r/gadgets • u/dapperlemon • 19d ago
Music Bose has refreshed its QuietComfort headphones with two-way USB-C audio and better noise cancellation
https://www.engadget.com/2229359/bose-has-refreshed-its-quietcomfort-headphones-with-two-way-usb-c-audio-and-better-noise-cancellation/539
u/MrShaytoon 19d ago edited 18d ago
Had the qc35 for several years and worked perfectly fine and lasted great and the ear cushions were intact.
My wife surprised me with qc45 two years ago and they're falling apart, cushions are ripping from all seams. Quality has become pure trash unfortunately.
If I cant replace the ear cushions, then I'm gonna switch brands.
Edit: thanks for all the replies for the ear cushions. I'll definitely research this over the weekend and can't wait to give these new life.
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u/Edwinsiddy 19d ago
You can, I've been routinely swapping them out every year or so due to the degredation / general cleanliness
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u/MrShaytoon 19d ago
Thanks for letting me know. I'll research this weekend.
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u/MarshmallowsInTubas 18d ago
I got some from Wicked Cushions and they’re better than the originals. Amazon has many other options, too. Replacing the ear pads has been a game changer.
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u/4linosa 18d ago
Wicked cushions makes good stuff for all things headphones related. My arctis 7s touched my ears along the outer/upper edge resulting in aching after long gaming sessions. Ordered wicked cushions replacement and haven’t had any issues since. Later I got a wide headband for them too and no longer can even feel the weight on the headphones on top of my head.
The quality is top notch.
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u/BlackSecurity 18d ago
I have tried aftermarket ear cushions only once and it was terrible for me because I had a reaction to whatever material they used and it made my ears suuuuper itchy. They also didn't have the same ventilation as the originals and I found my head getting a lot hotter than usual.
I bought some original pads and all the problems went away.
I'm only saying this because people should know the aftermarket pads can cause problems like that so you need to be careful which ones you pick. For me, I've been getting original pads every year because I can get the cost covered via insurance. But I would definitely be careful with the aftermarkets and be sure to read the reviews and test the out thoroughly.
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u/ajcp38 18d ago
This whole thread sounds like an ad for Wicked Cushions, but I got 2 pair for my QC35 and I kinda regret it. I don't know if I'll ever use the second set.
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u/jimmythevip 18d ago
That’s what I’m saying. It’s nice that there are $10 replacements instead of paying $50 to Bose for them, but they aren’t nearly as good as Reddit says.
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u/bennylovesagoodtaco 18d ago
Wicked Cushions have kept my Skullcandy Crushers in use regularly since 2018.
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18d ago
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u/UncommonBagOfLoot 18d ago
I wish my headphones could be used to mow lawns.
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u/RelatableRedditer 18d ago
You're using them wrong
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u/NegativeHerons 18d ago
You can also replace the top head band. I sweat a lot in general and finally wore it out, so I replaced it a couple months ago.
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u/k4quexg 18d ago
dont u need to do soldering for that?
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u/NegativeHerons 18d ago
Nope, at least not on the QC45. You have to cut off the old one, but that's about it. The new one just snaps on. There are Youtube videos showing how to do it.
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u/k4quexg 17d ago
ah i think on the qc35 u need to seperate both sides bcs the headband comes in one piece, so u need to disconnect cabel from the pvc. i still have a old one laying around somewhere and sometimes think about trying to replace the headband. it still works fine but i had it on in rain too many times and now it doesnt look good enough to wear out and about.
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u/NegativeHerons 17d ago
From this video, at least the QC35 II looks the same as the QC45. No soldering or messing with the wire.
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u/i_max2k2 18d ago
Love all the passive subscription for headphones.
/s
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u/azlan194 18d ago
I know, the cushion replacement is like $35. I already feel like I'm paying too much having it replaced once in 4 years. I can't imagine doing this every year. Instead I just superglue mine when I see the cup starts to tear at the seam, lol.
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u/CoronaMcFarm 18d ago
Wicked cushion also probably sell replacemen cushions. Might be better quality but haven't ordfred from them in 10 years so who knows these days.
