Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 review: What does the model update bring?

STEREO GUIDE verdict

93%

93%

Highlight

The new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 impress in the review with improved ANC, less noise, head tracking with less delay and a wireless charging case.

Pros

1. very deep and powerful bass with kick and good precision
2. Remarkably good 3D sound with practical head tracking
3. Now with faster head tracking and cinema mode
4. The very good wearing comfort also contributes to the impression of natural hearing

Cons

1. Short battery life with immersive audio
2. the in-ears are somewhat awkward to remove from the case

• Tonal balance / transparency

  8.7
• Bass / Dynamics

  9.6
• Usability / Connectivity

  9.5
• Price / Performance

  9.5

Apart from the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which created an almost complete acoustic isolation from the environment and the surround sound feeling, the predecessor of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 was unable to set any benchmarks marks in the review. The closest thing was the bass, which was very rich, but seemed a little too lush according to audiophile criteria. Regardless of the overall score, during the test I preferred our comparison model to any other headphones in the editorial team’s collection when I wanted to listen to music alone at a decent volume in the evening. After all, there are criteria that are not so easy to fit into the mold of a technical evaluation. When I listened to acoustic drums on the Bose, it sounded exactly like my favorite jazz club in Stuttgart. And beats from the synthesizer also had a juicy punch and the necessary volume.

Comfort is also extremely important to me when it comes to headphones. On the other hand, I turned a blind eye to the biggest weakness of the first generation of Bose: the in-ears were very noisy, but for those who prefer rock and pop in their private lives, like me, this was only an issue during breaks. The delayed response of the head tracking to head movements was also bearable. Outside of the sound test for my report, I almost always used the immersive “Motion” mode. Due to physical limits, this was not able to get the music playback completely out of my head. Compared to the other earphones and the earbuds from Bose in standard mode, it corresponded more to my natural listening experience with its more vivid representation of the individual sound bodies. In this case, which is intended for movement and to prevent the stage from constantly rotating, the problem with the delayed head tracking response was basically a thing of the past.

What’s new about the 2nd generation of QuietComfort Earbuds?

Bose has made a few small changes for the new 2025 model. Interestingly, the two problems just described have not been addressed. I can’t make a direct comparison with the predecessor model, which I particularly appreciated when traveling and which I unfortunately lost on a business trip. But I am quite sure that the reaction of the head tracking to head turns is now almost instantaneous in immersive mode in the “unmoved” setting. And the noise is also significantly lower. The latter is particularly advantageous for classical and choral music.

But let’s first look at the changes that Bose highlights in its technical documentation.

Improved adaptive noise cancellation (ANC)

According to Bose, the 2nd generation of QuietComfort Earbuds now uses artificial intelligence (AI algorithm) for adaptive ANC control, which is designed to suppress sudden noise peaks more smoothly and precisely. You can activate the Active Sense function in the “Perceptible” preset in the mode menu so that you are not disturbed by sudden noises when using transparency mode. However, I was unable to reproduce the effect, at least in my review.

Bose also highlights improved voice pickup with eight microphones, which should better eliminate wind or background noise when making calls via the true wireless in-ears. During phone calls, you can use the app to adjust how clearly you hear your own voice in four stages. In our practical test, the voice quality was really good for in-ear headphones. However, even the first generation gave little cause for criticism.

Rather evolutionary progress in practice

The 2nd generation also fine-tunes other practical details. For example, the new model offers wireless charging in the case (Qi standard). This practical feature was missing from the first generation. The sound outlet openings lined with silicone ear pads and earpieces, which Bose refers to as bands, have been redesigned. This should contribute to better hygiene and better sound. This is because some users apparently accumulated so much earwax there that this issue was not only discussed in forums, but was also picked up by a support video from the manufacturer.

In terms of connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connection and aptX Adaptive are retained. SBC and ACC are also still supported. The same applies to Google Fast Pair for simple and fast Bluetooth connections with Android devices. The driver constellation has apparently not been touched either, nor have the batteries: the playing time is around 6 hours with ANC, charging case up to 24 hours with recharging in the case. Around 20 minutes of charging time is enough for a good two hours of continued use. Unfortunately, the killer app proves to be a battery killer: If, like me, you prefer to enjoy 360-degree surround sound in one of the two immersive modes, you can expect a charging break after just four hours, even with a fully charged battery.

App & operation: familiar territory

There are no surprises with the app: Bose is sticking with the Bose Music app for iOS and Android. Everything has also remained the same in terms of functionality. The little gimmicks are also back on board – such as the automatic name suggestions for the earbuds. The list ranges from charming to questionable: “Bass Bumper”, “Earphoria”, “Moonwalk” and “Vanilla Cream”. In the end, we were left with the sober truth: “Bose QC Ultra Earbuds”.

As usual, the touch gestures of the sensor surfaces can be customized in the app. Start and stop playback, adjust the volume, activate Siri or Google Assistant, switch ANC to transparency can be called up directly on the earbuds if desired. The practical conversation mode is also typical of Bose: if you pull one of the two earbuds out of your ear, the other automatically switches to silent mode, which makes short conversations much more relaxed.

The new ultra-earbuds also handle phone calls with ease. A tap on the right in-ear is enough to answer the call. The Bluetooth in-ears can also announce the caller’s telephone number. There are also other useful voice prompts, such as for the charging status when the earbuds are inserted into the ear canal, which can be configured in the app as usual.

The CustomTune function also remains unchanged. Immediately after insertion, a short sweep is played to check the seal in the ear. This earbud seal test can be repeated manually at any time.

ANC & transparency: Bose remains true to its line

Bose also continues to go its own way when naming the ANC functions. The active noise-canceling function is simply called “Quiet”, while the transparency mode is called “Perceptible”.

