Our Verdict
The Bose SoundSport Wireless are good for neutral sound listening. They have a good amount of bass that doesn't overpower the instruments and vocals in the mid and treble range. They also have a semi-open fit which gives them a slightly better soundstage than most typical in-ears/earbuds, but they won't sound like speakers in a room, which might not be ideal for more neutral listeners.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Lightweight, wireless design.
- Well balanced and versatile sound profile.
- Semi-open design results in poor noise isolation.
- Flaws in build quality.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless are only okay for commute and travel. They're compact and comfortable but have weak noise isolation which won't be ideal for the loud environments involved in commuting. Their 6-hour battery life is also quite short.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Lightweight, wireless design.
- Well balanced and versatile sound profile.
- Semi-open design results in poor noise isolation.
- Flaws in build quality.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless are very good headphones for sports use. They're wireless and compact enough to carry around wherever you go. They have a stable and semi-open fit that allows runners to monitor their surroundings.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Lightweight, wireless design.
- Well balanced and versatile sound profile.
- Semi-open design results in poor noise isolation.
- Flaws in build quality.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless aren't bad for office use. They don't leak much so you can play your music at higher volumes but they also don't isolate much so you will hear some of the ambient chatter in a lively office.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Lightweight, wireless design.
- Well balanced and versatile sound profile.
- Semi-open design results in poor noise isolation.
- Flaws in build quality.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless aren't recommended for gaming. These headphones are Bluetooth-only which means they aren't compatible with a PS4 or Xbox One. While you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC or mobile device, their latency will likely be too high for gaming.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless are Bluetooth-only headphones that can't be used wired.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless are mediocre for phone calls. They have an in-line microphone so you can easily take calls while on-the-go, but like most Bluetooth headphones, your voice will sound quite thin. It will also be difficult for the person you're speaking to to hear you, even in moderately noisy environments.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Lightweight, wireless design.
- Well balanced and versatile sound profile.
- Semi-open design results in poor noise isolation.
- Flaws in build quality.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 05, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Bose SoundSport Wireless are good sports headphones with an above-average sound and a comfortable earbud fit. They're one of the best sounding wireless earbuds and best wireless earbuds for running we've reviewed; they're compact and have a good wireless range, but their build quality isn't as durable as some of the other wireless in-ear/earbuds we've reviewed.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless and the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless have about the same performance in a slightly different format. The SoundSport Wireless are truly wireless earbuds that are a bit better for working out since they do not have a cable to hinder your movements. The Free also have a slightly better-balanced sound and a longer total battery life than the SoundSport Wireless. On the other hand, the SoundSport Wireless last a bit longer on a single charge.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless are a slightly better wireless headset than the Sony WI-SP600N Wireless. The Bose have an earbud fit, which makes them a bit more comfortable for most listeners than the Sonys. They also have a longer battery life and a better-balanced sound that caters well to most music genres. They're also a tad more stable for the gym. The Sonys, on the other hand, have a better isolation performance which makes them a bit more suitable for other uses, like commute and travel. They also have a slightly more premium and durable design with better controls. You can also EQ the Sonys via their app, which you can't with the Bose.
The Sony WI-XB400 EXTRA BASS Wireless are slightly better than the Bose SoundSport Wireless in mixed usage. Although the Bose have a more neutral sound and are more comfortable to wear, they have rather disappointing noise isolation and battery life is significantly worse. The Bose can be paired to two devices simultaneously, but the microphone isn't as good as the Sony's.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless and the JBL Endurance Dive are both good sports headphones, but both are better at different things. The Bose have a better sound quality and are more comfortable, but they have a semi-open design that doesn’t isolate much ambient noise. On the other hand, the JBL Dive are waterproof and designed as swimming headphones. They're well-built, and their fit is suitable for commuting thanks to the air-tight seal that blocks out noise. While you might get a bit less battery life on the Bose, you can connect them to two devices simultaneously.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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