If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years of tech reporting it’s that you should never say Bose makes good products. Bose, like Apple, is a lightning rod for informed and uninformed attacks from both the pro and con camps and to say they do things well – or poorly – is a dangerous proposition. That said, I’m here to tell you that if you travel a lot then you should get the QuietComfort 15 headphones.
I tested these headphones during three long overseas flights. I’ve been a fan of the QuietComforts for a few years now and always wore the QC3s, the smaller version of the original QuietComfort headphones. However, the noise reduction built into the new model is quite staggering. In an airplane cabin turning these headphones on and off shows you how effectual they are. Instead of the steady, buzzing hum of the airplane you hear silence.
The music and audio quality are also excellent. I’ve tested a few headphones in my day and I’ve always gone back to Bose. This model takes one AAA battery which lasts 35 hours, give or take. It has a removable cable and is large enough to cover the average pair of ears.
Compared to the QC2 the QC15 noise canceling is strikingly more effective. This is an important point and it may be worth going ahead with the upgrade. Compared with other noise-canceling models I’ve tried I’d say these are the best.
Now for the caveats: when the headphones are out of juice, they’re useless. They don’t just pass through the audio. Instead, if the circuitry is off, the headphones are off. This is a huge issue if you run out of battery half-way to Djibouti but has yet to happen to me with either the QC3s or the QC15s. Thankfully this model takes standard batteries.
The other caveat is the price. $299.95 is pretty steep for headphones while other noise canceling models cost a third of that. Considering the QC3s are $349, however, it’s not too bad.
Bottom Line
Bose is a hard nut to crack. They make great noise canceling headphones but I think most audiophiles bristle at their various claims of audio quality, especially in some of their higher-end audio systems. I’m not music nut but I have found the QC3s – and now the QC15s – to be faithful to the source without too much bass and the comfort and noise-canceling seal the deal. If you travel, give them a try.
Noise isolation trumps noise cancellation.
If you can handle having something in your ear hole, consider using in ear systems. I’m a big fan the Steinhauser X10.
Plus, with in-ear systems you can fall sleep with them in and not wreck the headphones as I did with the Bose QC2.
I’m not sure I agree with that. Noise isolation earbuds can be uncomfortable, and to me it feels like having a headcold the way that it blocks out the world. Noise cancellation on the other hand removes most of the noise but doesn’t have the same effect. If I could justify $300 for these headphones, I’d probably get them.
Or you could go headphones even a drummer can’t hear http://www.extremeheadphones.com/ex-29.html
-29dB sounds good to me.
Great review, I’m sold – I’ve struggled buying Noise Cancelling crap headphones for years, I don’t care the price I just want something that works. The effect of listening to a plane hum and traveling in silence on long haul flights is night and day on your body..
I used to have QC2 too, but switched to Shure’s in-ear noise isolation phones. They are more portable and do better job with background noise reduction.
Bose sucks!
Bose rocks!
There, got that out of the way for you. Also the Denon AH-NC732K cans are great if you are on the Bose sucks side of things. http://is.gd/3BGDK
Actually, you are wrong about the audio not going through when the headphones run out of power. The sound is still going through but it’s very very quiet and so power is needed to amplify the sound.
Active cancelling doesn’t do as good a job as noise isolation (check the dB stats). I have had the same pair of Ultimate Ears for the past six years and they are wonderful for plane rides. They are small, don’t require batteries to function, and I can’t hear anything around me.
Your intro about good vs. bad, saying something is good vs. bad, apple vs. bose, etc … makes absolutely no sense.
Why are you doing such a product plug? This seems a bit strange?
It worked for me. Whenever I read the word Bose, I always take it to indicate that I should buy other sound equipment.
I use QC2s. Have used them for years. I also use Shure earphones as well, and though they do not have noise cancelling, they still are pretty effective at cutting out the noise.
Love them both. Will never buy anything other than Bose or Shure.
The last thing I want on a plane is to cancel out the “steady, buzzing hum” of the jet.
The “steady, buzzing hum” of the jet is perfect white-noise to mask crying babies, snoring fat men, yakking women, clanking silverware, music earphones turned up too loud, and rattling drinks carts. Sound-cancelling headphones do nothing for these sounds.
Make headphones that can cancel out those sounds, not the wonderful white noise of the jet’s hum, and I’ll buy a pair.
Have you tried the Audio Technica ATH ANC7 – they are only $120 (or less if you can find them); they work OK (but you lose noise cancelling) without the battery, and the sound quality is better. The noise cancelling is a little less than with the Bose – that has something to do with why the sound is better. I use them on my train commute and they are excellent.
