Every editorial hub, scoped to earbuds.
Every editorial hub, scoped to headphones.
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.
1 / 14@swift_comet_37 · Owner-reported
Owned 1–6 months · Still using it: sometimes · Posted
The buttons are difficult to use. Also, the overall plastic quality is very poor. Everything else is almost perfect, but the poor quality of the plastic alone is enough to make me not want to buy it.
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
At 8.7, its noise cancelling beats 83% of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 64 of the 243 we've cataloged.
Would not buy it again; still uses it sometimes.
Owned 1–6 months.
below average for over-ear headphones — based on 160 of 243 we've cataloged.
Usb-c is the most common — on 89% of the 139 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 243).
5.4 appears on 10% of the 153 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 243).
Bluetooth is the most common — on 44% of the 252 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 243).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) Frequency Response (measured on a B&K 5128)
Click a line or a legend entry to highlight it. Click again to clear.Tap a legend entry to highlight its line. Tap again to clear.
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 7.0 |
| 25 | 8.9 |
| 32 | 9.5 |
| 40 | 8.5 |
| 50 | 6.9 |
| 63 | 5.1 |
| 80 | 4.6 |
| 100 | 3.6 |
| 125 | 2.3 |
| 160 | 0.5 |
| 200 | -0.7 |
| 250 | -1.7 |
| 315 | -2.4 |
| 400 | -2.8 |
| 500 | -2.5 |
| 630 | -2.0 |
| 800 | -1.6 |
| 1000 | -1.4 |
| 1250 | -0.2 |
| 1600 | 1.6 |
| 2000 | 6.1 |
| 2500 | 8.6 |
| 3150 | 7.4 |
| 4000 | 6.3 |
| 5000 | 3.8 |
| 6300 | 4.2 |
| 8000 | 5.1 |
| 10000 | 3.7 |
| 12500 | -3.1 |
| 16000 | -9.9 |
| 20000 | -18.8 |
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) Attenuation (measured on a B&K 5128)
Click a line or a legend entry to highlight it. Click again to clear.Tap a legend entry to highlight its line. Tap again to clear.
Solid lines: passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Dashed lines: total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -2.8 |
| 26 | 2.2 |
| 33 | 0.3 |
| 41 | 0.5 |
| 52 | 0.3 |
| 65 | -1.1 |
| 82 | -2.9 |
| 103 | -4.4 |
| 130 | -4.0 |
| 163 | 1.3 |
| 205 | 4.0 |
| 259 | 8.7 |
| 325 | 11.7 |
| 410 | 11.1 |
| 516 | 11.9 |
| 613 | 14.1 |
| 772 | 19.7 |
| 972 | 18.8 |
| 1220 | 21.3 |
| 1540 | 19.7 |
| 1940 | 24.6 |
| 2440 | 26.4 |
| 3070 | 24.7 |
| 3870 | 29.4 |
| 4870 | 40.2 |
| 6130 | 41.1 |
| 7720 | 51.0 |
| 9720 | 47.8 |
| 12200 | 46.7 |
| 15400 | 49.6 |
| 19400 | 36.2 |
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 9.1 |
| 26 | 13.1 |
| 33 | 21.3 |
| 41 | 26.8 |
| 52 | 24.4 |
| 65 | 19.8 |
| 82 | 22.2 |
| 103 | 24.9 |
| 130 | 27.3 |
| 163 | 27.9 |
| 205 | 27.2 |
| 259 | 26.7 |
| 325 | 29.8 |
| 410 | 33.8 |
| 516 | 38.4 |
| 613 | 34.4 |
| 772 | 34.4 |
| 972 | 28.3 |
| 1220 | 21.9 |
| 1540 | 24.3 |
| 1940 | 29.6 |
| 2440 | 26.7 |
| 3070 | 23.8 |
| 3870 | 28.2 |
| 4870 | 40.1 |
| 6130 | 42.3 |
| 7720 | 49.2 |
| 9720 | 44.5 |
| 12200 | 47.0 |
| 15400 | 50.0 |
| 19400 | 36.2 |
The verdict
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen.) are a solid set ofheadphones that compete well with the current ANC leaders. Though there are some rough edges, these are good headphones for those who don't want to tinker too much.
✓Liked: Decent sound, Good ANC, USB-C lossless, Price
✕Could be better: In-app EQ, Some connection issues, No IP rating
What a reader who owns the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd 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
SCEvery 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 1–6 months · Still using it: sometimes · Posted
Would not buy againThe buttons are difficult to use. Also, the overall plastic quality is very poor. Everything else is almost perfect, but the poor quality of the plastic alone is enough to make me not want to buy it.
Sign-in needed to publish.
What readers ask about the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen), answered by the people who own it.
Nobody has asked the owners yet.
Ask the first question →See how the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) stacks up against the competition.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen)
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 WirelessVSVersusBose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) vs Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 WirelessHere's what sets these two heavyweights apart.Read comparison ›Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen)
Apple AirPods Max 2VSVersusBose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) vs Apple AirPods Max 2One flagship for Apple loyalists, one for bass heads.Read comparison ›Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
Comparison12:29Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) vs Sony WH-1000XM6: Back for another title fightSoundGuys
Comparison8:01Bose QC Ultra (2nd Gen) vs. Bose QC Ultra (1st Gen): Should you upgrade?SoundGuys
Review8:31Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review: Really? That's it...?SoundGuys
Review5:13Bose FINALLY made the headphones I've been waiting for...SoundGuysCommentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Adam BirneyManaging EditorBose ditched the headphone jack without ditching the headphone jackThis is the one cable I want every pair of USB-C headphones to include.
Dave 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 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 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 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 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 BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help you
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.
Tom TriggsContributor
3 of 5 would buy again
5 owners · owners report ~40 h per charge vs 40 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
Expected more from the fit and build
The battery beat their expectations
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Nothing surprising about comfort
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
The noise cancelling beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · 1 photo-verified
Expected more from comfort
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · owners report ~55 h per charge vs 53.77 h claimed
The battery beat their expectations
