Bose QuietComfort 45 Review: True to the Name, BUT…

[@hoppysport2872]

Superb production and presentation. I have the QC45's and love them. I'm not getting any hiss with noise-cancelation on. I've tried 4 different sources and there isn't any hiss. The cabin pressure hasn't been a problem for me. It was greater on the wired QC25 and QC35ll. One thing that's worked for me is to turn on the noise-canceling, then lift the earpieces off your ears and place them back over your ears. I find the mic's to be mediocre on the other end of phone calls. The sound is find on my end, but mediocre from the person I'm speaking with. But you're absolutely right about comfort...they are the most comfortable on the market. I also love the Bose 700's, but they aren't as comfortable. I don't care about adjustable noise-cancelation or touch controls...in fact I loathe touch controls. The Sony WH-1000-4's sound good too, but the build-quality is awful. They always break where the ear cup meets the headband. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Bose customer service and warranty replacement is eons better than Sony.

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you! The hiss is low volume, and easy to spot in side to side comparisons. Most people may not notice it unless they’re listening to very soft music, and even then, they may blame the recording. (I routinely listen to music at 10%, so I’m in the minority here.) As for the cabin pressure, it’s not bad, per se, but the inability to turn of both ANC and Ambient feels like a minimalist bridge too far. I agree on both Sony and my preference for buttons over touch controls I do like volume touch controls, but that’s about it. Much more than that sometimes becomes an issue.

[@stephenknight6562]

I don’t have any hiss sound in my 2 pairs of qc45. Either

[@aprilsky8474]

What a bargain.

[@electrology]

I bought this for $229 and it is a steal at this price point. The comfort and simplicity of this headphone is amazing. No gimmicks. It just works. And and and I did search for Mahler's 5th symphony and listened via the headphones. Loved it :) Noone mentioned about cabin pressure though

[@oxygenek3217]

i've got mine (se version) for 203$ from bose site

[@thefreshprinceofsiam]

@@oxygenek3217got mine for 180 after discount refurbished from the site, huge steal

[@chrispaul9124]

Isn’t the quiet comfort ultra better?

[@GurpreetSingh-zj9nh]

With the sale and all the offers, I got em for 190 USD.. Looking forward to using them

[@Yroch23]

Got mine for around 230 dollars . Great deal !

[@awkwardspaceplant9231]

now THIS is the kind of review I was looking for, thank YOU

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you for watching and your kind words!

[@lakrfan4980]

I recently purchased these on Amazon Prime Day for $229 and I am very happy with them. With NC turned on I do not notice any hiss. Furthermore the Bose app now supports EQ adjustments. The comfort level of these headphones is the best I have experienced.

[@NorbReviews]

Yeah, the app was updated since I did this video. The QC45 are headphones I like more with every passing week. For $229, you got a fantastic deal. Enjoy them!

[@johncarlin5473]

Great review, I’m considering getting these, I know they are not perfect but my top 3 criteria for new headphones are: 1: Highly comfortable 2: Great sound 3. Solid ANC In that order, and I feel like the Bose QC45 tick all those boxes, plus they look really sleek and are not as pronounced sticking out of the sides of your head. So I think I’m definitely going to get these. Thanks again, enjoyed the review.

[@NorbReviews]

Great choice! Thanks for watching, and I’m happy you found it useful!

[@jasonmusic3]

Just bought the QC 45 for $249 at Best Buy. Very happy with this purchase 👍🏾

[@NorbReviews]

That’s a fantastic price for the QC45!

[@jasonmusic3]

Yes sir... 😊 They're worth every penny.

[@iriss6925]

They added eq now and I don't notice much of a buz which is awesome that they add updates and changes through time

[@NorbReviews]

Yeah, I really enjoy the EQ on this now. They’re probably my favorite headphones for that reason.

[@GabrielYYZ]

If you plan on working with these, I recommend the QC 35ii for the simple fact that you can’t turn off ANC on the QC 45

[@TheLifetraveler1]

I got one on Black Friday for $229 at Best buy. I already have the QC35 as well as the NC700. But I wanted one specifically for travel, which use the USBC connector. The NC700s are strictly for home use. I really can't tell the difference in sound between the QC35 and the 45. But the battery life is definitely well appreciated.

