Bose QuietComfort Ultra test: excellence is there
Bose has resurrected the Ultra name for its latest high-end headphones as well as the new headphones discussed in this review. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones wowed us. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones completely convinced us with their performance and audio quality. But how does it measure up against other big names such as Sony's WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max? This is what we will see…
The design of the Bose QC Ultra
The design of the QC Ultra helmet is completely new. This is something of a cross between the previous flagship model, the Bose Headphones 700 and the QuietComfort 45 .
The QC Ultra incorporates an aluminum stirrup and arms that slide in the headband to allow the support to be adjusted to different body shapes. We found the adjustment difficult to make with the helmet on our head because the stirrups are quite hard to slide. This has the advantage of preventing the adjustment from moving as soon as you take the helmet off or put it back on.
But once you find the right fit, the QC Ultra is very comfortable to wear, even for prolonged use. Watching a film, several episodes of a series or listening to music for several hours does not cause any discomfort or fatigue. On the other hand, it may cause some heating when used in a hot environment or if you exert some effort. But that's the lot of most over-ear headphones.
Bose also reworked the hinge system, so the headset folds completely flat for easy storage in the carrying case it comes with.
As always, the Bose finish is impeccable, both in terms of materials and adjustments. The high-end impression is real, which is the least given the high price of this headset.
photo credit: Marc ZaffagniThe finish of the Bose QC Ultra is impeccable
The comfort of the QC Ultra also comes from its weight (254 g). It is barely heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM5 (249 g) but much less than the Apple AirPods Max (385 g).
For controls, the headset combines two physical buttons and a raised tactile area located on the right earpiece which acts as a slider for volume adjustment. These controls are easy to use blindly and the volume control is responsive and precise.
photo credit: Marc ZaffagniThe QC Ultra's foldable design makes it easy to store and transport
The main multifunction button allows you to pause/play music, skip songs (press twice) or go back (press three times) and also answer/end a phone call. A long press is used to switch between noise reduction mode, transparency mode and immersion mode. The latter combines noise reduction with the new audio spatialization function with head tracking, called Immersive Audio.
A long press on the volume touch area triggers a shortcut that can be configured for one of the following four functions: hear the battery level, change Immersive Audio (still, moving and off), access a voice assistant and resume playback on Spotify.
The features of the Bose QC Ultra
The main innovation that Bose is highlighting with this new model is Immersive Audio. This is the home version of spatial audio which is available on the QC Ultra headphones but also the latest QC Ultra headphones. According to Bose, immersive audio “ goes beyond special effects and creates a wider, more spacious soundstage so your content becomes multidimensional and layered, regardless of audio platform or device .” In particular, there is a new IMU chip (inertial unit with gyroscope and accelerometer) which allows head movements to be monitored.
The QC Ultra has two immersive sound modes: a “still” mode, without head tracking, and a “motion” mode that uses head tracking and allows the audio to “ move with you, so may he always be in front of you .”
Using the Immersive Audio function widens the soundstage and gives it a more ethereal quality. It brings a real plus to listening to music. But you should know that it has a significant impact on autonomy.
Bose announces 24 hours at moderate volume, with noise reduction activated. We drop to 6 p.m. when immersive audio is activated.
The rendering of transparency mode (Attentive in the Bose application) is still as natural and realistic. Bose has added a new ActiveSense function. If external noise becomes too noticeable, ActiveSense adds a small dose of RBA to promote comfort when listening to music. This feature is similar to the AirPods Pro 2's Adaptive Audio, but it is not available on the AirPods Max because it requires the H2 chip which is not present on this model.
It is possible to create a personalized audio mode by defining the level of noise reduction, the activation or not of immersive audio (moving or still) and whether or not to use the windproof function for use in outside. You can also fine-tune the audio profile according to your preferences using the equalizer.
Thanks to sensors located in the headphones, playback pauses when you remove the headphones. It starts again as soon as you put it back in place. And if you put the headset down and forget to turn it off, it goes into standby mode to preserve battery life. You can also set it from the app so that it turns off completely after a certain time.
photo credit: Marc ZaffagniThe control buttons and touch area for volume adjustment (protruding bar) are located on the right earbud of the Bose QC Ultra
The QC Ultra has a multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 connection, which allows it to pair with two devices simultaneously and switch between them. This is what we tested by connecting the headset to a Pixel 7 and a Windows 11 laptop. This mode is particularly practical, for example for listening to music on the computer and being able to take a phone call without leaving the helmet.
