Insights For Success

Strategy, Innovation, Leadership and Security

Bose

Bose QuietComfort 25 Review (QC-25)

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

TL;DR: I have tested dozens of headphones over the last 12 months and the QuietComfort (QC-25) 25 is still the most comfortable headphone with excellent noise cancellation and good sound reproduction. 

Comparing the QC-25 to the QC-35

The QuietComfort 35 (QC-35) is the wireless bluetooth version of the QC-25. The QuietComfort 35 (QC-35) offers slightly better noise cancellation and a slightly different noise profile. If you need bluetooth (iphone 7 or iphone 7 Plus) then get the QC-35 otherwise I would recommend getting the cheaper QC-25.

Not for everyone

Noise cancellation headphones are not ideal for people that need noise-cancellation sometimes. Noise cancellation headphones are not a replacement for regular headphones. If you need good all around headphones then don't get this (or any other noise cancelling headphone) or you will be disappointed. 

The golden rule is that noise cancellation headphones add about $100-150 to the cost of headphones and typically deliver worse overall sound quality when compared to non noise-cancellation models. I can't stress that enough. 

Noise cancellation works extremely well for low frequency (machine style) sounds like train on a track or airplane engine noise. They don't work as well for higher frequency sounds like voices or crying babies on a plane.

If you only need noise reduction occasionally, then you may be better served by a good pair of sealed headphones. You would get better sound quality and would probably pay a lot less.

Who should buy the QC-25

I just wrote 4 paragraphs of who shouldn't buy the QuietComfort 25 (Qc-25). It is important to note that anyone who is a frequent traveler (plane or train) will definitely benefit from these headphones. By making your travel a little bit quieter, you will arrive less stressed and more refreshed.  

Quietcomfort 25 (QC-25) versus in-ear headphones

The best question I need to address is the eternal debate between these types of on-ear headphones and in-ear headphones. The truth is that there is no golden rule that is right for everyone.

Some people opt for in-ear headphones because they are smaller and lighter. Many people who wear glasses also prefer in-ear headphones because their frames may prevent the headphones from sealing properly this allowing the dreaded noise in.

Bose, likely due to owning several important noise-cancellation patents, currently makes our picks for the best over-ear and best in-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Which one should you choose? There’s no simple answer, as it depends on what you’re looking for.

The third reason I have found some travelers prefer in-ear headphones is that they find them better to sleep with on flights.

The fourth reason is that some people find that on-ear headphones make their ear hot after extended use. 

The fifth and final point is on noise cancellation for low frequency sound. From a sound quality, the Bose noise cancelling headphones (QC-30) tend to reduce low frequency noises a little more and offer some noise-isolation which makes things just a little bit quieter. Mid and high sound reproduction is always better with bigger headphones for the QC-25/QC-35 takes the crown here.

Additionally some people just can't stand having anything inserted into their ears. They find it annoying and bothersome. Obviously if you fall into this category, go with the QC-25/QC-35.

Conclusion

If you are looking for amazing sounding, super comfortable wired on-ear noise cancelling headphones then get this. The sound is good enough, it is comfortable (even on a long haul Toronto to Hong Kong flight) and it fits in a relatively smallish case for easy carry.

It offers good low frequency sound reproduction (40Hz or below) and the rest is a little muddied (which is normal for noise cancelling headphones). You can use the QuietComfort 25 even when the batteries die (which is a nice upgrade from previous models) but the sound is pretty bad but at least you aren't stranded witout entertainment. 

If you need bluetooth because you can't live with wires or your smartphone got rid of the headphone port (looking at you Apple), then go with the QuietComfort 35 (QC-35).

First look at the Bose QC-30 Bluetooth noise-cancelling earphones

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Apple hates ports and will kill each and every one of them come hell or high water. The iPhone 7 / 7 Plus pushed the market away from wired headphones into the loving arms of Bluetooth. Audiophiles will explain that Bluetooth has limited bandwidth which means audio fidelity is severely compromised and they are right. Bluetooth can't match the quality of a good set of wired headphones, but let's be honest, most people aren't listening to high quality audio tracks fed through a good headphone amp and $1000 headphones. Most people are streaming their music via Google Play Music, Apple Music, Spotify or Pandora at 128/256 kbps (some are now streaming 320kbps). 

For the geeky reader, a CD ... Yes that plastic disk us old people use to play music from ;-)  So a music CD was 44.1 kHz x 16 bits x 2 channels = 1411.2 kbps, just for comparison.  

