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Bose
Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear
Value for Money
8.5/ 10
Value for Money — measured in the SoundGuys lab.
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Key specs
Weight
181 gAbove average181 g
6 g318 g
above average for on-ear headphones — based on 55 of 65 we've cataloged.
Design
- Weight
- 181 g
- Color Options
- Black, mint, white
- Ear Pad Type
- Memory foam, PU leather
- Foldable
- No
- Headband Type
- Adjustable over-head
Build
- Material Chassis Primary
- Plastic
- Material Ear Cups
- Memory foam, PU leather
- Material Headband
- Metal with leatherette and felt padding
Connectivity
- Connection Type
- Wired 3.5mm
- Headphone Jack
- Yes
- Cable Type
- 3.5mm single-ended
Microphone
- Microphone
- Yes
Sound
- Acoustic Design
- Closed-back
Features
- Inline Controls
- Yes
SoundGuys review
SOUNDGUYS rating
9.0/ 10
Highly recommendedKW
Reviewed byKris WoukReviewed April 2014Design9.4
Value8.5
The verdict
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear headphones deliver great sound quality with a balanced, accurate yet pleasing tonal character and exceptional comfort for extended wear. While they are expensive for a wired model without wireless capability, they provide excellent noise isolation and build quality that make them a solid choice for anyone seeking comfortable, great-sounding headphones for all-day listening.
✓Liked: Nice balance between accuracy and pleasing sound, Very comfortable and lightweight, suitable for wearing all day, Excellent noise isolation with minimal sound leakage, Clear and crisp high end with good detail
✕Could be better: Priced at $179.95, which is expensive for a wired headphone, Bass may be lacking for users with strong bass preferences, Lack Bluetooth connectivity and most other bells and whistles, Not fully collapsible, which may be inconvenient for backpack storage
Owners
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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.
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Questions from readers
What readers ask about the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear, answered by the people who own it.
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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.
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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
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 youChristian 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 TriggsContributorMore On-Ear Headphones
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