[@NorbReviews]

Do you have the QC35ii or QC35? According to Bose, the QC35ii and QC45 should sound pretty much identical: all the upgrades in the new version were either technological (ANC changes, battery), or cosmetic. $229 was a good price! I also have the QC45 and 700 and prefer the 45’s, hands down.

[@TheLifetraveler1]

@@NorbReviews I have the QC35ii's and the NC700. Both of them let me use google assistant. But that feature did not come up in the Bose app menu, when I added the QC45 to the mix. I hit the button that normally activates the feature, when I'm using the QC35ii's. But it would not respond. I thought it was a mistake, until another reviewer specifically mentioned that the google assistant feature had been taken away from the QC45's. So I'm relegating those new headphones for strictly travel us.

[@TheLifetraveler1]

@@NorbReviews I have the NC700 and the QC35ii. I'm so surprised that they took off the google assistant feature on my QC45's. The loss of the google assistant feature, relegates the QC45's to the task of travel headset only. Bose makes the best, longest lasting headphones. Because I have two QC25's as well. All of these head phones work.

[@SeanCassiere]

Got a Christmas gift card here in New Zealand, and managed to pick it up for 330 NZD (207 USD), I'm loving it so far.

[@everydaybiker]

Just pickd up Qc45 for £170 on amazon prime day. Pretty pleased with the value this represents. Was looking at the sennheiser momentum 4 but for twice the money, and no folding, qc45 for the win. Pretty pleased with the sound. Thanks for the videos, keep it up.

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you for the kind words! And yeah, given what you describe, I’d also just stick with the QC45. Best of luck and keep enjoying them!

[@stephenknight6562]

They sure are fantastic I have many headphones as well to compare. No hiss in noise cancelling on mine. I have the in white and just love them! I returned the AirPods max. They sounded so sterol it was offensive.

[@NorbReviews]

Agreed on the Bose vs AirPods: the Bose tend to sound better throughout. As for the hiss, I often listen to music at 10% volume (this is in bed, late at night), and often that feels loud to me with most headsets. When I listen to music that’s already soft (like Mahler’s 5th), parts of the music get lost in the Bose, but don’t get lost in other sets, like the AirPods. It’s definitely a nitpick, which as I said, is a great place to be: if I’m nitpicking, it means they got the big things right.

[@bubblebubble50]

What do you mean by “sterol”?

[@stephenknight6562]

@@bubblebubble50 bland sounding.

[@CoryMck]

@@bubblebubble50I believe Stephen meant "sterile"

[@maximilianblock9966]

Keep up the great work and more and more people will end up at your videos :-) I did buy the air pods max for 405€. Their great sound is true but their comfort can’t be worse! Great sound is not everything especially not if you can not enjoy it the way it should be. Their weight is truly too much but in my opinion the region around the ears which come in context to your head is really uncomfortable :( Even after a while it’s still present…

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you! I agree on the APMs. They feel fine until I compare them to the Bose. Then the feeling of their weight really stands out. They’re not uncomfortable to me (except in airplanes), but the Bose are definitely more comfortable. The only exception is that I find the APMs to not produce as much ear heat, but even in the Bose, that’s minimal.

[@vincentforonda7381]

when my beats studio 3 gave up after 3 years of usage. i bought these on bestbuy and man this is the best heasphones ive ever bought. only downside of these is the sound leakage, if you crank your music volume to the max it act like an portable speaker everyone can hear what you are listening.

[@NorbReviews]

Heh. Good observation, and good to know!

