Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review: ANC Wins, Software Flaws
“The world’s best noise cancellation” — that’s Bose’s bold marketing promise for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and, according to hundreds of buyers, it’s not far from the truth. Reddit users consistently rate the ANC 9/10 or even call it “the best I’ve ever heard in an earbud.” But behind the sonic excellence, a pattern of Bluetooth instability and app frustration emerges. The average consensus? An 8/10 overall: audio nirvana, if you can tolerate some quirks.
Quick Verdict
Conditional Buy: superb sound and ANC for travelers and gym-goers who value quiet above all. Skip if you rely on seamless Bluetooth switching or frequent voice calls.
| Category | User Consensus |
|---|---|
| Noise Cancellation | 10/10 – “Beats most over-ear models” |
| Sound Quality | 9/10 – “Balanced, deep bass, lifelike mids” |
| Comfort & Fit | 8/10 – “Soft seal, but comfort varies by ear” |
| Call Quality | 5/10 – “Muffled or distant voice reports” |
| Connectivity | 6/10 – “Random drops, app rarely detects buds” |
| Battery Life | 7/10 – “Okay but not class-leading” |
| Value | 7/10 – “Fantastic sound, but overpriced for features” |
Claims vs Reality
The official Bose spec sheet paints a nearly flawless picture: “customized sound through CustomTune technology,” “unrivaled noise cancellation,” and “reliable Bluetooth 5.3 connection.” Yet, several users find these claims hit uneven notes in real life.
Noise Cancelling: Bose’s reputation holds strong. TechRadar declared it “the master of ANC is back on top,” and a Reddit user wrote that in a deafening gym, “it’s a nightmare of noise, yet I play music at 60% and hear it perfectly clear.” This matches the promise of personalized ANC through CustomTune—with many saying it silences conversations, fans, and airplane hum.
Connectivity Reliability: Bose advertises “seamless, reliable Bluetooth 5.3,” but Reddit mentions show persistent hiccups. One user lamented: “Constant connectivity problems… one ear doesn’t connect, or it jumps to my laptop mid-podcast.” Despite Bluetooth 5.3, real-world stability seems compromised by software bugs and the Bose Music App’s poor device recognition.
Comfort: Officially “all-day comfort,” reality depends on ear shape. While Best Buy reviewers gave comfort 4.7/5, Tom’s Guide reported that prolonged use “presses uncomfortably after two hours.” Bose offers multiple tip and band sizes, but Reddit explains the learning curve—“I had to test all combinations; once right, they never move.”
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Users unite around two standout qualities: noise cancellation and signature Bose sound. One Reddit traveler summed it up: “These beat out most over-ear headphones for ANC.” Multiple Best Buy buyers echoed that they “blocked air purifiers and gym noise at half volume.”
Sound quality earns nearly equal acclaim. From EDM to classical, reviewers praise the lifelike presentation. A TechRadar editor described “beautifully balanced sound with clear textures even in orchestral tracks.” Reddit’s music lovers note powerful bass without drowning mids—“Deep, rich bass vocals, perfectly tuned out of the box,” wrote one verified buyer.
Comfort, surprisingly, garners high marks from gym enthusiasts: “They don’t enter your ear canal like others—most comfortable I’ve worn while running.” The soft silicone seal without intrusive pressure helps users with smaller ear canals, creating a snug but breathable fit.
Common Complaints
Connectivity remains the Achilles' heel. Bose forums and Reddit combine into a chorus of frustration: “App doesn’t see the earbuds 80% of the time,” “random blips and small disconnects.” A Reddit power user declared that “for every one person with no problem, there are four who do.” The issue spans Android and iOS, often forcing manual re-pairing.
Call quality likewise disappoints. While Bose advertises “clear calls,” reports skew negative. One Reddit owner scored the mic “2/10 – terrible for calls.” Even expert testers noticed that callers “heard background cars and wind despite ANC.”
Battery life doesn’t live up to rivals—six hours per charge, 24 with case. Several reviewers compare it unfavorably to Sony and Apple’s higher-end buds, calling Bose’s “quick charge” misleading: “20 minutes for 2 hours isn’t quick at all,” wrote Tom’s Guide.
