Looks like this matches the all time low according to Camel.
Available in 3 colours: Black, Sandstone and White.
Having tried these headphones in person, I'd get these over the Sony WH-1000XM5 and AirPod Max.
Edit: In-depth review from RTINGS.com
CamelCamelCamel.
JB price matched this for me today which I enjoyed
still cant let the $165 JB deal go over my head
Pretty good bang for buck/value the JB SE/SC deal basing on this video anyway - Rawan's Reviews - Best Bose ANC Headphones? QuietComfort Ultra vs NC 700 vs QC45 vs QC35
yeah I walked into JBHiFi looking for the $164 QC 45 SE deal and was told it was out of stock but they'd just got permission to sell the newer SC for the same half price - so I ponied up for those.
The Ultra for $499 is supposed to be a cheaper deal ? Then why is $499 the standard price on Amazon.
I tried the Ultra and didn't like it - especially for the price
but hey if you think spending $499 makes you a better person, the vendors will be happy to help you get there … ;-)
jfc $500 is a deal. Dayum inflation, you crazy!
FYI: these headphones have 35ms latency when used in WIRED mode. This makes them close to unusable for gaming.
Any recommendations for wireless headphones good for gaming?
Logitech G Astro A50 x. Got recently for $601.00 from Centre.com white. Amazing for gaming on top of music and 2 year free Dolby Atmos on headphones.
Bose SC for $147 or nothing
I was able to buy these new off eBay for $402, brand new, warranty registered and yeah its really good
Ok
Cool story bro
Cooler story bro
What duct tape do you use to strap on your Dolby Atmos home theatre system to your head so you listen on the go just like my Bose headphones 😲
"I don't" "my home" "my office" "I work" "As I" "I own" "my employer" "walk from my home" "all I need" "and I certainly".
Gee mate, anyone would think you're the only the only one in the world with a home theatre setup that has no use for headphones🙄.
@Cevolution: "because there is little use for these Bose headphones if you do have one"
This tells me you're really just stroking your ego over "muh Dolby and people don't know because they use stereo headphones".
Also, Atmos is the poor man's DTS:X lol.
@Cevolution: Nawwww you poor boy, I was running a discrete setup when you were in primary school.
5000 Blu-rays……consooooooommmmue!
@CurrentCalculations: Not really, because my first comment was referring to myself and my need for the product, what reason is there for anybody to respond to it, I didn’t tell anybody else not to buy it? It’s a fact that a 7.2.4 home theatre setup is superior to using headphones, so that shouldn’t upset anyone, therefore the only reason I can see for anyone to have responded to my initial comment is brand loyalty from fanboys of Bose products perhaps, because I said I will never personally be a fan of Bose (their home theatre equipment has been rubbish and ridiculed for decades).
@Cevolution: Anyone serious about HiFi for music would be listening in 2.1 for most tracks anyway, unless it’s one of the few 5.1 or Atmos concert discs.
@Randolph Duke: Depends on the mix… I was watching the Metallica S&M2 concert on Blu-ray last night, which has a DTS-HD MA5.1 track and an LPCM 2.0 track, the lossless 5.1 mix would more accurately portray and recreate the sound at the event.
For general music playback I do listen in 2.1. People don’t just use headphones for music though do they, plenty of people wear headphones for watching movies nowadays, and not just when they’re out and about on their devices, but also for audio when sitting at home watching from their TV’s.
@Cevolution: I can see you’ve got the wrong prescription as this isn’t a home theatre forum and you’ll be in ground before I am Ken, thanks to predisposition lol.
Great retort, that saying has been around for close to half my age… Anyone that still uses the saying “cool story bro” certainly isn’t young that’s for sure, it’s a term that older middle aged millennials who still think they’re young and cool use on the internet.
Also you:
Clearly you know nothing about home theatre Jon Snow
Cutting edge bro
@Randolph Duke: “Cutting edge” is an another saying from 20 odd years ago, there is definitely some people way past their youth posting in this bargain thread 😝:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xooxtb9skGU&pp=ygUbV1dFIEVkZ2U…
Please explain what do I use in a A36 other than the Bose A20s or Bose A30s?
I have been abusing the entire lineup of Bose headphones since the QC15s, they have always been better than Sony or any other headphone manufacture.
What a very unusual and rather pointless flex.
Who gives a toss if you have Dolby Atmos 7.2.4+ and your employer gives you Jabra's?!?
Have not enough people in your life given you enough props for your awesome setup?
Get a life mate.
I don't think Qantas will allow me to bring my Dolby atmos 7.2.4.9.4.6.8++ system as carry on the let me plug it in? But I guess I have never asked so maybe I will try next time
What a strange thing to post. And completely pointless.