Let's dive into the new in-ear Bluetooth noise cancelling champ from Bose. 

This is more of a first look at the QC30 and a more in depth review will come later. The Qc30 seems to beat the QC35 when strictly comparing noise cancellation quality.  The QC35 has a 12 step noise cancellation intensity control. Where is this useful? When you may want "some" noise cancellation but still need situational awareness (e.g. using these while walking on a busy street). 

“QC use to mean QuietComfort buy now means QuietControl. A slight branding update undertaken by Bose”

So the branding change was done because you now (for the first time) have that variable noise cancellation strength. 

Design

Most users assume wireless and light weight go hand in hand but not when it comes to the QC30. The QC30 has that strange neckband that connects to the earbuds. When passing the device around, people liked the headband, were indifferent about it or absolutely ragefully hated it. Regardless of how you feel about it, itis universally regarded as ugly.

The ugly spaceship around your neck is the lifeline of the product housing the battery. Bose promises 10 hours of use per charge which is good for most situations (except the long haul overseas flights to Asia). 

Remember that the QC20 had that in line battery compartment which itself was ugly and relatively heavy. 

The other noticeable improvement is fit. I have normal medium sized ear canals and rarely have fit problems with in-ear headphones. The QC30 seem to fit better than the QC20 did which means improved sound quality and noise isolation

The audio control module has all of the standard controls you expect plus additional buttons to control the level of noise cancellation. After a couple of days, you can control everything by feel because of the unique shape of the control module. 

Sound Quality

Let's cut to the chase,  the noise cancellation delivered by the QC30 is truly spectacular. The noise cancellation of the QC30 is as good as the full sized (over the ear) QC35. The only difference is the QC35 benefits from much better noise isolation in addition to active noise cancellation.

I cannot stress how useful the variable noise cancellation strength feature is. It means you can use this on the plane, on the train or while walking on the street. 

Like every other noise cancellation headphone I have ever tried, sound reproduction typically suffers. The QC30 offer clean and clear low/mid ranges. The highs are were it suffers. Highs are drowned out by the other ranges and don't sound as clean as I had hoped. 

The Bose QC30 offers better sound reproduction than the QC20/20i and the sound-stage is more open and airy. So when comparing it to good headphones, sound quality suffers but is a step up when compared to its older sibling.

The bad

Sound is more bass heavy which may impact your enjoyment of some types of more balanced music.  The on/off slider is badly designed (difficult to figure out if the device is on or off when you aren't using the earbuds. 

The ugly UGLY neckband. 

I have to add the price here. At $299 its a rather considerable investment. Not surprising as this is typically the price range for Bose noise cancellation headphones but still....

Conclusion

There is no perfect device. The truth is that this type of noise cancelling headphone has always catered to a specific affluent customer base. Unlike previous years, the in-ear earbuds now offer noise cancellation on par with the on-ear big brother. 

Sound reproduction is good for noise cancelling headphones/earphone but not as good as "normal" ones. If your primary use isn't while on noisy transit and sound quality is important to you, you may want to look at a non noise-cancelling product. If you need noise cancellation, the QC30 offers sound quality better than its noise-cancelling competitors.

If you are looking for standard in-ear bluetooth headphones with decent sound quality and good battery life, take a look at the JLAB Epic 2. 

Best wired in-ear noise cancelling headphones

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

A question I receive regularly is "What in-ear noise cancelling headphone do you recommend for travel?" In 2013 my recommendation was the QC20/20i and that recommendation is still valid. The QC20/20i offers the best wired noise cancellation when comparing it to others in the same price category (and of course being wired).

From a pure noise cancellation perspective, the QC20/20i does a better noise cancellation job than my QC25 but the QC25 does an overall better job because it benefits from over-ear noise isolation. When I originally recommended it, the QC20/20i was priced at $299 but can now be bought for $199. 

Usually the next question I receive is regarding sound quality. Let me be crystal clear. I have never used a good sound cancelling (active) headphone (on or in-ear) that also offered amazing sound quality. The Bose QC20/20i is no exception. It offers amazing noise cancellation and acceptable sound reproduction. 

Size matters

I have taken  both (QC25 & QC20) on flights to test the differences and the most striking difference is overall size. Even with the origami fold of the QC25, it is massive compared to the QC20. 

I don't wear glasses but if you do, the QC20 is even more attractive because it allows you to get a good seal (not so with the QC25 and the headband).

Love at first listen

The real test is how much you use it. Several dozen readers have purchased the QC20/20i (based on emails I received) and everyone of them I contacted as a follow-up said they never leave home without it. One reader is a tech exec that travels over 350K miles a year and said "this is the most used and useful travel tool I have ever bought".