>>The other caveat is the price. $299.95 is pretty steep for headphones
In the UK £249 – thats $405!
Never been a fan of Bose, and traveling with those bulky headphones would be cumbersome. The Shure SE310’s have been one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. I don’t hear anyone or anything on the plane, and can listen to music and watch movies with absolute clarity.
I went the custom IEM route a few years ago and it was the best decision for me. Bought them through Ultimate Ears but the price was about 4x the Bose.
JL, I too went the in ear monitor route just last year. I love them instead of having big bulky head phones on my head which mess up my hair. Bought mine through Earsound Customs for $649 which is about 2x the price of the Bose.
I bought a pair of Bose 901 speakers in Detroit in 1971. They have been moved all over the world (3 continents, 7 cities), and I still get a thrill whenever I use them.
38 years of hard use. Consider me a fan.
Did you know Adam and Eve?
Agree with Colby there – TechCrunch trying to be CNet? What next? Digital camera? Toaster?
BTW, you can’t hear “silence.” That’s like when auto manufacturers talk about adding “lightness.” ;)
I’ve had the QC3’s for over a year now and I have to say of all the seemingly dumb tech purchases I have made over the years this is without a doubt the best expensive toy I have owned.
They really are amazing and somehow worth the $$$
+1
i’ve had the QC3s for little less than 6 months and not only do i love them when flying, but at home where i live on a busy street in the middle of the city. sometimes i don’t even hear my wife trying to get my attention! :D
nice!
nice!!
Keep buying $x00 headphones, suckers.
I had bought the QC2’s and loved them. And after about two years of use, they snapped and I couldn’t quite bring myself to spend the money to get a new pair.
I’ve bought a lot of alternatives, both noise-canceling and noise-isolation. For me and the environments I am in, the QC2’s were easily the best experience. That doesn’t mean they would be the best for everyone, but I was really happy with them and I am pretty interested in hearing about the new QC15’s.
Traveled overseas, all over the states visited honduras my place of birth many trips and my bose QC3′S always performed well.
I really dont know why people like bashing bose. i am a fan and if I am looking into the 300 range for speakers I always look at bose first.
They are just awesome.
Considering the 15’s dont know yet.
You are correct, sir! Audiophiles don’t hate BOSE, we just think that 95% of their product isn’t worth the sticker price and that their claims are a bit absurd. With that being said, their top end QC headphones were great when I tried the QC3s. Honestly, they were the only BOSE product I ever liked. BUT, Garance made a valid point… These headphones break a lot quicker than most and for $300 it takes away the buyers confidence. Hell, even at $100+ it makes you not want to stay loyal to the brand.
hey
actually my headset broke too. but the bose reps at the seattle airport were nice enough to swap the headset to a new on the spot. no recipt. no question i showed the salesman. the problem and he gave me a new pair. so give bose a try talk to them and you will be pleased with their service. how ever i am disapointed with the ear bud they sold me.
I can’t hear the silence because all I see is this darkness…
I wonder how many people take my approach, which has worked flawlessly for the last 5 or so years – For long flights I just put in a pair of $3.00 in-ear plugs from the drugstore, and then stick on a pair of $25 Sony/whoever earphones that don’t leak-noise too badly (I try to avoid annoying my seatmate) – and then just crank the volume to the max.
The entire universe disappears.
The best part is when you go to sleep – you can plug in your favorite White Noise generator (I prefer TMsoft’s on my iPhone) and, between the earplugs, headset, and thunder/rain (that sounds like it’s outside or in the distance with the earplugs in) – I’m _fine_ sleeping next to a screaming baby. It’s like they aren’t there.
the hole point of buying noice cancceling headset is so you dont have to crank it up to the max.
but it if it works for you. great!
The Bose headphone are not cheap, but IMHO, they are worth the price. I think they are great, and Bose is also very good to it’s customers. I had the original QC1 and was able to upgrade to the QC2 for $50 when it came out. When the headband rubber started flaking after about three years, long after warrantee had expired, rather than refurbishing them for about the same cost, I was able to get a brand new pair for about $75. I won’t fly without them.
My $300+ QC, although amazing while working, broke after 1 year and a couple months. Bose’s only solution was to have me buy their newest pair (for an additional $300) or get a replacement for an additional $100.
Mind you, the cheap plastic and no pivot point that contributed to my headphones breaking off from the headband was not fixed.
