Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Class-leading active noise-cancelling earbuds with new immersive audio mode
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Pictures: Bose.
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra has been redefined to upgrade your comfort and audio experience. Suppose you’re one of those people who travel a lot or must endure public transport on your daily commute. In that case, the Bose QC Ultra, an upgrade of the Bose QC II earbuds, offer class-leading noise cancellation performance and excellent audio quality.
While the earbuds may seem reminiscent of their predecessor, the subtle design tweaks of the QC Ultra earbuds enhance the overall user experience. A practical addition is the nub that secures the fin, preventing it from disrupting the charging process or case closure. They come with three silicone ear tips and fins that should help them fit in most ears. I used the medium size, and they worked perfectly for my ear shape. They feel comfortable, and you can also use the fit test in the Bose app to ensure you have the best seal for your ears.
Other differences include a few silver accents that add a touch of class to their appearance. The buds, but not the case, also support an IPX4 rating.
Bose takes a step forward in user interface innovation by employing a large capacitive touch surface for playback controls. This eliminates the risk of pushing the earbuds into your ears and maintains a reliable seal. I adore the volume control gesture, which is just a straightforward swipe up and down with a respectable amount of fine control so you can dial the volume up or down to your ideal levels. You can also control playback and calls using touch.
I used the QC Ultra on both Android and iPhone. The latter uses the AAC codec, but I could tap into the higher bit-rate codec aptX Adaptive on the Android device — including lossless and low-latency capabilities. Those subscribed to high-res audio streaming services have a potentially richer sound experience. And you also get Google Fast Pair for added ease of use when connecting to Android devices.
The integration of Bluetooth 5.3 further adds a layer of future-proofing, paving the way for potential updates like low-energy audio.
The immersive mode is new and tries to create the sound of virtual speakers surrounding you, creating a three-dimensional auditory experience rather than stereo being directly channelled into your ears. The still mode synchronises with head movement, maintaining a fixed audio point ahead for heightened realism. This love-it-or-hate feature can create a more immersive experience for watching movies and TV shows. This versatile feature is built into the earbuds and seamlessly operates across various devices, including phones, computers, and tablets—making it a standout choice compared to most systems.
I’m not a fan of any 3D audio tech for music, but I can see some advantages for watching movies and video content or gaming. Bose's implementation is good, but if you’re like me, you’ll leave it off for music.
The sound quality is excellent, although there’s a strong emphasis on bass, so you may want to turn that down in the app using the three-band equaliser. Of course, if you love bass and can’t get enough of it, the QC Ultra will blow you away.
The QC Ultra is class-leading at effectively minimising ambient sounds, offering users a serene audio environment on their daily commute, during air travel, or while working in the office. The Bose earbuds are the best I’ve used for ANC, and I was lucky enough to test them on a few flights. I would even go so far as to say that they have replaced my cumbersome overhead headphones as my go-to for flying, especially on short flights where I can't bring as much carry-on luggage.
They do an incredible job of blocking out the low bass tones of the aeroplane engines, leaving me to enjoy my music without having to turn up the volume to dangerous levels.
Although suppressing low tones is appealing, their ability to muffle workplace noises, such as keyboard clanking and loud voice chatter, is even more impressive.
The awareness mode is excellent, offering a natural sound experience.
The automatic loud-noise reduction system prevents potential deafening, particularly noticeable in environments with screeching train wheels and other piercing sounds. This works okay most of the time, but I did get an uncomfortable pop when closing the door in my car while wearing them. Although awareness mode is not as good as the AirPods Pro's class-leading transparency mode, they’re not far behind.
Battery life is decent and more than acceptable at six hours with ANC turned on, and you get up to 24 hours of playback when you factor in the charging case. If you enable immersive mode, the buds drop to four hours, but that's plenty of time to watch a long movie.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds offer a commendable blend of comfort, innovation, and audio quality. Their ANC technology is exceptional, while battery performance is on par with most flagship earbuds. Overall, Bose delivers a strong contender in the competitive earbud market.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are available in black or white for €299 from Currys.ie
