Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones Leaked Ahead of Impending Launch
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The QC35 had a VERY loyal following. They are considered by many to be by far the most comfortable ANC headphone. When they were originally released, they were the best ANC headphone on the market. Bose tried to follow them up with the NC700, but that was met with a lukewarm reception due mostly to a decrease in comfort. Bringing back the same design with modern features will be very welcome.
Doubtful. The QC35 have a very loyal following. I would expect an updated version with modern features will do very well.
I bought my QC35s in 2016, after getting sat next to a coworker who would take personal calls at his desk ... and was quite loud. Spendy, but I figured the money was worth it to save my hearing (instead of constantly upping the volume on the in-ear headphones I had).
They've been worth every penny. No issues, other than having to replace the ear pads ONCE (I was able to buy them on Amazon), and that was in 2019. Used pretty much 5 days/week until I got sent home in March 2020.
They've been worth every penny. No issues, other than having to replace the ear pads ONCE (I was able to buy them on Amazon), and that was in 2019. Used pretty much 5 days/week until I got sent home in March 2020.
At least they offer replacements. I had the same thing happen with my Beats Studio 3s and replaced them with third-party cups (the only ones available). ANC hasn't been the same since (despite working hard to remove all the excess adhesive), though the third-party pads are just as comfortable.
I am still using release day original QC35 and have no issue with them. Only gripe is that I had to change ear cups twice.
Still have my QC35 edition 1. Amazing product in my opinion. Had a few years now and not had to replace any ear pads. Worn for about 1hr most days on the dog walk.
I think I paid around 330 back then as well.
I tried the air pods pro recently but sent them back. Utter garbage in comparison (I appreciate the difference in form factor but I thought the air pods were poor in comparison).
I think I paid around 330 back then as well.
I tried the air pods pro recently but sent them back. Utter garbage in comparison (I appreciate the difference in form factor but I thought the air pods were poor in comparison).
Make sure you download the Bose Connect app if you haven’t - it is a little less burdensome way of toggling the secondary devices “off”. And the ear pads disintegrating is still a real thing. I like my AirPods Max, but I cant’ see using them for full-day teaches - I still go back to my QC35s for “work” — they are lighter an less head squeeze. But love the APM for “chillin”…
I see these Bose as a day one upgrade if everything here holds true (preferred the QC35 II over the 700, so glad to see them sticking to that design/comfort.)
So I've been on a bit of a journey with ANC headphones over the last few years - had The OG Bose QC25's, then two pairs of the Sony's (1000X and XM3's) as well as all the AirPods and most recently the AirPods Max (which I loved).
A friend offered me a pair of the QC35 II's for $100, which I accepted and sold the AirPods Max (felt too self conscious on the train with them) - and was extremely impressed. I feel like the bluetooth dual-pairing and the instant switching between EIGHT devices doesn't get enough praise!
Having my iPhone and Mac simultaneously connected to bluetooth and being able to switch sound/voice calls just by pausing the audio on one device is a game-changer for working from home and the office... And having 8 more device slots to pair it with my Apple TV, iPad and personal MacBook are a godsend. I thought the apple switching was fast... but hardware switching is something else!
Will keep the QC 35's until they die (sadly they seem infinitely repairable - so no new QC45's for me) - only other headphones I own now are the AirPods Pro (because they are so versatile - and spatial audio rocks)
A friend offered me a pair of the QC35 II's for $100, which I accepted and sold the AirPods Max (felt too self conscious on the train with them) - and was extremely impressed. I feel like the bluetooth dual-pairing and the instant switching between EIGHT devices doesn't get enough praise!
Having my iPhone and Mac simultaneously connected to bluetooth and being able to switch sound/voice calls just by pausing the audio on one device is a game-changer for working from home and the office... And having 8 more device slots to pair it with my Apple TV, iPad and personal MacBook are a godsend. I thought the apple switching was fast... but hardware switching is something else!
Will keep the QC 35's until they die (sadly they seem infinitely repairable - so no new QC45's for me) - only other headphones I own now are the AirPods Pro (because they are so versatile - and spatial audio rocks)
I haven't tried the pro max and unlikely to do so until I deem it safe to go into an Apple store. Having said that I love my QC35s. To me it's more comfortable than the vaunted Sony's and the multiple pairings are really useful (and it took the competition a while to catch up). The audio on phone calls are excellent.
I'll take the supposed downgrade in battery life and audio performance over the competition for the comfort quality any day. That said, as a matter of course, I hope Bose ups the performance with the QC45s.
How did you get it to switch between eight devices? Anything beyond two devices is constant pain for me as the headphones would connect to the wrong device and adamantly refuse to switch connection to the one I want to use. I have to re-pair them twice per day on average.
I personally like the design. But if I were to go to the next level...it would be airpods pro max.
I have used QuietComforts for a long time - and whenever I try others like Sony - I come back to the Bose QC's.
Why?
They are still be the best for comfort when you use them for hours, and the sound signature is the least fatiguing.
I don't care about how many levels the noice cancellation can be turned, not do I care about spyware like Google Assistant ..
..for me it is the core basics: comfort and sound.
USB-C is a welcome iteration.
Why?
They are still be the best for comfort when you use them for hours, and the sound signature is the least fatiguing.
I don't care about how many levels the noice cancellation can be turned, not do I care about spyware like Google Assistant ..
..for me it is the core basics: comfort and sound.
USB-C is a welcome iteration.
yes - this is one downside of the QC35s as well. Ive had to replace them often - but on amazon the compatible non-official ones are cheap and work well.
Loved and used Bose for years. I virtually lived inside my pair of QC35 I and II. They totally lost the plot with the 700, though. That touch interface. And what did they do to the NC? There seems to be a lot of love for Sony but not from my ears. I really didn’t get on with any of their sound profiles. Currently loving my B&W PX7. Truly awesome. Glad to see Bose returning to the QC line with the new 45. I’ll do a compare when I can get my hands on a pair. Going to have to go some to beat the PX7, but I do love the Bose sound when they get it right.
There are plenty of replacement earpads for the 35s and 25s (earpads are interchangeable between the two) in my side of the world.
The biggest downer for me is its microphone quality. During phone calls and conferences, it tend to amplify outside noise and transmit it both internally and to the other parties.
I'm still looking for a noise canceling headphones that can cancel people's voices. According to reviews, Sony's wasn't it. Let's see if Bose finally solve this.
I’m so happy with my AirPod Max, & AirPod Pro, that I’m not looking for anything else. Worth. Every. Penny.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The QC35s were fantastic. They came with a nice hard case (Apple are you listening??), had a good battery life, supported 3.5mm for planes, and were just super comfortable. There is a reason everyone loved them, yes over the sonys.
It is a shame it has taken Bose this long to upgrade them. If business travel comes back I’d buy these and take them travelling over the AirPod Maxs which, while excellent won’t hold up to the beating my QC35s took.
Those saying they are outdated what exactly are you after? The 700s are the top end these are the mid tier and they do a bloody good job.
Only bad thing was the microphone was never great but I have my AirPods for that
It is a shame it has taken Bose this long to upgrade them. If business travel comes back I’d buy these and take them travelling over the AirPod Maxs which, while excellent won’t hold up to the beating my QC35s took.
Those saying they are outdated what exactly are you after? The 700s are the top end these are the mid tier and they do a bloody good job.
Only bad thing was the microphone was never great but I have my AirPods for that
That said, the AirPods Pro microphone isn't any better. If I had a dollar for every time somebody on a call has told me they hear everything around me on the street (sirens, music, motorcycles) but not my voice, I'd have enough to buy a pair of AirPods Max by now.