Buy at your own risk. Their customer service is crap for such a high priced product.
I have an unfixable pair of these. The construction is incredibly cheap. I personally would not recommend them, and based on my experience with these headphones won’t be buying Bose again.
take em to the bose store or a kiosk like at the airport stands. they are very helpfull
These are great but they do not cancel out the gaseous rectal discharge that people emit during long haul flights. That’s killer
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years of tech reporting it’s that you should never say Bose makes good products.”
Not without reason. Bose _is_ overpriced, not junk, but terribly overpriced for what you get. Apple is 50% competence and 50% marketing. Bose is like 20% competence, that’s how many people look at them.
The quality of the QC2 is better than usual, but the price/benefit ratio is as poor as ever. The price sounds like HiFi which they’re clearly not. You get better audio and processing quality from Sony – for $50…
Audio quality really sucks. There’s a nice wow effect but it sounds processed and “artificial”. Try AKG and witness some real audio quality and comfortable wearing.
And wtf, did you get $ for this post?
Read through so many articles – had the Bose QC15, had to give them to my girlfriend (flight anxiety …) and believe me folks, I have tried everything under $300 I could get my hands on. I love Sony products and all the other brands. I know of the audiophils’ views on Bose, but I am getting myself again the QC15s. Worked best for me. If it’s junk – well, guess that’s what works best for me … good thing at the end I get to decide where to put my money and with what I personally live best. For me: QC15 – currently.
I bought the new QC15’s and I must say they sound pretty good, not great. I have owned Shure noise canceling headphones and when I had them in my ear it felt like I had paper stuffed in my ear. The QC15’s are incredibly comfortable and provide a decent amount of bass. If you are one that listens to your headphones with the volume at the max, these are NOT the headphones for you. The sound gets distorted at the highest volume.
The $300 price tag is pretty high I suppose, but if that is a problem for you Bose will allow you to pay the price off in 6 or 12 months. I am an electronic junkie and feel that if a product gets your attention then buy it, regardless of the price.
Overall, I will say that I felt that I made a good investment in a good product. Are there others out there that have similar or better features, I would say yes but it is like comparing a BMW to Honda in my opinion. The Honda may have all of the features or more, but it’t not a BMW.
You have to be heavily medicated to think that Bose sound quality even remotely resembles higher end, audiophile quality headphones.
Would you ever compare Hyundai Accent and Mercedes S-Class? I don’t think so. If you are looking for hi-quality headphones, you should look at either Grado or AKG, not Bose.
you sir is an idiot.
I am confused. The original reviewer says that in an airplane when you put on the Bose QC15 all you hear is silence. But someone else has reported that noise cancellation doesn’t mean you cancel out all the background noises.
If it doesn’t do that … then what the heck is noise cancellation?????
Can someone please explain. I can’t hear the movies on long haul flights and I need a pair of headphones to cancel out the background noise.
Hi,
Basically, noise cancelling is achieved by the noise cancelling headphones generating an “opposite” sound to the ambient noise around you. The headphones have a small micophone on them to “hear” what is going on around you. Whist the headphones do “cancel” out this noise they are not quick enough to react to intermittent noises like babies crying on planes for stewardess’s asking you “Chicken or Beef”, but WILL cancel out the constant drone of an airplanes engines for example….hope that helps.
By the way, I travel long distance regularly and would be interested in comments regarding the comfort levels of the Bose QC2, QC15 compared to say a pair od Audio Tehnica ATH ANC-7 headphones. I am considering all options.
I’ve been using my QC2’s for 5 years now and love them. They did break just like the others mentioned but I got a replacement from bose free of charge, no shipping costs, nothing. Bose customer service has my vote.
And I just bought a pair of QC15’s.
I am a little picky about my music sounding right, but I’m no audiophile. The QC2 sounds good to my ears.
I can’t stick ear buds in my ears they don’t fit or feel right. I even tried the noise isolating kind.
Only drawback to the QC’s is not being able to lean against something to sleep when you have these on, but with a pillow and a little adjusting I manage quite well.
ok. i hate bose. i hate the wave the lifestyle systems. but the 15 woowzer. i just got me a pair and love them. noice canceling is much better than any other headset and sound is made just right! not loud not to basefull. if you like hip hop go with dr dre’s Beat headset . but if you want something with clearity and enough base with noice canceling the 15 is the right choise. i got them at the denver airport and love them . recomand you to get them and try them for your self bose says they give like 30 days trail i am keeping mine but if you dont like it well just return it .