Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review: ANC King with Flaws
When a Reddit user admitted, “I think I’m deaf!” after first activating noise cancellation on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, others instantly understood. Bose’s “world’s best noise cancellation” claim didn’t sound like empty marketing to them — it felt literal. But this same ear‑sealing power comes bundled with quirks: Bluetooth dropouts, finicky controls, and call microphones that frustrate even devoted fans. Across 10,000+ verified reviews, the QuietComfort II average an 8.3/10: spectacular for solitude seekers, less ideal for multitaskers.
Quick Verdict
| Verdict | For audiophiles who prioritize silence and sonic immersion over connectivity convenience, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II deliver reference‑level ANC, premium comfort, and rich sound at around $249–$299. But persistent Bluetooth hiccups and subpar mic performance hold them back. |
|---|
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Industry‑leading active noise cancellation | Unreliable app and pairing issues |
| Deep, balanced audio with strong bass | Microphone struggles in busy environments |
| Secure, customizable fit | No multipoint or wireless charging |
| Comfortable for extended wear | Price remains steep compared to rivals |
| Solid 24‑hour total battery life | Touch controls can misfire |
Claims vs Reality
Bose touts CustomTune technology as tailoring audio “to your ears’ unique shape,” and most testers agree the payoff is apparent. Techlicious’s reviewer wrote that the system “creates a model of your ear canal to tune the sound,” resulting in “a personal auditory space… free from life’s annoyances.” Similarly, Tom’s Guide confirmed “refined and well‑balanced sound” once calibration completed.
Yet the company’s promises of “seamless Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity” meet harsher scrutiny. “For every one person that claims they haven’t had issues, there are about four that have,” noted one Reddit commenter, describing random dropouts and “only one earbud connecting.” Even Bose’s own forums suggest deleting the Bose Music app entirely sometimes helps. As one Redditor joked, “The moment I deleted the app, I never had any connectivity problem again.”
Another tension appears around voice clarity: Bose advertises “crystal‑clear calls,” but a verified Best Buy buyer countered that the “microphone quality to the person on the other end… is so bad that I usually have to switch to the phone.” Reviewers at Quora’s Techlicious were blunt: “The buds struggled to cancel sounds in loud urban environments from intruding on my microphone during calls.”
Cross‑Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across Amazon (4.1⭐), Best Buy (4.3⭐, >8,000 reviews), and Reddit, one trait dominates all discussion: overpowering silence. “There could be bombs going off around you and there is literal silence to your ears,” marveled an Amazon customer. Trusted Reviews described them as “the best earbuds for noise‑cancelling … whatever sounds try to disrupt these earphones, [they] lay waste to them.” Users commuting through subways or open offices say even talkative colleagues vanish once ANC 10/10 is engaged.
For travelers, that isolation pairs with rich reproduction. “Great sound quality and bass 9/10,” shared a Reddit owner of three weeks. Audiophiles on Best Buy echo the sentiment: “Deep rich bass vocals, clear noise cancellation, perfect charging last for days.” TechGearLab’s bench tests confirmed “excellent sense of clarity … balanced highs and a powerful low end,” ranking ANC performance among the best measured.
Comfort receives nearly equal praise thanks to Bose’s “Fit Kit” with three tip and wing sizes. “I wore these for four hours straight the first day … didn’t feel loose once,” wrote one long‑time Bose customer. Reviewers at NextPit and Trusted Reviews both commended the lightweight redesign, mentioning that “everyone should find a snug fit.” Gym users note they “stay in my ear without dropping regardless of movements … worth every penny.”
Common Complaints
Connectivity overshadows many victories. Reddit threads overflow with resets, firmware re‑pairs, and app conflicts: “About ¼ of my time with these has been spent fighting with them to make them work.” Best Buy reviewers corroborate intermittent disconnections — “Only thing is that it keeps disconnecting … these things are very expensive.” Even professional testers noticed “issues pairing … one earbud would randomly stop working,” according to TechGearLab’s lab data.
Call performance ranks second among negatives. Multiple Amazon and Quora users cite muffled or distant voice transmission. “My colleague complained that my voice wasn't elevated above ambient noise,” explained Techlicious’s tester. Bose’s own support page acknowledges “poor sound quality from product” and recommends resets — a tacit admission of inconsistency.
Battery life rarely matches Bose’s premium narrative. Officially six hours per charge, reviewers call it “mediocre” or merely “average.” NextPit found “heavy‑duty users have to recharge during lunch,” while Tom’s Guide lamented, “battery life remains the same … you can’t turn off ANC to extend runtime.” Quick charging, however, delivers two hours from twenty minutes, which most users find sufficient.
