Bose announced the second generation of its QuietComfort Headphones on Thursday, moving the Immersive Audio features that were previously exclusive to the QuietComfort Ultra series down into its mainstream noise cancelling line. Preorders open August 8 at Bose.com and through select resellers for $359, and shipping starts August 13.
The headphones come in Black and White Smoke, along with three limited-edition launch colorways called Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint, and Rosewood Mauve.
Driving the spatial audio is Bose TrueSpatial, which enables three Immersive Audio listening modes. Still Mode anchors the sound in the room as the listener turns their head, Motion Mode lets audio follow head movement for listening on the go, and Cinema Mode widens the soundstage for video and podcasts while keeping dialogue centered and clear.
Bose keeps its SoundDesign digital signal processing and adds lossless playback over wired USB-C audio at up to 24bit/48kHz. The USB-C port now works in both directions, so the headphones also handle voice input for calls and videoconferencing apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Noise cancellation carries a new name, QuietControl, and new adaptive feedforward controls. Bose says the six-microphone system compensates better for gaps in the earcup seal, which should help listeners who wear glasses, wear a hat, or have hair that breaks the seal.
ActiveSense responds more smoothly in Aware Mode, softening sudden spikes of noise such as a passing train. Noise cancellation can now be adjusted manually or switched off entirely in the Bose app, and custom modes cycle through the action button on the left earcup.
The redesign covers the headband, which gets smooth adjustable sliders and plusher soft synthetic leather cushioning, and the clamping force, which Bose says is tuned for a secure fit and a lighter feel. Oval earcups give the frame a more seamless profile, and hidden color inside the cups creates a two-tone look, with yellow inside Eucalyptus Green, teal accents on Dewdrop Mint, and fuchsia pink inside Rosewood Mauve.
Physical buttons stay on the earcups. The right side handles play, pause, volume, and calls, while the left switches listening modes and triggers a shortcut to the source device's voice assistant or Spotify Tap. Connectivity covers Bluetooth Core 5.4 with multipoint for two devices at once, plus Google Fast Pair on Android.
Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours, falling to 18 hours with Immersive Audio running. A 15-minute quick charge returns up to 2.5 hours of playback, a full charge takes three hours, and the headphones can be used while charging over USB-C.
The Bose app adds a three-band EQ, custom listening modes, shortcut configuration, Bluetooth device management, and firmware updates. The headphones weigh 0.5 pounds and ship with a carry case, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to 3.5 mm cable for analog sources including in-flight entertainment systems.
The QuietComfort line sits below the QuietComfort Ultra series, which until now was the only Bose range with Immersive Audio and which currently holds the comfort pick in our roundup of the best noise cancelling headphones.
