Bose introduces new headphone trio Hands-on with QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds.
Bose introduces new headphone trio Hands-on with QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds.
Bose Unveils New Flagship Headphones and Earbuds
The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds mix in a metallic accent.
For years, Bose has been a leading name in audio technology, and now they’re back with a bang, releasing not only a new flagship set of headphones, but also a new set of earbuds. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are here to wow us with their refined designs, improved features, and impressive audio quality.
Refined Designs
The new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones with a premium design.
Out of the three new models, the QC Ultra Headphones truly stand out with their totally new and premium design. Incorporating an aluminum yoke and arms, these headphones feel durable and are designed to fit a wider range of head types. The QC Ultra Earbuds, on the other hand, offer small design refinements and an improved interlocking fit with upgraded stability bands. The QC Headphones may not seem like much of an upgrade design-wise, but they do offer physical control buttons along with touch controls for volume.
Bose Adds its Own Flavor of Spatial Audio
While noise cancellation has always been a hallmark feature of Bose headphones, the company is now hyping its custom version of spatial audio, called Immersive Audio. It promises to create a wider and more spacious soundstage, offering a multi-dimensional and layered audio experience on any platform or device. The QC Ultra Headphones and QC Ultra Earbuds come with two spatial audio modes – still mode without head-tracking, and motion mode that uses head-tracking for audio that “moves with you.”
Qualcomm Chipsets for the Ultras
In terms of technology, Bose is not cutting any corners. Both the QC Ultra Headphones and QC Ultra Earbuds are equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, ensuring top-notch audio performance. They support the aptX Adaptive audio codec, offering lossless and low-latency capabilities for Android and other aptX-compatible devices. Additionally, both models feature Bluetooth 5.3 for superior connectivity.
Improved Voice Calling for the QC Ultra Earbuds
Bose recognizes the importance of voice calling performance, and the QC Ultra Earbuds aim to deliver. With dynamic microphone mixing and adaptive filters, voice pickup is improved, making your conversations clearer, even in less-than-ideal environments. The QC Ultra Headphones also offer impressive voice-calling performance, thanks to their five microphones that enhance noise-canceling capabilities.
Optional Wireless Charging Cover Accessory
One strange omission from last year’s QC Earbuds 2 was wireless charging, and unfortunately, it is absent again in the new QC Ultra Earbuds. However, Bose has a solution – a $49 silicone case cover accessory that allows wireless charging for both the QC Ultra and QC Earbuds 2 cases.
Battery Life
Battery life is always a concern, and the QC Ultra models offer varying durations. The QC Ultra Headphones provide 24 hours of battery life with Immersive Audio turned off and 18 hours with it on, while the QC Ultra Earbuds offer six hours without Immersive Audio and four hours with it on. These numbers may not be groundbreaking, but they still offer a respectable amount of usage time.
New Bose Headphones Early Impressions
In conclusion, while the QC Ultra Headphones and QC Ultra Earbuds may not be massive upgrades over their predecessors, they bring improvements to sound quality and noise-canceling performance, as well as possible enhancements to voice calling. The QuietComfort Headphones, on the other hand, may not offer much compared to the existing QuietComfort 45s, so it might be wise for consumers to opt for the QC Ultra Headphones instead.
Overall, Bose has shown once again that they are committed to delivering high-quality audio experiences. As a technology enthusiast, I’m eager to fully evaluate all the new headphones and share my thoughts and opinions. Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting new products from Bose.