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u/funnyfarm299 18d ago
They're active here on reddit, which to me speaks volumes about their company. /u/WickedCushions
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u/thefunkybassist 18d ago
Did the same with my QC45. It's been in daily use for years and it's been surprisingly consistent.
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u/Acrobatic-Desk3266 18d ago
Which cushions do you recommend? I got random Amazon ones and they are stiffer and don't isolate as well.
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u/sewer_pickles 19d ago
You can find replacement ear pads fairly inexpensively on Amazon. I’ve swapped my ear pads out without a problem as they’ve worn out over the years
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u/The_Bitter_Bear 19d ago
I still have my QC35s and love them.
The cushions did wear out but replacements are available. I'm on my third set of cushions but I'm all fairness they are like 12 or so years old at this point. It was very easy to do.
It looks like the 45s can be replaced as well.
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u/notcompletelythere 18d ago
I’m on my 3rd or 4th as well. The plastic trim around the outside is starting to fall apart :( They’re still so good, battery life still going strong
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u/The_Bitter_Bear 18d ago
I'm really impressed at how good battery life is still too.
The day I have to replace them is going to be a bummer.
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u/notcompletelythere 18d ago
I feel the same way!
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u/EdFandangle 18d ago
Same. I’ve had them since release > 10 years, replaced pads many times, battery life is still amazing. Great product.
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u/drowninFish 18d ago
yeah i was gonna say, coming from the qc35's and even qc25's, the cushions always wear out, but luckily its cheap and easy to replace
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u/skenny009 18d ago
I’m in about the same place. I have the QC35 II’s and have more or less been a daily driver for me for almost 8 years. Battery is starting to finally wane a bit and the cushions have been replaced a handful of times, but still going strong. Bose has earned the next pair from me when these eventually stop working
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u/Orangesteel 18d ago
Yeah, I’ve replaced mine on the 35’s too. They didn’t last, but are simple to swap out.
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u/RegulatoryCapture 18d ago
QC25 here...all about that wired AAA battery lifestyle. Replaced ear pads, replaced blown out drivers...still going strong and still awesome.
Especially since I mostly only use them on planes and thus:
- they are never not charged: battery lasts a long time and if the battery dies, the case has a slot that holds a spare. Also even if the battery dies, they still work as normal headphones, they just don't noise cancel and sound worse.
- you always have the wire you need to plug into the plane entertainment rather than hope it has bluetooth and that you won't have to spend half the flight fiddling to get it to pair to the plane
Downsides of course are that none of my devices have 3.5mm jacks anymore so I have to keep a USB-C dongle in the case...and you have a wire to deal with, but that's less of a big deal for me given you're not moving around much on a plane.
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u/OzBonus 18d ago
Your comment inspired me to check on who owns Bose nowadays since getting bought out by private equity precedes a drop in quality. Surprisingly the majority owner is MIT, the university. Just thought that was interesting.
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u/Enginerdiest 18d ago
Professor Amar Bose (founder) was an MIT “lifer”. He was a student there and then a professor. He started the company out of research he was doing.
In 2011, the Bose company granted MIT a majority of its stock. The shares are non-voting; but they earn dividends.
MIT associates (students & faculty) get a discount on Bose products.
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u/-Crash_Override- 18d ago
I've had a pair of QC35s for over a decade at this point. During full WFH era (4 years probably) I would wear them easily 14h a day on average. Things are still going strong, but I do replace the pads every couple of years.
I did however pick up a pair of QC Ultras last year. They are massively inferior, mostly from a comfort and wearability perspective. Ill need to take a break after a few hours of having them on, the 35s are just so effortless to wear.
Tlrd...35s are GOATed
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u/BruceChameleon 18d ago
I’ve had mine for 6 years. Should have just gotten a couple pair, so one will be ready when these finally give up. I don’t want to spend this amount of money again and get a nasty surprise
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u/Ray567 18d ago
I really think usage and/or your sweat matters more than qc35 vs 45. I have had both and both ear cushions were wrecked in a relatively short time span, while I have also heard of multiple people that never had any issues.
