Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

It's been just over 18 months since Bose launched the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. The launch might have been something of a surprise, coming as it did just over a year after the QuietComfort II made their appearance, but the sound quality and impressive noise cancelling certainly wasn't a shock to anyone.

Bose is clearly keen to keep us on our toes, because it’s now launched an updated version. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) take everything we loved about the original version, including Bose’s take on spatial audio and its ‘CustomTune’ technology (which adapts the noise-cancelling to suit the wearer's ear and their surroundings), but now uses a new algorithm to enhance the ‘Aware’ mode by filtering out sudden spikes of noise such as sirens.

And that's not all. Bose says call quality has also improved, it has included a guard to prevent earwax build-up, and there’s finally wireless charging for the case (something that's the norm for many competitor models). But do these upgrades make the new earbuds worth buying? 

Sound Quality 

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) certainly don’t disappoint when it comes to audio quality. The expansive soundstage means there’s plenty of space for detail and clarity throughout the frequency range, from the top end right through to the lowest notes. Every voice and instrument gets its time in the spotlight. 

Bose is known for its punchy, full-bodied bass, and the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are no exception. Low notes are rich and weighty without becoming uncontrolled or distorted - and crucially, they don’t overpower the midrange or treble. That’s not to say the top end and the vocals are lacking body, though, because they’re not. Vocals are warm, full and loaded with clarity, and there’s plenty of sparkle and brightness in the top-end without any harshness. The result: consistently sublime sound. 

Bose’s ‘Immersive Audio’ technology, first introduced on the original QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, is also present here for the Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). The brand’s take on spatial audio means that when the ‘Motion’ setting is switched on, the earbuds utilise head-tracking to ensure the audio really does follow the listener around, creating a sense of a bigger sound that’s more three-dimensional - this is my preference when wanting to be thoroughly immersed in my music. There’s also a ‘Still’ setting which retains the bigger sound but, rather than follow me around, remains in front no matter which way I turn my head.  

Bose sets the bar for noise-cancelling, and these headphones are no exception. Not only do they hold their own on a busy London street at lunchtime, immersing me completely in my music, they also do a stellar job of blocking out the thumping music playing in the gym (not exactly to my musical taste) as well as those standing close to me and exercising their jaws more than their bodies. This is something I've found headphones often struggle with.

There's also an ‘Aware’ mode that lets some outside sound in so I’m conscious of what’s happening around me - as already mentioned, this now uses an algorithm to make it smoother when sirens or other noise-spikes occur. To be honest, though, I don’t notice this feature making much of a difference when compared to the ’Aware’ mode of other true wireless earbuds. 

Making calls through the earbuds is a pleasant experience for both recipients, and background noise, including wind, is reduced. There’s plenty of clarity. 

Living with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

The look and feel of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) is the same as its predecessor – slim metallic stems that don’t protrude too far from my ears and create a sleek, luxury aesthetic. They’re extremely comfortable too, so much so I almost forget I’m wearing them - which is a definite rarity for me and earbuds.  

The earbuds are stored in a charging case when not in use. Slightly bulkier than some alternatives, it’s a joy (and a relief) to find the case finally has wireless charging capabilities. That said, I do find the earbuds are a little fiddly to extract. 

Claims the earbuds last up to six hours between charges prove true, although ‘Immersive Audio’ reduces this to more like four. The charging case offers an additional 18 hours of battery power and, if you are caught short, a 20min charge provides two hours of listening time. These are figures I struggle to get excited about, though, especially given the more affordable QuietComfort Earbuds offer over eight hours of listening time with noise-cancelling on. 

There’s multipoint pairing, support for SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive codecs, and connectivity is through Bluetooth 5.3. 

Tapping once, twice or three times on either right earbud controls music play/pause, skip forwards or skip backwards through tracks, while swiping up or down adjusts the volume. A long press on the right earbud cycles through different noise-cancelling levels, and it’s possible to customise the action for a long press on the left earbud to include different immersion modes or to switch the device the earbuds are paired with. Even better, the touch controls can be switched off completely - no more accidentally cranking the volume up when pushing my hair behind my ears.

Conclusion

The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are an expensive pair of earbuds. But their sound quality is excellent, offering  punchy, weighty bass, a bright top-end and warm, rich midrange. Add this to the market-leading noise-cancelling and good immersive audio (as well as comfortable fit and customisation ability) and it makes them a definite front-runner in an already crowded marketplace - in spite of the fairly average battery life.  

Listening notes

Alicia Keys Fallin'
The haunting piano and Keys’ soulful vocals really shine when listening to this track through the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, while still ensuring the rhythmic bass is given plenty of room too. ‍

Kings of Leon Use Somebody 
The crunchy guitars and steady bass are rich and powerful, but thanks to the wide soundstage they in no way overpower the gravelly vocals of this late 00s rock track.‍

Megan Trainor Me Too
‍With a range of electronic tones, vibrant vocals and a repetitive bass line, there’s plenty going on in this track - but every aspect still gets to take its turn in the spotlight, making for an excellent overall sound that will very quickly have your shoulders swaying in time.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are a must-buy if you want excellent sound quality, market-leading noise-cancelling and fancy dipping your toes in the world of 'Immersive Audio'. Obviously you’ve got to be willing to splash the cash, and to compromise on battery life - but if this sounds like you, then why not treat yourself?

Any smartphone, laptop or tablet that has Bluetooth connection means you'll be able to enjoy music, movies, TV shows and podcasts through these earbuds. Best performance will come from using a source player that offers aptX Adaptive codec compatibility, though.