Bose QuietComfort 700 Wireless Headphones Review

Bose's noise cancellation technology can help block out ambient sounds and the rumble from aircraft engines. It also produces a range premium wireless headphones.

The new Bose Sport Earbuds Truly Wireless are slimmer and more sleek than the QuietComfort buds, with a better microphone for calls. They're also sweat-proof and come with an charging case.

Active Noise Cancellation

The Bose QuietComfort line is known for its excellent noise cancellation but the company also makes plenty of high-quality headphones running and earbuds which don't need or offer it. Its products are usually premium priced and constructed of premium materials. They're also lightweight and sweat-resistant, and comfortable enough to listen for long periods of time.

The flagship 700s are an excellent example of this. They feature an upgraded eight-microphone system (six for cancelling the sound, and two to pick up voices) and 11 customizable ANC modes that let you listen to the world, or block it out completely. They also come with a "Conversation Mode", which allows you to temporarily stop the music to announce an event or make a phone call.

Another great feature is the Bose TruSleeve, a removable covering that wraps around the neck and rests on your upper ear for extra noise reduction when you're out and out and about. It's available on all QuietComfort products and can be customized with the app to match your lifestyle and ear.

Comparing to our top choice, the Sony WH-1000XM5, the 700s offer a better audio quality for phone calls. This makes them an excellent option for those who make calls frequently and need to be heard clearly traveling.

You can connect the headphones to your mobile device via Bluetooth 4.2 and Bose's exclusive A2DP protocol. They support aptX Adaptive, aptX HD and are perfect for audiophiles with devices that support the highest-quality wireless codes. Bose also comes with a 2.5 millimeter to 3.5 mm cable for wired listening, audiophile and they're optimized to work with Google Assistant and Alexa. The headphones have a battery life of 20 hours or more and a USB-C charging port located on the right earcup.

Sound Quality

Bose has earned a name for its noise cancellation, which effectively blocks out the drone of airplane engines or office chatter. Bose also makes headphones with good audio quality. All models are compatible with Bose Connect (older models). They provide a range of features such as the ability to adjust the audio, battery monitoring, customizable controls and listening modes. They're also platform-neutral and are compatible with Apple, Android and Windows devices.

The QuietComfort45 headphones by Bose are the most immersive wireless over-ear headphone. The headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.1 for multi-point pairing and come with an USB-C charging port located on the bottom of each cup. They also include an audio cable with an 3.5mm plug at the other end for wired listening and feature an ANC button on the left earcup. You can set the ANC to three levels through the app and switch on hear-through modes to help with ambient sounds.

The headphones are light and designed to be worn for long periods of time. They come with soft cushions that feel comfortable for the ears. The sound is lively and vibrant and has solid bass that's well-controlled. The treble isn't as crisp as you'd find on top-rated models like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Jabra Elite 85H, but still adequate for most music genres.

The Bose Connect and the Bose Music apps allow you to adjust the audio settings and alter the EQ. They have a great microphone for hands-free calling, as well as a voice assistant that does a great job of separating ambient noise from your speech when you are answering questions. Bose Connect apps and Bose Music let you adjust the audio settings and also customize EQ. The Bose voice, which tells you about things like battery status and whether you're connected, sounds a little robotic, compared to the more natural voices found on the Sony and Jabra models.

Comfort

Comfort is among Bose's strengths, regardless of whether you're listening in an over - or on-ear headphone. The company's headphones are usually luxuriously padded and don't feel tight on the head, and they come with a an incredibly balanced sound quality that makes them suitable for any genre. If you want to tweak the sound, you'll discover that many of the Bose headphones come with a companion app with a graphic EQ to help you adjust your music.

The Bose QuietComfort45 wireless on-ear headphones have a stretchy headband, plush earpads and an earband that is soft and flexible. They are the most comfortable headphones that we've tested. The headphones are lightweight and sweat-proof, making them comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The earcups can be swiveled around the plastic stems that extend from the headband. This gives you flexibility and ensures that they fit around your ear.

In our tests, the Bose QC45s delivered impressive noise cancellation and excellent audio quality. The sound is clear and detailed, with punchy bass, clear mids and audiophile crisp highs. The headphones also have a very neutral midrange response, which means that voices reproduce well. The only issue with these headphones is that they don't support the most recent Bluetooth codes, like aptX Adaptive and LDAC, which allow for lossless playback.

The Bose Sport Earbuds are smaller and more sleek than the company's flagship QuietComfort Earbuds, making them ideal for working out and running. They provide up to five-hour battery life, which is enough to last through most workout sessions. They are waterproof and come with built-in microphones that allow for voice assistant integration. You can control the buds with the remote included or the companion app. The app can be used to adjust settings for ANC and Bose's Aware Mode.

Controls

The 700s don't have physical controls for the ear cups, unlike the majority of Bose's headphones. There's an electronic touch panel on the right ear cup that can be used to swipe and tap your finger. Tap twice to play/pause, swipe upwards or down to change the volume and move forward to skip tracks. A single-tap answers calls, and audiophile a double tap rejects an any call that comes in.

The headset also lets you to toggle the mode of "aware," which enables some passthrough of your surroundings. It's a great feature for anyone who wants to be aware of their environment while listening to music or making phone calls.

Another feature of the 700s is a motion detector which shuts down your headphones after a period of inactivity. It's a great feature for those who don't remember to switch off their headphones or are easily distracted while using headphones. The Bose Connect App allows you to alter the Auto-Off setting on your Bose headphones.

The app allows you to modify the features of your headphones, including audio settings, noise cancelling levels and voice prompt languages. You can also get updates for your Bose headphones. You might be asked to share certain personal details for this to work however, that's the norm for this kind of app. It's also where you'll set your Bluetooth connection preferences, and it also has a a helpful battery reading function that will let you know how much power 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 the use of a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone or tablet. Once connected, you can select a profile and locate your headset.

Design

Bose has a reputation for comfortable headphones. The majority of their models do a great job of keeping listeners' ears from noise. Their sound is usually well-balanced and versatile enough to work across genres without a lot of adjustment. They are also very portable and robust. This makes them a great choice to take on trips.

Bose headphones are renowned for their noise cancellation. The NCH 700s have 10 adjustable levels of noise cancelling, and even at maximum it's pretty impressive. The microphones are also top-quality, with six of the eight mics tucked inside of the headband helping to isolate voices from background noise. Two of the microphones also function as noise-rejection sensors to block background noise and echo during calls.

Bose headphones are minimalistic in design, utilizing only a few buttons. The left cup has an adjustable noise-cancelling switch, and the right cup has switches to power/Bluetooth and launch digital assistants. There's also a capacitive touch panel on the right cup that allows you to play/pause music, skip tracks and adjust volume using a few gestures.

Bose headphones are ideal for mobile use. Most models that are worn over and on the ear, feature plenty of padding that provides an ideal fit. They're also extremely light and portable, making them a great option for traveling. Bose's wireless headphones don't block out as much background noise as some of their competitors. This may not be a problem for most users, especially as Bose also makes dedicated active noise cancelling earbuds for exercise (like the QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless). This allows you to monitor your surroundings while enjoying the convenience of your music.