Anyone has QC35/45/700s and can speak to how this compares?
I have/had 35, 45 and Ultra. Eventually returned the Ultra, as I'm not an audiophile and all of them sound very good to me. ANC performance of each are comparable for my environment too.
I returned the Ultra due to the regressed physical controls. Namely, instead of the 35/45's flick of the power button (easily located on the right cup) to turn it on/off, now you have to hold a button (located on the bottom of the right cup) to power it on/off. Even worse, instead of physical buttons to adjust volume precisely, it is now a touch area to swipe up and down - I had to carefully remove the headset otherwise I might accidentally change the volume.
Ultra has "immersive audio" mode, but it's mostly a gimmick, it makes things more echoey so it only works on a very limited amount of audio. For most things it makes them much worse.
For me Ultra was a worse product. Having said that, maybe for audiophile it's worth it.
I’ve had the 35s, 45s and ultra. Totally agree with everything you said.
The noise cancelling and sound quality are top notch but they have some of the most infuriating controls I’ve had on a pair of headphones. I’ve used them for months now, but they still don’t feel any less awkward.
I’d go the SE deal any day over this.
Audiophiles will barf if they see audiophile and Bose in the same sentence.
Nah, you're talking about idiots who buy into branding. True audiophiles will run double blind tests to find the gear they like best and use it regardless of what it says on the box.
@jaejae69: I bought audiophile headphones for $650 and stopped using them as I prefer the sound, bass, noise-cancelling, Bluetooth and wireless portability of the Bose. After 5 pairs of Bose, latest buy the other day was the SC for half-price $164
so Ultra for 'deal' price $499 ? - yeah nah - you can keep it …
Thanks for this. I will keep my 35/45 for my flights then. Cheers.
Have the Ultra and QC35. Sound wise they are fine, just like the QC35. The noise cancellation is better and you don't get that noice cancellation pressure effect like in the QC35.
However, comfort wise, QC35 is much better. The Ultra is just too tight and it is very noticeable.
'The Ultra is just too tight and it is very noticeable.'
agreed - I think this is a design problem and why they are not popular - I think they're trying to dump them quietly without damaging the brand value
I just bought the QC45 from the recent deal. Imo they're a bit too treble heavy for me. I had to EQ it all the way down to -8 and bass to -3 for it to be good for me.
'I just bought the QC45 from the recent deal. Imo they're a bit too treble heavy for me. I had to EQ it all the way down to -8 and bass to -3 for it to be good for me.'
interesting - I'm the opposite and use the Bose Music app EQ set to -10 bass, -5 Mid, 0 Treble
I'm old and have used this free hearing test (use headphones) to check my hearing - https://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/hearing.html
I found it to be a very useful free DIY at-home hearing test - I've repeated it over the years and saved copies of the graph for my own interest - my last graph showed my best hearing between 125Hz-3kHz - not deaf yet !
If you are at all interested in your 'audiophile' ability, I'd suggest use this test to check where your hearing drops off.
In my younger days, when I started my first office job I complained about being disturbed by a loud high-frequency noise that no one else seemed to notice - eventually my manager got an audio guy to visit - he walked in with a dB meter (this was nearly 50 years ago) and said "yes it's quite loud, and it seems to be coming from … over here …" It was a malfunctioning step-up transformer in a computer CRT screen emitting a loud 15kHz tone. My manager's jaw dropped "I thought you were JOKING !?!?!?!"
So I don't have my youthful hearing anymore - age-related losses …
I also used the hearing test to check my tinnitus from old road accident head impact - matched about 10kHz
Have the QC35 and the 700's
Love them both, find them both very good for sound and comfort
The 700's excel in phone calls quality, masking any background noise so whoever Im speaking to can hear me very clear, so great for office use.
Some people complain they are too tight but I use them the whole day with no issues (and I have a big head), although yeah the 35's are even more comfortable.
Got them for $270 on a OzB deal sometime ago and really glad I bought them
The 700's excel in phone calls quality, masking any background noise so whoever Im speaking to can hear me very clear,
from reading a tonne of feedback about and having an obsession with ANC headphones for the past 2 years, Bose 700's are known as the best in call quality of any ANC headphone model. they are that good.
don't know why they didn't use that tech in their newer models QC45, Ultra etc.
if you want best call quality it's the Bose 700's or nothing.
the downsides of the 700's are their earpad openings are slightly smaller than their other models so some can find them cramped. and their battery life of 20 hours is below average (20.7 hours achieved in tests). 30 to 35 hours is the standard with ANC headphones. some headphones exceed their spec in tests such as Sony XM4 claims 30 hours achieved 37 hours. and weirdly XM5 claims the same 30 hours achieved 27 hours.
weirdly Bose didn't focus on battery life until they released the Quietcomfort SE, Quietcomfort and Quietcomfort SC which all claim 24 hours but all achieve around 26 hours.