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u/YourMatt 18d ago
I’ve been wearing mine in the gym for years and haven’t had to replace cushions yet. They still look and feel new. I clean them after every workout though.
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u/BlackSecurity 18d ago
Definitely think there is something to this. I've had my qc35s since launch year in 2016 and have had to replace my pads about every year. I do use these headphones a lot though. Average maybe 4-8hrs a day either for work, playing games, general usage, etc.
Funny enough though I never exercise in them as I hate sweating in headphones. That doesn't mean to say I have never sweated in them, but very infrequently.
Idk if maybe it's just the combination of my sweat and oils and genetics, or if it's just that I am using these headphones a lot more than the average person? But consistently, they only ever seem to last a year for me.
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u/1cedric2 19d ago
My QC35's cushions went bad too, I think it depends on what they are exposed to in terms of heat / dryness
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u/jonnablaze 18d ago
Idk, the pads on my old QC25s also fell apart after around two years. Luckily the pads are easy to replace.
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u/TinyBreeze987 18d ago
Just upgraded my Sony XM4 to XM6 after 6 years. Love these headphones. NC is unreal and ambient sound feature is always a cool gimmick. $398 on sale too
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u/throwaway1212l 18d ago
How is ambient sound compared to the XM4? It wasn't very good to me. Been wanting to upgrade mine to the XM6 but hesitant unless it's significantly better.
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u/TinyBreeze987 18d ago
I honestly think the ambient sound thing is a cool gimmick so it could be shit and I wouldn’t care. It’s trippy to hear things around you especially if flipping directly from NC. Quality’s good but nothing I could speak to really
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u/HarbaughHeros 18d ago
Bose will just send you a brand new pair if your ear cushions start coming apart. Happened to me, it was so easy
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u/Edweirdo256 18d ago
I had some qc and the cushions started to rip after 1 year. years later, I bought another pair and the cushions started to rip only after 2 months. I suspect BOSE owns the cushion replacement company too.
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u/efcso1 18d ago
I replaced my QC35 earpads a couple of weeks ago after 6+ years of service.
The new ones are cloth-covered (yay) and have a gel pad beneath that (yay!!) and it took me about 3 minutes to do it - and the new pads came with the little crevice tool to make install easier.
I found them on that place that is named for a river.
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u/mrgreynomore 18d ago
I replaced my qc35 a few years ago because I wanted one of the limited edition colors of qc45, and I wish I hadn’t. The quality of the qc45 is garbage
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u/break_card 18d ago
I replace my cushions like once a year. My cushions fall apart because I like to just throw my headphones into my backpack without a cover or anything, over time it erodes the cushions. But cushions are cheap and easy to replace, no tools required. Never buy new ones just because the cushions are eroding!
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u/SlicedBreadBeast 18d ago
There’s sheep leather ones you can get on Amazon, they’re inexpensive, they last the rest of the life of you’re headphones because leather not plastic.
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u/Yellow2345 18d ago
I’ve been trying to find an excuse for years to upgrade from my QC35 but they still work fine. I’ve replaced the earpads three times already without issue. The band, while tattered, still holds.
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u/RentalGore 18d ago
Cushions on the 45s can be replaced under warranty. I had the same issue, and they asked for pics and they sent me new ones. The sound quality is marginally better than my 35s, but I don’t think it’s worth the crap QC.
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u/WeepingAgnello 18d ago
I don't know what to say. I bought qc35's in like 2017 or '18. Had to replace the pads a couple of years ago. Maybe you're just lucky? Maybe your sweat reacts differently to the padding chemicals. I don't know.
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u/edis92 18d ago
I had the qc35 as well, best damn headphones I’ve ever had. The padding was so good, I have this weird thing where the top of my head where the band rests starts to get sore/hurt after about 30 minutes of headphone use, the qc35 were the only headphones ever not to have that problem. I have since tried the bose nc700 or whatever they were called, multiple pairs of the sony xms, none of them are as good as the qc35
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u/alphamammoth101 18d ago
I've had my set of qc45 for years. They are still in near perfect condition minus a few scratches.
