Bose launches QuietComfort Headphones with spatial audio

Bose has unveiled the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), an over-ear model priced at AUD $549.95 in Australia.

The new version updates one of Bose's best-known headphone lines with changes to noise cancellation, fit, audio modes and wired USB-C playback. Pre-orders open first to MyBose members before expanding more broadly, followed by general retail availability.

A key addition is Bose Immersive Audio in the core QuietComfort range. Previously limited to the Ultra line, it appears here in three listening modes: Still, Motion and Cinema.

Cinema Mode is tuned for video and spoken-word content, with dialogue kept clear and centred while widening the soundstage. The headphones also support wired lossless audio over USB-C at up to 24-bit/48kHz.

Noise control

Bose has revised the active noise cancellation system, now called QuietControl. The headphones use a six-microphone setup designed to compensate more effectively for gaps in the earcup seal.

This is aimed in part at users who wear glasses or struggle to achieve a tight fit because of hair or hats. Bose says the system uses adaptive feedforward controls to preserve noise cancellation performance when the seal is imperfect.

Aware Mode has also been updated with a revised ActiveSense response, intended to soften sudden spikes in ambient sound more smoothly, such as noise from passing public transport.

Users can manually adjust noise cancellation levels through the Bose app or switch the feature off completely. They can also create custom modes that balance noise cancellation and acoustic transparency, then change them with a button on the left earcup.

Design changes

Bose has reworked the physical design with a lower-profile shape, redesigned headband sliders and thicker synthetic leather cushioning. It says the clamping force has been adjusted for a secure but lighter feel, while newly shaped oval earcups create a more flush silhouette.

The launch line-up includes standard Black and White Smoke options, along with three limited-edition colours: Eucalyptus Green, Dewdrop Mint and Rosewood Mauve. Bose has also introduced a two-tone look, with contrasting colour details inside the earcups.

Physical controls remain on the earcups rather than shifting fully to gesture input. Buttons on the right side handle playback, volume and calls, while the left side includes controls for listening modes and shortcuts such as a voice assistant or Spotify Tap.

Calls and battery

Connectivity is based on Bluetooth Core 5.4 with multipoint support for switching between two connected devices. Android users can also use Google Fast Pair for quicker setup.

The expanded USB-C support covers both listening and voice input, allowing the headphones to be used for calls and videoconferencing through apps including Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Bose is also shipping a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for analogue sources such as in-flight entertainment systems.

Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours, or up to 18 hours with immersive audio turned on. A 15-minute quick charge provides up to 2.5 hours of playback, and the headphones can continue playing while charging.

Through the Bose app, owners can access a three-band EQ, device management, firmware updates and shortcut settings. The product's positioning suggests Bose is refreshing a long-established line with features that have until now been reserved for more expensive models.

The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) enter a crowded premium over-ear market, where rivals have pushed harder on spatial audio, adaptive listening modes and design differentiation. Bose, by contrast, continues to lean on the recognition of the QuietComfort name and its long-standing focus on noise cancellation.