Bose Overhauls QuietComfort 2nd Gen With Major Upgrades For $359

Bose is giving its core noise-canceling headphone line a major mid-cycle upgrade. The new QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), priced at $359 MSRP, pack several features previously reserved for the pricier Ultra lineup, while tweaking the hardware design to solve some long-standing daily usage annoyances, such as active-noise cancellation leakage when wearing glasses.

ANC has historically been a strong suit among Bose's headphones and earbuds, as we most recently experienced in our QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review. Now branded as "QuietControl" with the release of its refreshed QuietComfort Headphones, Bose's ANC gets some key under-the-hood tweaks. Chief among them is a six-microphone array that uses adaptive feedforward processing to compensate for broken earcup seals caused by thick eyeglass frames, hats, or even bushy hair.

"In addition, the new QuietComfort Headphones feature an improved ActiveSense response when in Aware Mode, engaging the right amount of noise cancellation in a smoother and more natural sounding way to soften sudden spikes of noise, like a passing train," Bose says.

Users can also manually adjust the level of ANC or turn it off entirely through the Bose app. On top of that, the app allows for creating custom modes, which users can then cycle through via a physical action button the left earcup.

Beyond touting better ANC, the biggest functional addition is Bose TrueSpatial tech, bringing spatialized Immersive Audio to the standard (read: non-Ultra) QuietComfort tier for the first time. Users can toggle between Still mode (keeps audio fixed in space relative to the room, even during head turns), Motion mode (tracks head movements so the virtual soundstage follows the listener while walking or commuting), and Cinema mode (widens the soundstage and boosts dialogue for movies, TV shows, and podcasts).

Although these were built mainly for wireless use, Bose introduced USB-C lossless audio to the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). The headphones can now be connected to your phone or computer for 24-bit/48kHz sound, to make Zoom and Teams calls through their microphones, and to charge the headphones while you are listening (finally!).

In terms of visuals, initial product pictures may not show much difference, but the 2nd Gen headphones have oval earcups instead of the previous round pads. The headband is also redesigned with Bose saying it optimized the clamping force for a secure fit and lightweight feel.

"Hidden pops of color inside the earcups introduce a fresh two-tone design that complements the headphones' modern aesthetic. Launching with three limited-edition colorways, QuietComfort Headphones become an even bolder expression of personal style," Bose says.