Bose QuietComfort 700 Wireless Headphones Review

Bose is known for its noise cancelling technology, which can reduce the rumble from aeroplane engines and other ambient sounds. Bose also offers a variety of premium wireless headphones.

The new Bose Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless come with a slimmer, more sleek design than the QuietComfort buds, and a superior microphone to make calls. They also resist sweat, and come with a charging bag.

Active Noise Cancellation

Bose QuietComfort headphones are known for their excellent noise cancellation. However, the company also makes a wide range of high-quality headphones that do not require or provide this feature. The products typically come at an expensive price and use premium materials, but they're also lightweight and sweat-proof. They're also comfortable enough for long listening sessions.

The flagship 700s is a great example. They have an upgraded eight-microphone (six for cancelling sounds, two for picking voice) and eleven custom ANC modes. You can listen to the world around you, or block it completely. They're also equipped with a "Conversation Mode" button that allows you to temporarily pause your music to make an emergency call or make a quick announcement.

Another great feature is the Bose TruSleeve, a removable covering that wraps around the neck and rests on the upper ear for additional sound reduction when you're out and out and about. It's available for all QuietComfort models and can be adjusted through the app to suit your ear and lifestyle.

In comparison to our top pick, the Sony WH-1000XM5, 700s have a superior headphones For Running quality microphones for phone calls. This makes them a great choice for those who take calls frequently and want to be heard clearly moving around.

You can connect the headphones to your mobile device with Bluetooth 4.2 and Bose's proprietary A2DP protocol. They are compatible with aptX Adaptive, aptX HD and are great for audiophiles with sources that support the highest-quality wireless codes. Bose also comes with a 2.5 mm to 3.5 millimeter cable for wired listening and they're optimized for Google Assistant and Alexa. The headphones have a battery lasts up to 20 hours and a USB-C charging port on the right earcup.

Sound Quality

Bose is renowned for its noise cancellation technology that can effectively block out office chatter or the engine noise of plane engines. Bose also makes headphones with good sound quality. They're all compatible with the free Bose Connect or Bose Music app (older models) and support a range of features including audio settings, battery life monitoring, adjustable controls and a choice of listening mode. They're also platform-neutral, and can be used with Apple, Android and Windows devices.

The QuietComfort 45 headphones are Bose's most powerful wireless over-ear headphone. They utilize Bluetooth 5.1 to allow multi-point pairing and an USB-C port to charge at the bottom of the cup. The headphones come with a cable with a 3.5mm plug on the other end, which allows for wired listening. They also have an ANC button on the left earcup. You can set the ANC to three levels using the app and also turn on hear-through modes to help with ambient noises.

The headphones are lightweight and designed to be worn for long durations. They have soft cushions which are comfortable for the ears. Sound is bright and dynamic, with a solid bass response that's well controlled. The treble isn't as crisp as you'd find on top-rated rivals such as the Sony WH1000XM4 and Jabra Elite 85H, but still sufficient for the majority of music genres.

They also have an excellent microphone for hands-free calling and an assistant for voice which does a good job of distancing your voice from the background noise when answering questions. The Bose Connect and Bose Music apps let you alter the audio settings as well as alter the EQ. The Bose voice, which informs you about battery status and whether you're connected, can sound somewhat robotic, in comparison to the more natural voices on the Sony and Jabra models.

Comfort

Comfort is one of Bose's strengths, regardless of whether you're listening in an over or on-ear headphone. Bose's headphones are typically exquisitely padded without being tight on the head, and they have an extremely balanced sound quality that makes them suitable for any genre. Many Bose headphones come with an app companion to the headphones that comes with an image equalizer that can help you fine tune your music.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 wireless over-ear headphones are among the most comfortable headphones for running we've test, featuring a soft and flexible headband and headphones for running soft earpads. They're extremely light and sweat-resistant, and you can listen for hours without feeling uncomfortable. The earcups can be rotated around the plastic stems which extend from the headband. This gives you flexibility and ensures that they fit around your ear.

The Bose Qc45s impressed us with their noise cancellation and audio quality. The sound is incredibly rich and detailed, with a punchy bass, clear mids and crisp highs. The headphones have an even mid-range response, so voices are reproduced well. The only issue is that they do not support the most current Bluetooth codecs like aptX Adaptive or LDAC which allow playback without loss.

The Bose Sport Earbuds have a more compact, sleeker design than the QuietComfort Earbuds that are the company's most popular product. They are perfect for running and working. The buds come with a battery life of up to 5 hours, which is plenty for most exercises. The buds feature a built in microphone and are waterproof. You can control the buds via the remote included or with the companion app. You can use the app to adjust settings for ANC and Bose's Aware Mode.

Controls

The 700s do not feature physical controls on the earcups unlike most of Bose's headphones. Instead, you'll find a touch panel on the front half of the right earcup that can detect swipes and finger taps. Tap twice to play or pause, swipe up to raise the volume, and down to lower it and forward to skip tracks. A single tap answers calls, while a double tap rejects an incoming call.

The headset also allows users to switch on the mode known as "aware," which enables the passing of your surroundings. It's a handy feature for anyone who has to be aware of their environment while listening to music or making phone calls.

A motion detector shuts off your headphones when they are not in use. This is a great feature for those who are easily distracted or forget to turn off their headphones. The Bose Connect App lets you change the Auto-Off feature on your Bose headphones.

The app allows you to modify the features of your headphones, such as audio settings, noise cancellation levels and voice prompt languages. You can also get updates for your Bose headphones in ear. The app could ask you to share your personal information, but this is normal. It's also where you configure your Bluetooth connections preferences, and also features a a helpful battery reading function which lets you know how much charge is remaining in your headphones. Download the free Bose Connect App from the App Store on your iOS device or Google Play. The app requires an Bluetooth connection to your tablet or smartphone. Once connected, you can choose an option to create a profile and find your headset.

Design

Bose is known for its comfortable headphones. The majority of their models do a good job at keeping the listener's ears insulated against ambient sound. Their sound is balanced, and versatile enough to be used across different genres. Their headphones are also quite sturdy and portable which makes them a great choice for trips.

A large part of what makes Bose headphones so well-known is their noise cancellation. The NCH700s come with 10 levels of noise cancellation which is impressive even at maximum. The microphones are also excellent, with six of the eight mics in the headband, helping to separate voices from background noise. Two of the microphones also function as noise-rejection sensors to block background noise and echo when calling.

In contrast to their rivals, Bose headphones tend to have a minimalist design with just a few buttons on the headband. The left-hand side includes a movable noise-cancellation button, while the right has toggles for power/Bluetooth and to launch digital assistants. There's also a touch-sensitive panel on the right cup which lets you play/pause music, skip tracks and adjust volume using a few gestures.

Bose headphones are perfect for mobile use. Most models that are worn over and on the ear, feature plenty of padding to ensure a comfortable fit. These headphones are also lightweight and portable which makes them a great choice for traveling. The only downside to the Bose headphones is that their wireless headphones do not block out as much ambient sound as their rivals. This isn't an issue for everyone users, especially as Bose also makes dedicated active noise cancelling earbuds designed for exercise (like the QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless). This allows you to monitor your surroundings while listening to your music.