Customer Reviews

Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones

5 star:		(146)
4 star:		(49)
3 star:		(29)
2 star:		(34)
1 star:		(53)

 

 

I have owned a pai of the Quietcomfort headphones for more than a year now. They are absolutely great on intercontinental flights.

Pros:
- The sound is fabulous, bass reproduction is great.
- Needs one AAA battery, but it goes for between 24 - 30 hrs of use so this is great.
- Noise cancellation works great, great cushioning.

Cons:
- Pricey
- bulky to transport, cant be substituted for "workout" phones.
- Too much insulation on the earpiece. My ears start to sweat if i wear constantly for more than a couple of hrs.
- Not great to sleep in (on flights) as you tend to block the noise cancellation ports.

First, I am going to discuss the options for noise canceling headphones. Then, I am going to go into detail about the Bose QC2 headphones.

If you are looking for a great pair of high-end traditional headphones that cup your ear, you are looking in the right place; the Bose QuietComfort 2s are for you! If you are an audiophile (probably not if you are considering buying something from Bose) then look at the Sennheiser HD 650s ($400). If you don't have a large budget and want reasonable noise-canceling, then look at the Sony MDR-NC6s ($35). If you like the supra-aural style of the Sony MDR-NC6s, but want a higher quality headphone, then wait for the Bose QuietComfort 3s ($349, release date June 15, 2006). If you are looking for noise canceling while operating landscaping equipment and OK audio performance, then look at John Deere's Noise Canceling Headset ($89). If you are looking for a really lightweight supra-aural noise canceling headset, then consider the Sennheiser PXC 300 ($150). Finally, if you want noise-caneling ear canal headphones, then the Etymotic Research ER6i's ($85) are for you.

The QC2 comes in two flavors: champagne and silver (2005). The older champagne version has a problem with the headband breaking. If the headband breaks during your warranty period, Bose will send you a brand new pair of silver QC2s. The only other major difference between the two flavors is that the silver headphones work with Bose's cell-connect accessory. The cell-connect connects your compatible cellphone (there's a list on Bose.com) to the QC2s and has a mic. I personally don't know why one would need this accessory... but it's a neat add-on. I have used the cell-connect and QC2s with my Motorola E815 with no problems (other than the fact that I wasn't sure how loud to talk).

The QC2s shine when worn on airplanes, trains, and public transit. They are also very good in the office to drown out the hums of air conditioning and computers. THEY do not make it completely quiet. High-frequency sounds such as people talking are NOT canceled out.

I find the QC2s to be very comfortable. Make sure to test them out before you buy them, because the circumaural design is not for everyone. The headphones come with everything you need--1/4" and 3.5mm connectors, a great semi-hard shell case, and more. The strap for the case is not included with the silver headphones. The earcups on the headphones swivel to flatten and fit inside the case. An iPod can easily fit inside the case, and an iPod Nano can reportedly fit inside the small clear velcro case that initially holds "customer courtesy cards" (which are business cards that you can give to people that ask about your QC2s).

Make sure to stock up on AAA batteries for the QC2s. The QC3s use a custom Bose rechargable lithium battery instead. Battery life is good, and a light will blink on the side of the headphones when your battery is low.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with my QC2s, and I think other people are too. I even saw someone wearing them while driving! (Don't do that).

As a consultant I traveled 2-3 days per week. I spent a lot of time listening to one-sided cell phone conversations, inane chatter, jet engines, train noise and bad music in coffee shops and airport concourses. I purchased the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones right before I departed on a 5 day, 3 city trip.

From the moment I put them on I knew this was a breakthrough product. Sure - I noticed something akin to pressure on my ears but that sensation passed in a few minutes. It's just like getting used to wearing a watch - you end up not noticing it at all after a short time. What has not passed is the joy in letting the rest of the world just fall away so that I can get some down time while traveling.

Not only was the background noise from the plane's engines gone, but I could actually turn the volume down on my Creative Zen Vision much lower than would be the case with other headphones because the music wasn't competing with the roar of the engines.

