Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds (2nd gen) assessment: Nonetheless a noise-canceling powerhouse

Bose introduced its newest earbuds , however the gained’t arrive till early September. Immediately, although, they’re accessible for preorder, and I’ve spent the previous few weeks testing all the brand new options. This mannequin is an overhaul of the noise-canceling earbuds the corporate alongside its tackle spatial audio. Among the many upgrades, Bose has improved the energetic noise cancellation (ANC) efficiency, enhanced name high quality and added wi-fi charging to the case. Two years later, the QuietComfort Extremely remains to be for these primarily involved with blocking distractions, and Bose’s tweaks make its greatest earbuds even higher.

What’s new on the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds (2nd gen)?

The brand new QC Extremely Earbuds are at their greatest in Quiet mode. That is Bose’s choice for full noise cancellation with out spatial audio (or Immersive Audio, as the corporate calls it). Right here, there’s little doubt these are nonetheless one of the best noise-cancelling earbuds accessible proper now. The primary-gen model achieved the identical feat, however Bose has gone a step additional to boost its ANC setup for this refresh.

Particularly, the corporate up to date the algorithm for its ActiveSense expertise in Conscious (transpancy) Mode. Now the QC Extremely Earbuds provide smoother adjustments in ANC ranges to fight sudden spikes in ambient noise. This implies issues like sirens ought to not drown out your music or podcast. Sadly, I wasn’t in a position to set off the retooled adaptive ANC with simulated police sirens from YouTube — the best choice on my quiet cul-de-sac — however I’ll report again if I discover any oddities right here.

Bose additionally upgraded name high quality on the QC Extremely Earbuds. The corporate says a brand new AI-powered setup, generally known as SpeechClarity, works with “the earbuds’ eight microphones, dynamic mixing and adaptive filters” to focus in your voice. Bose explains that it makes use of audio augmentation tech that was initially developed for listening to aids right here, which may scale back background noise like wind or the drone of an workplace. Throughout my checks, the revised system silenced a loud fan, rendering it fully absent from my recordings. Nonetheless, general voice high quality suffers as you’ll sound a bit staticky when all of the audio processing kicks in.

Fortunately, you not want a further accent for wi-fi charging on the QC Extremely Earbuds. With the first-gen mannequin, you had to purchase to allow cable-free recharging. Bose has now constructed all of that into the case for the second-gen set, a welcome improve that actually ought to’ve been right here from the beginning. When the unique QC Extremely Earbuds debuted in 2023, wi-fi charging was definitely already the norm.

What’s nonetheless nice concerning the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds (2nd gen)?

As I discussed, the general ANC efficiency of the QC Extremely Earbuds stays unmatched. If you happen to’re seeking to block out distractions, that is the best choice that also affords nice sound high quality. Bose even manages to cancel out human voices higher than most of its rivals, which is usually a battle for a lot of the competitors.

Audio high quality on these earbuds stays close to the highest of the heap. You gained’t discover as a lot element as or , however there’s nice readability right here nonetheless. Bose says the tuning was “barely refined” for improved bass response and smoother excessive frequencies. I seen that tracks with deep bass, like Deftones’ “locked membership,” are clearer on the low finish. In the meantime, treble-forward devices in songs like Miles Davis’ “Inexperienced Haze” sound crisper and cleaner than earlier than.

Regardless of their bigger dimension, this yr’s buds provide a surprisingly balanced and cozy match. Bose refreshed the ear suggestions for the QC Extremely Earbuds with a brand new guard to stop wax construct up. Contact controls are nonetheless dependable, and you may disable them fully on this second-gen model.

What’s not so good concerning the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds (2nd gen)?

The largest gripe I’ve with the overhaul of the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds is the dearth of enchancment to battery life. I used to be dissatisfied to see that a greater runtime wasn’t a part of the upgrades once I learn the announcement in June, and I’m nonetheless not over it. On this mannequin, you’ll rise up to 6 hours of use with ANC turned on. Like earlier than, should you hear with that spatial Immersive Audio enabled, that drops to 4 hours. A pair extra hours would’ve been good, sufficient to maintain the QC Extremely Earbuds in place for a full work day with out having to present them a lunch break within the case.

Whereas the design doesn’t trouble me an excessive amount of, I do know the look of the QC Extremely Earbuds isn’t for everybody. There’s a little bit of a mini Bluetooth headset vibe happening right here, and the general dimension of the buds are on the bigger aspect when a lot of the competitors is racing to be the smallest. Like I stated, none of this impacts consolation or stability, and I’d wager many potential consumers are keen to stay with the aesthetic in change for the kind of silence the QC Extremely Earbuds ship.

Wrap-up

The upgrades on the second-gen QC Extremely Earbuds don’t make for a wildly new product, however they do present sufficient for a notable enchancment over the earlier model. ANC and name efficiency are each enhanced, and although it’s late to the occasion, the addition of built-in wi-fi charging is a welcome change. Different updates, just like the tuning tweaks and the power to show off contact controls, are quality-of-life adjustments that undoubtedly enhance the general expertise. Bose has finished all of this with out altering the value from the 2023 mannequin, which is a shocking alternative within the present financial local weather. Merely put, the QC Extremely Earbuds stay , and that’s not prone to change anytime quickly.

The Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds (2nd gen) can be found within the US right now, August 28. The overall on-sale date is scheduled for September 10.