[@dawncape5877]

So true 😂

[@papadougpapadougsadventures]

I have the QC35II and I love them for air travel. I routinely go to Asia and the 12-16 hour flights are brutal. These help dramatically for noise canceling even with crying or loud kids. My next trip isn’t until November so I’m waiting to buy the new model in case an update to the QC45 or the 700’s come out. USB-C is a HUGE plus for me other than that at this point not a huge advantage over my QC35II

[@NorbReviews]

If we see an update, it’ll be to the NC700, since that one came out May 2019. The QC45 came out September 2021. That said, I still feel the QC35-II is one of the best deals in portable personal audio, and agree with you that they’re fantastic for travel.

[@Bruceneuman]

Great review of both features and value, as well as other options out there. I have the 35s and the 700 series. 700s worth it for a step up.

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you!

[@skekukh]

I also own both. And as much as I want to use 700, I keep going back to 35s. For me it's mostly the controls (I simply cannot stand the touch controls) and much better comfort.

[@alex_MCMXCV]

I'm about to buy these in a few days, getting the QC45 for 215€, i believe these will be amazing to me, i wear glasses and commute on public transportation and i fly once a year usually :) will try to update this comment in a few weeks

[@NorbReviews]

Please do!

[@alex_MCMXCV]

Review time! It's been a week since i've had them. The sound quality is amazing, its really balanced but if you want a little more bass , you can use the app's EQ. The microphone quality is alright, its good enough for a quick call. They are super comfortable and i have glases and big ears :D my negative points are maybe the fact you can't turn off the ANC, you can only switch from aware mode to ANC. I would only do it to convserve battery to be fair. The app could have more stuff in it but its very simple and i think there are still things you can add via software in the app and also update the firmware on the headphones. Veredict: i paid 250 bucks and they were an amazing purchase to me, best headphones i've had in a long time and i've tried sony's equivalent, the xmlineup.

[@NorbReviews]

@@alex_MCMXCV fantastic! This is great! Glad you’re liking them.

[@elmiyk]

@@alex_MCMXCVty for the review :)

[@zirak93-2]

Seriously, they need to have ANC options and the opportunity to turn the ANC off. They are horrible against wind noise. In that department, QC35 ii does a better job. But other than that, they are ok. I would rather go for the QC35 ii right now unless they do major improvements. PS. Mahler's 5th symphony is a lovely piece of art. I love it. xD

[@byshagi]

the wind noice kills me every time I bike which is a lot

[@Lucaemar]

I was torn between these and the Sennheiser Moment 4 for quite a while, ended up buying the momentum 4s, but haven't been quite convinced. This video convinced me to return them and get the Boses instead. Gripes with the sennheisers are: not foldable (this I knew, of course, not too Bad, but still a negative), touch controls are wonky af (I was thinking of switching to the boses just because of the physical buttons, and you made them look even better than I had seen them previously). Bose have worse battery life, but that's not really an issue imo it's long enough still, and they don't look as nice/premium imo

[@NorbReviews]

I’m actually testing the Momentum 4 now, so this feedback is great, thank you! I’m glad I was able to help. Thank you for watching and the comment!

[@NorbReviews]

@Luca - FYI - If you’re OK with refurbished from Bose directly, you can save yourself some cash by going through their eBay store: www.ebay.com/itm/185365297121 Use the code SAVE15REFURB. It comes out to US$195 + taxes (free shipping). (This is not an affiliate link. It’s just a great deal.)

[@Lucaemar]

@@NorbReviews Got the Bose's last week, so far my impression: Momentum 4 look better, feel to be of heftier quality. QC45 are lighter and hence perhaps a little more comfortable (though this was negligible), fold down smaller: so in real world, more useful imo. The momentum4 carry case surprised me with how compact it was, yet it didnt quite fit into my backpacks top compartment, whereas the QC45 fits perfectly. As long as battery life is more than one day, it doesnt really matter, since I can usually charge stuff overnight anywhere anyway. Audio quality and ANC are good on both, difference too small for me to make out (Im no audiophile). Big though: Momentum 4 "adaptive" ANC sometimes changed ANC all over the place when walking next to a road, and the touch controls were hard to use/ easy to press by accident. Bose has no backfiring "smart" features and proper, physical buttons. big win in my book. Also a real on/off switch rather than sleep mode.

