In the market for wireless earplugs, new products are constantly appearing, and many have been waiting anxiously for Bose, which for many years has been dominant in noise reduction, to get its finger out and launch completely wireless earplugs.
They have it now. Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds with active noise reduction will hit stores on October 5, and hand in hand, the company is also launching a cheaper, sporty version, albeit without noise reduction.
Quietcomfort Earbuds
If we start with the most generous model, at least in terms of price, this is a pair of earplugs with active noise reduction, where microphones both inside and outside pick up noise from the surroundings, and where the earplug generates the “opposite” sound waves to zero them out.
The earplugs have interchangeable tips with fins (two pairs included – small and large), where the fins provide support in the outer ear to sit better and create a better seal. They have IPX4 certification and should be able to be used in rainy weather, according to Bose.
Each earplug weighs 8.6 grams, about the same as Sony WF-1000XM3-proppene (8.5 grams). For comparison roads Airpods Pro 5.4 grams, mens Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2-proppene weighs 6 grams, so Bose and Sony are a bit heavier there, although all mentioned models have active noise reduction.
Quietcomfort Earbuds offers an adjustable degree of noise reduction so that you can also let go a little if you want to hear the surroundings, and there is a “transparency” mode that lets in all sound from outside so that in practice it is the same sound as if you do not have plugs in the ears. The right earplug is equipped with extra microphones that should be able to distinguish your voice from the rest of the surroundings, so that they should also be well suited for hands-free.
TEST: A positive surprise
In terms of battery life, it seems that Bose is somewhat behind what is usual during the day. For six hours of playing time and 12 extra hours in the case is well behind for example the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, which offers 7 + 21 hours. If you run out of battery, you will have two hours of playing time after a quarter of an hour of charging in the case. The case can also be charged wirelessly via the Qi standard.
Bose earbuds are touch sensitive where you can jump between songs by tapping the right earplug and switching between degrees of noise reduction on the left (can be customized via the Bose app).
An active equalizer also lifts the bass when you hear music at low volume, after which it gradually normalizes as you increase the volume.
The price lands at 2899 kroner as a guide and the plugs will be launched on 5 October, where the pre-order has already opened.
Bose Sport Earbuds
The sporty version does not have active noise reduction and a lower price – 2099 kroner. As the name suggests, these are earplugs that are more aimed at training, and they are available in three different colors: black, blue and this variant:
They should have an “almost magical ability not to fall out” thanks to the StayHear Max tips / fins that will almost lock them in the ear according to Bose (for hope you get them out again, say!). The box comes with three such tips / fins in different sizes.
These are also IPX4-certified and should withstand sweaty ear canals and rain, but the battery life is somewhat weaker, with five hours on the ear and ten extra in the case.
Then we’ll see, then, if Bose can take over the favorite stamp from Jabra when it comes to wireless training earbuds:
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