Customer Reviews

Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

First of all, let me say that I resisted buying the Bose QuiteComfort 2 headphones for a long, long time. I travel a fair amount for business, and had been looking for a pair of noise cancelling headphones for those long plane rides, but I didn't like the $300 price tag. I bought and returned a number of the cheaper Sony alternatives after finding them dramatically inferior. A business colleague had the Bose headphones, and I borrowed them for a test drive. There really isn't a comparison. Turn on the power and the ambient noise really does melt away, whether you have music playing or not. I now use them to review and edit audio files on my laptop when I'm flying, watching DVDs, as well as mowing the lawn while listening to my iPod. I never noticed the pressure that an earlier reviewer mentioned, but after reading their reviews it is there. However, it's never caused me any discomfort. Really, I have nothing bad to say about these headphones.

Ironically, while most people buy a version 2 before they buy a version 3, I bought the Bose QuietComfort 2 *after* I had purchased the Bose QuietComfort 3 newer headphone set.

Here's the issue. The QuietComfort 3 are the brand new version, they cost more, and they are "smaller and lighter". They offer pretty much the exact same noise cancelling quality, but they fit on top of your ear vs being a larger, bulky around the ear style like the QuietComfort 2.

However, when I tested out the QuietComfort 3 for a month, I found them to be quiet painful. Not in a "pressure on the ear" sense - they were quite comfortable to wear. Rather, when you turned them on, the pressure they exerted on the actual eardrum in order to "cancel noise" hurt. It was a physical sensation, when you turned them on and felt that WHOMP of wave energy pressing against your eardrum. Anybody who thinks the QuietComfort 2 is uncomfortable in that sense hasn't tried the QuietComfort 3 yet.

Yes, I realize that in order to cancel out ambient sound waves, there has to be an opposite sound wave to cancel them out. It's simple physics. However, because the QuietComfort 2 is an around-the-ear design, it doesn't have to blast that cancelling wave right at your eardrum. The larger "air area" being encapsulated by the ear cups gives you more area to work with, and you can block out the sounds without bombarding the ear canal with signals. I did numerous tests with the QuietComfort 2, with my set of iPod playlists that had left-only and right-only sounds, and even during the quiet parts, it was quite comfortable.

Also, as much as people might say that the QuietComfort 2 has "large" ear pods, I really didn't find them bad at all. I was able to sleep with them, wear them without feeling silly at all. The case, in fact, is about the exact same size as the QuietComfort 3 case.

In all, I am EXTREMELY happy that I traded in my QuietComfort 3 headphones for the larger but "kinder" QuietComfort 2 set. The noise cancelling ability is pretty much exactly the same, and the long term comfort is FAR superior. Plus, since the QuietComfort 2 takes batteries vs rechargeable plug-in items, it means if I drain the battery, I simply plunk in new ones. With the QC3 I'd have to wait for a recharge, assuming of course I had the appropriate charger (and outlet access) for whatever airport or country I'm in.

After reading some of the other reviews, I feel I must weigh in with my opinion of these headphones. I bought them online from Bose after some research of similar products. I'm not made of money, but $300 didn't seem bad, since I do really enjoy listening to music, and I own some incredible Klipsch speakers. I believe the most important component in an audio system is the final link, the actual sound transducers, whether they are the speakers, or headphones, so I tend to not scrimp on either.

That being said, I have listened to a wide variety of headphones, and I own a pair of Sony V600's. The sound quality of the Bose QC2's are on par with the best I have heard. I personally do not get the sensation of "pressure" mentioned by others, however the noise-cancelling feature does produce a sensation that, frankly, you don't get anywhere else. It's not bothersome to me at all, and I don't even notice it after the first minute of listening. As a frame of reference, I work in a noisy manufacturing environment, and I wear foam earplugs in my ears over 8 hours a day, so the QC2's are entirely unobtrusive to me.

As a testament to their noise-cancelling ability, I wear them when I mow my lawn with my cheap (noisy) riding mower, and in that capacity they are nothing short of phenomenal. I plug them into my Muvo MP3 player and turn the volume on the player up to about half to three-quarters, and I don't even notice the mower engine anymore. No other headphones I've tried were able to let me enjoy listening to music while I mowed.