Comfort can polarize. Some appreciate the stability wings, while others find “they hurt my ears after 60 minutes.” Inconsistent sealing causes variable ANC performance, leading Reddit users to experiment obsessively with fit kits or aftermarket foam tips.
Divisive Features
The touch controls spark debate. Bose calls them “simple touch,” but Reddit describes them as “too sensitive—lying down triggers Quiet/Aware mode repeatedly.” Tom’s Guide backed this, noting “tap works 50% of the time,” though sliding for volume was smoother.
Then there’s the Bose Music App: essential for EQ and firmware updates, but often the source of trouble. Some owners disabled app Bluetooth access entirely: “Once I removed the app, earbuds worked flawlessly.”
Still, Bose’s adaptive ANC or “ActiveSense” receives rare praise for transparency balance. TechRadar called it “a miracle” for adjusting to ambient sound mid-song without harsh cutoffs—useful for commuters who shift between quiet rooms and busy trains.
Trust & Reliability
Over time, durability appears strong—IPX4 sweat resistance withstands gyms and rain, and construction feels premium. A long-term Reddit traveler stated, “I’ve had mine since launch and they still perform like day one.”
But software trust tells another story. Many users describe firmware updates breaking connections or requiring resets. One wrote, “After update, only the right ear worked until I reset the pair.” This pattern echoes across forums, fueling perceptions that the earbuds are hardware-strong yet software-fragile.
Support quality divides opinion: Redditors complain about email channels not working, forcing phone calls for service, whereas others praised Bose’s replacement policy: “Agent replaced my refurbished pair with new Ultras immediately.” Bose’s 90-day guarantee, mentioned frequently on forums, often saves disappointed buyers.
Alternatives
When stacked against Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF‑1000XM5, community consensus gives Bose the ANC crown but not the convenience trophy. A Reddit reviewer who switched summarized: “AirPods connect faster and sound decent, but Bose cancel noise better than any earbud—just unreliable.”
TechRadar drew the same line: while Sony offers multi‑point and wireless charging, Bose dominates where it counts—“quiet, comfort, and sonic accuracy.” The newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds add spatial audio and aptX Adaptive but at a steeper price.
Price & Value
On Amazon and Best Buy, pricing fluctuates from $199–$279 (USD) after frequent discounts, down from a $299 launch. eBay resale data shows steady retention: refurbished units list around NZD 260–330 (roughly $160–$200 USD), suggesting lasting desirability.
Still, many users call them “pricey for the missing features.” WhistleOut highlighted “no wireless charging and large bulky case,” while a Best Buy customer wrote: “Excellent ANC, but nothing $300 about them.” Yet frequent Bose sales make them more defensible—one Redditor suggested, “Buy direct with coupon, $179 + 90‑day return. Worth it then.”
FAQ
Q: Do the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II support multipoint?
A: No. They can remember up to seven devices but only connect to one at a time. Users must manually switch through the Bose app or Bluetooth menu.
Q: How do they compare to the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
A: The Ultra adds spatial (immersive) audio and aptX Adaptive codec but shares the same ANC engine. Many report only modest upgrades unless you crave Dolby‑like surround effects.
Q: Are they good for phone calls?
A: Mixed. Mics isolate voice well in quiet rooms, but outdoors callers often hear wind or traffic. Several Reddit users rate call clarity far below AirPods Pro.
Q: Can you wear them for workouts?
A: Yes. With IPX4 resistance and firm stability bands, they withstand sweat and jogging. However, sealed design amplifies thuds when running unless Aware mode is on.
Q: Is the Bose Music App required?
A: It’s needed for firmware updates and EQ tuning. Many use it once for setup then disable it, as it can cause connection recognition failures.
Final Verdict
Buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II if you’re a commuter, traveler, or gym-goer craving silence and authentic audio. Bose’s ANC transforms chaos into calm, and the CustomTune sound sits among the best in the world of wireless earbuds. Avoid them if you juggle multiple devices or rely heavily on calls, as connection dropouts remain frequent.
Community pro tip? “Wait for a sale, pair them once, and never open the Bose app again.” That’s how most users keep the quiet truly quiet.
Verdict: 8/10 – unbeatable noise cancellation, unreliable software.
