Bose QuietComfort 45
MSRP $329.00
“Bose’s most popular headphones have a bigger battery but lack some features.”
Avg
-
Super comfortable
-
Very good noise cancellation
-
Very good sound quality
-
Can be connected to multiple devices
Against
-
No wear detection
-
No EQ adjustment
When Bose released its $379 Noise Canceling 700 (NC 700) headphones, many wondered if the company had abandoned its proven QuietComfort 35 II (QC 35 II) design, which had been its flagship until the NC 700 came out. for active noise cancellation.
Those fears turned out to be unfounded as Bose revealed its $329 QuietComfort 45 (QC 45) earlier this year. But the QC 45 is not your typical upgrade. Bose definitely made improvements, but decided to remove some features as well.
Has Bose removed too much? Let’s check them out.
What’s in the box?
Simon Cohen / Digital trends
Bose continues to do a good job with its packaging — the QC 45 box will be very easy to recycle locally thanks to its stylish but plain cardboard. The only exception is the foam inserts used to prevent the headphones from moving during transport. Inside, you’ll find a QC 45, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a 2.5mm to 3.5mm analog cable, and a zippered pouch. Once again, Bose chose not to include its $9 airplane adapter, an odd choice given the loyalty of the QuietComfort line among airplane passengers.
To shape
Simon Cohen / Digital trends
For the QC 45, Bose focused on evolution rather than revolution. After all, if you want something really different, the NC 700 is for it. Aside from a few small changes, the QC 45 is no different from the QC 35 II — you get the same flat folding hinges and the same lightweight yet durable construction — even the physical controls are identical, including the power/Bluetooth slide switch and gaming controls on the right earcup, and action button on the left.
The biggest change is in the materials. Gone is the suede-like Alcantara material on the inside of the headband, replaced with the same synthetic leather that Bose uses on its ear pads. Synthetic leather will probably wear better than Alcantara, but it also slides around the head a bit more. This is a key consideration if you are in the habit of carrying full size cans to the gym.
The ear cushions occupy that perfectly comfortable middle ground between firm and soft.
The ear pads have also been revised. They’re just as soft, but Bose has replaced the QC 35 II’s wrinkled pads with a set that’s silky smooth and more akin to the pads on the NC 700. While this has the effect of making the QC 45 look more like competition from Sony and JBL, I applaud the move because it never I wasn’t a fan of the wrinkled look.
Bose also opted for a slightly more conservative plastic finish, which is now almost matte, having lost some of the satin sheen of the older model. Even the logos on the headphones are understated, with a subtle silver color replacing the raised metal letters.
For some people, the simple switch from MicroUSB to USB-C charging (which Bose should have used on the QC 35 II) is enough to make the QC 45 worth considering.
Comfort, controls and connections
Simon Cohen / Digital trends
The QuietComfort line of headphones has always been among the most comfortable sets of headphones you can buy, and the QC 45 continues that tradition. The ear cushions strike that perfectly comfortable middle ground between firm and soft, while the size and shape of the ear cups make these boxes one of the few that don’t put pressure on any part of my ears. They are even comfortable when wearing glasses.
The headband has enough clamping force to keep everything where it needs to be. It also prevents the band from creating a pressure point on the top of the head. Interestingly, the QC 45s are actually a tad heavier than the QC 35 IIs — 8.5 ounces versus 8.3 ounces — but you’d never know it. I still think the NC 700s are more comfortable (despite being a tad heavier at 8.9 ounces), but the difference is marginal.
I still can’t figure out why Bose designs their cans to sit flat against your collarbones with the ear pads facing up, instead of down (the way Sony does), which is much more comfortable.
Wireless stability and range are excellent, indoors and outdoors.
There’s not much to say about the controls — they’re exactly what you need and work very well. Three buttons on the right earcup let you control calls, playback, volume and track skipping, while an action button on the left lets you toggle between active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode.
But there are two big differences between the QC 45 and the QC 35 II: The first is that the action button can no longer be configured to work with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. In fact, Bose has ditched these two voice AIs entirely, leaving you with what’s built into your phone. If you want the extra power of Amazon or Google, you’ll have to go with the NC 700.
There are also no more levels of ANC. You only get two modes — ANC and Transparency (more on those later).
I’m torn about the slider toggle button. On the one hand, you’ll never accidentally turn it on, something that’s easy to do with the NC 700. On the other hand, whenever you use a mechanical slide switch for a function that’s used as heavily as the power supply, you run the risk of wearing it out, which probably explains why it exists several tutorials on the web that show you how to replace a broken power button on the QC 35.
The sound is really pleasant and suitable for all but the most bass-heavy genres.
The only thing missing is wear detection — the ability for the headphones to know when they’re on your head. JBL’s Tour One has this feature, as does Sony’s WH-1000XM4. Even some very affordable noise canceling models like the Wyze headphones have it. But Bose has yet to give its customers the ability to automatically pause music when they take off their headphones.
