Around the holidays, I decided to treat myself to a pair of high quality headphones. I live in the central area of a major US city, and to be frank the noise pollution was driving me a little crazy. I was interested in a pair of headphones that would give me some peace and quiet, so I spent a lot of time looking at ANC (active noise-Cancelling) options and the Sony WH1000MX3 and Bose QuietComfort 35 II were easily the top picks among reviews.
However, there were a lot of different opinions about which was better. The split was about 50/50 between the Sony and Bose, so I was pretty torn. Even though they were heavily discounted for the holidays ($280 each), that's a lot of money considering I generally never spend more than $50 for headphones. So I bought them both as an experiment, with the plan to return one after I made a decision.
Let me get this out of the way now, because I'm going to get pretty detailed below. Ultimately, I understand why there's such a debate about whether the Sony or Bose is better. They are both fantastic headphones. I loved them so much that I made the probably financially irresponsible decision to keep them both! They were both so good, but better than the other in completely unique ways. For that reason, there was no dealbreaker for me that makes one superior than the other -- It really comes down completely to personal preference and that's why there is so much debate.
The TL;DR of this review is that you should buy the Sony if you value sound quality most, and don't plan to wear them for long periods of time (i.e. over 5-6 hours per session). You should buy the Bose if you value comfort the most, and if you're planning to use them for phone calls.
If you're interested in a bit more detail, I'll give my opinions on these aspects: ANC, Sound, Comfort, Versatility
ANC
The noise-cancelling on both of these is phenomenal. I had assumed Bose would do better at this since it's what they're known for, but I'm surprised to say the Sony's ANC is slightly better. It does a bit better blocking out non-drone sounds (i.e. people talking, sharp noises, etc) compared to the Bose. With that said, they both are practically equal and I don't think the Sony ANC is so much better than the Bose that it would justify buying them on that factor alone. When wearing either pair, I sometimes feel like a spaceman walking around my apartment because everything is so quiet.
SOUND
This is a clear winner for Sony. No questions asked, the sound is clearer, crisper, and deeper. This is especially noticeable when watching movies/TV shows or playing video games. With the Sony, I feel like I can hear each individual sound clearly, whereas with the Bose everything is a little more muddled together. With that being said, the Bose sound is perfectly acceptable and even 'good'. It's just that for a $300 pair of headphones I'd expect a more premium quality where I am amazed at how clear the sound is. The Sony does that; the Bose are a tier below.
COMFORT
Hands down, the Bose are better. I can literally wear them for 14 hours and they don't bother me except for needing to give my ears a little air every once in a while. I have never, ever worn a pair of headphones this comfortable before. I'm especially grateful for this comfort now that I'm working from home all day because of COVID-19. The Sony headphones are a bit heavier and clamp on your head a little bit more tightly. They also press down on your ears, whereas the Bose are deep enough that my ears don't even touch the inside of the cans. The Sony are still definitely comfortable, but a tier below the Bose. I can still wear them for about 6 hours before they bother me, so if you don't wear headphones that long it might not be a problem for you.
VERSATILITY
This is just a catch-all for all the other aspects of the headphones. Nothing here I would consider a selling point strong enough for most people to make a final decision, but if you have specific needs then this might be helpful.
1. I like the physical buttons on the Bose more than the touch buttons on the Sony. They just work better, and I make mistakes with them less often.
2. Sony has better technology. They use USB-C so the headphones charge faster than the Bose mini-hdmi. They also have better bluetooth connection technology, which lets a higher bitrate of audio transfer wirelessly. Without getting too technical, I think this is a major reason why the sound quality on the Sony is better.
3. Bose is better if you want to connect to multiple devices. Bose can connect to two devices simultaneously, but Sony can connect to only 1 device at a time. For example, if I am listening to music on my computer and I get a phone call, if I'm wearing the Bose, I can answer and talk on the call through my headset, and when I hang up music will resume. With the Sony, I'd either have to disconnect from my computer, then reconnect to my phone before the call ended, or take off the headphones completely and answer the phone separately.