The audio quality of the Bose QC Ultra headphones
We chose to compare the QC Ultra's performance to its two closest high-end competitors, namely Sony's WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max. The Bose headphones use the same speakers as the Headphones 700. However, the sound is still improving.
Indeed, the Ultra's sound is slightly cleaner and more revealing, with deep, well-defined bass. The gain in audio quality comes from the more efficient audio processor.
The Sony XM5 and AirPods Max are also great headphones. The Sony has a slightly warmer sound profile than the Bose. But the latter looks a little more natural than the AirPods Max. However, we must keep in mind the subjective part of everyone's appreciation of audio quality which also depends on musical tastes.
On most of the tracks we listened to, there was a noticeable difference when Immersive Sound was active. The soundstage is more open, the sensation of depth is perceptible, the separation of the instruments more marked. The difference is clearly noticeable when you turn off the Immersive Audio. The return to the classic stereo effect gives the sensation of a less punchy sound, but also a little more natural. Note also that the quality of this sound effect depends on that of the recording and that it tends to accentuate certain imperfections.
The default EQ setting is well balanced and we didn't find it necessary to change it.
Our test took place on the streaming services Deezer, Spotify and Qobuz. We covered various musical styles (pop, rock, electro, hip-hop, jazz) with a listening pleasure that did not vary. The Bose QC Ultra offers all the versatility and musicality suitable for all genres. Using the headset in wired mode (3.5 mm to 2.5 mm cable provided) did not make a noticeable difference in listening quality. Most smartphones no longer have a headphone jack, it is a shame that Bose has not taken advantage of USB-C connectivity to offer a fully digital wired connection.
Immersive sound for listening to podcasts is less convincing. Indeed, we found that it adds a sort of echo that gives vocals a somewhat metallic tone. Personally, we preferred to cut it to obtain a more natural look.
Noise reduction and voice calls with the Bose QC Ultra
Whether it's active noise reduction (RBA) or hands-free calls, the QC Ultra's performance is simply excellent. There are two modes of RBA: Silent mode and Immersion mode. Silence mode activates the extremely effective “classic” noise reduction. Immersion mode pushes RBA to the max and adds immersive sound with motion tracking.
Walking along the side of a busy road, we couldn't hear the cars passing a few meters from us at all. Each headset and earphone that we test is entitled to a cleaning session with our particularly noisy stick vacuum cleaner. A test that could not be more revealing of the quality of the RBA in which many candidates were found wanting. The QC Ultra performed brilliantly. Not the slightest parasitic noise to disturb our listening to music. The feeling of being in a bubble is total.
For voice calls, the headset uses five microphones per earbud. The performance is there. Even in noisy environments, our speakers heard minimal background noise and our voice was clear. This makes the QC Ultra an ideal headset for both teleworking and open office environments as well as public places.
This is a significant difference from the QC Ultra headphones. Bose says it has improved hands-free call quality with dynamic microphone mixing and adaptive filters that are supposed to make voices more intelligible in noisy environments.
But we found that the QC Ultra still lets in more background noise than competing models like the AirPods Pro 2. They work very well in quiet environments. But during our test in town, our interlocutors complained of a marked background noise. The clarity of our voice was considered satisfactory, but as soon as we stopped speaking, the annoying hubbub took over again.
If you are hesitating between the Bose QC Ultra headset or earphones and the quality of voice calls is one of your primary criteria, it is certainly with the headset that you will obtain the best comfort of use.
Bose QC Ultra vs AirPods Max
The AirPods Max is a very good high-end headset with a unique design but a high price. It is primarily aimed at users of Apple products who can benefit from exclusive features. Conversely, the Bose QC Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5 are more agnostic and suitable for both Android and iOS users. The Bose's noise reduction is a little better than the Apple headphones and its carrying case is also more discreet.
The other factor that doesn't quite work in favor of the AirPods Max is that it arrived in 2020. There is a good chance that Apple will renew it during 2024.
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