looking truly wireless design which some will prefer over the Bose even if their wireless connection is not as stable.

Jabra Elite 65e Wireless

The Bose QuietControl 30 are a better wireless headset than the Jabra Elite 65e. The QC 30 isolate better in noisy environments, which make them a bit more suitable for commute and travel. They also have a better-balanced sound quality that will cater better than the Jabra to most music genres. The Jabra, on the other hand, have a customizable sound profile and a more feature-packed app support that gives them a lot of control over their active features. They also have a better in-line mic which makes them more suitable for making calls.

Bose Hearphones Wireless

The Bose QuietControl 30/QC30 Wireless are better Bluetooth headphones than the Bose Hearphones Wireless thanks to their more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, but if the enhanced-conversation mode is what you’re looking for, then consider the Hearphones. On the other hand, the QC 30 has slightly better noise isolation performance, but design-wise, the QC 30 and the Hearphones are practically identical.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Earbuds
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Bose QuietControl 30 have a relatively simple design that feels high-end, thanks to the materials used in their build quality. They have a more premium appeal than other around-the-neck designs. They also come in an understated all-black color scheme that won't particularly stand out, which is ideal for some but feels a bit bland.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.14 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

The Bose QC30, like the SoundSport Wireless, have the comfortable StayHear+ earbud tips that fit snugly within the ear canal. They're comfortable headphones to wear for extended periods of time without experiencing the fatigue that some other in-ear/earbuds may cause. However, the neckband fit won't be for everyone. They are bulkier than the Sony WI-C400, but also more comfortable.

7.5
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Okay
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control Adjustable
Talk-Through
Adjustable
Additional Controls No

Update 06/18/2019: After reviewing the Bose Hearphones, we adjusted the QC30's control feedback score as the buttons are noticeably harder to press.

Update 02/05/2019: We incorrectly listed that the QC30 doesn't have volume controls. We've updated that score box, but, the text was accurate and didn't need any updates.

The Bose QuietControl 30 have a good control scheme, but the buttons are a bit stiff and difficult to press. They provide the common functionalities like call/music, track-skipping, and volume controls but also two additional buttons on the side of the in-line remote to increase or decrease the level of noise canceling. Unfortunately, although slightly better than that on the SoundSport Wireless, the inline remote is covered by a thick rubber-like material that makes the buttons a bit difficult to press especially the power/Bluetooth sync switch.

8.9
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 1.1 °C

The Bose QC30 have a breathable design that won't make your ears sweat more than usual. They trap a bit of heat within the notch of your ear due to their earbud tips and stability fins, but they won't cause a big difference in temperature even during more intense workouts. This makes them a good option for sports and working out.

7.2
Design
Portability
L 5.81"
W 6.38"
H 0.8"
Volume 29.65 in³
Transmitter Required No

These headphones do not take too much space, especially when they are not in the case, as the total surface area they occupy is relatively small. However, due to their somewhat odd shape, they won't fit into all pockets but should easily fit into most bags. They're also quite easy to carry on your person if you just let them dangle from your neck.

8.0
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 6.38"
W 6.81"
H 1.42"
Volume 61.7 in³

They come with a good, hard case that will easily shield the headphones against falls, scratches and minor water damage. It adds a bit of bulk to the overall design and won't fit into most pockets but can be carried around in a bag with relative ease.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The Bose QuietControl 30 feel well built. The plastic used for the headband and the earbuds feels dense yet sufficiently lightweight that they won't get damaged if they were to fall from about neck height. However, the cables, although thicker than most in-ear headphones we've reviewed, feel like the main weak point of the build quality. They could snap if pulled on a bit too forcefully which could happen if they get caught off an item of clothing.

Update Unfortunately, we have received a couple reports that the rubber coating of the QC 30 peels off rather easily after a couple months of use. This may not be the case for all users, however since we have also experienced this issue with our unit, we have adjusted the build quality score to reflect this defect.

7.5
Design
Stability

These earbuds have stability tips of different sizes to provide a stable fit within the ear. That, combined with the neckband, makes them quite stable to run or exercise with. However, the cables that connect the neckband and the earbuds can sometimes get caught on an item of clothing, but that doesn't happen often enough to be of concern.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Bose QuiControl  Wireless Headphones
  • Earbud tips (x3)
  • USB charging cable
  • Carrying case
  • Manual

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
0.94 dB
Treble Amount
-2.4 dB
8.8
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.25 dB

The Bose QC30 has excellent frequency response consistency. Due to their stable and ergonomic design, if you are able to position the QC30s properly, there should be very little variance in bass SNF treble delivery between re-seats. This is assuming that the user has picked the correct sized tips (small, medium, or large) for their ears.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
9.1
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.21 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
0.75 dB
Mid-Bass
0.71 dB
High-Bass
1.94 dB

The bass is excellent. Their LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 10Hz, and accordingly, their low-bass is above our neutral target by more than 2dB. This indicates a bass that is deep and quite thumpy, making the Bose QuietControl 30 well-suited for bass-heavy genres like EDM, Hip-hop and film scores. Additionally, mid-bass and high-bass and virtually flat, but with about 1.5dB of overemphasis which adds to the body of bass guitars and the punch of kick drums.

8.8
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.58 dB
Low-Mid
0.12 dB
Mid-Mid
-2.3 dB
High-Mid
0.08 dB

The mid-range sounds great. The response is very flat and even, but with a wide and shallow dip centered around 700Hz. This will nudge the vocals and lead instruments towards the back of the mix, and gives more emphasis to the bass and treble ranges. However, at less than 5dB, the effect of this dip will be barely perceptible.