4. Sony looks a little more stylish and futuristic. The Bose look like an ordinary pair of headphones. Build quality is identical though
CONCLUSION
5 months after buying these, do I regret keeping them both? NO! They are absolutely worth the money if you have it. Generally, I find that I wear the Bose throughout the day as I'm working from home. They're really comfortable to wear all day long, if I get a call from a co-worker I don't need to take them off, and I'm just listening to music as background noise while I work so sound quality isn't important. After dinner, it's always the Sony. When I'm focusing on a new album, watching a movie, or playing a video game, I really value how good the sound is. And generally I only wear them for 3-4 hours at this point so discomfort is never an issue.
If you twist my arm about it and made me pick only one pair to own the rest of my life? I'd probably take the Bose just because I wear them so much while working from home. But that's not a fair metric, and each individual will have a different primary purpose for these and that should be your guiding principal when making the choice.
Good luck! (longest review over)
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Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700, with Alexa Voice Control, Soapstone
$239.99
(8,147)
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$239.99
(8,147)
Only 5 left in stock - order soon.
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This Item  Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling, with Alexa Voice Control - Rose Gold | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $329.99 | -19% $349.00 List: $429.00 | -39% $214.03 New Price: $349.00 | $358.00 | $199.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it Mar 11 - 14 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 12 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 12 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 8 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 16 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Woot | Amazon.com | Tech Geeks | Adorama | Prime Edge (We track IMEI) |
| connectivity tech | Bluetooth, NFC | Bluetooth 5.1, Bluetooth | Wireless, Wired | Wireless, Wired | Wireless | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
| connector type | wireless | plug,wireless | 2.5mm Jack | 2.5mm Jack | — | plug,wireless |
| noise control | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation |
| headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 2.5 mm Jack | 2.5 mm Jack | — | — | 3 5 mm jack,2 5 mm jack |
| cable feature | Without Cable | Without Cable | Detachable | Without Cable | In-line microphone | Without Cable |
| control type | Voice Control | Noise Control | Media Control | Media Control | Media Control | Touch Control |
| water resistance | not water resistant | water resistant | not water resistant | — | — | not water resistant |
| material | Plastic | Plastic, Leather | Plastic | Plastic | Synthetic leather, foam, and steel | Leather, Nylon |
| model name | QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones II in Rose Gold — works with Alexa voice control | QuietComfort 45-Headphones | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, Over-the-Ear Headphones with Mic, Up to 24 Hours of Battery Life, White Smoke | Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones with Up To 24 Hours of Battery Life, Black | Bose QuietComfort Wireless | QuietComfort 45 Headphones |
From the manufacturer
QC35 headphones II
Renowned noise cancelling headphones
Clear away the distractions of the world, and focus on what matters most. Go deeper into your music, work, and passions — with no noise in the way. Plus with Amazon Alexa, you can enjoy entertainment, get information, and manage your day. Just ask.
One app. Complete control.
Use the Bose Connect app to adjust the level of noise cancellation, enable music sharing, manage Bluetooth connections, and access software updates.
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Alexa. Anywhere. With the push of a button.
A few icebreakers… Alexa, play ’90s pop. Alexa, turn up the volume. Alexa, what’s the weather? Alexa, add milk to my shopping list. Alexa, how late is Starbucks open? Alexa, lock the doors.
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Let's get started.
