Those who follow the wireless audio space saw the oft-leaked Bose QuietComfort Ultra coming a mile away. Even so, the promise of a new noise canceler succeeding the universally acclaimed Bose 700 and welcoming several upgrades, including breakthrough spatial audio, was enough to keep brand enthusiasts excited for this release.
Well, their debut is upon us, and what a debut it is. With class-leading active noise cancellation (ANC) combined with gorgeous aesthetics, intuitive features and remarkable sound, the QC Ultra live up to the hype as Bose’s best creation to date as well as the market’s best noise-canceling headphones and best over-ear headphones.
There’s plenty more to brag about. See why the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are what every upcoming noise-canceling model should aspire to be.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are a pricey but worthwhile investment for new headphone seekers wanting stellar 3D audio and unrivaled ANC in a stylish, practical design.
What we liked about them
Return of the ANC king
The 700 were considered the top choice for noise cancellation until the Sony WH-1000XM5 arrived, and even then, there were debates over which model was better. It doesn’t matter now, because the QC Ultra topple them both. Bose fine-tuned its adaptive algorithms and ports while adding more mics and strategically placing them for optimal performance.
Bose had me test the feature in a simulated listening space filled with street and subway noises. The result: silence. I’ve been able to use these cans in many other settings to gauge their overall noise neutralization. Quiet mode (standard ANC) put a kibosh on nearly every sound I encountered. The loud construction taking place below my apartment went unnoticed, along with the music blasting from my Wonderboom 2 portable speaker in the opposite room. Using the feature outdoors was equally satisfying. Distractions like bird chirping, landscaping and order complaints at Starbucks didn’t break my concentration. My toddler’s high-pitched yells never caught my attention either. I only recall hearing an ambulance siren, and that was when the vehicle zipped past my block. It sounded more like a background effect on songs.
ANC can be adjusted between 10 levels in the Bose Music app and saved on 10 different user modes. You can select and assign these modes to the action button, plus turn on the Wind Block setting to reduce wind presence. While it works well, natural noises become more transparent.
Aware mode (ambient listening) is terrific for increasing situational awareness. Bose’s mics are powerful and demonstrate excellent vocal pickup, a feature that also complements digital assistance. I was eavesdropping on building management conversations in my elevator and pedestrian chatter from across the street. Emergency vehicles were audible from about two blocks away. Communicating clearly with my son and wife in the living room brought me the most joy.
Superb sound made better through Immersive Audio
The QC Ultra employ Bose’s proprietary CustomTune technology to personalize audio playback based on the unique properties of your ear and ear canal. Expect impactful bass response and solid frequency range for hearing all types of sounds and instruments clearly.
Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and local tracks on my MacBook sounded more energetic than on Bose’s previous cans. Android users can take advantage of aptX Adaptive support, which produces hi-res Bluetooth playback by dynamically scaling the data rate from 279 kpbs to 420 kbps. Translation: You’re getting clearer, more detailed sound with minimal latency.
The opening kick drum on Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” slapped hard, while the proceeding synths and gritty, distorted vocals were clean. I loved the impact from every snare strike. Even the electric guitar bridge sent a surge of energy to my eardrums. Switching over to contemporary tracks, the Jonas Brothers’ “Waffle House” maintained its upbeat bop, thanks to the vibrant electric piano keys that created a nice reverb effect. The trio’s “la, la, la” ad libs were nicely articulated during the hook.
Listening in Quiet mode gave the low end a minor boost, though you can raise it significantly in the companion app via EQ setting where bass, midrange and treble are all adjustable.
Immersive Audio is what elevates the QC Ultra to another sonic level. Bose’s 3D audio format is a game changer that works with any form of stereo content. Neither Apple nor Sony’s spatial audio technology can do this. Like the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the feature is not tied to surround sound technologies like Dolby Atmos or hi-fi music streaming platforms or tiers. Also, processing is done directly on the wearable. Only the Yamaha YH-L700A offer this, which we previously ranked as the best spatial audio headphones before fully testing Bose’s latest creation.
You have the choice to hear content in Still mode, which automatically calibrates sound when you’re sitting or stationary, or select Motion mode to have spatial audio move with you. The 360-degree sound balance is impressive and makes live performances and orchestral tracks surreal; it felt as if I were in the studio or near the stage watching musicians perform. Movies left a greater impression, especially action and horror flicks. The claustrophobic chase scene in “Inception” had me tensed up, with Hans Zimmer’s heroic and unhinged score enlivening the listening atmosphere. Meanwhile, the intense, blaring synths throughout “A Nightmare on Elm Street” intensified dream sequences.
A familiar yet uniquely updated design
At first, I was disappointed to see Bose ditch the 700’s beautiful unibody design. Then I unboxed the QC Ultra and forgave them. Bose took the best elements of its previous releases and either applied or updated them on these chic, well-constructed cans.
Portability is improved with the headphones collapsing inward, which was something the 700 couldn’t do. The aluminum extenders come out to a reasonable length and provide the minimalist ear cups with more flexibility. You’ll find the leather-wrapped ear cups and headband comfy for long listening sessions.
The QC Ultra’s physical button scheme, voice activation and wear detection all work flawlessly. Meanwhile, the all-new volume slider strip behind the right ear cup makes these headphones fun to operate. It’s easy to locate and registers slide gestures with the utmost accuracy. Every pair of luxury headphones should have this feature.
What we didn’t like about them
Battery life still isn’t the best
Don’t get me wrong — I’m all for the increase in battery life to 24 hours. At the same time, this is no different than the older QuietComfort 45 or current, less expensive QC Headphones (2023 version). The QC Ultra’s run time is also several hours shorter than the WH-1000XM5 (30 to 40 hours). Turning on Immersive Audio drops playtime to 18 hours. There’s no way to turn off ANC, so you’re left with one fewer battery-saving solution.
Quick charging isn’t as powerful as other models: A 15-minute charge equals two and a half hours of ANC playtime.?
It’s up there in price
At $429, the QC Ultra are Bose’s most expensive ANC headphones ever. Rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 are priced lower at $399 and $349, respectively. Note that the 700, which are still elite noise cancelers, can also be had for $120 less if you’re cool with sacrificing spatial audio. At least the QC Ultra are more affordable than the steep (but oft-discounted) $549 Apple AirPods Max.
Bottom line
Regardless of their high price tag, the QC Ultra are a must-own for anyone wanting the absolute best noise cancellation with exceptional 3D audio performance and smart functionality to boot. Bose took its time refining key areas and developed new technologies that enhance the user experience on many levels. The aesthetic and practical changes give them a distinctive swagger as well.
Middling battery life remains Bose’s biggest issue. Aside from that, the QC Ultra are nearly perfect and place the QuietComfort series back atop the ANC throne.
