Apparently, Bose Bashing is Justified

FWIW I gave my QC35 to my wife and bought the Noble K10UA as a portable solution, especially when flying and during transit.

After a few flights, tips, and transits later, I sold the K10UA and bought a second pair of QC35. Why?

• SQ: In a quiet space auditioning, the QC35 has obviously poorer SQ than TOTL IEMs, but in a noisy scenario like in the subway or on a plane? The net sound I get from the QC35 is actually way better than any IEM.
• Comfort: The QC35, or any over ear headphone, is more comfortable to me than IEMs.
• UX features: Both my wife and I use iPhones with no 3.5mm jack. With two QC35's, we can both link up to a single device and listen to the same music or watch the same movie in sync with no wires or fuss. While audiophiles don't care about features like this, I personally find this about 5x more valuable to me than the marginal SQ improvement one'd get going from a HD650 to the HE1.
• Wireless: I cannot understate how much better it is to not have wires when you're in urban transit or stuck in ever shrinking seat pitch on fully booked flights for hours on end.

TL;DR: The QC35 hits it out of the park for the scenarios it is intended for. For quiet home or office listening, you can go with something better sounding.

 

I have an old set of QC15 that have gone through 3 or 4 sets of pads now. Recently they started going static-y in on channel if I wear them for more than a couple hours so I don't use them as often any more.

By themselves they're great for podcasts, audio books, or just leaving them on with nothing playing to quiet down the outside world.

When I want some real isolation I put them on over my IEMs.

 

@Junki

My own preference on a plane or subway is the passively noise isolating Shure 215's. It's basically like wearing earplugs with sound. Main reason I like it better than noise isolating headphone is there is no need to charge them and they easily fit a in a pocket. Some people don't like the feel of in-ears but I'm not bothered personally.

 

I own a pair of QC35s and they're basically very good for what they mean to do. Great ANC, no wire, light weight, awesome battery life, comfy, stylishly low profile looks and very easy to pair and use in general. Pretty much every other company making portables should learn a thing or two from Bose concerning basic usability. For this reason they get lots more use that than many better sounding alternatives I own.

SQ is quite agreeable generally with a modest bass & treble boost that works when on the go. They aren't high fidelity by any stretch, but get the job done. Bass has some nice punch to it, though it's a bit sluggish & mid-bassy but they aren't overly V-shaped. My biggest gripes are some lacking energy in the presence region (vocals, lead instruments etc.) and some fuzziness/"digi-fizz" in the highs.

So, the sound is an agreeable "meh", but man are they a joy to use when mobile. On flights I wouldn't even think about just having passive isolation anymore - this thing is very relaxing on a plane even without any sound coming out of 'em.

E: @Junki said basically the same just before me, kudos!

 

I get that Bose used to be the definitive name in ANC, but aren't there lots of entrants into that market now? PSB comes to mind, but I really liked the M4U1. How do the new guys sound? I am asking out of honest curiosity. Do other companies ANC not stand up to Bose in that regard?

 

I know this is pretty much a headphone forum, but mostly I posted this for their speaker technology and other audio trickery that is a) expensive, b) does not live up to the hype. The wave radio and Acoustimass systems cone to mind. There is also the vintage speakers that many claim their superiority (301, 501, 801, etc.), that I have never been a fan of their no highs, no lows, and smearing transients.

So the current line of noise cancelling headphones is excluded. They are not bad, but if looking for NC, they actually did do their homework correctly. If NC is all tge did, nearly perfection. However the sound quality as a headphone is just fair and non offensive. Still, they are one of the most expensive options for NC. I actually think they finally hit a product that serves a real need.

I also prefer passive attention as I use CIEM's for portable use, the attenuation still doesn't cover that coveted low end very well.

So, NC headphones aside, you'd never catch me even thinking about any of their other products. And I still chuckle when others who don't know about high end audio ask if I like Bose.

 

There are a couple of newer entrants in the ANC market. I own the Sony WH1000XM2. Based on reviews and my experience, the ANC of this Sony model has at least caught up to the Bose QC35, if not actually surpassed it. It's excellent. The sound quality is reviewed as better than the Bose, but it's not audiophile territory IMO. Also, there is a Bowers and Wilkens ANC wireless, the PX I think, that is also considered competitive with the Sony and the Bose.

 

Found this gem today, the late Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg reviewing a Bose radio
http://www.meta-gizmo.org/tri/june/bose.html

Have a good laugh!

 

I'm fine with the issue of mediocre sound, but my frequency of air travel doesn't justify the high price. If someone made a $200 option that didn't sound like crap but had decent ANC, I'd buy them. Until then I'll use my old Etymotics.

 

I have not tried them but the AT ATH-MSR7NC look to be about the only really good decent hi-fi option for NC other than Bose, but the AT's are $300, while the Bose QC25's are now only $180. The new QC35II are now their TOL.

 

The best I have found for the sound isolation/SQ balance is Etymotics ER4-SR with Comply P-Series tips. It shuts down the external noise completely, and slightly, very slightly elevates bass. P-Series is essentially a longer Comply tip that works great for a deep insert IEMs.
I used to have QC 15 but both in terms of sound isolation and SQ my new setup is way better if you can tolerate deep insert.

 

I did, very much, thank-you! The Test for Stridency was my favorite, though I would have chosen Neumann M50 instead of U47.

 

Blaspheme!

Naw. U47 (tube) is like, the bestest most yummiest mic ever. If only to have one mic, then have a U47.

(Actually to be honest, personally I would have chosen a KM84, or a dummy head.)

 

Remember that Decca Tree mic method utilizes 5 M50 for best results.

 

With Blumlein you only need two mics. Need to be figure 8 though.