Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen headphones are among the best for noise cancelling

Over the years, I have reviewed dozens of noise cancelling headphones. When it comes to over ears, a few brands stand out. For fantastic noise cancellation, Bose always ranks within the top three. In fact, I wore out my 2006 Bose QuietComfort 3 (QC3) pair so much after donning them for every flight I took until the earcups started to fall off. Those headphones were discontinued in 2015, but Bose has continued with the QuietComfort line, most recently with the QuietComfort Ultra headphones that launched in 2023. Now, two years later, the company has an upgraded version called the QuietComfort Ultra 2^nd Gen. How are they better than the originals and are they worth the upgrade? I’m here to help.

What’s new with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2^nd Gen?

First, let’s break down what’s new about these headphones compared to the first-gen models. I’ll go into more detail about each, but here’s a quick look.

• Redesigned exterior with polished metal and new colours.
• Upgraded audio and noise cancellation, including more precise adaptive noise cancellation.
• Lossless USB-C audio.
• Cinema Mode with clearer dialogue.
• Deeper bass, more natural highs at louder volumes.
• Extended battery life.
• Smarter on-head detection with faster start-up time.
• Automatic Bluetooth standby with a deep slow energy mode.

Comparison chart

Here are the specs broken down into this handy chart.

My time with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2^nd Gen

To say I was excited to try the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2^nd Gens would be an understatement. I wanted to look at all the most important aspects, including design and comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation, and battery life. Full disclosure: I did not try the first-generation QuietComfort Ultras so I can’t compare them directly to one another. But using my extensive experience with noise cancelling headphones, I’m confident in being able to tell you if these count among the best premium noise-cancelling headphones right now.

Design and comfort

I received my review pair in the stunning limited-edition Midnight Violet (purple is my favourite colour), so that was a huge plus right off the bat. So many headphones come in basic finishes, so it’s nice to change things up. That said, if you want something less bold, they also come in Black, White, Desert Gold, and limited-edition Driftwood Sand.

They fit comfortably, the soft cups sufficiently covering my ears: I can instantly sense the passive noise cancellation without even triggering active noise cancelling (ANC). The new polished metal yokes and soft plush ear cushions give them a luxurious look and feel. While they don’t look nor feel like $1,000 headphones (nor are they), they don’t look or feel like a cheap $50 pair either. The adjustable head band fits nicely without putting pressure on my head while the earcups feel like cushiony pillows. I would easily wear these for hours on end (and look forward to doing so on an upcoming flight!)

Touch controls

Buttons include Bluetooth pairing and a multifunction button on the right earcup to play/pause and skip forward or back a track with one, two, or three presses. Press and hold it to cycle through modes, including Quiet, Aware with ActiveSense, Immersion, and Cinema.

There’s a volume slider on the side of the same earcup. Set a shortcut to touch and hold it to hear battery life status, change immersive audio modes, access your voice assistant, or resume Spotify. The controls are responsive, and I appreciate that the volume slider has a slight raise to it so you don’t have to fumble around trying to find it with your finger.

On-head detection

A feature I really love is on-head detection, which automatically detects when the headphones are on my head, pairs, and plays without me having to lift a finger. Take them off, lay them flat or fold them and put them in the case and they’ll automatically enter a low-power standby mode. This mode, says Bose, can reportedly last for months.

Sound quality

Sound quality is of tantamount importance with any pair of headphones, of course. So, I’m breaking down my assessments by category since there’s a lot to take in.

Wireless listening

As wireless noise cancelling headphones, this is likely how you’ll be primarily using them. They feature Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint connectivity. AptX Adaptive support ensures compatibility with lossless audio and low-latency processing with Snapdragon Sound certified devices. I listened to tunes from a variety of music streaming sources, including Apple Music and Spotify. I also listened to podcasts from Apple Podcasts and streaming video from Netflix.

I began with my usual reference track when reviewing headphones, Radiohead‘s “Creep.” It lacks the same depth and detail I get with more premium headphones. Bose is known for its bass, so I tried more bass-heavy tunes like “Seven Nation Army” from The White Stripes, and bass was wonderfully reproduced. The promise of deeper bass and more natural highs at louder volumes in these headphones is realized.

