Verdict
Despite a few design flaws, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 headphones are some of the most impressive headphones on the market, allowing you to listen to music with a full, opulent soundstage and hear bullets hit in your favorite FPS games. The USB-C audio bandwidth means you can have lossless audio with low latency, and despite the high price, I can’t recommend them enough.
- Great, opulent sound
- Fantastic dynamic noise cancellation
- Passing audio via USB-C is a great feature
- Expensive
- Few major changes from the first generation
Even though they’re a few years elderly, the Bose Ultra headphones are certainly some of the best on the market, striking a comfortable balance between audiophiles and everyday consumers. However, there were a few minor issues that prevented them from achieving perfection Second generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones in this case, the company hopes that this generational refresh will solve these problems.
Like the recent addition of the 2nd Gen Ultra Earbuds to the list of best in-ear headphones, Bose headphones are just as solid as their predecessors, delivering great sound at a higher price. However, they also have a few recent tricks up their sleeve – probably an adjustable headrest. If you’re looking to spend your credit card and buy a recent headset to pair with your gaming phone, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 headphones may be just what you’re looking for.
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Price and availability
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Headphones, which I’ll just call the Ultra Headphones (or some other shortened term) from now on for the sake of brevity, retail for $449/£449. That’s a high starting price, even for some premium cans, but it’s actually the same retail price as the original models, except these models have been discounted multiple times since then.
If you’re willing to part with cash, you can choose from four colors: Black, Midnight Violet, Driftwood Sand, and White, the latter of which I’m reviewing. Unsurprisingly, they all look quite fancy, although the Midnight Violet certainly gives off a Beats Solo vibe, while the other options look more premium and fit the design of an Apple or flagship device.
Design and comfort
I was pleasantly surprised by how featherlight the Ultra headphones really are. Unlike the second-generation Bose QC Ultra Earbuds, which I called quite powerful in my review, they are ridiculously and incredibly simple to hold. When they arrive, they come in a petite case that’s vast enough to fit the folded headphones, as well as a few wires in a petite bag opposite.
Even though it feels lightweight, it still exudes the luxury that Bose is known for. A metal bracket separates the ear cups from the headrest, and the padded strap is cushioned yet versatile and feels even better when you wear it. The ear cups actually fit snugly to your ear, which helps you get top-notch ANC, but they’re not so tight that they feel uncomfortable, even after long sessions of wearing them.
I like the fact that they have a physical control button so you can easily skip songs, play/pause, or change ANC modes via feedback without having to trust the headphones to follow your intended instructions. However, the volume bar remains quite strange. It’s a long, unobtrusive piece of line that’s slightly raised compared to the rest of the earcup, but moving along it increases or decreases the volume. It doesn’t beat typical volume scrolling, but it’s good enough. I just wish it was a little more precise.
You will also find a USB-C port and a Bluetooth button on the ear cups. While the latter doubles as the power button, the Ultra headphones go into sleep mode whenever you take them off or fold them into the case, maintaining a charge and storing the battery for future exploit. This is a handy feature that means you don’t have to constantly charge these power-hungry headphones, even if they haven’t been used for several days.
Sound quality and performance
There are no surprises here, as the Ultra 2nd Gen headphones have truly impressive dynamic noise cancellation, which is a staple of Bose headphones and headphones. Putting them on practically silences everything from chatter to buzzing noises like traffic outside the window or the low hum of a fan, and when I excitedly let Grandpa try them out, he was surprised to find that he couldn’t hear me.
While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen headphones allow you to switch ANC in a variety of modes – for example, setting it to immersive for a surround-like experience – ANC can also be gradually changed via the app. Whether you choose to turn it off completely, set it to featherlight ANC, or go full “I hate noise and want my music to blare” mode, you can easily adjust it. If you’re not used to this level of noise cancellation, be prepared to feel the pressure of ANC.
As with the first generation, the sound quality is excellent. I repeat my usual process as I would with any audio device and release the Sleep Token. If you have something good, you might as well stick to it. For most people, the second-generation Ultra headphones will be absolutely solid. Rich audio with a full soundstage that takes advantage of every modern-era track created for the world of streaming – this means rock guitar riffs sound powerful and drum hits hit with an impact you’ll love.
Admittedly, you’ll want to fiddle with the software to fine-tune your music, such as switching to the Bass Reducer EQ preset if you’re listening to an artist with massive vocals, or heading to the Bass Booster preset for that metal breakdown. This isn’t much of an issue if you’re playing top mobile games, but for music I recommend playing around with the (admittedly overly elementary) EQ range.
And speaking of gaming, it’s no surprise that it delivers equally good performance when you’re immersed in your gaming phone. From bullets bouncing off the side of your head in the best FPS games to the cozy melody that plays as you enjoy the grass flowing in slower games, the latest pair of Bose headphones deliver an immersive experience that will support you enjoy mobile gaming even more than ever before.
Like the smaller, improved model, the second-generation Bose Ultra Earbuds, they weren’t built with gaming in mind, as evidenced by the lack of a 2.4 GHz dongle that would provide a lower-latency wireless connection. However, the advantage of the Ultra 2nd Generation headphones is the ability to transmit audio via USB-C, which provides lossless audio (if the device supports it) and also provides much lower latency. This is a significant difference, mainly if you play competitive games, but if you prefer single-player games, chances are this will be overkill.
Battery
I will not write about the battery life, because it is practically the same as in the previous generation model. That’s about 25 hours with ANC on, which may be outclassed by many rivals, but considering you won’t be wearing them all day (hopefully), they’re pretty good. It’s also helpful that sleep mode helps save battery, so you don’t have to worry about it running out of juice when you’re not using it.
USB-C charging allows you to charge the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd generation headphones quite quickly. According to the company, with a 15-minute charge, it will take about two hours. This should provide plenty of power for the headphones for some travel time if you leave them until the pair dies, but either way, at 100%, the battery capacity will be sufficient for long journeys.
Are Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd generation headphones worth buying?
Absolutely. If you’re partial to high-quality audio, excellent dynamic noise cancellation, and the ability to exploit wired headphones for lower latency and lossless audio, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 headphones should be your top choice.
While it is steep, the fact that it has a slight gaming advantage thanks to the USB-C adapter and offers amazing performance whether you are playing games or listening to music makes it a really great choice.
Alternatives
Apple AirPods Max
A pair of high-quality Apple cans is pricey, but the polished connection to iPhone, Mac and back, combined with impressive sound quality, make it an simple recommendation for any Apple user.
Steelseries Arctis New Elite
More steep while still focusing on delivering electrifying gaming performance, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite demands a lot of bang for the buck but boasts the “most powerful ANC in gaming” while still connecting seamlessly to your console, phone, PC and more thanks to a handy hot-swappable battery.
This was our review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen headphones – and yes, we know it’s a lot. If you’re looking for something to play once your fancy recent headphones arrive, check out our guide to the best Switch games and the best iPhone games.
