Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) Earbuds Review

Our Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) Earbuds Experience

The Bose case is virtually identical to the older generation and is still on the bulky side for wireless earbuds.

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While not the biggest in the group, the case is bigger than many competitors, even those with stems that require more room. We suspect that if the buds themselves weren't as bulky, there would be room to create a smaller case. We didn't have any trouble fitting them in crossbody bags and most pockets, but they won't fit in the smallest pockets.

These earbuds come with three silicone ear tips and three wings or “bands.” While there should be enough variation and combinations for most folks to find a good fit, we didn't care for the fit and struggled to wear them for longer than 5 hours. Which frankly is about how long the battery lasts, so maybe it's a moot point.

All but the largest eared users thought they were bulky and wished they were bigger, and felt more secure. While they stayed put during treadmill runs and weight lifting, they protrude pretty far past our ears and are easily bumped. While they managed a handful of box jumps, stretching and chewing caused them to shift and even fall out occasionally.

The extra space on the bud and stem makes the touch controls easy to use; however, they are sensitive, and regularly touching them to adjust the fit resulted in more accidental taps on the controls than we'd like. We had to find the sweet spot of touching only the outside edge when adjusting the fit, because otherwise we would skip tracks, change volumes, and even turn them off unintentionally.

Possibly one of the worst aspects of the Bose is its shorter battery life. While using them daily, they only lasted about six hours or less. This impacts how long you listen, and making it from a commute to an end-of-day workout wasn't possible without multiple recharges. While they recharge wirelessly (if you position them just so) and the case has three charges, it was still a bummer for buds this pricey to die midway through the morning before we'd even made it to lunch.

Our real-world phone calls to mom on mid-day breaks were clear, and she could hear us no matter where we trekked. Be it through the wood in the wind or along the highway or a quick stop for coffee, our words were clear, and the background muted. Sometimes she didn't even know we were outside or that semis were whizzing by.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Sound Quality

The 2nd Gen earned one of the highest sound quality results in the group. While missing the mark for absolute best in the bunch, they still offer a listening experience even the most hardcore audiophile will love.

While Bose might claim a neutral profile, we think the bass is a little dramatic, but damn, it sounds so good. The bass is full, rich, and theatrical with a considerable presence that isn't blown out or muddy. They manage to pack a punch without stealing the spotlight and are perfect for those who enjoy lows or more dramatic interpretations of their favorite tunes. The emphasized lows take the main stage while hearty mids and sparkling highs dance around them. While they aren't realistic, we couldn't get enough of them.

The mids offer a range of colors and textures that are heart-stopping, with voices and timbres so well captured that the accuracy can almost be overwhelming. Fingers dragging across the fretboard while switching chords makes a scratching sound that you can hear, as if your ear is pressed against the guitar. They make you feel like you're in the room of a private concert for one.

The upper registers of the piano sound warm and twinkly, and there is an impressive range. There's a depth and fullness to these highs that make them stand out amongst the competition. The highs are emphasized more than the mids, but are not quite as dominant in the mix as the lows. However, it doesn't sound unbalanced; it sounds playfully insistent in its devotion to the drama. These highs have sparkle without ever becoming exhausting. Listening with these buds makes it feel like you're part of the music, not just listening to it.

Our house curve is similar to the frequency curve observed in the Gen 2. There is a similar path for the treble ranges with deeper, more pronounced bass. These findings confirm our listening interpretations while listening to the sound profile, which leans toward an emphasis in the bass end of the curve, though it isn't overpronounced.

Soundstage

The 2nd Gen creates a nuanced, layered, and detailed world where the space around you is filled with pinpoint instrument locations. If the production value of the song is good, you can experience it all with clean separation, allowing individual voices to be savored.

Comfort and Fit

These buds were not all that comfortable, and many options can be worn for far longer.

While we managed a wear time hovering around five hours, we wished the new generation would be more comfortable and more secure than the old one, and they really weren't.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation is one place where the 2nd Gen really shine. It is so so good, it will bring a smile to your face.

They do have that typical “socked in” feeling common with great noise cancellation, but there is some adjustability in the app to increase awareness, which helps somewhat.

The cancellation helped us focus and stay on track with our workouts and work, limiting distractions from the world around us. We could still hear higher-frequency sounds, such as jangling keys and keyboard taps, but lower frequencies had disappeared, like the treadmill whir and partial weight plate clanging. Raising the volume blocks out more than we would have thought, with breaks in the music bringing back more sounds. Highway sounds still bleed through on walks, and we can hear our feet crunching on gravel when the music stops.

Overall, they aren't the best in the group, but they get pretty close, and they are a touch better than the first generation. We believe most listeners will be pleased, but the outcome depends on the frequency you hope to block. There is a hint of white noise when the music stops as the noise cancellation works hard to block the ambient sound, but it isn't loud or hard to ignore.

App Features

The Bose app is straightforward and uncluttered. It doesn't offer a plethora of options for adjustments or music enhancements like some competitors. Still, there is enough here to keep most listeners happy, and the default sound quality is so good that we don't think anyone will mind.

The EQ adjustments are basic, with only adjustments for bass, mids, and treble, which limits fine-tuning options. It has four basic EQ presets, but we didn't like them as much as the default.

These buds, like the first generation, still don't offer an “off” setting for the active noise cancellation. There is a sliding scale between greater awareness of the surrounding environment and complete noise cancellation. We appreciate the idea of customization for awareness, but for those sensitive to the adverse side effects of noise cancellation, there is no way to altogether avoid the feeling.

Battery Life

The Bose battery life is nothing to brag about, and we suspect it won't be enough for most people to make it through the day without downtime to charge, even if they use the quick charge feature.

These Bose only lasted about five and half hours, which is laughable compared to the competition. While they have three full charges and even a quick charge option, it still won't be enough for longer commutes, transatlantic flights, or a long day at the office with a workout on the way home.

Call Quality

The Bose offer better call quality than most buds, with an above-average result in our tests, making it a good choice for those who make frequent calls or attend online meetings.

Our testing with these buds was a mixed bag. When we placed live calls in various situations with varying degrees of background noise, they performed admirably, with both parties feeling that the voices were clear, intelligible, and understandable. When we ran our prerecorded tests using the head and software, the voices struggled significantly, and they were often garbled and cut off. As the background noise increased, the voices became harder to hear.