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Don't fix what ain't broke.
A 7.1 puts its noise isolation / ANC in the top quarter of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 86 of the 240 we've cataloged.
below average for over-ear headphones — based on 150 of 240 we've cataloged.
Usb-c is the most common — on 87% of the 135 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 240).
5.1 appears on 6% of the 145 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 240).
Bluetooth appears on 44% of the 215 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 240).
The Bose QuietComfort 45 has all the parts to be a great ANC headset, but it doesn't quite have the finish. Sound quality isn't all that great, even if the ANC is among the best in class.
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Measured frequency response (dB) against the SoundGuys house target — the dashed curve. The closer the measured line tracks the target, the more neutral the tuning; peaks ride above the target, dips fall below it.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | -0.5 |
| 25 | 2.7 |
| 32 | 4.6 |
| 40 | 5.1 |
| 50 | 4.5 |
| 63 | 3.5 |
| 80 | 2.9 |
| 100 | 2.5 |
| 125 | 1.8 |
| 160 | 0.7 |
| 200 | -0.1 |
| 250 | -0.9 |
| 315 | -1.7 |
| 400 | -2.2 |
| 500 | -1.8 |
| 630 | -1.0 |
| 800 | -0.3 |
| 1000 | -0.0 |
| 1250 | 1.5 |
| 1600 | 4.8 |
| 2000 | 7.0 |
| 2500 | 13.6 |
| 3150 | 15.5 |
| 4000 | 14.0 |
| 5000 | 12.0 |
| 6300 | 13.0 |
| 8000 | 5.3 |
| 10000 | 10.8 |
| 12500 | 14.0 |
| 16000 | 4.3 |
| 20000 | -26.3 |
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 1.1 |
| 26 | -0.4 |
| 33 | -0.6 |
| 41 | -0.7 |
| 52 | -0.5 |
| 65 | -0.8 |
| 82 | -2.5 |
| 103 | -3.0 |
| 130 | -3.3 |
| 163 | -1.0 |
| 205 | -0.8 |
| 259 | 3.9 |
| 325 | 9.7 |
| 410 | 8.1 |
| 516 | 10.8 |
| 613 | 11.5 |
| 772 | 11.5 |
| 972 | 12.7 |
| 1220 | 18.5 |
| 1540 | 21.6 |
| 1940 | 34.2 |
| 2440 | 32.8 |
| 3070 | 33.4 |
| 3870 | 39.5 |
| 4870 | 40.9 |
| 6130 | 36.0 |
| 7720 | 39.8 |
| 9720 | 43.1 |
| 12200 | 28.9 |
| 15400 | 33.3 |
| 19400 | 37.5 |
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 0.8 |
| 26 | 4.0 |
| 33 | 12.4 |
| 41 | 18.2 |
| 52 | 20.5 |
| 65 | 20.3 |
| 82 | 18.3 |
| 103 | 22.7 |
| 130 | 23.4 |
| 163 | 24.3 |
| 205 | 26.5 |
| 259 | 27.4 |
| 325 | 26.5 |
| 410 | 27.0 |
| 516 | 28.5 |
| 613 | 27.1 |
| 772 | 21.3 |
| 972 | 18.6 |
| 1220 | 14.2 |
| 1540 | 14.6 |
| 1940 | 22.0 |
| 2440 | 29.3 |
| 3070 | 29.2 |
| 3870 | 41.2 |
| 4870 | 41.2 |
| 6130 | 35.6 |
| 7720 | 40.0 |
| 9720 | 43.8 |
| 12200 | 31.5 |
| 15400 | 35.7 |
| 19400 | 37.7 |
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