Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise canceling portable earbud model provides very good sound and excellent active noise reduction. Its ear plug-like design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music, but the audio cable can't be detached to get it out of the way when the headphones are being used for noise reduction only. The QuietComfort has a volume control plus an integrated microphone and player function controls. Additional features include Right earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Charging/carrying case has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries up to 2 times (to add an additional 12 hrs. of playtime for a total of 18 hrs.) between its own charges, can be recharged via USB cable or with optional Qi compatible wireless charging mat. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX4). Free Bose Music app for Apple and Android mobile devices adds additional features. Touch control on left earphone allows selection of maximum NC, medium NC, and maximum ambient monitoring. The Bose Music app can be used to access 11 noise cancellation levels ranging from maximum NC to maximum ambient monitoring and customize the left earphone ambient noise level control selections. The app can also be used to adjust the "self voice" feature that lets the user hear their own voice level during calls so that they can speak more naturally. Has touch controls for music player play/pause, call connect/disconnect, volume, noise cancellation/ambient sound monitoring, and voice control activation. Has programmable "shortcut" touch control that can be used to skip audio tracks forward or check earphone battery level. Automatically pauses audio when either earphone is taken out of ear and resumes when the earphone is replaced in the ear. Has Bluetooth connection and battery level voice announcements. Supports mobile device voice control when used with Bluetooth connected devices that have that feature. Has quick charge feature: 15 min of charging will provide 2 hr. of playtime. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Bose Music app download for Apple and Android mobile devices can be used to enable/disable volume touch control and auto pause function, adjust the earphones noise cancellation/ambient sound monitoring levels and change noise cancellation levels of the ambient noise level control button, enable/disable "shortcut" touch control and choose shortcut function, turn off voice prompts, manage paired Bluetooth device connections, check battery levels, and update firmware. This model comes with Three pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-A to USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case. Free Bose Music app download for Apple and Android mobile devices.
Sound quality: We found the QuietComfort delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks and excellent active noise reduction. With the noise cancelling mode engaged the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is a touch prominent and a bit boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but is a bit grainy and a touch hazy and thin. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but is a touch prominent and a bit sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying). Somewhat open sounding and does a good job of recovering room ambience. Good dynamics. Warmish character. The overall sound can best be summarized as a bit bassy and grainy. Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. Noise canceling feature does not produce any background noise that can be heard when there is no audio program to drown it out.
Comfort: We found that these earphones are a hybrid ear insert/ear bud design - the earpieces seal the ear canals but they don't insert into the ear canals as far as typical ear insert models, and they are supported by ear bowls like a ear bud model rather than the ear canals. Users with small ear bowls might find that although the earphones feel like they stick out too far and may lever out of place, they actually fit securely and stay in place even during vigorous head movement. Users with medium and larger ear bowls will probably find that they stay in place with no problem, and that the ear bowl supports make the ear pieces stable even with fairly vigorous head movement. Some users might find tapping the touch pads to actuate various earphone controls drives the earphones farther into the ear bowl and may cause annoyance or discomfort. Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional playing, pausing, activation of the mobile device voice control, and changes in volume and noise cancellation levels.