The AAA battery seems to last forever. The construction of the QC2's can best be described as very high quality, but light. The 'phones weigh very little, but I wouldn't want to drop them off of a table for fear of them breaking. I tend to be very careful with my electronic "toys," but I still find myself treating these even more carefully than usual.

The bottom line is I am completely satisfied with my QC2's. They don't cancel all noise out completely, but they do reduce it very noticeably, cancelling lower frequencies (street rumble, footfalls on stairs and floors) better than higher frequencies (female voice, television sound.) When I bought them, Bose was running an offer of a free CD player with the purchase of the 'phones, and that helped push me over the fence. Even without the free player, I can recommend buying these without reserve.

These headphones sound awsome. As long as you do not use them near: certain cellphones, wireless phones, wireless networks, bluetooth devices or anything that is wireless. Some of these devices create unwanted sounds such as screeching, oscillating low beeps and other unwanted sounds. I was so dissapointed when I recieved my official "blowoff" letter from bose with no resolution of the problem. But I have to admit, the sound quality (when not beeping) was unbelievable.

The quality of these headphones is unacceptable. The plastic headband breaks very easily. Plastic? Really? These are over 300 bucks! I think they should of splurged and made the headband a little more durable. I have mine wrapped with tape after a month of use. I see other people on the train who have these and they have them taped also. Use that silver metal tape when fixing yours. It works the best. Avoid the duct tape.

I have the JVC noise canceling phones JVC HANC250 High-Grade Noise-Cancelling Headphones and I am VERY happy with them! Mainly because of the price! The bose do have slightly better sound in a quiet environment but the reason I have noise-canceling headphones is because I'm in a noisy environment. The JVC phones do everything that I am looking for and just happen to sound great!

Okay, the main points first:

1. The noise-cancellation works fairly well, but has some problems.
2. The overall sound quality is good, but not exceptional.
3. The ear-pressure effect is there, but it's not that bad.
4. They cost $300.

First off, there's the noise cancellation. The effect is so subtle at first that I missed it completely, and thought there was a problem with my headphones. With a little experimentation, though, I figured out exactly what it was doing. (Disclaimer: I haven't been on a plane with them, which is apparently exactly where they shine the brightest.) The upside: in certain environments, they'll actually filter out a great deal of ambient noise. They're pretty nice at home. I live in a noisy apartment in a noisy neighborhood. They dampen out the sound of cars on the street, people talking outside my window, and (fortunately or not) they entirely kill the sound of my doorbell.

So far so good, but there's a drawback. While they cancel out some frequencies beautifully, they leave others virtually untouched. Specifically, human voices carry through the NR circuitry almost undiminished.

When I tried these in the cafe down the block, it was pretty unpleasant. They killed all the regular background noise, but left untouched the sound of conversations. This is really weird, because normally, human voices in public places are muted by background noise. With the QC2s on, I could hear everyone around me talking, and they were all talking really loudly, to overcome background noise that I couldn't hear. The effect was really annoying, and I found it impossible to concentrate.

As far as sound quality, it's fine, but nothing special. The sound is probably far better than the headphones that came with your walkman, but it's not even near audiophile quality. Compared to any number of reasonably good under-$100 headphones from Grado or Sennheiser, these are muddy and indistinct. Not a huge problem for most people, but folks who are used to good headphones will be disappointed.

The ear-pressure effect is definitely real. Anyone who's having trouble noticing it, try putting on the headphones without any input and turning them on and off while you're wearing them. You'll feel it. Unlike other reviewers, though, I don't find it uncomfortable or annoying, just weird. It's a little like your ears popping at altitude (or, rather, your ears not popping when you'd like them to).

Finally, there's the cost issue. I gotta tell you, these just don't sound nearly as crisp and detailed as much, much cheaper phones without the NR circuitry. Beyond that, though, a good set of closed-earpiece headphones will block out almost as much background noise as these do, and an in-the-ear set like Etymotics (I had a set of ER6s) will block out more noise and sound better for less money.

Bottom line - these are great headphones if:

1. $300 is not a lot of money to you and you like gadgets, or...
2. You travel a lot on airplanes, or...
3. (Like me) you have several pairs of headphones, and you don't count on any one set to do everything for you.

I had the Bose Triport headphones, which were okay. I used to use them at Starbucks while I was studying, but I could hear some crowd noise over them. So, because the Quietcomfort 2 has the same Triport technology PLUS noice-cancelling and a sturdier headband and case, I took back the Triports and got the Quietcomfort 2.