[@NorbReviews]

@@Lucaemar - Fantastic review and comparison! This aligns with what I’ve observing. I’m still doing some tests on the adaptive ANC: to be honest, I tend not to trust those systems all that well for a few reasons, and definitely prefer the dumb “block all the things” approach. (Or at most the defined levels approach which the Bose NC700 did so well.)

[@MAGA4EVA1986]

I am not sure if you will see this comment or not but I would like ask your opinion on if you think it’s worth buying them now, I see where my local Target is selling them for $200 here in North Carolina. I used to buy Bose headphones back when I was in the military because of all the traveling I did because I was stationed north of Fairbanks Alaska so no matter where I was going (whether it was back home to Boston which was an over 14 hr flight) or when we deployed to Turkey (which was an over 24 hr flight) so I always loved having them. I normally nowadays get Sony headphones (I love the WH-1000XM4’s and 5’s and I currently own the WF-1000XM5’s but I am curious about the Bose QC45 at that $200 price. I like a deep rich bass because I’m into Metal music but I haven’t really heard anyone mention how good the bass is on these. I’m sure it’s NOT at the level of the XM4’s or 5’s but is it good enough for someone that likes bass? I’m looking forward to seeing your opinion if you have time to respond. Thank you and also VERY INFORMATIVE REVIEW BTW!! Definitely subbed after watching it.

[@NorbReviews]

Hi d.a.v, Thank for for your question. And yes, I try to read all the comments. (Can’t always, but I try.) At $200, I’d definitely consider the QC45. But the new QuietComfort Headphones are selling for just $50 more here: amzn.to/49iGQwG Given the improved ANC and sound, I’d consider spending the extra $50. But if that’s too much, then the $200 for the QC45 is a good option. The bass is great on these if you use the app to boost the bass further. TBH, I prefer the sound & comfort of the Bose over the XM4/5, although the ANC is better on the Sony. I hope this helps.

[@vishwanathsharma8392]

I have the Airpods pro 2 but I just purchased these headphones from Amazon during the prime day sale for 180EUR. I am really enjoying them as the battery is a beast and also the ANC is really amazing. Not as comfortable comfortable compared to the airpods but these are over ear design. All in all a good deal for me.

[@NorbReviews]

Fantastic! The Prime Day deal was a really good one, so good catch!

[@Dr.OneilAakashBiswas1038]

Do your ears warm up on wearing this for more than 40-50 mins as compared to airpods pro 2?

[@vishwanathsharma8392]

I use them for longer duration like maybe 2-3 hrs continuously. Yes they do warm up my ears but it’s the design of the over ear devices. So if you are looking for comfort, the over ear design may not be the ideal fit for your needs.

[@elmaster6207]

This is just me, my things to consider: *At least 30 hours of battery with ANC on. *Being able to turn ANC On or Off. *Use Ambient mode when wired. *At least a 5 band EQ. *Call quality. For me Bose failed on the not being able to turn ANC Off, like I said, that is just me and my needs.

[@jacquelynesimpson9598]

I purchased the Q45s bc the earbuds I have worn for yrs have been discontinued. It’s been 2 yrs bc 1. I do not like over the ears bc I have large ears and after a couple hrs they are uncomfortable. My daughter purchased me the over the ears when they came out a couple years ago, but in my opinion… didn’t seem worth the money when I compared them to the Q35s. I will let u know my thoughts on the Q45?

[@NorbReviews]

Yeah, please do! I actually agree, the QC45’s aren’t really worth the upgrade. They have a better look, battery life, and updated Bluetooth, but in the whole, they’re much the same. Save your money, go for the QC35’s. I also have big ears, so I 100% get it. Why aren’t you just getting other earbuds? The Bose QC earbuds are pretty good. I find them very comfortable (they don’t really go in your ear). The only downside with them is 6hr battery life + 12 more with the case. If you’re going to wear them longer than that, then it’s a problem. But I recommend them. If you’re willing to try other headphones, I’m testing both the Sony XM5 and the Sennheiser Momentum 4. Both are very comfortable for me, also having big ears. If you want to save money, try the SoundCore Q35. I found them pretty good, although I thought the ear cups were a bit shallow, and my ears rubbed inside. Despite all this, I still think you can’t go wrong with the Bose QC35.

[@PrimoTheo]

So I like good base, but not that much that they destroy my head. Just a clean, strong base that is there when needed. So in total, these Bose headphones don't offer that, right? Btw. good video, mate.

[@NorbReviews]

Thank you, and thanks for watching! After this video, Bose put out a firmware update to the QC45’s which adds EQ to the Bose music app. With that, the bass is really solid. (Not to the level of the Sony WHXB910N or Skullcandy, but definitely there.) I would recommend you give them a try with the updated firmware. I think it might offer exactly what you’re looking for.

[@DroidLocks6971]

I bought the Airpods Max And Returned Them athe Next Day As Testing Against My WH 1000X M3s Showed The Max To Be Sorely Lacking Watching Movies Which Is The Reason I Bought Them - with Music The Max Aer Great And The Airpods Max ANC IS AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied

[@dgutie8]

Great review! Thank-you

[@NorbReviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@technoking4401]

Do you recommend QC35ii or QC45? At my local store they are about the same price. Will be using them for studying. Any thoughts?

[@NorbReviews]

QC35ii. They offer most of the advantages and can be found at deep discount more often. Same sound and comfort. Be sure to also check the Bose refurb eBay shop, if that’s of interest to you.

[@technoking4401]

@@NorbReviews Gotcha! Thanks for the reply and review sir!

[@shargood4315]

I was wondering the same thing. I want to purchase a pair for audiobooks, music, some YT, podcasts. I'm leaning towards the 45's but if I can find the 35ii I'm there. Thanks

[@TheLusus]

LIPSYNC!! 🤯

[@JACasal29]

Thank You ✌️

[@Armando_Aranda]

Do you still have these headphones? I was thinking of getting them.

[@NorbReviews]

Yes, and I still love them. 100% recommended for the majority of people. (In fact, my cousin was just asking about headphones and this was the ones I recommended to her. She’s ecstatic with them.)

[@Armando_Aranda]

@@NorbReviews Thanks.

[@stephenknight6562]

I find the Sony have a lager noise floor.

[@NorbReviews]

Thanks for this. You know, I’ve been in the middle of a move, so I haven’t done a side by side test yet. I’ll compare when I get the chance!

[@Lennon9191]

Hi I just Watch my QC45 SE today, I’m using them and I love them they’re really good you should probably do a review on these as well if you’re willing to.

[@NorbReviews]

Hi April, thank you for your comment and for watching! I’m not familiar with the QC45 SE, and can’t find it in their site. Do you have a link? My next plans with Bose were to review the QuietComfort Earbuds and QuietComfort Earbuds 2. But if there’s a QC45 SE, I’d like to see it.

[@Lennon9191]

@@NorbReviews I do

[@Lennon9191]

@@NorbReviews I do have the link here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6bUlX6bdsesnrs Have good night 🌙. And I almost forgot that’s the only one that I can find for the QC 45 SE.

[@pappan9810]

​@@NorbReviewsIt's basically QC 45 for Costco's and Sam's with soft case.

[@johntait491]

I've just purchased the QC45 headsets and am very happy with them. Great sound and comfort. However I cannot get them to work with Bluetooth on my Windows7 PC. There seems to be a problem with Drivers and "Googling" provides only confusion. No answers. Bluetooth works with Sony WH-CH150. QC45's work well on on Bluetooth via iPad.

[@NorbReviews]

That’s odd. I wonder if it has to do with the Bluetooth version used. (It shouldn’t, but maybe?)

[@johntait491]

@@NorbReviews Yes, there is a problem with Windows 7 and Bluetooth when using Bose headphones. PC works OK with Bluetooth Sony. I will persist.

[@SplinterAce]

Probably gonna change my Sony XM2s for this set

[@NorbReviews]

It’s a good choice!

[@DroidLocks6971]

I listen them from best buy - they sounded nice

[@richardmeredith7102]

Please do a review on the Bose 700. If you have done one I cannot find it. I would like to know if there is a loud hiss with them. I have tinnitus and less hiss would be better. Thank you for your time.

[@NorbReviews]

I don’t plan on doing a video on the NC700, but will say that the noise floor on the 700 is way less than on the QC45. Also, you can adjust the EQ, so that should help with the tinnitus, too.

[@daisyduck8593]

The Panasonic Technics A800 has very good sound and ANC and it's general volume and bass volume is much stronger and powerfull compared to Sony MX4 or Bose QC45. But to listen my favorite music genre electronic music and techno i prefer to use the Panasonic RB-M700B because they have somethning the A800 and other expensive head phones on the market does not have at the moment: A Bass reactor vibration system ! I really love the bass reactor vibration system very very very much !!!! It feels like you have a 2.1 subwoofer hifi system. Panasonic Technics A800, Sony MX4, Sony WHXB910N, Bose QC45 feels more like an 2.0 weak bass hifi system without any subwoofer. For a very very very noisy ambient or music without any bass (for example old music) the A800 is the best. So I change my headphones depending on the situation. I use public transportation and have a very noisy neighbor that is the reason I own the Technics A800 and the Bose QC45 (only to watch TV and video games but not music). For music I use my 3 pairs of Panasonic RB-M700B. I hope Panasonic will continue to offer and develop headphones with bass reactor vibration system because I can't listen to techno and electronic music on head phones without a bass reactor anymore. The Sony MDR-XB950N1 Extra Bass head phones from 2017 have a bass reactor vibration system (my first head phones i had with a bass vibration system) but the new Sony WHXB910N Extra Bass from 2021 don't has a bass vibration system anymore imo.

[@gosia7479]

I love my qc35 however after using them everyday for three years one of the ear cushion hooks broke so I’m thinking about upgrading them

[@NorbReviews]

Hello, Go Sia! If you love the QC35 and they’re otherwise working well, you can just replace the earpads! Here are a few options: amzn.to/3RE9gb9 - Official Bose replacement pads Inexpensive alternative 1 - amzn.to/3RnTGRC Inexpensive alternative 2, which also comes in nifty colors! - amzn.to/3KNN4Jz Until the hardware fails and/or you’re not happy with them anymore, I say don’t replace. The QC45 aren’t a big enough upgrade from the QC35, and pads cost 1/10 or less than a new pair of headphones.

[@gosia7479]

@@NorbReviews its the little plastic things that hold the cushions that broke off :(

[@TheAtheist22]

Good presentation

[@DroidLocks6971]

My Aeropex By Aftershokz last 14 hours straight on a single charge

[@NorbReviews]

I love the Aeropex: it’s the only audio gear I wear while out cycling. Great choice.

[@DroidLocks6971]

@@NorbReviews I'd like to get the open run pro

[@DroidLocks6971]

Yes I have the OpenRun Pros in beige they sound slightly better than my Aeropex especially in the Bass and like the Aeropex they far exceed the reported 10 hour Battery life which is more like 16 Hours where the Aeropex are 14hours

[@DroidLocks6971]

@@NorbReviews yes and the Aeropex last me 14 plus hours on a single charge. I recently bought the OpenRun Pros and they've slightly better sound and 16 plus hours battery per charge .

[@aprilsky8474]

Can you please tell me if thr nc work without Bluetooth comnection please or do i have to have my phone when i go out?

[@NorbReviews]

ANC works without Bluetooth. But you do have to turn them on. So of you have it plugged into a device, you can use it that way. If you just want ANC and don’t want you phone around you, that’s not a problem: just turn them on and disconnect them. They should stay on that way, with ANC on but no connections/sound.

[@Lennon9191]

I might get two them? But I might have to wait until Black Friday or cyber Monday to get the other ones.