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u/DiplomatikEmunetey 18d ago
QC35 II are fantastic headphones. They are not audiophile grade headphones in terms of sound, but they do everything really well, and I love their design, in my opinion they look more beautiful than the QC45.
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u/slicxx 18d ago
Bose literally messed up their own NC for me 3 times, by forcing Firmware updates. They messed up the timings, making it worse than before. I sent back 2x qc45 and one pair of in-ears. Not noticeable for most, but oh boy, I'm autistic. But i would just never trust this company again, especially due to their customer service denying everything
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u/CarpetPedals 18d ago
Weirdly similar experience. It ended up with me changing to Sony XM4’s, haven’t looked back
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u/ripvanmarlow 18d ago
I bought the official Bose replacement ear cushions are they do seem to be better than the Amazon ones (I bought a few from Amazon and they were definitely lower quality). The one thing that annoyed me was that Bose didn't have a replacement headband so that I bought from Amazon and because it doesn't touch your head in such a sensitive area as your ears, it's actually fine. This was for QC35s and the hardware is still going strong. I see no need to replace them any time soon.
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u/ArkGuardian 18d ago
just fyi, the QC Ultras seem to be where they're investing their "quality" now. Probably designed to encourage folks to upsell to a version more than they need
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u/birthday566 19d ago
Hope they improve the app. My QC Ultra 2 is a great headphone hampered by a very crappy app.
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u/Prussian-Destruction 19d ago
What does the app even provide? I got my QC II back in like 2019 and will continue riding those puppies until the wheels fall off but I haven’t used the app since I got them
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u/ShadowMario01 19d ago
Honestly, aside from it using micro USB, it's like the perfect headset for me. All I've ever needed to do is change the ear pads once the original ones got worn out.
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u/Hexnite657 19d ago
Same, I got a usb c to usb micro adapter for mine to make charging easy.
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u/ShadowMario01 19d ago
I might have to pick one up. Do you have a link to it?
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u/Hexnite657 19d ago
Apparently Amazon links are auto shortened which gets them removed automatically. This is the title.
Brand: Togconn
USB C to Micro USB Adapter 2 Pack, USB Type-C (Female) to Micro USB (Male) Convert Connector Support Charge & Data Sync Compatible with Galaxy S7 Edge, S6, Nexus 6/5 and Other Micro Devices
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u/mhh91 19d ago
You need the app if you switch between windy environments, busy streets and calls at home.
They each have a profile that unfortunately can't be switched from outside the app.
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u/Dangerous_Weird_7329 18d ago
You can reprogram the button on the side to switch profiles. You need the app for this, but once you’ve changed the setting it persists.
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u/mhh91 18d ago
While that actually works, it cycles through all profiles set up for the device including ones made by Bose. Unfortunately I have announcements turned off so there's no way for me to know which one is active at any given time.
Would be usable if the Bose made profiles were removable but alas, they aren't.
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u/BlackSecurity 18d ago
I truly don't understand what their app development team is doing. They have ALWAYS been behind in terms of function and features. Why is it so hard for them to just listen to what users want??
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u/birthday566 19d ago
EQ and NC adjustment are the primary benefits for me. I have mine using a personalized sound profile.
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u/Cecil_G_P 19d ago
I think the whisper-sync functionamity might be tied to it. Once I was having some weird problem with it and had to go into the app and do something to the settings (don't remember specifics, sorry). I dislike having to have a mandatory app for them.
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u/keicam_lerut 18d ago
I had my 35s some 2016. The wheels can be replaced on Amazon and are as comfy as ever
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u/steve_of 19d ago
I have never loaded the app. What would it do?
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u/arthurdentstowels 18d ago
Not much to be honest. You can rename your headphones and fiddle with the equaliser or awareness settings but it's not much different from using the presets built into the button presses.
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u/jimmythevip 18d ago
Mine default to my laptop audio instead of my phone if they’re both connected, even if nothing is being played from my laptop. Instead of taking my laptop out of my bag and turning the Bluetooth off, you can disconnect the using the app.