The same with the volumn while watching movies - I didn't have to crank up the volume just to hear what was being said. I could even hear the dialogue of movies played on my laptop and those played by the airline. I cannot emphasize this point enough - for the first time ever, I could actually hear music and videos without cranking up the volume to the max - saving my ears from damage as well as avoiding dirty looks from my fellow passengers.

On my honeymoon, my wife and I both brought along a pair. Being able to distance ourselves from all the background noise really did increase the relaxation factor and allowed us to travel 12 hours each way in relative peace. Speaking of honeymoons - this item would be a GREAT wedding gift. There is nothing worse than to spend your time enroute to some fabulous tropical destination for your honeymoon listening to the kids behind you scream while their father snores away.

Even at home, my wife will sometimes wear her headphones while reading. It completely eliminates any noise from the television in the next room.

Contrary to what one other reviewer has stated, the sound from these headphones is anything but distorted. I find that I can hear subtleties in music that I cannot hear over my home entertainment system. The fact that I can still hear these subtleties while in a loud environment is an added bonus.

You probably will not wear these headphones while in the gym (though I have actually seen people wearing them while on the treadmill at my local gym - the same type of people that wear designer workout shorts). There are also times where you don't need noise reduction. For these times, I have inexpensive headphones. I would not however deduct any points from Bose for making a specialty set of headphones just because they are not perfect for all situations. I would not take points off my favorite leather jacket because I can't wear it to the beach in July.

Yes, these things are expensive. But if you feel the need to shield yourself from the pervasive noise of the modern world, there really is no substitute on the market.

Update on 5/12/2006 - A friend of mine had an interesting observation when she tried these headphones. She's a violinist and said that she did not think the feelings in her ears was 'pressure'. Rather she commented that she thinks the feeling is actually the response of the ears to a lack of normal background noise. We spend all our time being bombarded by an array of sounds. When those sounds disappear, the ears are confused and express this as a feeling of pressure. That's only her theory but it makes some sense to me. I scuba dive a few times a year and I know what pressure in the ears feels like. The feeling I used to notice while wearing my bose headphones wasn't anything like that kind of pressure - either in feel or magnitude. It's interesting to note that the absence of sound may be able to cause a physical reaction.

Update on 6/6/2006
Just came home from vacation in Hawaii. On Kauai I took a helicopter tour. The company running the tours, Blue Hawaii, provided Bose noise cancelling headphones on the flight. Many of the other companies in Kauai did not offer noise cancelling headphones.

A few minutes in to the flight I took the headphones off to see what the noise level would be like. It was close to deafening and I could not even hear myself speaking loudly. I put the headphones on and the noise became little more than an after thought. If you find yourself looking to take a helicopter tour at some point in the future, make sure you find a company that offers Bose on its tours.

A few years back I became a huge
advocate for the Bose QuietComfort
headphones that have been selling for $299.

Based on my original experience with these
headphones I posted a rather lengthy, positive
review concerning their quality in both sound
and workmanship.

I'd now like to take those words back.

It seems there is a defect in materials used
in these headphones that could plague other
owners in the years to come.

3-4 years after purchasing my QuiteComfort
headphones I noticed that the rubber earpiece
material is flaking away like mad.

Every time I wear the headset and take it
off, my face and ears are covered with black
residue from the shedding of the earpiece.
My face looks like it is covered with black ants.

Though these headsets are nearly 4 years old,
I haven't worn them much outside of travel.
Additionally, they have been kept in the
travel accessory bag included in the package.

What bothers me most about this is the fact
that despite countless mails I have sent to
Customer Service, Bose will not address this
problem.

While I understand the headsets are probably
out of warranty, this is a pretty major defect
in materials that most owners probably will not
realize until after the warranty expires.

As far as Bose is concerned, once your warranty
is up with them they could be concerned less with
what happens with their headsets.

For the price that Bose charges for these headsets,
I would expect this company to at least reply
to consumers who are reporting this problem and
offer suggestions on what can be done.

Many users across the Internet have warned members
about quality issues concerning Bose. I should have
stayed away from these headsets based on those
recommendations, but for some reason, the
QuietComfort still remains at the top of most
reviews dealing with noise-cancelling headsets.