Unlike with many other in-ears, there is no strong noise in transparency mode, which is otherwise often associated with looped microphone playback. We have regularly experienced this side effect in tests by other manufacturers. However, the QC Ultra manage to pass on voices and ambient noise so cleanly that you almost forget you’re wearing headphones at all. This is where Bose really sets a benchmark in terms of naturalness.

As with the predecessor, you can also create your own scenarios with individual settings for ANC and Immersive. The presets now include the cinema mode, which we already know from the 2nd generation of QuietComfort Ultra headphones. This sound preset is recommended for a very private form of movie enjoyment with its particularly spacious, powerful sound and the immersive mode that is fixed to “unmoved”, i.e. with 360-degree head tracking.

The app also provides a list of predefined names – from “Office” to “Outside” – each of which can be linked to an individually adjustable ANC strength. A slider is used to determine how strong the noise suppression should be for each scenario. Practical if you switch back and forth between everyday life, commuting and a quiet environment.

Sound and fine-tuning – targeted adjustments instead of radical realignment

Bose also remains true to its approach in terms of sound. My impression of the predecessor is also confirmed by the latest version. The QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen. do not have the same audiophile resolution and neutrality as the Beyerdynamic Xelento 2 Wireless, for example, which cost three times as much. But they sound really rich and can reproduce acoustic drums authentically or electronic beats with drive, in addition to reproducing voices in a full-bodied, natural way. And they manage to get the sound stage exceptionally far out of the head by in-ear standards. They achieve this feat not only at the sides, but also in the center of the panorama in the two immersive modes “motionless” and “motion”.

As mentioned at the beginning, the head tracking now works almost instantaneously in the motionless mode intended for listening to music in an armchair or in front of a screen. In addition, the tracking not only reacts to turns, but also to upward and downward movements of the head. For optimum effect, Bose has again integrated a calibration function for head tracking, which should be used at the start of the immersive listening session. With the current state of technology, there is hardly any less headphone feeling with ear canal headphones.

In concrete terms, this means that solo voices and instruments appear a little further forward in the room. The fine resolution and naturalness of voices makes the Bose earbuds suitable for all types of music. The high-frequency resolution and fine detail are less geared towards audiophile extravagance and more towards listening to music for hours on end while having fun.

Transmits not just frequencies, but emotions

What I personally already appreciated about the first generation of Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, the second generation also offers: It is the intensity and authenticity of the music reproduction with the rich, punchy bass, which blends in very well with the sound. In combination with the excellent wearing comfort – for me more important than the final sound nuances when it comes to headphones and especially earphones – this makes the 2nd generation QuietComfort Earbuds one of the best in-ears ever, regardless of the price range. There are smaller, lighter earbuds that are not nearly as comfortable to wear as the earbuds that now come with optimized ear pads and inserts made of skin-friendly and easy-to-clean silicone.

Live vs Bose: Direct comparison with the concert

Recently, I had the camera on my iPhone running during particularly beautiful pieces such as “Purple Rain” at a concert by a well-known cover band with a repertoire ranging from Toto to Prince to Eminem in our Stuttgart jazz club Bix. The drums and electric guitar regularly gave me goosebumps. When I listened to my bootlegs at home via the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 five times in a row, I got goosebumps again during the same passages as in the live concert.

While it is common among woolly-headed hi-fi fans to outsmart themselves when evaluating sound with knowledge of the manufacturer, price or test rating from their favorite magazine, you can’t trick your subconscious. The explosive power of the bass drum in particular can rarely be experienced so authentically, not only through headphones but also through most hi-fi loudspeakers. Especially not in an apartment building after midnight. The bass from the two Bose speakers is not just voluminous, it also has the timing and dynamics needed to give you goosebumps. And the electric guitar solos got under my skin just as much after the concert as they did during the live performance. You can hardly expect more from headphones in the 300 euro class, especially as the ANC also sets standards beyond the price range. If required, it can almost completely block out the surrounding sound.

The batteries tire faster than the wearer of the Bluetooth in-ears

The second generation of the QC Ultra Earbuds is also limited by the batteries, although you can’t really complain about the very honest manufacturer’s specification of 6 hours with ANC. Unfortunately, the use of immersive audio surround sound, of all things, tends to drain the batteries. Above all, when listening with the earbuds, I always had the feeling that time was flying by. The usual feeling of fatigue, which is caused by the feeling of pressure in the ear canal, among other things, which many competitors produce, could also be avoided with the now slightly heavier Ultras.

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2: Conclusion and alternatives

The differences between the generations are very subtle. For me, the most important improvements are the reduced noise and the smoother head tracking. For me, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen. are one of the best headphones ever: rich, harmonious sound for rock, pop, hip-hop and jazz fans meets excellent wearing comfort.

The Cambridge Melomania A100s are not quite as superior, not quite as comfortable, but they tend in the same direction. In view of the significantly lower price, however, there are compromises to be made both in terms of ANC and spatial hearing. And even the Sony WF-1000XM5 , which are actually in the same class, have to admit defeat in terms of emotionality with their accurate but somewhat sober sound and are not quite as radical as the 2nd generation QuietComfort Ultra when it comes to noise-canceling.

Technical specs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen.

• Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 300 Euro
• Type: In-Ear
• Transducer principle: Dynamic
• Weight: 67.7 g each, case 61.23 g
• Battery life: 6 hours with ANC activated (24 hours with recharging in the case)
• Special features: active noise-cancelling, water-repellent according to IPX4, app control, 3 pairs of silicone ear inserts (S, M, L), 3 pairs of stabilizing straps (size 1, 2, 3)
• More at: bose.com

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