Bose has been busy, hasn't he? In response to previous rumors that a brand-new set of high-end wireless over-ears and earbuds was almost ready for release, Bose has now unveiled the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are replaced by the Black or White Smoke versions of the latter, which also replace the five-star QuietComfort Earbuds II.
On both Ultra pairings, Bose Immersive Audio makes its debut. The technology's potent new onboard processing is intended to make "spatial audio accessible to all." The mode, in the words of Bose, "virtually seats you in the acoustic sweet spot" and displays the "true depth, spatializing what you're hearing by virtually placing it in front of you." of the music.
Immersive Audio is available in two different modes: Still and Motion. Use still if you want your music to stay in one place while you are standing still. Motion "allows the audio to move with you, so it's always out in front of you - great for staying immersed on the go," claims Bose.
The Snapdragon Sound Technology from Qualcomm is also included with the Ultra models.
The QuietComfort Ultra models include Bose's CustomTune calibration and Bose Aware Mode with ActiveSense, which automatically adjusts the amount of ANC being used so that your music isn't drowned out by particularly loud noises, in addition to the new spatial audio processing and aptX Adaptive.
Bose asserts that the over-ears' call quality has also been enhanced thanks to more sophisticated microphones arranged in a beamform array that lessens the effect of background noise.
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones feature a cleaner appearance but still fold flat like the previous 700 model. The right earcup has a button for power and Bluetooth connecting, a capacitive touch strip for volume control and fast access, and a multipurpose button for a variety of functions, including toggling between tracks.
An LED indicator, 2.5mm jack, and USB-C charging port are all located on the left earcup. With Immersive Audio off and 18 hours with it on, according to Bose, the battery life can last up to 24 hours.
What are the prices of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones? The pricing, though, makes for fascinating reading. When they go on sale in October, they will cost £449 / $429, which is more expensive than their forerunners. This raises their price compared to the superb Sony WH-1000XM5's £380 / $399 but still places them well above the Apple AirPods Max's £549 / $549 pricing range.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have Touch Controls, CustomTune, and Immersive Audio. They also have an IPX4 rating. The headphones may prioritize the mic on each bud that is encountering the least noise and can also filter out noise so your voice sounds cleaner, according to Bose, which claims to have enhanced call quality in challenging circumstances.
If you look closely, you can see that the stability bands that wrap around the edge of each earbud have also been adjusted, and the buds themselves now have a new metallic finish.
When Bose Immersive Audio is off, the battery life lasts an average of six hours, but when it is on, it only lasts four hours. This sounds like a significant sacrifice, but hopefully it will be worthwhile.
The cost of the new earbuds has gone up in comparison to the previous design. They will be offered beginning in early October for £299 / $299. In contrast, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 retailed for $249 at launch and the Sony WF-1000XM5 was priced at £259 or $299.
Additionally, Bose now provides an additional £50 / $49 extra wireless charging case for the earphones cover that snaps on top of the standard case. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are also compatible with it, and it goes on sale on October 20.
Bose, though, needs more than just two new headphone types. Another set of over-ear headphones that lack the "Ultra" designation and its accompanying features have also been released by the company. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are what they are simply known as. They take the place of the QuietComfort 45 and have an adjustment feature.
Launching on September 21st for £349 / $349, they come in Black and White Smoke and a limited edition Cypress Green colorway.
That's a lot to take in, to be sure. We have to admit that the quick replacement of the QuietComfort Earbuds II by Bose is a little unexpected. Even though they have only been around for a year, it makes sense to release the entire "Ultra" line at once.
Given the lengthy history of the sub-brand, it has always seemed a little odd that Bose offered an over-ear flagship model without QuietComfort in the name. Additionally, a new flagship set of headphones has probably been overdue given that the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 were introduced back in 2019.