Comparing the QC20/20i to the QC30

I will be testing and reviewing the QC30 soon. Stay tuned but remember the QC30 is bluetooth and therefore it needs batteries.

The Bose QC25 are the best noise cancelling headphones money can buy

technologyEdward Kiledjian

I want to start of this review by clearly stating that I am not a Bose fanboy. I don't automatically recommend all of their products just because they carry the Bose name. I tested 19 headphones for this review.

Noise cancelling headphones are the only options for frequent travellers looking for small oasis in an otherwise jungle of airports, taxis and urban sprawl. When I recommend a pair of noise cancelling headphones, it is a job I take very seriously. Having said all of this this, the Bose QC25 noise cancelling headphones are the best choice for anyone frequent user of planes, trains or any urban dweller looking to create a little oasis of silence. Let me be clear, these aren't reference headphones that perfectly reproduce music but are good sounding headphones with amazing voice cancellation. This is an important distinction to make sure you are not disapointed.

When I tested noise cancelling headphones, I wanted something that worked well, that was light/comfortable and that can be easily stowed away when not in use. 

How does the QC25 compare to the QC15?

The first question I asked the Bose clerk was to enumerate the difference between the new Bose QC25 and the older QC15. After several minutes of verbal diarrhea it became clear he didn't know what he was talking about. For those wondering what the differences are, here you go:

  • Bose QC15 have been discontinued and quickly sold from the channel
  • The QC25 can play music even when the noise cancelling mechanism is turned off or when your battery dies
  • The QC25 has a marginally improved noise cancellation profile (but nothing too dramatic)
  • The QC25 has a slightly livelier mids and lows

Those are the main differences. If you already own a pair of QC15s, don't even think about upgrading. 

What's a lower cost alternative to the QC25?

Many of my readers email me asking for a recommendation cheaper than the Bose. If you want something cheaper (understanding the sound quality won't be as good and the noise quality is also inferior) then look at the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b.

I own a pair of these and find that the band is slightly too small for my medium head. I find it just doesn't sit comfortably on my head and it bothers me. But for the price (almost half the price of the Bose), you get a decent bang for your buck.

Disclaimer about noise cancelling headphones

I know a handful of readers that purchased the QC15 and were disappointed because they didn't understand the real usefulness (or lack) of these types of headphones. Noise cancellation headphones work by listening to your environment and then add a negative sound pattern in your ear to cancel our the external noise. They work very well for continuous low mechanical sounds (like train sounds, airplane engines, air conditioner, fan, etc).

They don't work so well for higher pitch non repetitive sounds like screaming co-workers or crying babies. They will still reduce the intensity of those sounds but buying a $300 pair of headphones can't be justified for them. 

If you want good headphones and will occasionally (read rarely) use the noise cancellation functionality then noise cancelling headphones aren't for you. You would be better served with a lower cost but higher quality close back over the ear headphones.

What about in ear noise isolating headphones?

I am a big fan of in-ear noise isolating headphones and my 2 favourite headphones right now are the :

  • Ultimate Ears Triple-FI 10 
  • Etymotic ER-4 microPro (I love these)
  • Etymotic hf5

The Etymotic ER-4 microPro offer amazing sound reproduction and fantastic noise isolation (35-42db). I find that the noise reduction powers of the ER-4 are better than the Bose but this requires that I jam the earphones deep into my ear canal. 

This jamming of the earphones doesn't bother me but many many people I know just can't stand it. For these people the Bose is the better option. 

Back to the QC25

I had a chance to compare the QC25 to the older Bose QC15 and the QC20 in ear noise cancelling headphones. The QC25 just sounds cleaner, better and more engaging. 

The QC25 is also lighter and more comfortable than the 2 others.

If you are ok shoving an in-ear earphone into your ear canal, the Etymotic ER-4 is another option that has better sound, is smaller and lighter.  

In conclusion the QC25 is the best noise on ear cancelling headphone you can buy. 

Review of the Bose QuietComfort QC20 / QC20i

technologyEdward Kiledjian

Anytime I talk about active noise cancelling headphones, people imagine large over the ear products like the AKG 495NC or the Bose QuietComfort QC15. These work well but are difficult to carry and sometimes uncomfortable.

Bose has recently released the QuietComfort QC 20 (for Blackberry, Android or Windows Phone) with a single control button or the QuietComfort QC 20i (for IOS devices) with 3 control buttons. 

