Bose sells two versions of its QuietComfort over-ear headphones, and according to SoundGuys, the cheaper one might be the smarter buy for most people.
The outlet spent time with both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and the standard Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), and found the gap between them is narrower than the $90 price difference suggests.
SoundGuys measured the regular QuietComfort headphones reducing perceived outside noise by an average of 85.1%, compared to 87% for the Ultra model. The Ultra held a clearer edge in the lower frequencies, between roughly 100Hz and 500Hz, where it canceled a few extra decibels. Higher up the frequency range, the outlet reported the two models closing the gap considerably.
Sound quality told a similar story. SoundGuys' frequency response measurements showed both headphones tracking closely to the outlet's own preference curve, with the biggest divergence in the bass, where the Ultra carries roughly 3 to 4dB more low-end output. Bose includes the same basic three-band EQ on both models, so that difference is adjustable in the company's app regardless of which one a buyer picks.
The review also flagged build differences that go the cheaper model's way. The standard QuietComfort headphones keep physical volume and playback buttons, while the Ultra relies on a touch-sensitive strip that SoundGuys described as inconsistent for quick, precise adjustments.
Weight favors the regular model too, at 230 grams against 260 grams for the Ultra. SoundGuys also pointed to larger earcup openings on the standard QuietComfort headphones as a comfort advantage for listeners with bigger ears, noting the Ultra's pads can press against the back of the ear during longer sessions.
Where the Ultra pulls ahead is in extras: support for aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless Bluetooth codecs, plus Immersive Audio and Cinema listening modes that the standard model skips. But SoundGuys noted those codecs only work with a short list of compatible Android phones from brands like ASUS, Motorola and Xiaomi, and don't function at all on an iPhone. Both headphones support lossless audio over a wired USB-C connection regardless of codec support, and both ship with a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for use with wired audio sources like in-flight entertainment systems.
None of this makes the Ultra a bad headphone. SoundGuys was clear that its noise cancellation remains among the best the outlet has tested. But for buyers who don't need lossless Bluetooth codecs or cinema-style audio modes, the review's conclusion is straightforward: the regular QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) deliver most of what the Ultra does, for $90 less.
GDFiled by The Gadgets Desk
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