Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the QC Earbuds II made its way to the Philippines at Php 19,500. With that price, it's instantly considered in the high-end spectrum together with the Apple Airpods Pro Gen 2 and Sony WF-1000XM4. The latest installment of the popular earbuds implements a new design, better noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and more.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Review
If you're a Bose fan or just trying to figure out if this device is worth the hefty price, you're in the right page. Join us in this review of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Key Specs:
- Bluetooth 5.3 with 9.1-meter range
- 9.3-mm full-range dynamic drivers
- SBC and AAC Codec support
- Adaptive ANC
- IPX4 Water Resistance
- 6 hours battery for buds, 3x extra with charging case
- Triple Black and Soapstone colors
- Box Items: extra 2 pairs of eartips, extra 2 pairs of stability bands, USB-C cable, documentations
Design and Fit
The Bose QC Earbuds II comes with significantly improved design from the model it's replacing. The new model is now very comfortable to wear with the buds' smaller footprint and lighter weight. In fact, the earbuds (6.2 grams each) and the case (59.8 grams) are both 30% and 40% smaller, respectively, than the predecessor. Our review unit comes in Triple Black colorway; there's also the Soapstone color (that looks like dirty white in hue) in case you wanted to go that route. Despite being trimmed down in dimensions, both the buds and the case is considerably "bulkier" than its competitors.
The Bose QC Earbuds II now features a new eartips system - the two-piece Fit Kit system. This has the basic eartips and another stability band. The latter makes use of your ear's Cocha to peg as the buds' stability point for a more secure fit and tight seal. This makes the earbuds quite comfortable to use, even in longer periods of time. Both the eartips and the stability bands have 3 sizes that you can choose from; you can even mix and match the sizes that best fit your ear.
I chose to stay with the default sizes and I'm quite very lucky they instantly fit in my ears; I feel like choosing the best size could be a chore. There's also the Bose Music app which helps you choose the best sizes via a fit test. Of course, you still get the best build quality from this premium device together with the IPX4 water resistance rating.
Features
The new Bose QC Earbuds II features a CustomTune audio which intelligently customize audio profiles based on the user's ear structure. The earbuds do this by sending out audio signals and picks it up as it reflects back to the bud; after which, it intelligently calibrates the active noise cancellation profile and sound frequency response that's best for the listener.
The QC Earbuds II now has a bigger full-range dynamic drivers, Qualcomm S5 audio chipset, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. It uses SBC and AAC codec for wireless transfers just like that of the Airpods Pro 2.
Of course, since this is a Bose headphones, it excels in noise cancellation. As expected, I'm impressed how the ANC works with these earbuds; and I could definitely tell that this is the best ANC TWS headphones in the market right now. Bose did this feat by employing four microphones in each earbud - three external mics and one internal microphone. It pairs this hardware with an active algorithm and proprietary chip which filters noise in a fraction of a millisecond.
There's also a nifty multipoint connectivity feature which allows the device to be paired with multiple devices at the same time. You can even manage the connection in the app. Likewise, the QC Earbuds II allows the use of a single bud; thus, if one of the two buds fall off your ear or disconnects in the Bluetooth, the track still continues.
The QC Earbuds II has an ActiveSense feature which actively adjusts your device's noise cancellation in "Aware mode" so that your music will not be drowned out by surrounding noise. Lastly, you can also take advantage of the Auto Transparency feature. You can conveniently talk to someone by removing one earbud and then the ANC level is automatically pushed down to lowest level in the other bud. The ANC goes back to the original level when you put on the bud.
Sound Quality
The Bose QC Earbuds II has an excellent amount of bass. You can actually choose a preset Equalizer profile with Bass Boost and Treble Boost; both sound quite exceptional depending on the track you're listening.
The earbuds offer a pretty solid soundstage and sound frequency registration is quite balanced. I love how instruments float amid strong vocals and bass. The sound quality is rich and full of details - you can hear every single element available in each track. Lows, mids, and highs are very present in every type of track - pop, jazz, rock, and acoustic - I listened to. I have to say, I'm quite impressed with the Bose QC Earbuds II's CustomTune feature.
When it comes to calls, the earbuds are quite okay but it's not as exceptional as we have experienced with the sound quality. I tried using the QC II in our Microsoft Teams meeting and the people I spoke to said I sounded quite muffled compared to the last earbuds I used (which is the Airpods Pro 2, by the way). And did I mention that it does not have wireless charging?
Software and Battery
When it comes to battery life, the Bose QC Earbuds II could last up to six hours per bud. With ANC turned on, the buds last about three hours. With the case, you'll have two additional top ups for the earbuds. In terms of recharging the earbuds, a quick 20-minute charge allows you to have two more hours of playback.
The Bose Music is the companion app of the Bose QC Earbuds II. It's easy to use and offers a lot of useful features and customizations for the earbuds. For one, you can manage your connected device straight from the app. You can cycle through modes, set your preferred EQ, check out tips, and assign shortcuts in the app. I love how simple yet functional the app is in contrast with competitors' companion app.
Should You Buy Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II?
The Bose QuietComfort II earbuds is definitely one of the best in its category. It's the best in Active Noise Cancellation technology I've ever used in a TWS earbuds. The quality could also be extended in terms of sound; it's also one of the best-sounding devices around. Plus, its offering of EQ and sound customization makes it more flexible compared to its closest competitors.
If you're looking for the best ANC in this product category, this is it. Considering that it's also one of the most expensive, I was expecting for other premium features like wireless charging and excellent call quality; but if you're okay with a few missteps, then this would make a great TWS earbuds for you.