All I can do at this point is warn people
to stay away from purchasing these headsets until
Bose shows that they have some sort of concern
towards complaints when their products go bad.

My apologies for recommending these headsets
to anyone that may experience the same problems
I am experiencing now or in the near future.

I purchased both this item and the Sennheiser at the same time to see which was the better purchase. Both my wife and I tested them and independently (we did a blind vote so to speak) and both concluded the Sennheiser was equivalent noise reduction and sound quality - at half the price. We returned the bose and purchased three more Sennheiser's for ourselves and our boys.

tom

The sound was awesome - no question about it - but the headphones fell apart after 8 months. The cheap plastic used to connect the ear pieces to the head piece cracked and eventually broke, and now a sharp piece of metal sticks into my head if I ever wear them. I needed to tape them with hockey tape to hold them together.....I expect better for $300!

[Look in the product images for pictures of where they broke]

First, let me explain how I came to own this version of the QC2's. I bought a pair about two years ago. Within 6 - 8 months the casing where the metal extension band is joined to the earpiece section cracked and then disintegrated. I took them back to the Bose store, which replaced them with no questions asked. Six months later the second pair disentegrated at the same point; back to the Bose store where they gave me a third pair. By this time I no longer had my original receipt, but the store didn't argue, which suggested to me that this was a known design deficiency. Eight months later, same problem, even though I'd handled the third pair so gingerly I didn't think they could possibly disintegrate. I went back to the store once more, and they gave me my current pair, which represents a new version, even though they didn't rename them (a la QC 3's). According to the rep, Bose redesigned the joint and substituted a different plastic. You can clearly see the difference in the joint, and the plastic is a slightly different color. Also, the earpiece plastic, which was a gunmetal color in the original QC 2's, is now silver

The sound of the previous generation, while not true audiophile quality, was very good, and the comfort and noise-canceling feature overcame any audio deficiencies. I have a home recording studio where I primarily use Sony MDR 7506's. Those have better audio fidelity than the Bose, but they aren't nearly as comfortable to wear for a prolonged period. I can wear the QC2's for hours without discomfort; the Sony's start to annoy me after 30 minutes.

The store rep told me they slightly "improved" the audio characteristics in this modified version. The only audio difference I've really noticed though is that this version is significantly less loud than the earlier one. With the old version, I seldom maxed out the volume when using them with my iPod. With the new ones, I find that I max out the volume pretty regularly. Still, I look forward to these being sturdier and more reliable.

A word about Bose customer service. I got no resistance during any of my three trips to the store to get the broken units replaced. I was in and out of the store in each case in less than 10 minutes with a replacement pair, and I didn't even have the original receipt on the 3rd and 4th visits. The store guys were profusely aplogetic each time, and when they gave me the latest set, they even issued me a new receipt so the one-year warranty would start anew. That means they've given me three years of warranty coverage, and four pairs of headphones. I'm amazed, given the abysmal state of customer service these days. Admittedly, at $300 a pair, the service should be outstanding, but I've been disappointed more than once by the "customer service" provided by companies that sell premium-priced products (so far, Apple Computer has been the worst example I've encountered - try getting them to fix or replace a defective product; bring your lawyer!)

In conclusion, if you're thinking of getting these, be sure and get the newest generation. They're still called QC2's, but they're easily distinguished from their predecessor by the silver color on the headset (vs. the older gunmetal finish). Stay away from the old ones; they will eventually break no matter how gently you handle them. Also, if you can, buy directly from a Bose store. I've heard some horror stories here and elsewhere about owners dealing with Bose via phone and the web and running into the kind of experiences I've had with Apple. The stores are much more like Lexus dealerships; if you have a problem, they take care of it with no fuss (at least in my multiple experiences).