- Download the Bose Connect app for product setup and pair your device
- Select Alexa as virtual assistant
- Download the Amazon Alexa app to create a free account
- Hit the Action button & ask away
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Compare Bose Headphones
 QuietComfort 35 II |  Noise Cancelling 700 |  QuietComfort Earbuds |  Sport Earbuds |  QC 35 II Gaming Headset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Customer Reviews
|
68,078
|
36,319
|
36,409
|
37,021
|
1,526
|
|
Price
| $369.00 | $249.99 | $219.99 | $175.00 | — |
|
Active Noise Cancelling
| Yes, adjustable | Yes, adjustable | Yes, adjustable | No | Yes, adjustable |
|
IPX Rating
| IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 |
|
Battery Life
| Up to 20 hours | Up to 20 hours | Up to 5 hours | Up to 6 hours | Up to 20 hours |
|
Charging Case
| No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
|
Battery Life w/ Charging Case
| N/A | N/A | Up to 18 hours | Up to 15 hours | N/A |
|
Touch Controls
| ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
|
App Control
| Bose Connect App | Bose Music App | Bose Music App | Bose Music App | Bose Connect App |
|
Colors
| Black, Silver, Blue | Black, Silver, Arctic White | Black, Soapstone | Black, Glacier White, Blue | Black |
|
Boom Mic
| ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
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THESE HEADPHONES SAVED MY MARRIAGE
Ok, I’m a HUGE Bose fan in general, but these noise canceling headphones quickly became the one thing I would never be able to live without. Don’t judge, you haven’t experienced my husband’s sleep apnea and resulting snoring (Oh. My. GOD). If I was going to a deserted island (and my husband was joining me), the one thing I couldn’t live without out while on my relaxing island getaway would be these headphones. I literally cannot sleep without them due to my husband’s snoring. I tried countless other earplugs and noise canceling buds and headphones (sometimes wearing silicone earplugs WITH headphones to no avail… I tried everything), but none of them worked; they didn’t cancel noise effectively and/or they were just stupid uncomfortable, like so uncomfortable I ended up throwing them out of my bed. I sleep in these every single night, falling asleep to the sound of raindrops. I literally cannot hear my husband come to bed or my five dogs barking when I’m wearing these. They are surprisingly comfortable to wear sleeping on my side, and they adjust to whatever position my head is in, and I almost always sleep on my side which should be uncomfortable.The noise cancellation on these is AMAZING. You can set it high (total cancellation for sleeping or escaping your family or the fact that you work out of your house and CAN’T LEAVE or whatever - almost always my go to… *see Pitbulls and their early morning needs), low cancellation (to turn on at 4am every morning to ensure you hear your blind Pitbulls when they need to go for their walk bc they do not mess around, and wait is not in their vernacular) and off (something I never employ bc what’s the point? - the Bose quality sound combined with all background noise eclipsed is PHENOMENAL). Even if you don’t have a snoring spouse or needy blind Pitbulls or a crazy family (and if that’s you, I’ve got some serious envy), these are the best sound quality headphones I’ve ever owned.The only thing I don’t like about them, and it just started happening and only sometimes, is I get really bad feedback if I lie the wrong way on one of the headphones while sleeping. Frankly I’m surprised there isn’t a LOT more feedback and other issues considering I SLEEP IN THESE EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, but… they’re BOSE, and EVERYTHING Bose I have ever purchased over the last several decades has been superior in sound, customer service (tho I literally have never needed them bc it’s Bose!) and quality. I won’t buy anything BUT Bose anymore. You know what you get, and it’s kickass. Every single time.I seriously cannot recommend these any higher to anyone looking for comfortable, noise canceling headphones. We already all know that the sound quality is unparalleled - they’re Bose, after all - but the fact that I have finally found something that actually cancels the apocalyptic noise my beloved husband makes when snoring makes these invaluable. Side note: I’ve had these for ~24 mos now, I wear them every single night, and they are just as reliable and comfortable as the first day I wore them.What are y’all waiting for? Go get some!
Top reviews from the United States
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Top reviews from other countries
- LinusReviewed in Canada on February 27, 2022
Great headphones at a price to match
Color: BlackVerified Purchase -
TheoReviewed in Brazil on September 16, 2021
Depois de quase 2 anos de uso
Color: BlackVerified Purchase -
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Tomasz L.Reviewed in Poland on June 25, 2023
Dobre słuchawki ale mało trwałe
Color: SilverVerified Purchase -
