Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Problems & Best Features after 1 Month)

A middle-aged man who rarely wears headphones had a sudden whim this time and spent a lot of money on buying this pair. Wow, I want to say, although it's expensive, it's totally worth it. I love it! The comfort and sound quality are top-notch. I wear it all the time every day.❤❤

Hi there! I recently got the famous Bose QC Ultra Headphones, and I can confirm that despite the drivers (speakers) being similar to the Bose NCH 700, this very recent model sounds even better than its predecessor. I also have the Sony WH-1000-XM4, and find that the QC Ultra's sound signature is much clearer than the Sony model. What's more, a little adjustment of the well-rounded bass, and the midrange drive the point home even further. As a preventive measure, I'd advise you *not to exceed 65% volume, and to take a few listening breaks for the sake of your ears (e.g. 15 to 20 minutes for 1 hour's listening). Indeed, these headphones have a lot in reserve, and I didn't notice any major sound distortion, which is very good quality. But be careful with your ears, because they're really powerful! And yes, the sound is very clear! Lightweight (257 grams), it folds neatly and has a wider, more comfortable headband. The depth of the speakers (especially for big ears - you don't sweat as much as with Sony headphones) and its active noise reduction are truly impressive! Somewhat superior to Apple's Air Pods Max, that is! For the moment (2023), in concrete terms, it's the best noise-canceling headset! At the same time, it's the most recent. We'll see how it fares next year (2024), with the future Sony WH-1000-XM6 and Apple Air Pods Max 2. The "attentive" (transparent) mode is a real success! A notch below the Air Pods Max, and a good notch above the WH-1000-XM4/5. You can clearly hear everything around you. The immersive mode is a bit of a gimmick, as it gives the impression that the soundstage is getting bigger, but I still find it well worthwhile, especially for films and video games! That's another world! I also note that this mode is a little more energy-hungry in terms of this product's autonomy (around 19h35 for me, as opposed to the 18 hours announced by Bose). In fact, as far as battery life is concerned, I think that Bose has underestimated its headphones, because without the immersive mode, and staying at 60~65% maximum volume, I've actually gone up to around 30 hours. The official press release claims 24 hours' autonomy. . What's more, a mode (even two) designed to cleverly save battery power has been integrated: _ Like Apple and Sony, the sound stops when the QC Ultra is removed... And restarts once the device is placed back on the head. _ Automatic sleep mode, when the headset is removed for a long time. It restarts automatically when put back on. Automatic pairing, no headaches, it works like a charm. Multipoint is amply correct, and the solid Bluetooth is certified in 5.3 (the latest available), which is much better in terms of wireless connection stability. A very good point in itself. The WH-1000-XM4 (which is in bleuetooth 4.2) that I've owned since 2021 can cut out from time to time for no reason at the moment... I don't know why. Maybe it's due to my smartphone being almost full of internal memory? I don't know. In any case, I no longer have this little inconvenience with the Bose QC Ultra. The application is nice and quite rich! It's straight to the point, and somewhat less sophisticated than Sony's, whose geekiness is its specialty. As for the buttons, they're all located on the right speaker, behind the ear. A touch-sensitive surface for volume, and incidentally a personalized touch-sensitive button (press for 2 seconds in the middle of the touch-sensitive surface and that's it), either to obtain a voice assistant, or to indicate battery level or something else, for example... Personally, I opted for the battery level. How convenient! And in terms of physical buttons, there are only 2. . The first, at the bottom of the right-hand speaker, is reserved for switching on the headset. . The second button is located a little higher up, towards the rear of the speaker. . The second button is located a little higher up, towards the back of the speaker. This button allows: _ 1 short click: play / pause; 1 long click: change mode (immersive, attentive, silent - additional modes can be added and/or removed, such as the outdoor mode with its more or less successful optional "windbreaker" function, for example); _ 2 quick clicks: next track; _ 3 quick clicks: previous track. Personally, I find these two physical buttons rather instinctive and less headache-inducing (100% subjective, of course). As for the tactile part, I find it better thought-out than the NCH 700 and the Sony WH-1000-XM4/5, in the sense that there's no tactile conflict when unwanted rubbing occurs, such as fabric rubbing when you're in bed, or when you're putting on a hood. The left speaker features a USB-C input for headphone charging only, and an input for... A 2.5 mm jack!... The 2.5 mm jack... I'll never understand why that is...  Especially as the headphones must be switched on to be effective(!)... I really don't understand this choice... As far as phone calls are concerned, the people I'm talking to can hear me clearly, even when there's a lot of noise around me! It's not as sophisticated as the Air Pods Max, but it's still one of the most effective. My voice is clearly audible, and it's possible to adjust the volume of the voice when telephoning via the headset. I write this because none of the testers mentioned this detail generally. Unfortunately, it's impossible to obtain lossless sound via a wired USB-C cable (which is quite incomprehensible to me, especially given its high price at the moment). The French Batys headphones, for example (albeit more expensive than the QC Ultra), make this possible. Finally, the price is high (499€) for the moment, but will inevitably drop in the coming months (logically). And then the bargains will start rolling in over the coming year. It has to be! So, I've tried to be as complete as possible about my pleasant experience with these Bose Quiet Confort Ultra Headphones. Expensive, yes, it's undeniable, but very pleasant to hold, not at all uncomfortable on the head, light and very comfortable, this top-of-the-range headset (2023) does quite well, if not very well. A special mention for the active noise reduction, which so far puts it ahead of Apple and Sony. All in all, this headset is a success, far from flawless, let's be honest, but what it does, it does really well. Very satisfied overall. Oh yes, I almost forgot: the ear pads are detachable and therefore replaceable, in case of any long-term wear and tear. Thanks for your work sir! Respect!👍🏾🔥 Hoping for interesting updates (USB-C wired sound, I dream of it! x) ) to come! Looking forward to hearing from you!

The mic on them is amazing, both indoors and outdoors. Amazing job separating your voice from all the noice around

Thanks for the review! Keep up the great content. I think for an ultimate headphone comparison you should also add the bowers and Wilkins px7 s2e and the Bang-Olufsen beoplay HX to the mix

A comparison between the Ultra and the other Bose headphones would be great, like the the 700, QC 45 and the new Quietcomfort headphones

Nice video Mike. To me the mic sounded better when you were outside with heavy traffic behind you than when you were inside. Sounded a little soft and distant when you were inside.

Great, thorough review. Thank you Mike!

Great review! I just got a pair after having the Bose Soundlink II for several years.

I always use the immersion option, especially when having long-distance or online calls where the internet connection is low. This mode is heavy; otherwise, you need to disconnect your regular headphones and try to listen using a headset. Secondly, immersion mode is so good in the office while working. You just need more of its use or in a virtual meeting, you require more clarity. It is amazing

Amazing review!! I’ve been dicey about these since a while and wanted an in depth review of it, this was just that, crisp and to the point, definitely closing the purchase soon. Thank you so much!

Agree on the xm5. Also the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2!

Awesome review!! Thank you

im in Asia and been using this for a month. QC ultra definitely heats up your ear specially on humid and warm weather.

is the comparison video ready? I need this 🥰 I’m choosing my best headphones for work and everyday using 🎉

Very practical review.. could you review the bang and olufsen headset

Thank you for a great review 👍

I feel like that thing of them realizing they’re on your head can be fixed with a simple update, it’s a matter of, if Bose wants to go through the hustle of pushing out an update.

Hi, thanks for this video. I would be very interested in your opinion of the composition of the Bose QC Ultra and BEOPLAY H95

The jet noise cancelling chart helped me decide :) Very thankful for this review

These dope headphones. Got the soup stone ones when released and love them!