Bose is synonymous with quality headphones, and so is noise cancellation. The American audio company was the first to offer silence to its customers, and it still leads the way, making picking the best Bose headphones difficult.
But that’s where we come in. Our experts have done the hard work for you, testing and ranking the best Bose headphones on the market today, so you can rest assured that no matter what you buy, it has What Hi-Fi? stamp of approval.
1. Bose QuietComfort Headphones II
Bose’s latest headphones – awarded ‘best wireless earbuds over £200’ at What Hi-Fi? 2022 Award – Sophisticated, setting a new benchmark for wireless noise-canceling earbuds.
Smaller and lighter than the original QC earbuds (below on this list), the Earbuds II are comfortable to wear and feature-rich. Bluetooth 5.3 is a big plus, and the Bose app is great, too.
Noise cancellation is excellent, and it automatically adjusts the amount of ANC so your music isn’t drowned out by particularly loud sounds. The sound is so balanced and neutral that you feel like you can almost touch the instrument.
shortcoming? Sadly, there’s no support for high quality wireless audio codecs like LDAC or aptX HD, but considering these elegant headphones exude sophistication and deliver everything you’d expect from a high-end product – expect something from Bose, this Just a piece of cake.
2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are the best Bose headphones we’ve tested. These are the next generation of the discontinued Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, and while not much improved over the 35s, they are a great pair of over-ear headphones. They are well constructed, lightweight and very comfortable. While they don’t have features like EQ to customize the sound, they have very well-balanced sound profiles suitable for most genres. The bass range is somewhat overemphasized, adding extra punch, punch, and warmth to your audio, and their very accurate mid-range reproduction ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and detailed.
They feature ANC, which you can set to different levels in the app, depending on how much ambient noise you want to block out. When set to its maximum level, it does a good job of isolating you from low-end sounds like rumbling engines. It’s not as effective as the QC35’s ANC on office noises like voices or the hum of the air conditioner, but it still does a good job. They also support multi-device pairing and boast over 20 hours of continuous battery life.
3. Ear wind trumpet
In the past, we’ve recommended Earfun’s AirPro SV and Air Pro 2 as great choices for budget noise-canceling earbuds (and they’re still worth the money). But the Earfun Air S is probably the best of the three, with multipoint Bluetooth pairing, the latest Qualcomm QCC3046 SoC (system on a chip) and the AptX audio codec for Android, among other devices that support it. It shares the same 10mm wool drivers as the AirPro SV and delivers surprisingly impressive sound for a modest price. They also work well as phone headsets with good background noise cancellation.
The buds have an IPX5 water resistance rating, which means they’re splash-proof and can withstand constant streams of water.
4. Bose 700 Wireless Headphones
If you’re looking for headphones for the office or working from home, check out the Bose Headphones 700. They offer much better microphone performance than our top picks, and are a better choice if you need headphones to take calls throughout the workday. The built-in microphone has good recording quality and does a good job of isolating your voice from ambient noise, so even if you’re on the phone in a busy office, it’s easy to understand. They also feature ANC, which does a good job of isolating you from surrounding noise, so you can easily hear your calls. Their comfortable, well-padded design means you can wear them for long periods of time without getting tired.
Their sound profile is well balanced, with a very neutral mid-range response that reproduces vocals clearly and accurately. They also have access to an app that has a 3-band graphic EQ that you can use to customize it. They also support multi-device pairing, which is great if you’re always switching between using your phone and your computer. However, the touch-sensitive surfaces on the earcups are difficult to use compared to the physical buttons on some Bose headphones, including the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless.
5. Bose Sports Headphones Truly Wireless
The Bose Sport Earbuds are the best Bose earbuds we’ve tested for sports and fitness. These earbuds come with several pairs of stabilizing fins in different sizes, and once you find the right fit, they offer better stability than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. They stay in place during intense workouts, even when you move your head a lot. They have excellent build quality, can withstand accidental drops and bumps, and are IPX4 rated for resistance to minor water exposure, such as splashes or light rain. Its warm, smooth sound profile lacks a bit of deep bass, which can be disappointing when training in genres like EDM, but works well for things like podcasts or audiobooks.
Its controls make it easy to change tracks or turn up the volume while on the go. While they won’t block out a lot of ambient noise, you probably won’t mind since it will allow you to monitor your surroundings while exercising outside. If you want headphones that block out less ambient noise, you might prefer the Bose Sport Open Earbuds Truly Wireless, which are designed for that purpose. They’re also great for exercising, and the earhook design stays out of your ears. However, this design also makes them less stable and less comfortable.
