Bose has introduced a brand new Ultra version of its QuiteComfort headphones and earbuds, announcing a trio of new products that update the lineup of its flagship range. The all-new collection debuts the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, a product duo that offers an even more elevated take on the brand’s already premium wireless headphones. The trio is rounded off by the QuietComfort Headphones, a slightly less feature heavy set of cans, but ones that promise to to deliver on the signature sound users have come to associated with the range.
The new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones replace the brand’s popular NC 700 headphones from 2021. They’ve been completely re-engineered from the inside out and feature a proprietary signal processing system that has been coupled with an upgraded chipset and new microphones – the result is the best audio and noise-cancelling experience the brand has ever produced in a wireless headphone.
For those looking for an in-ear option, Bose has introduced the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. These have also seen a refresh against their predecessor and now include new metallic treatment for a “sleeker, more luxe” look, and updated stability bands for a better fit. While the new overhead option replaces a pair that’s been on the market for over two years, the new earbuds replace the QC Earbuds II that have been on the market for less than a year. It’s an interesting move from the Massachusetts-based brand as the upgrade that may seem premature to some, but it’s one that perhaps speaks to the brand’s mission to “continue to optimize the user experience.”
Both of these models include Bose Immersive Audio – the brand’s version of spatial audio – which debuts exclusively in the Ultra range and promises to add new dimensions to users’ listening experience. While spatial audio is nothing new, Bose has created its version from the ground up and the brand claims this will create “a wider, more spacious soundstage” for “multi-dimensional and layered audio [regardless of] platform or device.” The Ultra models are also equipped with the latest Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codec for super high quality lossless streaming, perfect for those with Tidal or Spotify’s hi-res subscriptions. They’re also both Bluetooth 5.3 compatible which will ensure a strong and stable connection over a longer distance.
The third product in the new portfolio is the QuietComfort Headphones, an upgrade to the brand’s most popular wireless headphones and direct replacement for the QuietComfort 45. Whilst these do not feature Bose Immersive Audio, they offer 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, can simultaneously connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth 5.1, and have a newly added option that allows users to adjust the level of noise cancelling to suit their needs.
Bose’s QuietComfort technology was launched in 1980s and became one of the first commercially successful noise-cancelling headphones available to consumers. The series has evolved and improved with time and these latest iterations bring the brand’s decades of audio expertise into three beautiful-yet-simply-designed packages. Earlier this year we included the previous QuietComfort models in our “best product round-ups” (here and here), and we have a feeling these new models will be making future lists.
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are releasing in early October and are available for pre-order now via Bose’s website. They are priced at for $429 USD and $299 USD respectively, and come in Black and White Smoke. The QuietComfort Headphones are available now for $349 USD, and come in Black, White Smoke, and a limited-edition Cypress Green colorway.
In other tech news, Apple has finally put a USB-C port on the iPhone.
