I’ve long been a fan of Bose headphones and earbuds, even giving the brand’s open-ear design a chance.
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I → give → chance
Bose launched the previous generation of its standard QuietComfort Headphones in 2023.
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Bose → launch → 2023
The brand followed those with the Ultra, a more luxe upgrade to the originals, but at the time, the Ultra was the only Bose headphone pair with spatial audio for a more immersive listening experience.
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Ultra → follow → experience
The newly released Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) bring that immersive audio experience to the standard QuietComfort line at a much lower price point.
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Headphones → release → point
Pros:
- Very comfortable and lightweight
- Adjustable EQ settings
- Immersive audio
- Noise cancellation
Cons:
- Setup in the Bose app can be finicky
- Some songs lacked definition
The headphones are available in five colors, with the Dewdrop Mint shade commanding plenty of attention on e-tailers.
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shade → lack → tailers
I got them in my favorite shade from Bose, the pink Rosewood Mauve.
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I → get → Bose
Starting with the basics, I love the case and foldable design.
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I → start → case
The Bose QuietComfort 2nd Gen headphones are also extremely lightweight, weighing just over half a pound, so they feel like nothing when they’re on your head.
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they → weigh → head
That said, the earcups are a little smaller, which I was initially worried about, but surprisingly, I haven’t experienced any sound leakage.
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I → say → leakage
To get these headphones working to your liking, especially if you’re a bit of an audiophile like me, you’ll need to download the Bose app and connect them through there.
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you → get → them
For some reason, I had to do this process a few times before the app finally registered the headphones.
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app → have → headphones
Once you’re in, you can toggle noise cancellation, Aware Mode and the new Immersion Mode, which wasn’t previously available on the first-gen QuietComfort Headphones.
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which → ’re → Headphones
Instead of feeling like the music is being piped directly into each ear, Immersion Mode opens up the soundstage and makes the audio feel like it’s extending beyond the headphones.
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it → feel → headphones
Instruments and vocals seem to occupy more space around you, which makes the overall listening experience feel wider, fuller and more enveloping.
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experience → seem → you
As for sound, while these headphones deliver some of the best noise cancellation I’ve experienced, which I had no doubts about considering Bose’s reputation, the standard stereo presentation can feel a little restrained for those who prefer a heavier, more energetic sound.
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who → deliver → sound
I went into the EQ settings and turned it up to my liking.
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I → go → liking
Vocals generally sounded clear and full-bodied, but on busier tracks, I felt like the headphones lacked some separation and definition.
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headphones → sound → separation
When guitars, drums and vocals were all competing at once, the mix could sound slightly blended together and miss that extra punch I wanted.
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I → compete → punch
I’ve currently been listening to a lot of Voilà, and heavier pop-punk tracks just didn’t hit the way I needed them to on these headphones.
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them → listen → headphones
On the flip side, more vocal-heavy tracks sounded beautiful, warm and full-toned.
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tracks → sound → side
Comfort and battery life
Sound aside, comfort is where these headphones really shine for me.
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headphones → shine → me
They’re built for all-day wear, and not once did my ears complain about having a pair of headphones stuck to them for hours.
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pair → build → hours
People also stopped me in my tracks to ask about the headphones themselves, with many mesmerized by the striking design, which easily told me these function great as an accessory to any outfit.
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these → stop → outfit
You won’t be disappointed with battery life, either.
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You → disappoint → life
They come with up to 24 hours of listening time, or about 18 hours with Immersive Audio turned on, so it’s enough to get you through a few days without springing for a recharge.
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it → come → recharge
I tend to wear my headphones for upwards of six hours a day, so these were a win in that regard.
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these → tend → regard
Gen 1 vs. Gen 2
If you already own the first-generation QuietComfort Headphones, the 2nd Gen isn’t super different, but a few upgrades stand out.
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upgrades → own → Headphones
The original QuietComfort Headphones had Quiet, Aware and custom listening modes, while the 2nd Gen adds Bose’s TrueSpatial Technology along with Immersion and Cinema modes.
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Gen → have → modes
Cinema Mode is designed specifically for video, widening the soundstage while keeping dialogue more prominent.
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Mode → design → dialogue
The 2nd Gen also supports lossless audio over USB-C, something you couldn’t get with the previous generation.
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you → support → generation
The 2nd Gen swaps the older earcup shape for a slimmer, pill-shaped design, along with a smoother sliding headband and slightly updated button placement.
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Gen → swap → headband
To me, those changes make the new pair feel a little more modern without sacrificing what made the QuietComfort line so comfortable in the first place.
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line → make → place
I love my new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), but probably for an entirely different reason than they’re intended for.
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they → love → reason
While I use them on my commute because the noise cancellation is brilliant, they act as a lifestyle accessory for me almost as much as a traditional pair of headphones.
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they → use → headphones
Since they’re so lightweight, they’re a great fit for travel, too, and I constantly use these when I’m on the go.
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I → ’re → go
Add that to the genuinely useful Immersive Audio upgrade, all-day comfort and design that people actually stop me to ask about, and I’ve found myself reaching for them far more often than I expected.
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I → add → them
For listeners who prioritize massive bass or ultra-detailed mids, you may need to spend some time in the EQ to get the sound exactly where you want it.
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you → prioritize → it
But if comfort, noise cancellation and an immersive listening experience are at the top of your list, the QuietComfort 2nd Gen makes a convincing case for itself.
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Gen → make → itself
This article was written by Nishka Dhawan, Commerce Reporter for the New York Post.
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article → write → Post
Nishka reports on the latest tech launches, innovations and trends to separate the best new products from the “AI slop.”
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Nishka → report → slop
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