7.2
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.77 dB
Low-Treble
-0.16 dB
Mid-Treble
-4.3 dB
High-Treble
-8.96 dB

The treble range is quite decent. Low-treble is well-balanced and even. Mid-treble, however, shows a 12dB dip around 8KH and a 10dB peak at 10KHz. Both of these deviations are within the sibilance range (where S and T sounds sit). So, the S and T sounds that fall in the 8KHz dip will sound weak and lispy. On the other hand, the sibilances that occupy the 10KHz range will sound sharp and piercing. Overall, their treble is quite well-balanced and decent sounding, but uneven on sibilances.

8.0
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.21 dB
Dips
1.33 dB
9.2
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.09
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.41
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.23
Weighted Phase Mismatch
1.66

The imaging is excellent. Their weighted group delay is 0.09, which is one of the lowest we have measured. The GD graph also shows that the entire group delay response is under the audibility threshold, ensuring a tight and fast bass reproduction, and a transparent treble. Additionally, the L/R drivers of our test unit were exceptionally well-matched, which helps with accurate localization and placement of objects (voice, instruments, footsteps) in the stereo image.

0.7
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
1.9
Acoustic Space Excitation
0.9

The soundstage is poor. This is mainly due to their earbud design, since activating the resonances of the pinna (outer ear) is one of the important factors in creating a large and out-of-head soundstage and earbuds don't interact with the pinna. The Bose QuietControl 30 will feel less open and spacious than open-back in-ears, because of the excellent isolation they provide.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No
8.3
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.158
WHD @ 100
0.090
Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
Unknown
Power
On
Connection
Unknown
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
Maximum
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
In-line
Isolation
8.1
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-21.24 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-18.26 dB
Mid
-17.58 dB
Treble
-27.64 dB

The Bose QC30 have a great isolation. In the bass range, where the rumble of airplane and bus engines sit, they achieved 18dB of isolation, which is impressive. In the mid-range, important for cancelling out speech, they also achieved about 18dB of reduction, which is great. In the treble range, occupied by sharp sounds such as S and Ts, they get 28dB of isolation which is above-average. The WI-1000X from Sony deliver slightly better isolation in the treble range due to their in-ear fit but they may not be as comfortable for everyone.

9.2
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
26.11 dB

The leakage performance is excellent. The overall level of the leakage of these earbuds is very low, barely reaching significant levels. Additionally, the main portion of the leakage is between 4KHz and 9KHz which is a narrow range. This results in a leakage that mostly consists of sibilances (S and T sounds) and is very quiet and barely audible (below the noise-floor of most regular rooms).

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
5.6
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
276.97 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
3.94 dB
HFE
2,121.83 Hz
Weighted THD
11.554
Gain
37.24 dB

The in-line mic has a sub-par recording quality. The LFE (low-frequency extension) of 277Hz indicates that speech recorded/transmitted with this microphone will sound relatively thin. The HFE (high-frequency extension) of 2.1KHz is poor and means speech will sound muffled and lacking on them.

6.2
Microphone
Noise Handling
Speech + Pink Noise
Speech + Subway Noise
SpNR
14.72 dB

The noise handling performance of the in-line microphone is mediocre. In our SpNR test, they achieved a speech-to-noise ratio of about 15dB, which is below average. This means the Bose QuietControl 30 are best suited for quiet environments and may struggle in noisy places.

Active Features
7.1
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
11.4 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
11.4 hrs
Charge Time
2.5 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Auto-Off Timer
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port micro-USB

These earbuds have a fair battery life of 11.4 hours when playing audio continuously at average volumes. They also have an auto-off timer accessible through the Bose Connect app that allows them to conserve a decent amount of power. They take about 2.5 hours to fully charge, which is about average but cannot be used once plugged into a power outlet.

7.0
Active Features
App Support
App Name Bose Connect
iOS Yes
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
Adjustable
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
Yes
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

The Bose Connect app is unfortunately not as robust as that of the competition. However, for the Bose QC30, there is an additional noise canceling slider that allows you to control the level of isolation directly from the app which is now available for the more recent releases with firmware 1.4.1. However, due to the toggles on the inline remote to control the level of isolation, you may not even need to use that feature. Other than that, it's the same as the QuietComfort 35 or the SoundLink which means you get a basic media player but a good and flexible auto-off timer.

Connectivity
8.6
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
4.2
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices
NFC Pairing
Yes
Line Of Sight Range
120 ft
PC Latency (SBC)
191 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
111 ms
Android Latency
175 ms

These headphones have a Bluetooth connection with multi-device pairing and NFC support. However, pairing with the power button can be a bit tricky at times due to the stiff feedback which makes it difficult for the hold-to-pair procedure.

The Bose QC30 have quite a bit of latency which is not ideal for watching movies and a lot of video content. It's not more than most typical Bluetooth headphones but it won't be suitable for gaming and movies.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency
N/A

The Bose QuietControl 30 have no wired option. If you want a similarly designed in-ear but wired, check out the Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear or the wired Bose SoundSport In-Ear.

Connectivity
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC/PS4 Analog
No
PC/PS4 Wired USB
No
PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox One Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock

These headphones do not have a dock. If you want a headphone that's versatile and has a dock, try the SteelSeries Arctis 7. However, they won't be as compact or as easy-to-carry around on your person.