Imo, battery life is a bit overrated when you have 20 hrs already. I never ever feel like I need more battery life from the 700's to be honest. When I dont use them, I put them to charge, easy as. And I see no circumstance where I'd need them more than 20 hrs straight. And they charge so quickly anyways…
@liongalahad: oh really well depends on use case I guess but I have a pair of non ANC headphones with 20 hours battery life, and they are getting very annoying how frequently I need to charge them after more than a year of use.
I also never use 20 hours in one go, but it's a big difference to another pair I have which goes 30+ hours. I find nearly every few days I hear "battery 50%" (my headphones tell me the battery everytime you switch on - and I usually charge all my devices when it hits 50% or 40% so I never run out of battery)
while having 30+ hours means I only charge once a week. funny how it works out.
as you probably also experience, always have many other things to charge and that one thing that doesn't need to be charged as regularly is great. reduces how many things you are checking.
@harshbdmmaster718: I use my 700's mostly in my office so I just leave them to charge overnight.
At home I have a pair of QC35 I use with my laptop or TV and I use them for 3-4 hours max each time, so I can go for many days before needing charge easily, but I often charge them when I dont use them anyway… so in my case I actually feel the battery life is very good. Im sure there are other cases and other circumstances where more battery life would be sweet, like in your case
Noticed the Sony WH-1000XM5 have better noise cancelling on the mic, I do a lot of calls and sometimes work at cafe's/travel does anyone have any experience with these headphones and know how good their noise cancelling mic is?
Don't know about the mic, but for comfort and anc I'd rate the xm5 the worst out of all the Bose offerings and the xm3 and xm4. Which should account for something when you're spending that much.
'I'd rate the xm5 the worst out of all the Bose offerings'
interesting given the xm5 is a SONY model … ;-)
Bad grammar/english haha
The worst out of the xm3, xm4, and all the Bose offerings.
The mics on the QC35 and 45 are bad in noisy environments. I don't have personal experience with the Ultra, but my understanding is that it has improved noise cancelling on the mic.
agree the 35's are pretty bad at phone calls. The 700's on the other hand are top notch
At this price point might as well spend a bit more for the airpod maxes
so Ultra for $500 or B&W PX7 S2 for $354? (or $362 from Amazon AU if you click Other sellers).
https://www.amazon.com.au/Bowers-Wilkins-Headphones-Bluetoot…
Bose ANC probably better but PX7 S2 probably better sound and it’s a 2nd gen model. comparable because both having premium build quality. Both come with hard case.
if you look at raw frequency response looks like PX7 S2 goes much deeper in low bass. Bose Ultra losing energy from 30hz you can’t fix that with App EQ ime.
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/compare/bose-quietco…
in ANC obviously Ultra is better in cancelling low frequency (blue line lower is better).
I'd definitely go the s2 over these if money was a factor, however I'd be getting the S2e for $450 over the Bose in any other case. The e's are quite an upgrade in audio quality over the s2. Just have a feeling there will be a further 10% off with retravision or JB soon.
I didn't even know the S2e existed. 😂
I have the B&W PX, Sony XM5 and Bose QC45. In terms of listening, the B&W just sounds better to me and feels quality. But it is heavier and clamp force is stronger so if long listening session is a thing maybe you should find a place to test it out (listening and for comfort).
I have tried Bose Ultra and Sony XM5 back to back and both are very similar in terms of sound quality and comfort and my preference went with the Sony.
TBH you can’t go wrong with any and will enjoy your new cans
But it is heavier and clamp force is stronger
I read a lot that this is common with flagship premium build quality headphones with metal arms, real leather etc. so Bose Ultra is likely the same as PX7. strong clamp force.
My review: I purchased these and within months of owning i returned and bought XM5's, 10x better all round. there was no feature of these that i noticed that was better than the XM5s. If you want to use the microphone for these headphones forget about it, they sound horrid compared to the XM5's. please i suggest to just buy some XM5s instead of these, i regret buying them and was lucky to return them.
Oh really?
I thought the true upgrade for people with the XM4 or QC 35ii was actually to the Bose QC 45. I've heard the XM5 was better all-round than the XM4/QC 35ii, but they still didn't think to fix it's most glaring issue: call quality.
I thought the Bose QC 45 (like the Bose 700) were the first to finally fix that issue.
Nobody wants to pay triple the price for the Apple AirPod Max, despite the better quality, sound, and calling.