Lossless wired listening

I love that these headphones come with a USB-C audio cable so you can enjoy lossless listening from a device like a smartphone or tablet, as well as for low-latency audio when gaming. For audio purists, it’s a nice option to have when you want to listen to high-res files at 16-bit, 44.1kHz or 48kzHz.

Turning on lossless listening from my iPhone 17 Pro, I switched to a wired connection and tossed on Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons.” Her vocals were pure and detailed, the quality infinitely better with more depth and power. If you’re listening at home, I’d highly recommend plugging in the USB-C cable and listening this way.

Cinema Mode

Cinema Mode is basically Bose’s version of spatial audio, designed to help widen the soundstage, making dialogue clearer when you’re watching movies or playing games, as well as listening to podcasts. I tried this mode while listening to an episode of the Smartless podcast on Apple Podcasts and it sounds wonderful. Bose describes it as feeling like someone is “speaking to you and not at you” and I’d say this is a fair description. I felt as though I was in the room with the three hosts and their guest, not listening from afar.

I listened to the same scene in Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix that I watched while reviewing the Powerbeats Fit and enjoyed a similarly detailed and immersive experience.

Noise cancellation

Noise cancellation is where these headphones really shine. An updated algorithm supposedly improves ActiveSense in AwareMode, which is where the headphones can sense changes in ambient noise and adjust the filter accordingly in a smoother, more natural way. Consider if there’s a sudden loud roar of a crowd or an engine revving outside. I had the perfect opportunity to test this when, while out for a walk one morning, there were city workers fixing a broken water main. I strolled by without distraction, barely able to hear their machinery.

I love that you can adjust noise cancellation via a slider in the app. When turned all the way up, you really can’t hear a thing, like if you’re wearing earplugs. I wore them while writing this review, and even my fingers and nails tapping on the keyboard was completely unheard. Switch further to the left on the slide and you can slowly let in some sounds. Even at the halfway mark, the furnace noise in my house as the heat was on was barely noticeable. It’s clear Bose is still one of the best when it comes to noise cancellation.

Battery life

With a rated battery life of up to 30 hours per charge, you could take these headphones on a long-haul flight, wear them to your destination and back, and not even have to recharge them. If you use immersive audio, battery is reduced to 23 hours, but that’s still impressive. Want to extend it? Turn off ANC and they’ll last up to 45 hours. Through my entire review period of a few weeks, listening to tunes for an hour or so a few times per week, the battery is still going.

App controls

The app is your portal to adjusting all types of settings. You can switch among different custom listening modes and adjust EQ. Swap among noise cancellation modes and set shortcuts for the on-device buttons. The app is also where you’ll get automatic firmware updates, keeping the experience fresh. For Android phone users, there’s Google Fast Pair; I paired them to an iPhone 17 Pro and the process was super simple. There’s also Spotify Tap access from the app.

Should you upgrade?

There are additions in the new second-generation Bose Quiet Comfort Utra headphones that you won’t find in the older model. For those who value hifi sound, lossless audio is a big deal. Those who watch movies while traveling, playing games, or listening to podcasts might find Cinema Mode worth using. If you like to rock out, being able to crank them louder without distortion is appreciated. Other practical upgrades like increased battery life, improved design, and better on-head detection, all make these a valuable, albeit expensive, upgrade.

If noise cancellation is a priority for you, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2^nd Gen is among the best you’ll find right now. While overall sound quality isn’t the best I’ve heard from a pair of headphones in the last year, it will be sufficient for listeners who don’t have especially discerning tastes. Using the cable and a lossless audio source, the experience is vastly improved.

These headphones remind me of everything I love about Bose noise cancelling headphones. The noise cancelling just works, almost like magic. You sit back and melt away into the serene quiet, even in louder settings where other noise cancelling headphones just don’t cut it.

Who should get these headphones?

I’d recommend the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2s for frequent travelers or daily public transit commuters who want a good pair to wear on flights, trains, or subway rides that can cut through the noise. Balancing great overall sound quality with downright amazing noise cancellation, they’re a traveler or commuter’s dream.

Check out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2^nd Gen at Best Buy Canada.