It helped cancel out more noise, yes, but whatever pleasure I gained in reduced background noise was canceled out by this damn annoying constant pressure on my eardrums! That's how the Quietcomforts cancel out noise -- they sample the background noise and pump an inverse waveform (basically the opposite sound) into the headphones. It works well for low frequencies, but it causes a constant ear pressure that is really annoying and slightly uncomfortable. I definitely could not wear these phones for an extended period.

More importantly, the sound on these things is horrible. The bass is a booming, synthetic creation -- music doesn't sound natural, but rather Bosey. Highs are lost. I feel like I'm listening to everything in a cave.

As for drowning out the cafe rustle, it did that, but just slightly better than the Triports. I took these headphones back within a few weeks.

In short, only get this if A) you fly a lot, B) you don't mind the constant pressure, and C) you like a synthesized, artificial-sounding bass. Otherwise, I highly recommend anything by Grado. Those are not as comfortable, but the sound is true to life and better than I've ever heard through a pair of headphones.

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.

Latest Coments: Nov 23rd 2004
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News** : After an email request arguing my case about the repair rip-offs, Bose is replacing my QuietComfort2 for free. Their e-mail customer service is more co-operative and flexible in helping out that the phone customer service. Thanks to Bose. I recommend this product more than earlier.

Comments earlier to Nov. 23rd 2004.
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QuietComfort2 has a poor mechanical design. The mechanical part above the swevel is supported by a tiny tab that broke. And it was not that I handled it roughly, I was simply trying to get it over my head. It was the 13th month I had this set, with warrenty over, Bose Customer support guys charge $100 for repairs. It is a small part and a 5 min job to fix it, IMO it is easy to replace - no rocket science - but NO parts are made available by Bose. IMO this is a rip off. Please be aware !!

I sent another e-mail to Bose to request a free repair / replacement. I'll post a response again here if they reply positively. Else please take this into consideration if you intend to buy Bose. I give them the credit that the headset is the best among other ones available in the market, it's too pricy though and then the repairs are rip offs.

I live in Asia and travel alot. I love the headphones, but I have had to have two sets replaced due to the breakage at the arms within two years. Part of my job in Asia is to reduce our costs on equipment, but clearly the oringinal design was flawed on a basic engineering stress design you would not expect from Bose. My third set they replaced for no charge has a design change, however a company such as Bose should admit a major problem and have a recall or replacement, at no charge.
If you have the the orignal model it will break.

The quiet comfort aspect of these headphones don't cut out all sound, so if you are sleep deprived and have shrieking neighbours you'd be better off getting ear protectors for £5.

The headphones tend to cut out bass sound e.g. the sounds of bus engines, train engines, loud men on their mobile phones. On London Underground (very noisy - people have to shout if they want to talk)you still hear the sounds of the air being forced through the tunnels, but the rumbling sound of the wheels on the track vanish. You can actually hear the music you are listening to too, which is a first.

The headphones don't cut out all voice sounds, so if you have noisy people chatting behind you on the bus you will still hear them, but they are far less irritating than they would be without the phones. Interestingly, if you have someone sitting near you listening to their i-pod too loudly it doesn't cut this out.

Moving on to music, the headphones pick up sounds and notes from my i-pod I didn't know existed, and make my listening experience fantastic, and if you have music on whilst in the situations mentioned above you won't hear anything external (apart from on the underground).

As regards comfort I have no complaints - they are far more comfortable than in-ear headphones, and you don't notice the weight. The headphones use an AAA battery in one of the cups which seems to last a long time (over 20 hours so far!). (The phones are switched on on a switch on one of the headphone cups - you need them switched on for silent mode and music mode; they don't work without the battery, unlike most other headphones).

If you are in a quiet environment, say at home with the occassional sound of kids or car-alarms, you will hear a very faint hiss if you try, but this isn't intrusive (It sounds like falling rain in the distance, so is quite relaxing). You won't notice this if you are wearing them in noisier environments.

The headphones also come with various cables for use in different machines, and come with a hard case to protect them when you are not using them. (The ear cups fold flat for transport).

My only worry about wearing these excellent headphones in public is the possibility of being mugged.