Connecting the QC 45 is easy, whether in Android or iOS, and it’s even easier to use their Bluetooth multipoint capability to connect another device at the same time, such as a computer. Just slide the power button a little further and wait for the prompt telling you it’s ready to pair with another device. Wireless stability and range are excellent, indoors and outdoors. Do you own a Bose soundbar or wireless speaker? The QC 45’s SimpleSync feature allows you to easily connect to these other devices.
All of Bose’s latest headphone products, such as the NC 700, QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose Sport Earbuds and the new QC 45, use the Bose Music app instead of the Bose Connect app. The Music app gives you the same ability to update firmware, adjust settings, and view key information like remaining battery life, but it’s not as complete. You can no longer access Bose’s Music Share feature, which allows two compatible Bose headphones to share a single audio stream from your phone, and there is no “find my product” option. These features may not be important to you, but it’s still weird to see them disappear.
Sound quality
Simon Cohen / Digital trends
After spending time with many Bose products—speakers, soundbars, headphones, and earbuds—I am convinced that there is a “Bose sound”. At its core, it’s a nice balance of frequencies — not quite the “flat” or neutral sound that some audiophiles crave, but close. The bass is never absent from the formula, but neither does it make its way through the songs like an elephant in combat boots. And on high, there’s an extra jolt of energy, a brightness that verges on harsh but never makes you wince. In short, the Bose sound is really pleasant and suitable for all but the most bass-heavy genres. And the QC 45 is typical of Bose sound.
That’s great news if you like the way they sound, but if you don’t, the company doesn’t have much sympathy for you. There’s no way to adjust any aspect of the QC 45’s EQ in the companion Bose Music app, something you can do with the NC 700 and the company’s wireless speakers.
Noise cancellation and transparency
Simon Cohen / Digital trends
Bose fans already know how good the company’s noise canceling technology is. This is the reason why so many bought the previous QuietComfort models. The QC 45 doesn’t set a new standard for ANC as much as it improves your ability to use it, which is arguably more important. You still get that lovely silence as the cans filter out unwanted sounds, but now you can almost instantly switch back and forth between full ANC and full transparency (what Bose calls Aware mode) using the action button on the left earcup.
Neither the ANC nor the transparency is as good as what you get from the Bose NC 700, and the QC 45 lacks the Sony WH-1000XM4’s clever extras like speech detection (which can automatically switch on transparency mode when you speak), but that doesn’t stop them from being great. a set of noise canceling cans.
Call quality
The QC 45 are intended for superior voice calls compared to the QC35 II, thanks to the inclusion of a fourth microphone. That may be true, but they’re still not as good as the NC 700 for phone calls.
Outside sounds are effectively canceled out, but the algorithm Bose uses to do this can sometimes interfere with your voice, especially when those outside sounds get particularly loud. When everything is quieter, the interlocutors will hear you perfectly clearly. However, whether in quiet or loud conditions, the QC 45 sounds like you’re standing two or three meters away from the microphone, which is unusual. This doesn’t affect clarity, but it tends to rob your voice of the low frequencies that add warmth and resonance.
If calling is very important to you, go for the NC 700 or the JBL Tour One, which have the best call quality of any full-size headset I’ve tested.
Battery life
Bose headphones have never broken any records for battery life, but the QC 45 beats both the QC 35 II and the newer NC 700, with 24 hours of continuous use (up from 20 hours). A very good fast charging option gives you three extra hours if you charge the headphones for 15 minutes.
The remaining battery life is displayed when you turn them on, which is especially important if you’re about to start a long Zoom call and you’re not sure if the battery will last. You can also monitor your battery status from the Bose Music app.
Our opinion
The Bose QuietComfort 45 has a proven formula and brings some much-needed improvements like longer battery life, USB-C charging, and easier/faster control over ANC modes, but some may miss the features Bose decided to ditch.
Is there a better alternative?
If you’re not stressed about having to keep a MicroUSB charging cable handy and appreciate being able to access Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa from your headphones, you can save a few bucks and still get a great set of ANC headphones with the $299 QuietComfort 35 II.
If call quality is high on your list, be sure to check out the very good JBL Tour One. They’re not quite as comfortable as the QC 45 and don’t work as well with ANC, but they do offer hands-free access to voice assistants. They also have better battery life.
If you can afford them, the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 boast many of the features that the QC 45 dropped, such as voice assistants, variable ANC, EQ control, and excellent call quality.
How long will it last?
Bose products are very well built and the QuietComfort 45 is no exception. You should be able to use these cases for many years, and even if the ear pads wear out, you can easily buy a set of replacements. Since they don’t have any official water resistance rating, you should avoid getting them wet. Bose backs its powered products like the QC 45 with a one-year warranty.
Should you buy them?
That. The QC 45 are a worthy, albeit small, upgrade to Bose’s legendary QuietComfort headphones, making them even better travel and music companions.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn