Introduction
I reviewed the QC Ultra a couple of years ago and highly recommended it based on its top-notch noise cancelling, exceptional comfort, great form factor, and solid feature set. Sound-wise, it was also a definite step up from the QC45 and the now-discontinued Bose 700.
Thanks to Eleksis Marketing, I’ve had the chance to spend time with the QC Ultra 2nd Gen, and I’ve got to say — I really like it. So here’s my full review.
Before we begin, the QC Ultra 2nd Gen retails for ₱27,900, which is the same launch price as the first generation. Bose stores can be found in most major malls locally, all run by the folks at Eleksis Marketing, who were generous enough to lend me the headphones for review.
Here is the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra (2nd Gen) in all its glory:
What’s New
If you already own the QC Ultra 1st Gen, should you upgrade to the 2nd Gen?
The improvements are mostly incremental, but they are meaningful:
- A more refined ANC algorithm with smoother transitions and better handling of sudden noises
- Improved battery life, now rated at up to 30 hours, compared to around 24 hours on Gen 1
- The addition of Cinema Mode, geared more towards movies and TV shows
- Updated Bluetooth support and smarter auto on/off behavior, including faster and more reliable pairing when you put the headphones on
- USB-C wired audio with lossless support, which is a big deal — allowing higher-resolution playback and lower latency when used wired
- A slightly tweaked tuning, with reduced bass and upper treble compared to Gen 1
Make no mistake, the QC Ultra 2nd Gen is still very much bass-forward and V-shaped especially in its default tuning, but compared to the first generation, it comes across as a bit more balanced overall. With that being said, let’s have a more in-depth look at the sound.
Page 2: Sound Quality & Conclusion