The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are closed-back over-ear headphones meant for casual use. They have a wired design with an in-line remote that offers basic controls. Otherwise, they have a simple design with no ANC feature or companion app.
Our Verdict
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are passable mixed-usage headphones. They have a very comfortable design and a neutral sound suitable for a variety of genres. Unfortunately, they also have poor noise isolation, making them unsuitable for use outside of quiet spaces.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Easy to use controls.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Plasticky build quality.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are decent for neutral sound. They're comfortable for long listening sessions and have a well-balanced sound that doesn't feel too bass-heavy or bass-light. They reproduce instruments and vocals accurately and are suitable for a variety of genres. However, they have a closed-off soundstage, and like most closed-back headphones, sound seems to come from inside your head and not speakers in the room around you.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are mediocre for commuting. They have a very comfortable fit for long journeys but lack an ANC feature and struggle to block out bass-range noise, including rumbling engines. Like most over-ear headphones, they have a bulky design and might not fit in a bag or purse, although they come with a soft case that offers some protection.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Case included.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Plasticky build quality.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are mediocre for sports and fitness. They aren't stable enough to stay in place during workouts and have a wired design, so you risk snagging the cable on something. They have a bulky design, like most over-ear headphones. Their in-line controls are easy to use, so you can adjust the volume or skip a song without pulling out your phone.
- Easy to use controls.
- Plasticky build quality.
- Not very stable.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are alright for office use. They're comfortable to wear for hours. However, you may still hear the chatter of a noisy office due to their poor noise isolation, and the leakage may be bothersome at higher volumes.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Decent mic recording quality.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are wired-only headphones that aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are decent for wired gaming. They have a very comfortable fit for long hours of gaming and don't have any latency since they work via analog. Their sound adds some extra boom into your audio, which helps bring out sound effects in games. However, they have a small, closed-off soundstage.
- No latency.
- Decent mic recording quality.
- Plasticky build quality.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are a passable choice for phone calls. Their integrated mic has a decent recording quality, so while it lacks body, speech is easily understandable. They have a comfortable fit and in-line controls for answering and ending calls. However, in noisier areas, your voice can be drowned out. They lack ANC and have sub-par noise isolation, so hearing a call you make in a noisy setting can be difficult.
- Easy to use controls.
- Decent mic recording quality.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Plasticky build quality.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 17, 2023: Made minor edits to the text to bring it up to date.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II come in four different colors: 'Black', 'Blue', 'Charcoal Black', and 'Navy Blue'. They come in different variants for Apple devices and Android devices, and if you use them with a non-compatible device, you won't have access to the mic or remote.
If you come across another variant or your headphones are different, let us know in the forums and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II are wired over-ear headphones meant for audiophiles, like the AKG K371 and Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO. They have a more comfortable fit for most people and a neutral sound profile well-suited for a variety of genres. However, they have a less natural-seeming passive soundstage than the similarly-priced Beyerdynamic.
If you're looking for more headphones, check out our recommendations for the best closed-back headphones, the best over-ear headphones, and the best wired headphones.
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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