Equivalent to the headphones of the same name that the manufacturer is introducing at the same time, this headset is intended to be the reference model in its product range. Unfortunately at a price that is completely disconnected from the market.
This is the new flagship of the Bose headset range. In keeping with the headphones of the same name (be careful not to make a mistake if you want to buy them), the American manufacturer is very strong in terms of price. At 500 euros, it is almost on a par with the very exclusive Apple AirPods Max (580 euros), but significantly higher than Sony’s direct competitor, the WH-1000XM5 (400 euros). Worse still: it simply costs 100 euros more than its predecessor, the excellent NC 700, which came onto the market in 2019 for 400 euros. After the price shock, it’s hard to imagine this QuietComfort Ultra headset doing anything other than aiming for the Excellency.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra respects the historical spirit of this series. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
At least that’s what it looks like when you take it out of the box for the first time. The perceived quality is almost perfect. The plastics are thick, the bow and fork support the aluminum shells, the foams and the plastic cover that covers them are soft. When it comes to handling, there are just a few cracks on the headband, but nothing really unwearable.
Some cracks can still be felt. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
Comfortable and ergonomic
This impression of quality continues as soon as you put the helmet on your head. Like all predecessors in the large QuietComfort family, this Ultra version goes one step further. The headphones are spacious and fit your ears without restricting them. The headband is wide enough at skull height to avoid unpleasant pressure points. Finally, the thick foam and limited weight of 250 grams allow it to stay in place for hours without tiring. An example of comfort like Bose does so well.
You can wear these headphones on your head for hours. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
When it comes to ergonomics, the Framingham manufacturer has made a pretty clever choice here, combining physical buttons with touch controls. On the right edge there is the on/off button, which is also useful during Bluetooth pairing phases. A second multifunction button at the top is used to control playback, make phone calls and trigger the personal assistant. Finally, a touch zone, which is also located under the right earpiece and is marked by a slight relief, regulates the volume. Being easily accessible with your thumb prevents the entire surface of the earphone from being felt and accidentally being triggered when, for example, you take off your jacket or put on a sweater. Good to see there too.
The control buttons are located on the right earphone. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
Also note that the QuietComfort Ultra folds completely, not just flat like the NC 700 did (one of its shortcomings at the time). It stores in a solid and compact case, like the one Bose has always provided with its previous QuietComforts.
The helmet folds completely before storing in its sturdy case. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
The Bose Music application is enriched
Once the headphones are connected to your smartphone, the Bose Music app seems to become increasingly important to using this device. Still very simple a few years ago, it is gradually being expanded with new functions without losing the clarity of its interface, which is still very easy to use. This is the case, for example, in the “Modes” section, which offers the possibility of pre-defining several configurations that we can activate at will depending on the situation in which we find ourselves. In addition to the three standard modes (Silent, Attentive, Immersion), it is possible to add a variety such as: B. Race mode, which does not use noise reduction to the maximum in order to be aware of the surroundings and offers the possibility of activating a “windproof” mode. Function to prevent unwanted noise from external microphones (though not really useful given the headset’s excellent performance in this area). It is then possible to switch from one mode to another without opening the application, simply by holding down the multifunction button on the headset.
Another new feature in the application: immersive sound. This sound processing, which is also offered in QuietComfort Ultra headphones, promises a spatiality of the stereo signal. Please note that unlike Apple’s spatial audio, it is not based on tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos at all and therefore applies to every file. In fact, we find the same shortcomings here as with the headphones: this processing sometimes produces very good results, transcending a stereo signal very well, and sometimes it falls completely wrong and makes a mix far too chaotic. This lack of consistency therefore leads to it not being activated by default and the risk of its existence being forgotten.
Another step forward in noise reduction
Especially since this immersive sound has harmful consequences for autonomy (as with headphones). Bose says it will only be 18 hours instead of the announced 24 hours. In fact, our test in the 01net.com Lab was able to measure a listening time of 28:41 hours with immersive sound deactivated, which is already a pretty good performance (17:06 hours of transparency constantly activated). Also note that it is impossible to use the headset in passive mode without noise cancellation or transparency enabled. This certainly could have saved a few more hours of battery life.
The headset charges via the USB-C port under the left earcup. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
However, it would be a shame to use it passively since the active noise reduction is so effective. If we expected nothing else from the pioneering brand in this field, it is a fact that it once again confirms its technical mastery. Whether on the street, on public transport, in a café, in an open-plan office or in any other noisy place – the active noise reduction of QuietComfort Ultra is available. True to the tradition of the American manufacturer, it is particularly effective in the bass and mid-frequency range, while the passive isolation does most of the work in the higher frequencies. In any case, this active isolation is difficult to criticize as it is effective in all circumstances and once again manages to recreate that relaxing bubble effect and limit the volume.
Foams already offer very good passive insulation. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
To listen to your surroundings, you can switch to Attention Mode, which activates the four external microphones to feed sound back into the headphones. It’s not quite as natural as Apple’s (the market benchmark), but it’s still at a very good level. This is certainly due to the quality of the microphones, which also contribute to good hands-free calling when making calls. Interlocutors sometimes complained that our voice was muffled in noisy environments, but it was still always understandable and distinct from the constant background noise (slightly less so when a sudden noise such as a horn was heard on the street) .
The street and its constant noise, the realm of QuietComfort Ultra. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
A healthy balance that needs to be sought
And the audio quality in all of this? First observation: Bose reconnects with some of his former demons; namely an overrepresentation of low frequencies in its sound signature. However, the brand had brought peace and quiet with the NC 700, which finally offered a more balanced signal than its QuietComfort predecessors. Bose simply had to reuse this name for its new, very high-end model to immediately give it back this attribute. The bass is therefore very present, yet it is precise and dynamic, which is certainly thanks to the good response of the transducers (by the way, Bose does not provide any information about their properties).
The sound signature gives priority to the bass. © Guillaume du Mesgnil d’Engente – 01net.com
If the mids don’t suffer too much, the highs seem to be eaten up a bit by these low frequencies in order to come into their own perfectly. Luckily, a trip to the Bose Music app can help. Thanks to the three-band EQ (only), you simply lower the bass by 5 levels and increase the treble by the same amount to get something much more balanced and breathable than the original signature. We then benefit even more from the precision of the bass and the beautiful, warm stereo image. It’s a treat, but after a few adjustments it’s worth it.
We regret all the more that Bose does not offer the option of connecting the headphones via USB in order to benefit from lossless sources, as is the case with the current Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2, for example. For the vast majority, only the compressed codecs SBC and AAC are offered by Bluetooth devices. Some Android smartphones can benefit from the Snapdragon Sound certified aptX Adaptive codecs, but this feature is only limited to high-end devices. It’s a shame that this is the only way to get the most out of this headset.