The noise-canceling headphones from Bose are the QuietComfort 45. They are simple to use and wonderfully cozy to wear for extended periods of time. These are characteristics that Bose has long been renowned for, and they are still evident today.
Of course, the QC45 have a few fresh tricks under their sleeves. One of these is an Ambient Aware mode, which at the touch of a button lets you hear sounds around you, along with improved noise suppression technology that is more sensitive than before.
However, the 25-hour battery life is adequate but not fantastic, and the beam-forming microphone array falls short of our expectations. Although neither of these are deal-breakers, they do lessen the Bose QuietComfort 45’s attractiveness compared to some of its rivals.
Design
With its flagship headphones for the most of the previous decade, Bose has maintained a constant design, and the QC45 is no exception.
The faux-leatherette ear cushions and cushioned foam bridge of the headphones’ exterior give them a stylish, pleasant feel. When not worn around your neck, the pads themselves are simple to tuck away in your carryon bag because they swivel and fold to fit into the carrying box that is supplied.
The design’s unexpected lightness is what makes them pleasant to wear for extended periods of time. Weighing only 8.5 ounces (238g), they truly feel light on the ear. Bose employs some plastic on the headphones’ arms to make them lighter, but metal is used for all the joints and the bridge, or, to put it another way, for all the sections that are most likely to break while being used.
Bose has given the QC45 a handful of simple controls for playback control. The buttons for pause/play, volume up, and volume down are located on the right earcup, while the button for the new ambient aware mode is located on the left earcup. By holding down the play/pause button, you may also activate the built-in assistant on your phone, which is convenient. Although it isn’t as great as having an assistant that is always listening integrated into the headphones, it is still preferable than having no assistant option at all.
Last but not least, the headphones include two major ports: a USB-C port on the bottom of the right earcup and a 2.5mm audio jack on the bottom of the left earcup. Although both connectors are pretty self-explanatory, having them is nevertheless welcome compared to, instance, having only a MicroUSB port and no headphone jack at all.
Features
The situation is a little more unsatisfactory in terms of features. Here, Awareness Mode is the main new appeal since it enables you to considerably reduce the level of your music and switch off noise canceling without removing your headphones. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Sony has been offering it on its noise-canceling headphones for a while now. It’s great to see it on a pair of Bose headphones at last.
But how does it really operate in use? It’s only fair. The QC45 mostly basically turn off the noise cancelling technology and perform a poor job of utilizing the external microphones to augment ambient audio. Hence, it is still somewhat difficult to hear announcements or discussions taking place further away, or at least not as easily as it would be if Bose amplified them using the external microphones.
The option to adjust the level of noise cancellation is one of the other key features that is currently lacking, albeit a recent update now allows users to adjust the tuning of audio playing via an EQ.
Last but not least, having a built-in virtual assistant like Alexa or Google would have been excellent. By holding down the play/pause button for a long time, you can still use your phone’s assistant, but having an always-listening assistant is useful if you have busy hands.
Performance
The sound quality of the Bose QuietComfort 45 is likewise problematic. On the one hand, these over-ear headphones sound decent, but they’re not the bassiest or most detailed we’ve ever heard. Nonetheless, because of Bose’s wise design decisions, they are one of the most listenable pairs of headphones among those we’ve tried.
A prime illustration of this is the QC45’s conspicuous lack of bass response. Tracks like Bad Man by Billie Eilish lack the richness and clarity in the higher registers as well as the strength behind the bass line that other headphones have. This indicates that, in comparison to comparable over-ear headphones, details in both regions are difficult to hear and have less effect.
Having said that, it wouldn’t surprise us if Bose adjusted them that way on purpose given that if not done properly, both regions may become very taxing very soon. There are several bass-heavy headphones available as evidence, and although they are undoubtedly entertaining to listen to, they are not ideal for use on flights, as any added pressure can be uncomfortable. The same is true for headphones that are exceptionally clear and perfect for critical listening; they are enjoyable at home but not practical for travel.
Features
The situation is a little more unsatisfactory in terms of features. Here, Awareness Mode is the main new appeal since it enables you to considerably reduce the level of your music and switch off noise canceling without removing your headphones. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Sony has been offering it on its noise-canceling headphones for a while now. It’s great to see it on a pair of Bose headphones at last.
But how does it really operate in use? It’s only fair. The QC45 mostly basically turn off the noise cancelling technology and perform a poor job of utilizing the external microphones to augment ambient audio. Hence, it is still somewhat difficult to hear announcements or discussions taking place further away, or at least not as easily as it would be if Bose amplified them using the external microphones.
The option to adjust the level of noise cancellation is one of the other key features that is currently lacking, albeit a recent update now allows users to adjust the tuning of audio playing via an EQ.
Last but not least, having a built-in virtual assistant like Alexa or Google would have been excellent. By holding down the play/pause button for a long time, you can still use your phone’s assistant, but having an always-listening assistant is useful if you have busy hands.
Performance
The sound quality of the Bose QuietComfort 45 is likewise problematic. On the one hand, these over-ear headphones sound decent, but they’re not the bassiest or most detailed we’ve ever heard. Nonetheless, because of Bose’s wise design decisions, they are one of the most listenable pairs of headphones among those we’ve tried.
A prime illustration of this is the QC45’s conspicuous lack of bass response. Tracks like Bad Man by Billie Eilish lack the richness and clarity in the higher registers as well as the strength behind the bass line that other headphones have. This indicates that, in comparison to comparable over-ear headphones, details in both regions are difficult to hear and have less effect.
Having said that, it wouldn’t surprise us if Bose adjusted them that way on purpose given that if not done properly, both regions may become very taxing very soon. There are several bass-heavy headphones available as evidence, and although they are undoubtedly entertaining to listen to, they are not ideal for use on flights, as any added pressure can be uncomfortable. The same is true for headphones that are exceptionally clear and perfect for critical listening; they are enjoyable at home but not practical for travel.
Are the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones worth buying?
If, buy them.
You need clothing that is cozy enough to wear for extended periods of time.
We constantly discovered the QC45 to be exceptionally pleasant to wear and listen to for lengthy periods of time, regardless of any issues we identified with their audio reproduction and playback. If you want a very quiet, muted sound, we strongly suggest these because they lasted the entire workday on our ears without being too loud.
You’re searching for durable headphones.
The Bose QC45 headphones don’t have the longest battery life on the market, but they do have a lot longer battery life than the majority of other noise-cancelling headphones, at about 25 hours.