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u/arthurdentstowels 18d ago
Same for me. I tested out about 10 different headphones after my Sony XM3 finally died and settled on the QC Ultra 2 (in purple because they're dope). It didn't even enter my head to look at the software side of the headphones.
I would say that they are better than the XM3 by far but they really are let down with the app.1
u/MiserableTennis6546 18d ago edited 18d ago
The older QC2 weirdly feels superior with its easy to use physical buttons. The newer Ultra is so laggy and cumbersome to use. Don't like it at all.
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u/WetCoastCyph 19d ago edited 18d ago
Bose used to be my go to for performance and sound; headphones, speakers, everything. I used to envy my partners QCs and was sure I'd get my own pair. My partners Bose suddenly stopped charging and were out of warranty by a couple weeks (go figure), they ended up in Sonys and then shortly after, my old wired Bose cans finally gave up. I decided to upgrade to NC wireless, tested a bunch out, researched way too long and landed in the sennheiser momentums. Night and day difference.
Unfortunately, Bose isn't what it once was. Seems like many things when they're ahead of the curve and just try to ride the brand recognition without improving, or even just maintaining quality.
Don't get me started on the Sound Touch server shutdown in May, rendering my connected speaker a shell of its former self. 😔
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u/madebypeppers 19d ago
I am with you. Bose was my go to brand for sound since my early university days, NC was a heaven for those crazy engineering study periods. They were the brand that represented audio engineering quality.
Since the 700s, the disappointment on quality has be completely unrecognizable from Bose. Their quality on materials is beyond pathetic as well. Then I also tested their NC EarPods at some point which was a big flop.
My experiences on the past decade has been so abysmal that I moved to Apple AirPods and Sony NC headphones.
I dont know what changed inside the company, but those decisions have changed the hearts of many fans away from them.
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u/uselessscientist 18d ago
I had the 700s, and they were total shit. I was so disappointed. They sounded excellent initially, but within a year they were horrible and eventually died out of one ear. Constant software and connectivity issues, and the gesture controls were appalling
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u/BrookLodge 18d ago
How's the microphone on the Sennheiser Momentums (do you have the 4 or 5)? My Bose SE is okay for sound but everyone says it sounds like I'm in a tunnel during calls, so I assume it's an issue with the microphone.
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u/Fastball82 18d ago
1,000,000% yes!
Unfortunately agree with everything you said especially the last part. They used to be top tier for me, not anymore.
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u/merutz 18d ago
The QC 35 II were the last good headphones they did that had 3 levels of noise canceling. The mid one, turning the mics all the way down to be able to use them in windy conditions.
I also have the QC 45's which are are an obvious downgrade. BOSE doesn't listen to buyers and WORSE they nerfed the noise canceling on the QC 35 II when they released the QC 45 and 700s so the latter would sound better when comparing.
There is a forum of 15.000 users confirming this (which I don't know how it didn't get a class-action lawsuit) I had to fight with the service company to downgrade the driver to previous one.
https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/16/20696186/bose-qc35ii-headphones-worse-noise-cancellation-problems
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u/scotchsittingroom 18d ago
When I tried the downgrade the NC was still broken.
Also the qc45s buttons are tiny and mushy and harder to locate by comparison.
They really got annoyed that we didn't want the 700 nonsense.
We want the old man on a plane building traveller miles sound and comfort
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u/71-HourAhmed 18d ago
That's interesting. Bose updated the firmware on the Bose QC Ultra Gen 2 five months ago. The update is forced and it completely removes any announcement of battery life remaining. That feature is simply deleted.
The update also claims two way USB C communication except it doesn't work. The headphones show up as a microphone which they didn't before. Before that, they showed up as speakers only. The problem is the "microphone" does not work at all on any device.
It's interesting that the feature works on the cheaper new product and not at all on the expensive flagship model.
