Bose, which handles headphones and professional audio equipment, will release "Bose QuietComfort Earbuds", a completely wireless earphone equipped with a noise canceling function, on October 15th. The price is 30,000 yen (excluding tax), and reservations can be made at electronics retail stores.
I had the opportunity to try the actual device before it was released, so I would like to provide a review focusing on noise canceling and sound quality.
Satisfying noise cancellation ─ Keep quiet without sealing, so you don't get tired
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds noise canceling works by picking up noise with multiple built-in microphones and returning the opposite phase sound waves at a speed of 1/1000th of a second to cancel out the noise.
The noise canceling level can be adjusted in 11 steps using the dedicated app "Bose Music" for Android and iOS, from a mode that captures ambient sounds to a mode that completely eliminates noise. Slide the noise canceling part below the volume control bar to the left to gradually incorporate ambient sounds, and slide it to the right to gradually cut noise.
When I actually used it at a station or a noisy cafe, I felt that the noise canceling function was honestly satisfying. During music playback, not only people's voices but also train running sounds and coffee maker operating sounds were cut considerably.
What I was more satisfied with was that my ears didn't get tired. Because his AirPods Pro, which I own, have a structure that seals the ears, so wearing them for a long time with the noise canceling turned on makes me tired.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, on the other hand, use crescent-shaped StayHear Max eartips that don't completely seal your ears. I wore them for about 5 hours with noise canceling turned on, and I personally found them less tiring than the AirPods Pro.
In addition, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are very easy to wear, just turn the earbuds back and fit them in your ears. However, the fact that the ears are not sealed may result in a lot of sound leakage. All you have to do is watch your playback volume.
You can play/pause music, answer/end calls, and access the voice assistant by touching the housing instead of the physical buttons.
Clear vocals with unexpected bass
I personally felt that the sound quality was better than the AirPods Pro.
When I compared AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds by playing various songs such as jazz and classical music as well as pop and rock, I found that AirPods Pro sounded well-balanced without being muffled, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds reproduces even the distortion of heavy bass. Even so, I didn't get the impression that they were over-tuned like other companies' products that raise the bass range.
In addition, despite the structure that does not seal the ears, I was able to listen to clear vocals and orchestras, as well as songs that used a lot of reverb and echo, without losing any of them. The powerful bass range while maintaining resolution will also contribute to watching videos such as Netflix and YouTube.
Regarding sound interruptions during music and video playback, I didn't feel any discomfort due to sound skipping, sound interruptions, or delays during use. According to Bose, sound skipping is minimized by devising antenna placement and adopting a new data transfer method. As a supplement, the driver diameter is not disclosed. Also, Bluetooth supports up to version 5.1.
I was worried about the size...
The only thing I felt disappointed about was the size of the earphone itself. AirPods Pro and Samsung Electronics' "Galaxy Buds" are smaller than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, and I personally feel that they fit securely in the back of my ears.
It is true that earphones that require good sound and battery life have large drivers, which naturally affects the size of the device. To get really good sound and noise cancellation, you have to make some compromises.
Not only the size of the earphone itself, but also the charging case. As you can see from the actual comparison, AirPods Pro and Galaxy Buds are the winners in terms of portability.
That said, the charging case is smaller than the Powerbeats Pro case, so it's not huge. The case can be charged using a Qi standard compliant wireless charger or a USB Type-C cable, and by using the case and earphones together, a total of 18 hours of battery life is possible.
Summary
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are great:
I would like to see the following improvements:
As you can see, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds do what consumers expect from true wireless earbuds with noise canceling, but the downside is that they're expensive and hard to come by. However, it is easy to wear and use the app, so if the price drops in some way, it will likely become an “AirPods Pro killer” rather than a product that can be recommended for beginners.
source: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
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