What's wrong with the XM5 call quality? Rtings has them at 7.7 for phone calls
They allowed you to return for a full refund within months?
That's a fairly decent exchange policy
Yep, my mic is cooked as well. And the controls are much much worse than my old XM4's.
'bought XM5's, 10x better all round. there was no feature of these that i noticed that was better than the XM5s. If you want to use the microphone for these headphones forget about it, they sound horrid compared to the XM5's. please i suggest to just buy some XM5s'
'horrid' ? - your 'review' reads an awful lot like vested interest promotional …
Yeah? go make a call with these then the xm5's and tell me which one sounds like a coles store microphone. I have no "vested interest promotional" intentions with this lmao, you're digging too deep bud, just trying to help others out with a pretty bad experience i had so they dont have too.
they took your headphones back after "months of owning"? Really?
tbh it's more common when you buy direct from brands. they have a better return policy (you will often see stuff like "we guarantee you are satisfied or your money back" - usually states months only period though) and will even extend that if you aren't happy.
problem is usually the prices are much higher buying direct from Bose etc. you don't see big discounts like at stores like JB or Amazon. so you are kinda paying for it.
I forgot what went wrong with them but there was some sort of "bug" that occurred quite frequently on them without the most frequent update, returned them to JB for the XM5's and i think i got lucky with the staff that day too.
Barely an upgrade from the QuietComfort/SC:
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/compare/bose-quietco…
So my OG QC35’s are still good enough? Replaced the pads on them but after 10 years, they still sound pretty good. Will the 45’s/XM5’s/Ultra’s melt my brain when cranking some phat beats?
If you're still enjoying them, they're an amazing pair of headphones. You're not going to notice a huge difference with any of the headphones you mentioned. The main reason I ended up replacing my QC35s was because I wanted USB-C charging.
Yeah! That micro USB is annoying, but funnily enough I’m finding more and more uses for the cords.
I have QC35, and QC35ii, 45SE and just bought SC the other day half price from JBHiFi.
QC35 are perfectly fine so just keep using them until they break or you want something else - yeah I've replaced pads several times with eBay $8 ones that are perfectly fine.
I suspect the 45 SE noise-cancelling may be slightly better than the 35, and I was told the SC was slightly better than the 45 SE - that's what I want for listening in noisy environments - I can't enjoy audiophile media if there is traffic noise and other background noise disturbing me.
NC also protects my hearing - I tried Apple AirPod Pros claimed to be excellent NC - tested them with all different sized silicone ear fittings - NC was zip, zero, nada - at the first busy road pedestrian crossing just to hear a spoken podcast and distinguish the words enough I would have had to turn up the volume so loud it would definitely have risked damaging my hearing. I don't want that.
Oh - the main benefit for me with the 45 is the EQ adjustments in the Bose Music app on my mobile - not huge but enough to make a difference. As my other comment, being old with best hearing perhaps between 125Hz-3kHz I actually have it set to -10 Bass, -5 Mid, 0 Treble - so I think my bass hearing is still good - at least over 125Hz
'Will the 45’s/XM5’s/Ultra’s melt my brain when cranking some phat beats?'
sounds like a wish to do the opposite - and maybe lose your hearing before old age - "What's that you say !?"
I recently read a tip and set a maximum volume limit on my iPhone:-
Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Headphone Safety, select "Reduce Loud Audio" and set the limit to 75 dBA - still sounds fine to me and shouldn't damage my hearing …
Hey, thanks for the awesome write up!
I’m getting on a bit and after a life spent near things that go bang and things that go fast, my ears are probably not as great as they used to be. I still enjoy great sound, but don’t need the pounding bass I craved as a youngster. More after that mid range sound quality but based on the comments in here, I think the current warhorse will see me through a fair while yet.
Much appreciated!
Looks like I'll be making a bad financial decision soon >:)
Really not worth it, my QC35’s are still going strong and sound just the same in my opinion. I really dislike the "Your phone is connected" voice every time you start these up.
The annoying thing of the 35's is the micro USB. And if you use them to make phone calls they're not great for background noise
Agreed - I realistically only use it on flights so not too much of a bother for me. MicroUSB sucks though.
If you have QANTAS Points Club plus, it's cheaper there. $506.74 plus 2000 points delivery, with PCP, it's $456.06 plus 2000 points for delivery.
Got these, and the microphone sounds like I'm underwater every second word. Anyone experienced this and know a fix, or do I need to return them?
No need to spend that much on headphones…
Purchased and returned. Not worth it, microphone is horrible (underwater sound). Controls are far better on my QC 35 II, will stick with it for now.
It's back.
REEEEEEEEEEEE