Bose QC20 for Blackberry, Android or Windows Phone

Bose QC20 for Blackberry, Android or Windows Phone

What really makes this product stand out is the incredible noise cancellation capabilities. The Base QC20 /20i doesn't target the audiophile community because it doesn't offer a neutral (aka flat) sound profile but rather one tuned for rock and pop.

This device is squarely aimed at users looking for fantastic noise cancellation with sound tuned to their most listened to genres (Pop and rock).

The Physical

Bose devices typically use understated colors to blend into any environment and this product is no different. It is built using solid feeling plastic in grey and black. The silicon ear-tips are comfortable and the flanges are designed to hold the product in place even when exercising.

If you get the QC20, it comes with one control button to answer a call, end a call, start the music or stop the music. The QC20i comes with 3 control buttons (for iOS devices) which performs everything its more generic brother does but the additional 2 buttons perform skip and rewind.  

The noise canellation circuitry box contains a button that turns on "Aware Mode" which uses the noise cancellation microphone to allow you to hear someone talking to you without having to take the headphones off. This is a nice touch especially when you use this while travelling.

A problem I have had with previous Bose noise cancelling headphones was the fact that they couldn't play music when the batteries died. Bose finally fixed this annoying "feature". The QC20 /20i now plays music even when the battery dies. The only impact of a dead battery is that the volume drops a bit but it is still very acceptable. 

I have had about 7 different noise cancelling in-ear headphones over the years (like Sony, Sennheiser, etc) and the most annoying physical attribute is the large heavy battery compartment and noise cancellation circuitry. Bose has done a good job shrinking this and placing it at the tip end of the earphones so it is less bothersome. 

Bose_QC15_2.png

Call Quality

The true test of headphones is the call quality and audio performance. I used this product with my iPhone 4s (my main daily use cell phone) and call quality is similar to that of a high quality headset. Making regular phone calls sounded as good as a normal cell phone call can sound. The other party didn't realize I was using a headset. When I made a call from my car driving at 100km/h with the windows down, the other party heard lots of loud wind noise which clearly indicates that the device isn't performing call noise isolation like the Jawbone product.

I then made a Facetime audio call (which is similar to HD Voice on networks that support it) and the call quality was pristine. You could hear every nuance clearly as if the person was sitting in front of me. Again this worked best in a relatively quiet environment since any external noise was picked up and added to the call. 

Noise Cancellation

I compared the noise cancellation of the Bose QC20i to 5 different products (Sony, Sennheiser, Audio Technica, etc) and the QC15i outperformed everyone of them. I tested it sitting next to the hotel in-room air conditioner or next to the engine on plane and it managed to almost completely wipe all the annoying background noise with ease.

Most noise cancellation headphones cannot drown out the human voice. So a test I like to perform is to sit in a busy public location like an airport or mall and test the human voice cancellation abilities. Again the QC20i performed remarkably well really quieting down everyone around me. In this test, it even outperformed the Base QC15 headphones.

The tips are not noise isolating tips which means they don't jam the ear canal which makes the noise cancellation performance that much more amazing (since it is all performed by the noise cancellation circuitry) but it also makes the tips comfortable to use during long trips. 

Sound Reproduction

If you are an audiophile, do not buy these headphones. They produce a sound signature tuned for pop and rock music. Although it produces a clean low end base response, it isn't tuned for heavy base like the Monster or Dr Dre products. 

Sounds that would typically be found in the very low end spectrum (on audiophile grade flat sound signature headphones) end up in the low-mid range level. It isn't annoying or bothersome, it is just not tuned flat. 

Mids and highs are also reproduced very well with a clean sound profile but a little louder than I typically want. It is important to remember that these earphones are targeting the general population and the tuning of this products sound profile is fantastic with pop music. 

I wore them at the gym and the pop (top40 remixes) I was listening to came through very clean, very clean and enjoyable. I loved listening to these earphones because the sound profile was pleasing (with pop music) and the noise cancellation meant I didn't hear people talking around me or the crappy songs played in the gym. 

The Battery

The USB rechargeable battery should last 14-16 hours of use. I like devices that use standard disposable batteries but this is not too bad.

Verdict

The QC 20i and QC 20 offer incredible noise cancellation. Some of the best noise cancellation I have ever heard. The sound quality is amazing for the right audience (people listening to pop or rock) and the device is well built and should last for years.

I have to recommend the Bose QC20 (and QC20i) even at its $300+ cost. It is a must for business travelers or those looking for quiet refuge in a jungle of noise.