Customer Reviews

Bose QuietComfort 2 QC2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling - Headphones (ear-cup)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought a pair several years ago and the quality and comfort is exceptional. I've traveled to Europe 7 times and cannot imagine being on an airplane without these headphones and my iPod. I use them all day at work, they truly block out noise and when you're listening to music that's all you hear. I got mine for $300, I know there's a model 15 that's newer for about this price.

I think these are nice headphones for $300. The best part is that when they wear out (I'm at the end of my second pair), Bose will replace them for free if you have the recept. If you don't have the recept, you can still get a new pair for $50. That in itself justifies the cost. It's cool because you always have the latest version as well. Just take them to the store and they'll have you another pair. If not for this fact, I think they may only be worth $150 or so.

My first pair broke after a hard fall and this second pair's ear cups are falling apart. I love them. Are they as nice as Senheizers? No. But these aren't really for audiophiles. They're for people that want GOOD sound at a reasonable price. I believe Senheizers start around $500 for similar quality. Also it's worth mentioning these are SUPER comfortable. I wear them ~6 hours a day, 5- 6 days a week and they never feel heavy or uncomfortable.

I got these five years ago as an impulse purchase. I was travelling between the US and the UK (8-10 hour flight each way) a half dozen times a year, and wanted noise cancelling headphones for the plane. After using them once in flight, I tried them as office headphones as well, to help reduce ambient noise around me and because of their good sound quality.

Pro:
+ Outstanding sound! I've also got JVC HARX700 Precision Sound Full Size Headphones - Black and Sennheiser HD595 Dynamic High Grade Performance Premiere Headphones, and these blow both of them away for overall sound quality (though not depth / bass).
+ Noise reduction works great - as long as you've got the right expectations. Significantly reduces my fatigue when flying
+ Very comfortable. The earcups fit around my ears rather than on them, and the leather covering doesn't make me sweat. My ears do get a bit hot inside after a couple hours, but that's reasonable for closed headphones.
+ Portable for over-the-ear headphones. The two earcups can rotate sideways to make the headphones flatter, and easier to stow in a backpack or in their case.
+ Cord can be removed to allow them to act as noise reducing earmuffs without listening to music.

Con:
- The headphone has a triple-A battery which MUST have juice for the headphones to work at all - for either sound or sound cancellation. On the bright side, a single alkaline battery lasts something like 25 hours of use.

The noise reduction is significant, but don't expect it to block everything out. It's like wearing a thick pair of earmuffs, or maybe hiding your head under a pillow. It's in no way comparable to the sound reduction you get from $2 earplugs.

Despite this, I've found it useful for greatly reducing noise from jet engines, air conditioning, heaters, fans, and reducing general ambient noise noticably. If you listen to music - even at a lowish volume - the combination makes most background noise disappear, and is vastly superior to headphones alone.

Even better, they've changed in-flight movies from something that I can barely hear what is being said - if I'm lucky - to an experience where the sound is great and my new complaint is the tiny LCD screen I'm watching. Not a bad position to be in :)

Overall I love these headphones, they're the best ones I've ever had. I am sold on the Bose QuietComfort over-the-ear series, and will buy another pair if and when these wear out. After 5 years, though, I'm not holding my breath :)

These were bought fro my autistic son who has sound sensitivity. It has been great for us. If we go places with loud are annoying radio sounds like Walmart it makes it much easier fro him to handle.They are very comfortable. They are lightweight and very nicely built.

It's possible that the headphones I got were defective, in which case my rating would be unfair. But I don't think so. I think there's a fundamental design problem. These Bose QuietComfort 2 Noise Cancelling ear cup headphones respond to jarring movements of the head by crackling slightly when the noise-cancellation is active; they work well enough when you're sitting in an airplane but are unacceptable when you're walking or working out physically. Unfortunately, if you turn the noise-cancellation off, they don't work at all. Considering the price, they should be outstanding, but for me they are designed to be useless.

I've come to two realizations about headphones. The first is that Bose is not the leader in the field that many suppose. Both Sennheiser and Grado seem to provide superior sound quality. Second is that the sound quality loss with "noise-cancellation" is greater than I expected, or than I'm ready to accept. Your best bet on an airplane is probably earplugs and a good book.