It's literally taken me months to decide which noise-cancelling headphones to purchase. I foolishly flirted with a relatively inexpensive in-ear version by Panasonic - total waste of money.
By reading reviews and road-testing the various products (where possible), I narrowed my choices to Sennheiser PCX300 and Bose QC2. I decided on the Bose, and here's why:
1. Unlike the PX300s, the QC2s have an unobtrusive mic battery setup, one AAA tucked neatly into the right earpiece.
2. The Bose only have one lead, whereas the Senns have two. Less chance of getting them tangled.
3. The QC2s cover the entire ear, thereby further preventing noise intrusion, and leakage. I also found this more comfortable than the Senns, which sort of *press up* against the ear.
4. I found the bass response more pronounced with the Bose and, I think, a little louder overall.
5. I also like the hard case that accompanies the headphones. I know it will fit neatly into the plane's luggage compartment on the back of the seat in front of me. There's room in it for the bits and pieces that come with the 'phones and also extra space for my vidpod, possibly an external battery pack.
6. I already own Bose products and know that they are of the highest quality, especially when it comes to innovation in sound reproduction.
That about sums it up. I've purchased the 'phones predominantly to use on domestic and international flights, but I'm slowly getting the feeling I'll be using them a little more often than that.
I only bought the QC2s a few hours ago, and literally haven't been able to take them off my head - want to listen to my entire library anew. So they are pricey, but I'm thinking worth the extra.
BTW: I rated the product 4 stars. If the headphones were able to be used sans the NC, I would have given it 5.

POSTSCRIPT: I've had the headphones for approx a week now and have had the opportunity to use them on a Melbourne-Sydney return flight. I have some further comments I'd like to make.
1) I used the QCs in the lounge before take-off, and I have to say I felt a bit awkward sitting or walking around with such *big* headphones on. It's probably something I'll get used to in time.
2) In-flight, I felt my ears warm - not to the point of discomfort, but it was noticeable.
3) On the positive side, I put the phones on as soon as I was seated, turned the NC on, and immediately felt calmer. I could still hear some discussion and announcements, but that general din (which you don't really notice until you have the means by which to cancel it) all but disappeared. I think this alone is a big plus.
4) Listening to and watching my vidpod was an absolute pleasure. I found the sound level more than adequate, and on certain tracks had to actually dial the volume back slightly, especially when watching movies.
So I guess the only thing I have to overcome is getting used to perhaps looking different with my *cans* on.

I travel once to twice every month and I want to buy a pair of good noise-cancelling headphones so that I can listen to my iPod or get some rest.

First, I tried a Sony NC50 at a Sony Style store. The NC50 put out so much accoustic pressure to my ears and it really hurt. Then, I tried Sennheiser PXC-250, PXC-300, and Bose QuietComfort 2 extensively. First time, I brought both PXC-250 and PXC-300 to a trip from San Diego to Newark. There is no significant performance difference in terms of noise cancelling. The PXC-300 has a better case. Then, on my next trip, I borrowed a Bose QuietComfort 2 from a colleague of mine and compared it with PXC-300. After extensively testing (with and without music, with and without background people talking, and etc.), I found it is about 20-30% less of noise with Bose. Also, my ears felt warm and uncomfortable after 30 min with PXC-300 because of the over-the-ear style.

I understand everyone else's comment on Bose being over-priced, but if you are looking for the best noise-cancelling performance on an airplane, unfortunately there is no other way around it. Bose is certainly the best.

I purchased the Sennheiser 250's about two months ago after reading many glowing reviews by users.

Frankly, I do not understand how anyone can even begin to compare these with the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's.

The Sennheisers reproduce practically no bass whatsoever and the treble is exceedingly and unnaturally bright. The sound is basically like the 200's with added noise cancelling.

Anyway, after taking two flights with the Sennheisers, I decided to spring for the Bose. They are superb! Noise cancellation is excellent, comfort is top notch, and the sound rivals any headset that I have tried...and I HAVE tried the Grados, etc. The Grados sound great for about 20 minutes. After that time, the sound is overridden by the pain on my ears, due to the tight fit of the Grado's.

One must,however, treat the Bose with kid gloves. I imagine that part of this is due to the fact that Bose wants to keep them lightweight and comfortable. But then, would you wear your Rolex, while fixing the plumbing in your home?

As a musician, I can assure you that you will not find a better pair of headphones than the Bose. I understand that the price is rather high; but when there is no real competition out there for excellent noise cancelling phones, a manufacturer can charge all that traffic will bear.