Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2024: hands-on review

It is always a momentous occasion whenever Bose unveils a new generation of noise-cancelling headphones because these headphones have become so popular. Because I am someone who places a high value on audio, I was particularly ecstatic when I heard that the business that was instrumental in the widespread adoption of active noise cancellation (ANC) had promised a wholly original approach to the reproduction of sound. Not only do the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones live up to this promise, but they also feature an elegant and contemporary design, in addition to user-friendly controls that put them in direct competition with the very best over-ear headphones now available on the market.

The QuietComfort Ultra headphones replace the previous flagship model, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, and come with a hefty price tag of $429/£450 (which, for my fellow Brits, is quite a noticeable price difference due to the exchange rate). In addition, the QuietComfort Ultra headphones come with a number of new features. The most important decision was whether or not the inclusion of spatial audio and a few other innovations warranted the higher cost of this product. In order to find out, I was given the chance to go to the launch event that Bose was holding in New York and get a personal look at what these headphones had to offer.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones hands-on Specifications

In this thorough study, you can learn a lot about the sound quality of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Look into the headphones’ immersive sound experience and cutting-edge features to make an informed choice.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones hands-on review: Features

I just got a pair of Bose’s new QuietComfort Ultra headphones, and I have to say that they’ve really stepped up their game with some cool features. Immersive music, Bose’s take on spatial music, is the feature that stands out to me the most. It’s a game-changer that makes your music feel less like it’s stuck in your head and more like it’s coming from a regular set of speakers in the room.

One thing I love about these headphones is that you can choose between two Immersive Audio modes: Still and Motion. The “Still” mode is great for when I’m sitting still and want my music to stay in one place. But when I’m moving, the “Motion” mode lets the sound follow me, so I can still feel like I’m in the game even when I’m on the go. It’s like always having my own studio with me.

Also impressive is the fact that it comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound Technology suite, which includes support for aptX Adaptive. This means I get high-quality sound with little delay and great clarity. Also, the multipoint Bluetooth lets me switch between different audio sources without any trouble, which is very handy.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones hands-on review: Design & build

I recently got to try out Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and compared to the previous model, they’ve gone through some big changes. Bose has put a lot of work into these headphones. The signal processing is better, the chipset is stronger, and the mics are better. But the new look was the first thing that caught my attention.

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are clearly bigger than the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 in terms of how they are made. Even though the simpler lines have a more basic look, they don’t have the sleek, curved band shape that made the 700 series famous. The new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are also different from these headphones because they have a silver finish that makes them look more elegant. The headphones I tried, on the other hand, had a plain matte plastic finish that seemed to draw fingerprints like a magnet, which took away from their overall look.

Bose hasn’t let us down when it comes to how well their products are made. As you would expect from Bose, the headphones feel strong and solid when you hold them. But I couldn’t help but feel that they were missing a certain polish or high-end touch that you’d hope to find in headphones in this price range.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones hands-on review: Sound

The obvious caveats apply here: I didn’t use the QuietComfort Headphones Ultra for very long, I didn’t listen to music that I chose, and I used them in a pretty controlled environment. Still, I think it’s safe to say that the Bose are well-made and interesting to listen to, and the Immersive Audio feature is a lot less of a joke than I thought it might be at first.

Their ability to block out noise is probably the least surprising thing about how well they work. My hosts snuck in a lot of city noise while I was wearing the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Ultra for the first time. When I took them off, I was surprised by how loud the room had become and how well the headphones had blocked it out.

When Immersive Audio was turned off, the Bose sounded very clear, well balanced, and not as focused on the lowest sounds as some of this brand’s other products can be. The balance of tones seemed to be good, the level of detail, both big and small, was very amazing, and the control of the low end meant that rhythms could be heard well.

Early verdict

Having said that, I am unable to provide a conclusive answer at this time. It is absolutely necessary for us to spend more time with an appropriate review pair in order to participate in in-depth listening sessions. The first impressions are indeed encouraging, but we would like to do a comprehensive analysis of the Immersive Audio function. In addition, taking into consideration their increased price point, it will be interesting to observe how the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones stand up in comparison to the leading competitors in the market at the moment.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones hands-on review: The good and The bad