Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2 debut with USB Audio

Bose has officially revealed the second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. While most of the updates are incremental and the headphones don’t deliver everything we hoped to see, there are a few key new features to get excited about.

For starters, one of our biggest complaints about the original QC Ultra headphones was their lack of support for lossless USB-C audio. We’re happy to report that the new headphones can now deliver 16-bit/44.1kHz or 48kHz audio directly from compatible devices, a crucial feature for users looking for wired lossless playback and something that was sorely missing from the Sony WH-1000XM6.

Bose has also added a new “Cinema Mode,” a tweak to its Spatial Audio feature that promises to improve dialogue clarity by projecting sound forward. We found that the Immersive mode on the original QC Ultra headphones negatively impacted the audio quality, causing channel imbalances, so we hope the new mode will be more enjoyable. Connectivity remains consistent with Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint pairing, aptX Adaptive support, and Spotify Tap integration.

Some cool quality-of-life improvements include a new on-head detection system, which can now reliably power the headphones on or off as you take them on or off your head without pressing the physical power button. Additionally, a new passive disconnect feature lets you simply lay the headphones flat to end the Bluetooth connection and enter a low-power standby mode that reportedly lasts for months.

Other core features appear mostly unchanged. You get ANC through 10 internal and external microphones, with improved adaptive noise cancelation, which Bose calls ActiveSense, to more effectively respond to sudden spikes of noise in your environment. Bose’s CustomTune technology also returns, which adjusts playback in real time based on each listener’s ear shape. Battery life is also slightly improved, reaching up to 30 hours (3 hours more than the last headphones). Users can also quick-charge for 3 hours of playback in just 15 minutes, and for the first time, you can use the headphones while they are charging via USB-C.

The design is still lightweight at ~583g with plush earcups and a faux leather headband. However, there’s still no IP rating, meaning the headphones remain ill-suited for workouts or inclement weather. Additionally, the Bose Music app only includes a basic three-band EQ. It lacks frequency-specific fine-tuning, which is a bummer, as we have been waiting for Bose to provide a more comprehensive custom EQ for years.

The new headphones’ MSRP is slightly higher at $449, placing them firmly in the premium tier despite competition from more affordable brands offering IP ratings, advanced EQs, and longer battery life. In addition to the basic Black and White, the headphones will also come in some new limited edition color options, like Midnight Violet and Driftwood Sand.