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1 / 11@deep_willow_76 · Owner-reported
Owned under a month · Still using it: no, stopped · Posted
Miserable Sound Compared with the in ear fitting QC Earbuds.
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A 2.3 puts its audio quality in the bottom 10% of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 64 of the 252 we've cataloged.
Would not buy it again; has stopped using it.
Owned under a month.
above average for wireless earbuds — based on 236 of 252 we've cataloged.
below average for wireless earbuds — based on 235 of 252 we've cataloged.
IPX4 is the most common — on 36% of the 232 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 252).
None appears on 8% of the 172 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 252).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Bose Ultra Open Frequency Response (measured on a B&K 5128)
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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 | -43.6 |
| 25 | -37.8 |
| 32 | -39.3 |
| 40 | -30.6 |
| 50 | -21.9 |
| 63 | -14.1 |
| 80 | -7.6 |
| 100 | -4.1 |
| 125 | -1.8 |
| 160 | -2.7 |
| 200 | -3.2 |
| 250 | -3.8 |
| 315 | -4.0 |
| 400 | -4.2 |
| 500 | -4.1 |
| 630 | -3.5 |
| 800 | -2.5 |
| 1000 | -1.6 |
| 1250 | -0.4 |
| 1600 | 1.6 |
| 2000 | 3.7 |
| 2500 | 6.6 |
| 3150 | 12.0 |
| 4000 | 17.8 |
| 5000 | 12.7 |
| 6300 | 10.5 |
| 8000 | 2.2 |
| 10000 | 1.7 |
| 12500 | 6.7 |
| 16000 | -1.4 |
| 20000 | -15.7 |
Bose Ultra Open MDAQS
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores, Scale 1 - 5
Virtual mean opinion scores (MOS) on a 1–5 scale, modeled from the measured response by HEAD acoustics’ MDAQS (Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score) model. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
The verdict
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds bring a unique "cuff-like, clip-on" design to the open-ear world, but unfortunately, they still suffer from sonic compromises like other open-ear options.
✓Liked: Allow you to maintain awareness naturally, Secure fit, IPX4
✕Could be better: Sound quality, Expensive, Subpar microphone performance
What a reader who owns the Bose Ultra Open 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
DWEvery 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 againMiserable Sound Compared with the in ear fitting QC Earbuds.
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What readers ask about the Bose Ultra Open, answered by the people who own it.
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Ask the first question →See how the Bose Ultra Open stacks up against the competition.
Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
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Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerHow long should your earbuds last? Our battery tests have the answerEarbuds don't last long, but how much is enough?
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large
1 of 2 would buy again
2 owners
The battery beat their expectations
Comfort beat their expectations
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Expected more from comfort
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · owners report ~10 h per charge vs 8.73 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Comfort beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Expected more from the noise cancelling
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners
The battery beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · owners report ~7 h per charge vs 10 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
