Bose 789564-0050

The QC35 II has ANC in the 80th percentile and build quality in the 94th, making it a comfort and noise cancellation champ. But sound quality lands in the 20th percentile, which is rough for a Bose. At USD 153 to USD 200 these are a great travel buy, but don't pay more.

Let's talk about what these do well first. The noise cancellation is the headline feature, and it's still impressive. Three levels of ANC let you dial in how much of the world you want to block out, and the 80th percentile ranking puts it above most current mid-range options. The dual-microphone system does a decent job for calls, landing in the 76th percentile for mic quality. Not spectacular, but serviceable for conference calls and voice assistants.

But the sound is where things get dicey. The 20th percentile ranking for sound quality is a real letdown for a Bose product. The volume-optimized EQ does its thing, but the tuning is warm and safe rather than detailed or exciting. Owners consistently mention that wired mode reduces bass, which is a strange trade-off. And if you're thinking about gaming, don't. Wireless latency is noticeable, and the microphone straight up doesn't work in wired mode. That's a hard pass for anyone who wants one pair of headphones for everything.

Against the Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B, the Bose wins on comfort and build, but Sony's newer Bluetooth and better sound tuning make it the smarter buy for most people. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 absolutely destroys the QC35 II on sound quality, with a much more detailed and balanced signature, though you'll pay more for it. The Technics EAH-A800 offers better battery life and more modern features. Where the Bose still holds its own is pure comfort and that legendary ANC. If you're on a long flight and just want to disappear into a podcast, the QC35 II is still a top choice. But if you care about music quality, any of those competitors will serve you better.

The value proposition is mixed. The USD price spread is wild, ranging from USD 153 to USD 600 across 8 listings. At USD 153, these are a steal for the ANC and comfort alone. At USD 600, you're getting fleeced. The renewed listings on Amazon are where the real deals are, and given the 94th percentile build quality, buying refurbished is actually a reasonable gamble. Just make sure you're not paying more than USD 200 for a pair of headphones with Bluetooth 4.1 and sound in the 20th percentile. The budget score of 75.7 out of 100 reflects that these can be a great deal, but only at the right price.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II sits in a weird spot in 2024. It's got social proof in the 99th percentile and build quality in the 94th, which means people absolutely love these things and they hold up. But the sound signature lands in the 20th percentile, which is rough for a pair of headphones that originally sold at a premium. You're buying comfort, noise cancellation, and brand trust, not audiophile detail.

At 236g with a foldable design and 20 hours of battery, these are travel headphones through and through. The ANC is strong, landing in the 80th percentile, and the three adjustable levels are genuinely useful. But Bluetooth 4.1 is ancient by today's standards, and the wired mode has some quirks that'll annoy gamers and anyone who wants to plug into a laptop.

Skip these if you care about sound quality. The 20th percentile ranking means you're getting warm, safe tuning that lacks detail and clarity. Gamers should also look elsewhere, since the wireless latency and non-functional wired mic are dealbreakers. And if you need modern Bluetooth features like LE Audio or high-res codecs, Bluetooth 4.1 is simply too old. The studio score of 41.5 out of 100 confirms these aren't for critical listening or production work. Anyone who wants one pair of headphones for music, gaming, and calls should look at the Sony ULT WEAR or Technics EAH-A800 instead.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a comfort and noise cancellation machine with a sound signature that hasn't aged well. The 99th percentile social proof tells you people love these, and the 94th percentile build quality means they'll survive years of abuse. But the 20th percentile sound ranking is impossible to ignore. If you can find these for under USD 200, they're a solid buy for travel and office use. If you're paying more than that, you're better off with a newer pair from Sony or Sennheiser. These are great headphones for blocking out the world, not for critical listening.