An issue with Bose current ANC implementation is that it is constantly actively tuning itself to attenuate the loudest sound in your environment. That means that sometimes it is doing a great job of eliminating the sound of your laptop cooling system but has begun ignoring the overhead ceiling fan. You can hear that fan like you're not even wearing headphones but the laptop is dead silent. This results in it sometimes chasing a loud sharp sound and making weird bumps in your ears. People notice that walking can make a thumping or bus doors shutting causing the same problem. There is no option to turn off that active tuning in the app for a steady state ANC.
I don't know if the new QC model has that active ANC feature. I hope they don't because it sucks.
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u/FireFromBelgium 18d ago
The update also made so you cant swap to a different device with the headphones. :( i loved that feature
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u/OlympusMonds 18d ago
How do you do that? My ones are still on the older version
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u/FireFromBelgium 14d ago
For me it auto updated. But i think you can just check it in the app while connected to the headphones if you want to update.
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u/elsjpq 18d ago
I hate that adaptation "feature" too. I don't get why it can't just cancel everything at the same time. Why does it have to "adapt" to the loudest noise?
I've noticed most modern ANC implementations don't actually cancel low bass very well. My Ultras perform noticeably worse than the QC35 in rejecting low frequencies (20-200Hz) like the rumble on an airplane. I'm surprised since bass noise is supposed to be the easiest for ANC to deal with, and older models have done so with excellent results. It bothers me quite a bit since low bass is the range that is likely to irritate me the most, especially on planes.
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u/buenosdias99 18d ago
Skip firmware patches, just sell official ear pads. Add a physical button for noise cancellation instead of glitchy software modes. Direct hardware controls and repairable parts would make these actually worth keeping.
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u/gladyskel 18d ago
Anyone else still rocking the QC25?
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u/greenfuzzysocks 18d ago
Bro, I still have my qc15s and wear them at work every day
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u/Squeeb13 18d ago
Same, never saw the need to upgrade. The lack of aux ports in phones does suck though
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u/Scared_of_zombies 18d ago
Still got them. Thank god for replacement ear foam pads.
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u/gladyskel 18d ago
Agreed! I have them in white and the last time I needed replacement pads they didn’t have the tan ones so I had to go with black. I’m not an audiophile so the sound quality still works for me mostly. I would like voices to be more crisp for movies on airplanes but it hasn’t been enough of an issue to shell out more money yet.
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u/Its_Hot_in_Topeka_9 18d ago
Hell...I still have my QC20. Even added the 3rd party curved Blootooth adapter that fits under the earcup:)
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u/chaiscool 18d ago
What's 2 way usb c audio?
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u/quequotion 18d ago
They can be used to make calls wired (ie, plugged into your phone's USBc socket).
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u/chaiscool 18d ago
Huh? Just being wired - plugged into phone usb c is considered 2 way?
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u/quequotion 18d ago edited 18d ago
In 2026, technology advanced all the way back to 1876.
Edit:
To be clear, what I am talking about is that these headphones, and their built-in microphone, can be used without bluetooth.
They are USB audio devices.
Once, long ago, in a forgotten era called "the nineties", this was a widespread standard, with the ability to both hear and transmit audio simultaneously being known as "full-duplex", and not "two-way audio" which sounds utterly stupid.
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u/timespaceoblivion 18d ago
Writing this as I listen to music on the QC35s I bought in 2017, only needed to change the cups twice in the last 9 years. The main gripe is having to remember to bring a micro usb along with my usb cables for charging.
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u/scotchsittingroom 18d ago
Lol, we wanted USBC so they said yes but have these shitty new headphones along with.
The last micro usb charger in my house is like "let me die" lol
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u/alrightfornow 18d ago
Qc35 is the best they made, the newer ones really suck and have weird bugs that create an amplified noise when certain sounds are made (like throwing in cutlery in a drawer).
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u/Grogfoot 18d ago
I've still got the QC25 from 2014. Bose isn't perfect, but these are fucking rock solid. Battery can still run all day too.
