CommunityBest daily deals

All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (1st Gen)1 / 4
In their words

@eager_pulsar_84 · Owner-reported

Owned under a month · Still using it: no, stopped · Posted

The ANC is not extremely good, it just reduces it a little bit, but many cheaper headphones can do a similar job.

  • Comfort · better than expected
  • Mic on calls · better than expected
Would not buy again

Own it? Your review joins these

Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying · Sign-in needed to publish · Photo optional

Leave an owner review →
Bose

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (1st Gen)

Current price · Amazon US
$169
Check Price on Amazon

Price last checked 19m ago

Noise Isolation
8.2/ 10

Noise Isolation — measured in the SoundGuys lab.

Owners (1)
0of 1
Buy againOwner reported

Would not buy it again; has stopped using it.

Owned under a month.

  • Comfort over long sessions1 better
  • Mic in voice chat1 better

Key specs

Battery Life Wireless
27 hBelow average
27 h
11 h100 h

below average for over-ear headphones — based on 159 of 242 we've cataloged.

Charging Method
USB-CMost common
Usb-c89%Micro usb9%Others2%

Usb-c is the most common — on 89% of the 138 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).

Bluetooth Version
5.1
5.027%5.326%5.216%5.17%

5.1 appears on 7% of the 152 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).

Weight
240 gBelow average
240 g
133 g420 g

below average for over-ear headphones — based on 200 of 242 we've cataloged.

Battery

Battery Life Wireless
27 h
Charging Method
USB-C
Full Charge Minutes
15 min
Battery Life Anc On
24 h
Battery
Yes
Fast Charging
Yes

Connectivity

Bluetooth Version
5.1
Bluetooth Codec
SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Lossless
Multipoint Devices
2 devices
Headphone Jack
Yes
USB Charging
Yes
Platform Compatibility
PC, Mobile
Wireless Protocol
Bluetooth

Design

Weight
240 g
Foldable
Yes

Build

Material Chassis Primary
Metal frame with plastic and pleather
Water Resistance
No

Features

Companion App
IOS + Android
Eq Customization
Presets only
Auto Pause
Yes

Sound

Acoustic Design
Closed-back
Ambient Mode
Standard
Anc Modes
Off,anc,transparency
Noise Cancellation Type
Active

Microphone

Microphone
Yes

SoundGuys review

SOUNDGUYS rating
7.9/ 10
Recommended
CB
Reviewed byChase BernathReviewed October 2024
Isolation8.2
Comfort & fit8.0
Connectivity5.0
Build quality7.5
Design7.0
Portability8.0

The verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) represent a solid value option for those seeking good noise cancellation and sound quality at $179. While they excel in core audio performance and feature a practical 5-band EQ app, the documented connectivity issues—including right earbud dropouts and Bluetooth Multipoint instability—prevent a stronger recommendation. The large, plastic case and fin design issues are secondary concerns. These earbuds are best suited for stationary or light mobility use; if you frequently move between devices or travel in busy environments, test connectivity first.

✓Liked: Excellent sound quality with U-shaped frequency response that matches most people's preferences, Class-leading active noise cancellation that reduces most noises by over 80%, New 5-band custom equalizer in the Bose QC Earbuds app for sound customization, Compact earbud design without a stem that rests fully within the ear

✕Could be better: Frequent connectivity issues with earbud dropouts, especially the right earbud, persisted across two units tested, Bluetooth Multipoint causes connection stutters and dropouts when enabled, Large earbud design may cause discomfort for those with small ears, Massive charging case with plastic construction feels cheap and doesn't fit in small pockets

Read the full SoundGuys review →

What a reader who owns the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (1st Gen) reports after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.

Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.

1 owner review

EPEvery author writes under a generated pseudonym; a member can choose to show their name and photo beside it. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned under a month · Still using it: no, stopped · Posted

Would not buy again

The ANC is not extremely good, it just reduces it a little bit, but many cheaper headphones can do a similar job.

  • Comfort · better than expected
  • Battery · better than expected
  • Mic on calls · better than expected
Showing 1 of 1 owner review · sorted by newest

Sign-in needed to publish.

Questions from readers

What readers ask about the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (1st Gen), answered by the people who own it.

Nobody has asked the owners yet.

Ask the first question →

Features & Opinions

More from the team ›

Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.

Bose ditched the headphone jack without ditching the headphone jackThis is the one cable I want every pair of USB-C headphones to include.Dave CarrDave CarrVideo Producer/WriterSonos or Bose? Here's how I'd choose my home theaterBoth systems provide an immersive experience, but what you plan to add later could make one a much better fit.Dave CarrDave CarrVideo Producer/WriterSkip the $129 Bose SoundLink Micro: Here are 2 look-alikes I'd buy for lessYou don't have to spend a lot of money to get a great ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker. Here's two I'd recommend instead.Dave CarrDave CarrVideo Producer/WriterBose SoundTouch is officially dead, but your speakers may still surviveBose didn’t completely brick SoundTouch speakers, but the shutdown still changed what owners originally paid for.Dave CarrDave CarrVideo Producer/WriterDon't buy the JBL Charge 6. Buy these three speakers insteadThe JBL Charge 6 is a solid speaker, but these three alternatives may be worth buying instead.Dave CarrDave CarrVideo Producer/WriterApple just took down Bose at their own gameFor decades, Bose has prided itself on this one major advantage of their headphones and earbuds. Now, Apple has beat them at their own game.Chase BernathChase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help youChristian ThomasChristian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasChristian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.Tom TriggsTom TriggsContributor

More Over-Ear Headphones

See our top picks ›
Sony WH-1000XM5Editor's Choice
Over-Ear Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5

8.6/10SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
OwnersAll 5 ›

3 of 5 would buy again

5 owners · owners report ~40 h per charge vs 40 h claimed

Comfort beat their expectations

— @zesty_otter_44

Expected more from the fit and build

— @brisk_timpani_14

The battery beat their expectations

— @lello75
$199.99at Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Sony ULT WEAR
Over-Ear Headphones

Sony ULT WEAR

8.2/10SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
OwnersAll 2 ›

0 of 2 would buy again

2 owners · 2 photo-verified

The noise cancelling beat their expectations

— @brisk_piccolo_88 · Photo

The battery beat their expectations

— @nimble_birch_87 · Photo
$148at Amazon
Buy on Amazon