- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Headphones
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We have currently reviewed 15 Bose headphones. They're a reputable brand that makes comfortable headphones, known for their great noise cancellation.
Updates
- 07/19/2019 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 reviewed
- 06/18/2019 Bose Hearphones reviewed
- 08/30/2018 Bose SoundSport Free reviewed
- 07/13/2018 Bose SoundWear reviewed
- 06/06/2018 Bose SoundLink Around-Ear II reviewed
Compared to other brands
- Comfortable design. Comfort is one of the key aspects of most models from Bose. Whether an earbud, an on-ear, or a full-sized over-ear, most of Bose's headphones are exquisitely well-padded, lightweight, and don't feel too tight on the head.
- Good sound quality. Bose also prides itself on delivering a decently balanced audio reproduction that doesn't require an equalizer to sound good. However, some models tend to be a bit bass-heavy.
- Good noise cancelling. Bose has been known as one of the best brands when it comes to noise cancelling. Although their most popular model, the QC35 II, has suffered reduced ANC performance after a recent firmware update, the brand still delivers consistently good noise isolation in most of their models.
- Expensive. Bose headphones are relatively more expensive compared to other brand headphones with a similar design and target audience.
- Mediocre build quality. Bose makes lightweight headphones that feel a little plasticky. They're still durable headphones, but they just don't feel as premium as their price would suggest.Â
- Leaky over-ear models. Although Bose in-ears and earbuds do not have this issue (most likely due to their smaller size), the over-ear models do leak a lot at higher volumes which could be distracting to those around you.
Overall, Bose makes well-rounded headphones that provide an unparalleled level of comfort. Sound quality can be a bit bass-heavy, but is usually sufficiently balanced to please most listeners. Many of their headphones also have very good noise cancelling. However, Bose tends to make comparatively expensive headphones that feel a little plasticky and not as well-built as other headphones in the same price range. Their over-ear lineup also tends to leak a bit at higher volumes, which might not be ideal for all environments.
Best Bose Headphones
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Best Bose Headphones for Casual Use
Usage Ratings - Version 1.27.4Mixed Usage8.0Critical Listening7.5Commute/Travel7.1Sports/Fitness7.7Office6.0TV5.6GamingThe best Bose headphones for casual use are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They’re one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones that we’ve tested to date and have a simple, straightforward design that’s intuitive and easy-to-use. They used to have excellent noise cancelling, but a recent firmware update unfortunately reduced their ANC performance. They still isolate good amount of noise, though, and they have an impressively well-balanced sound that lends itself well to music of virtually all genres, from EDM to jazz. While the QC35 II may not be as industry-leading as they used to, they still perform very well and are a good choice if you’re looking for comfortable, versatile headphones to use as your daily drivers.
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Best Bose Headphones for Business and Travel
Usage Ratings - Version 1.27.2Mixed Usage7.3Critical Listening7.5Commute/Travel7.0Sports/Fitness7.7Office6.1TV6.0GamingThe best Bose headphones for business and travel are the Bose Noise Cancelling 700. They're a stylish new take on Bose’s traditional over-ear design, with the great noise cancellation performance Bose is known for. They isolate more noise than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II (after their most recent firmware update), leak less sound, and feel like more premium headphones overall. Their Bluetooth microphone is the best we’ve tested to date, which makes them a very good option if you travel for business and need to take lots of calls on-the-go. They’re not as comfortable as the QC35 II, and their touch-sensitive control scheme can be a bit tricky to use, but their great noise cancelling and excellent integrated microphone make them very well-suited for business and travel.
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Best Bose Headphones for Office Work
Usage Ratings - Version 1.27.0Mixed Usage7.0Critical Listening7.5Commute/Travel7.6Sports/Fitness7.4Office5.6TV5.3GamingThe best Bose headphones for office work are the Bose QuietControl 30. They have a comfortable earbud fit for those who find in-ears fatiguing to wear for long periods of time, and are easy-to-use. They leak much less sound than Bose’s over-ear models do, and they have good ANC as well. They have a well-balanced sound profile, so you can enjoy music of different genres while you work, and have a good 11-hour battery life. They also have an auto-off timer you can customize within the Bose Connect app, so they can last you even longer, which is great if you want to be able to use them on your way home from work as well.
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Best Bose Headphones for Sports
Usage Ratings - Version 1.26.7Mixed Usage7.7Critical Listening6.3Commute/Travel7.8Sports/Fitness6.5Office5.6TV5.2GamingThe best Bose headphones for sports are the Bose SoundSport Free. They’re the best-sounding wireless earbuds that we’ve tested so far and have a very balanced frequency response. Their semi-open design introduces a lot of ambient noise, which isn’t great if you’re looking to block out the noise of a busy gym but is great for runners that need to monitor their surroundings. It also helps create a more spacious, open sound than that of closed-back earbuds. They're comfortable and quite portable despite the fact they’re a bit bulkier than most truly wireless earbuds. Unfortunately, they have issues with their connection at times. However, they still provide a great listening experience, especially for athletes who don’t want to compromise on sound quality.
Lineup
Bose doesn't offer as many headphone types and variations as some other brands. However, they deliver a solid series of headphones that cover most use cases.
Conclusion
Bose is a well-known brand, popular for their excellent noise cancelling and incredibly comfortable designs. They produce well-rounded and versatile headphones that also deliver in the sound department, if a bit bass-heavy at times. However, their models tend to be comparatively more expensive and not as well-built as some other headphones in the same price range.
Check our recommendations for the best travel headphones.