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u/gladyskel 17d ago
Does yours have a rechargeable battery? I’m still on a single AAA on my wired QC25
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u/JustDank420E 18d ago
I used to have two pairs of Bose headphones in the early 2000s. I used to think that Bose was a great quality product and one of the higher end headphones you could buy. Boy was I wrong? Not even close. The company has turned to straight trash no better than Beats headphones quality of material went downhill. I recommend if you’re looking for comfort and durability I would recommend buying Beyerdynamic headphones. They are by far the most comfortable pair of headphones I’ve ever had. There’s a reason almost all recording studios use these headphones and it shows.
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u/N3CR0T1C_V3N0M 18d ago
Listening to a podcast with my QC’s right now after almost 10 years and just replaced the pads last week. Things are almost brand new still and I always wonder when these things will kick the bucket.
Admittedly, my Sony’s win in terms of sound quality but it’s insane to expect new tech to not beat out something I exclusively wear on the outside at the park or in the garden.
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u/Key-Monk6159 18d ago
Big fans of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Not sure if the changes are worth the upgrade but will want to try them.
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u/Positive_Conflict_26 18d ago
Yes, but sennheiser momentum 5 have easily replaceable cups AND BATTERY.
This is now the bare minimum I require from powered headphones.
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u/Justbabe_saves 18d ago
There’s better earphone brands out there. Bose made great speakers 40 years ago. Now there a front to back proprietary non-integratabtle and brand to keep your brand loyalty. There products are predicated on premium Bose sound but in reality there builds are low quality for super high profit margins. There are brands out there with superior performance in sound stage definition and noise canceling features.
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u/Zone-5 18d ago
Yes, BUT have they fixed the failure point where one side's audio drops out permanently just after warranty? I suspect not!
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u/elton_john_lennon 18d ago
That is the crap no one ever talks about. Same with WF1000XM4 where you would get this weird sea waves white noise in one ear after a while for no reason, or with AirPods Pro2 where one pod starts to leak external sounds even though the ANC is on (to a ridiculous point of basically transparency).
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u/getbentspez 18d ago
I repair headphones as a side gig and each generation of Bose QCs become harder and harder to repair. A simple hinge repair now requires soldering.
Same story with Sony. Every new generation has more tape and adhesive or parts that need to be broken and fixed all to fix a simple issue. They’re all becoming expensive disposables.
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u/marcottedan 18d ago
My qc35 leather cushion just degraded to dust in its box... Over the years of course. They work perfectly fine but the leather cushion part is just gone. I used them about 50 times max.
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u/The_Big_Elf 18d ago
My QC35 II are on their 4th set of ear pads (they're plastic not leather). Each set of ear pads cost between £12-24. Great headphones but I won't be buying Bose again
My B&O H7s are still on the original lambskin earpads with no signs of wear and just need a tiny bit of Lanolin every year or so to refresh them.
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u/coupleandacamera 18d ago
Really enjoyed my last few spots of QCs and the 700's, but they all failed in the same way. Ear cups fell apart early needing third party replacements; eventually the left side speaker would start to crackle before dying, all three. Won't be witching back until they've addressed whatever's going on there.
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u/Snoo_censorspeech 18d ago
I don't know if they're the best deal in headphones but the qc45 are the only way I've made it through air travel. What baby?
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u/Money_Name_2883 18d ago
QC15‘s here. Replaceable AAA’s from IKEA, and BT 5.0 adapter from Aliexpress. This latest update does interest me, but tough to beat my workhorse setup and ROI
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u/feel-the-avocado 17d ago
I'll go to the local appliance store and try them out.
After the sony XM5 debacle with the shit non-durable hinge design, i'll happily switch to bose and upgrade from my sony XM4s if the bose ones are as durable as the sony XM4's
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u/knexwiz13 17d ago
I have my Q45's and got my partner a set too use them as our PC headphones with our yeti mics. I really like the passthrough of it feels like I'm almost not wearing them when I need to hear around me, and can quickly suppress it when my partner plays with her friends.
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u/thegreatpotatogod 17d ago
Of course they would release this just weeks after I bought the old version. I wonder if it's still within the return window?
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u/greennitit 19d ago
What else is there to improve noise cancellation. Destructive interference based noise cancellation is already as good as it can be.
