Bose’s excellent noise-cancelling wireless headphones are back with a modest-looking, but nice-to-have, upgrade.
On top of better ANC, which I’ll get to in a second, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) add TrueSpatial tech, which is Bose’s proprietary spatial audio. Now, you’ll be able to choose from three different Immersive Audio modes, including “still,” “motion,” and “cinema.” I’m not usually a huge fan of spatial audio modes, but Bose does a decent job as far as those are concerned—they don’t entirely ruin the EQ like others that I’ve used.
Bose says it’s also improving ANC in a few ways, and one of those ways is good news for anyone who wears glasses. Thanks to a new “adaptive feedforward control,” Bose says the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) can better compensate for gaps in the seal on earcups created by glasses, which should help maintain ideal ANC levels.
The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) also improve on adaptive ANC, according to Bose. That means transitions in ANC levels when you’re in an environment that gets suddenly loud should be smoother and less jarring, though I’ll have to test that claim on the New York City subway to be sure.
The “comfort” part of “QuietComfort” is getting some attention as well. Bose says its new wireless headphones update the headband with adjustable sliders and more plush cushioning. The “clamping” force has been adjusted for a tighter seal, as well, and the earcups are now oval-shaped, giving them a rounder look.
With ANC on, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) get 24 hours of battery life, though that drops down to 18 with spatial audio enabled. That 24-hour life is the same as the previous generation, for reference, and a few hours less than the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), which get 30 hours with ANC on.
If looks are more your concern, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) come in three limited edition colors, including Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint, and Rosewood Mauve. They’ll also be available in a non-limited-edition black and white color. The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are available for preorder, starting Aug. 8 for $359, and start shipping on Aug. 13.