Touch controls divide opinion. Fine when dry, unreliable when sweaty or adjusted mid‑flight. “Trying to lie down on a plane, it perceives that as a long press — ‘quiet mode, aware mode’ on repeat,” ranted one Reddit post. Wet fingers during workouts also trigger accidental pauses, echoed by NextPit’s finding that “touch gestures are susceptible to erroneous inputs due to water or being pushed out of place.”
Divisive Features
Fit comfort depends strongly on ear size. While most enjoy long‑term wear, smaller‑eared users report soreness after an hour: “Hurt my ears after some time … not worth buying if you ask me,” said a Reddit returnee. Others adore the stability: “Very comfortable overall. Didn’t fall out of ears (I usually have that issue).”
Sound signature divides purists and casual listeners. “Bose opts for a neutral, uncoloured approach,” wrote Trusted Reviews, but some audiophiles deem it “too safe” compared with Sony or Sennheiser. As TechGearLab summarized, “Balanced and enjoyable audio … only losing a bit of depth at the highest volumes.”
Trust & Reliability
Reddit portrays Bose customer service as unusually generous. One user shared, “Bose may be shitty when it comes to firmware … but they have the best customer support I’ve seen by a mile.” Others described obtaining free upgrades to the newer QC Ultra after reporting recurring defects. Trustpilot reviewers, meanwhile, note that “constant connection issues” often required replacements but commend Bose’s “no‑hassle RMA process.”
Durability fares well physically — the IPX4 rating withstands gym sweat and drizzle — yet firmware stability remains the weak link. Some long‑term owners discovered unequal volume between earbuds or random desync “60 days in,” forcing warranty exchanges. Still, Bose’s reputation for honoring returns keeps buyer confidence relatively intact.
Alternatives
Community comparisons consistently point to Sony WF‑1000XM4/XM5, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Samsung Buds 2 Pro. One Reddit user switched to AirPods Pro 2, calling them “superior … especially in call quality.” TechGearLab rated Bose’s ANC higher but admitted Apple offers “better ecosystem integration and stability.” Trusted Reviews conceded “there are better‑sounding earbuds … Sony and Sennheiser are more musical,” though Bose still leads in serenity. In essence: Bose wins isolation, Sony wins feature breadth, Apple wins convenience.
Price & Value
On launch, Bose charged $299 USD; frequent sales now push it closer to $229–$249. Some Redditors scored them “for $179 direct from Bose with coupon + 90‑day return.” eBay resale averages between NZD 260–350 (roughly USD $150–210) for refurbished units, hinting at steady demand. Most communities consider anything under $200 a fair “safe bet if you can live with the software.”
For value‑hunters, users recommend:
- Buy direct to access Bose’s exchange program.
- Avoid used units older than firmware 1.3.26 —they miss single‑earbud mode fixes.
- Keep proof for quick swap to QC Ultra if replacement arises.
FAQ
Q: Can I connect the QuietComfort Earbuds II to two devices at once?
A: No. They remember up to 7 devices but operate with only one active connection. Users switch via the Bose Music app, which many describe as “fiddly.”
Q: Do they support high‑resolution codecs like aptX?
A: Not at launch; official specs list only SBC and AAC. Some regions later received Snapdragon Sound updates, but Android users still find results inconsistent.
Q: How effective is the noise cancellation compared to over‑ear headphones?
A: Multiple Reddit testers claim it “beats out most over‑ears.” TechGearLab recorded reductions up to 42 dB — extraordinary for in‑ear design.
Q: Are they good for workouts?
A: Light exercise, yes. They’re IPX4‑rated and rarely slip, but runners reported “loud thuds from footsteps” due to the tight seal unless using Aware Mode.
Q: How long do they actually last per charge?
A: Around six hours, or slightly less with max ANC and high volume. Users verify “roughly 6 hr 40 min” in benchmarks; the case adds three full refills for ~24 hrs total.
Final Verdict
Buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II if your world revolves around focus — coders in open offices, commuters craving silence, or travelers who treat cabin noise as the enemy. Avoid if crystal‑clear phone calls or frequent multi‑device hopping are mission‑critical. As one seasoned Redditor wrote, “They’re worth a gamble at $199 … they still have measurably the best ANC of any earbuds.”
Bottom line: unmatched quiet, occasional chaos.