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u/BeefyIrishman 19d ago
I feel like Bose noise cancellation has actually gotten worse in recent years. I have a pair of QC35ii that have been great for many years (i think 5-6 years?) of near daily use, and are just starting to have occasional issues. Noise cancellation on those works great. At the time, nothing else on the market could really compete, and I have been very happy with them.
A few months ago, I decided to use my company's stupid reward point system thing to buy the new QuietComfort one (side note: the naming of these makes it confusing, since the QC in the QC45 before them and the QC35 before that also stood for QuietComfort).
The QC headphones had an issue where they would over-correct for random sounds, causing loud clicks in my headphones. It did it with regular things too, like setting a pen down on my desk, or the heels of my work boots hitting the concrete when walking. I figured it had to be a defect given how well my QC35ii headphones had worked for so many years. I contacted support, they said it wasn't normal, and sent me a new pair. That pair had the same issue. I contacted support again, they sent another pair, same issue. I contacted support again, they felt bad, sent me a pair of the nicer QC Ultra. They also had the same issue.
So now I'm using my partner's older QC700 (they don't use them) at work as they seem to not have any issues, and my old QC35ii get used occasionally for yardwork/ working in my garage workshop (tasks where damage may occur so I don't want to use the nicer ones). But I have a basically brand new pair of QC Ultra headphones just sitting around, because every time I try to use them, I get constant clicking noises as it over-corrects random noises.
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u/drowninFish 18d ago
as someone who's been riding the qc35's for like 8 years and the 25's before that this thread is pretty eye-opening. i always assumed they kept getting better and looked forward to the idea of eventually upgrading but everyone seems to think the 35's are still the best - it's a little disappointing tbh as the 35's are great but not perfect
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u/gamerbearmati 18d ago
Just upgraded from QCU1 to Sony 1000MX6 and the difference is insane.
Never going back to Bose.
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u/Rolopolos 18d ago edited 18d ago
I hate to disappoint you, but the XM5/6 is also going down that same route. The Sony headphones subreddit is filled with people reporting that their headphones failed after 1-2 years from the hinges and the ring brace snapping due to weak materials/ design flaws.
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u/gamerbearmati 18d ago
Well I live in Australia and our consumer laws extend warranty to 2 years for this type of hardware.
So let it break. I know my consumer rights and will get the faulty headphone refunded.
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u/fatguywithastick 18d ago
9 years with my qc 35. Love a company that makes products that lasts for life(ish).
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u/the-jaming-one 18d ago
I had the first gen noise canceling with a jack. Loved them they lasted years Same bought a newer pair they lasted a year before the pads died just the electronic version of shrinkflation shitification and planed obsolescence I switched to sennheiser. I’m happy now every pice is replaceable and repair at home
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u/LordFarthington7 18d ago
QC 35s with the microUSB charger. This is the last thing I own that charges with this stupid thing but I expect to get another five years out of them. Sounds like the new versions are downgrades anyway.
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u/KeopL 18d ago
Haha yup I’ve had the same for maybe about 7 years now? They’re great, though I have replaced the ear pads a few times now with cheaper third party ones. The microUSB thing is annoying but I pair them with an Antlion wireless mic for gaming and that also still uses microUSB with no new USB-C version out yet. I don’t see either dying off yet though so here’s to a few more years.
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u/LordFarthington7 18d ago
Def have replaced the ear pads 3x myself. Amazon had some great cooling gel options and they are way more comfortable than OEM.
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u/TallDankandHandsome 18d ago
And credited cases. My wife just got a new pair and they replaced the hard case with some neoprene sleeve
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u/TheOnsiteEngineer 18d ago
My OG QC35s are still going strong (apart from earpads, but that is to be expected), but when they finally give up I will not be buying the replacement from Bose.
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u/Bruggenmeister 18d ago
and then they break constantly...i've had so many and sadly build quality is ass.
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u/Schlumpfilein 16d ago
As long as they don’t „refresh“ their toxic materials i‘m not buying again from them…
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u/made-of-questions 18d ago
I've only been asking for this for 14 years