Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 review: Exceptional comfort, and class-leading active sound cancellation
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 build on a familiar design with subtle refinements that feel more polished. Picture: Bose.
I used to travel a lot and always hated the constant drone of aeroplane engines, so I picked up what I thought were the best ANC headphones at the time. Since the original Sony MDR-1000X Mark 1, the technology has come a long way. Over the past year, my go-to for travel has been the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but after using the Gen 2 for the last month, these have taken their place.
Bose hasn’t tried to reinvent the look here, and I think that’s the right call. The familiar oval ear cups and clean headband give these headphones a modern, dependable appearance that doesn’t try too hard. They sit neatly on the head and don’t draw unnecessary attention, which I appreciate when wearing them out and about.
There’s a subtle update to the finish. The metallic yoke now looks a bit shinier, adding a touch of visual flair. I was sent the gold version, which looks fresh and stylish, though it may feel a bit flashy depending on your taste. The Bose logo on each side matches the chrome gold finish of the yokes, and subtle gold speckles in the plastic add to the overall metallic look.
The rest of the build uses a soft matte plastic that feels solid and well put together. Key moving parts are reinforced with metal, which adds a sense of durability when adjusting the fit. The case remains compact thanks to the foldable design of the headphones, and that’s another reason I find them so good for travel.
Bose is so confident in the comfort of the QuietComfort line that it’s right there in the name. The Ultra Gen 2 weighs in at around 250g, which feels relatively light compared to most headphones I’ve reviewed recently, and they’re incredibly comfortable for long listening sessions.
The ear cups are soft and generously padded, and more importantly, deep enough that my ears never touch the inner drivers. It’s also great to see that the ear cushions clip into place, making them easy to replace over time.
I’ve worn these for long stretches without any discomfort, though I’d still recommend taking them off now and then for a short break.
The headband is wide and well cushioned, spreading weight evenly so there’s no pressure point on the top of the head. Combined with the low weight, the overall feel is effortless. Clamping force is just right, too, secure without ever feeling tight.
One small detail I appreciated was breathability. Even after extended use, my ears didn’t feel overly warm, which is something I often struggle with.
Controls are a mix of physical buttons and a touch-sensitive volume strip. The volume control is especially good, offering precise adjustments, and the buttons are large enough to find easily without looking.
Noise control includes class-leading active noise cancellation and a transparency mode that feels natural. With aware mode enabled, conversations sounded clear and well-positioned, and my own voice didn’t feel muffled, making it one of the most usable implementations I’ve tried.
There’s also an immersive audio mode that adds a sense of space. It works well for films, giving dialogue and background sounds more room to breathe, but I found it less convincing for casual videos and didn’t enjoy it for music.
Battery life reaches up to 30 hours with ANC enabled, and a quick 15-minute charge gave me a few extra hours when I needed it. While this is far from best in class, it’s still more than good enough.
They also support wired listening over USB-C, including higher-quality audio playback. This turned out to be my preferred way to listen to my high-resolution music library on a digital audio player. The included cable isn’t ideal due to its shorter length and thickness, but swapping it out for a longer braided one solved that easily.
I also used this setup with my MacBook, where it supports both audio output and input, making it a great option for high-quality calls.
Bluetooth connectivity is stable, and multi-point pairing lets you switch between devices seamlessly.
There’s also a smart power feature that turns the headphones off when set down, then reconnects quickly when picked up again. It worked reliably and helped extend battery life without any effort.
The sound profile leans warm, with a strong emphasis on bass. The low end has real depth, especially in the sub-bass. On some tracks, you can feel the rumble as much as hear it, which adds a real sense of presence. It also makes them great for movies and games.
The midrange holds up well, keeping vocals clear and forward enough to stay engaging. Treble is softer, giving the overall sound a smoother character that’s easy to listen to for long periods without fatigue. You can tweak the sound in the Bose app, but the EQ has only three bands.
Immersive audio is a nice extra, particularly for films and live recordings, where it adds a sense of space. That said, I generally preferred it off for regular music listening.
Active noise cancellation is among the best available. It handles low-frequency noise extremely well, as you’d expect, but what stands out is how effective it is with higher-frequency sounds like office chatter or café noise. I also noticed there’s no audible hiss when nothing is playing, which helps the whole experience feel clean and controlled.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 focuses on getting the essentials right rather than chasing features. It delivers excellent comfort, rich sound, and reliable performance, making it easy to live with day to day, whether you’re at home or on the move.
€399 Harvey Norman
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