[@NorbReviews]

Black Friday was when I got mine and yeah, it was a solid deal. Probably better this year. For a good deal throughout the year, check out the Bose store on eBay. They sometimes have some refurbs on offer, and it's not uncommon for eBay to toss in a 10%-15% code for refurbished electronics. (They also usually come with a 2 year warranty.) Also, don't pass up the QC35ii. They're older, but in all honesty, they sound just as good and are just as comfortable (maybe moreso). My only complaint with them are that they use microUSB instead of USB-C, which is a minor annoyance, to be honest. Battery life is also a bit (4hrs) shorter. Mine are under constant threat of my wife claiming them as her own, so a second pair is probably in our future, too. (She currently uses the Sennheiser PXC-550 II, which is fantastic in its own right. But the QC45's are probably my favorite set of headphones, if I'm being transparent.)

[@Lennon9191]

@@NorbReviews Hello sorry for the late reply I just saw your reply and thank you for answering I want to see what the prices in the stores because I was gonna get the 700s but then I saw these and I have the QC 35s already and ear cups on the QC 35s are starting to peel because I overused them but I just love them a lot they’re my favorite headphones that I’ve ever had I love them they’re amazing and I think I’m overusing them. I love their noise canceling headphones that’s why I’m looking for noise cancellation and battery life too. I heard about the QC 35ii and I will to get them for my Switch Lite but I still want to get QC 45s for my iPhone. I have the earbuds as well and they’re really good too except one of them kept falling out of my ear but that’s just like a tiny thing but I really wanna see what they’re like in the store but I might get them for Black Friday another pair. Maybe you should do a review of Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds I think that would be nice if you did a review on those because they’re really good I think you would like them too. Thank you for answering the question and for replying and my apologies again for not replying as soon as I could!

[@NorbReviews]

@@Lennon9191 you’re one step ahead of me! I’ll be doing reviews on both the QC Earbuds and the 700’s, plus comparisons. (I’m also trying to get the SoundLink to do a comparison of the full line, plus someone asked for that review before.) I expect those reviews and that comparison will be posting around September/October, so definitely stay tuned!

[@Lennon9191]

@@NorbReviews Okay sounds great. Can’t wait to see the reviews! Have a good day.

[@gregsaintjuste4732]

Who else went and researched Mahler's 5th symphony

[@NorbReviews]

LOL! Well then, I hope you enjoyed it!

[@robbiemcnair9963]

What eq settings are you using? Currently looking for some good settings but can’t find any

[@NorbReviews]

Honestly, the QC45’s sound fantastic to me in their default setting: they are pretty much at the Harmon Curve (with a slight boost in the bass, which is A-OK by me). There aren’t many headphones I love as much right out of the box, and I think Bose totally got it right on this. That said, when I want more of a U curve (which I do when I want a more “fun” sound), I use the Bose Music app and put the BASS +8, MID +2, and TREBLE +6. (In most cases i boost the bass a little, at least: I used to play double bass in an orchestra, so I associate music with rumbles). For more spoken content, I raise the mids for clarity, since that’s where voices live. I usually also drop the bass a bit, but that depends on the voice. If you’re using a 3rd party EQ then I can’t advise you. But if you’re using the Bose Music app, I’d just experiment if I were you and see what sounds best for what you listen to: after all, audiobooks, LoFi, EDM, classic rock, and classical have *VERY* different areas of emphasis, not to mention that our ears are all different.

[@johnjosephlonergan]

Have Bose and Sony headphones. If you are on the London underground then definitely get the Sony and not the Bose. The Bose performs relatively poorly as a protection against the noise and under stress from the rail noise there is crackling from the headphones.

[@NorbReviews]

Great tip! I haven’t gotten any cracking from the Bose (while I have gotten some cracking from the Sony), but this good to know. Thanks!

[@johnjosephlonergan]

@@NorbReviews yeah always on the same stretch from Mile End to Stratford. (Those in East London know that stretch - it's a health hazard)

[@ninjafrog8419]

the mic on them is terrible and unusable...the QC35 are better... also the fact u cant turn off the ANC makes them unusable outside when wind is blowing..

[@vivekv8904]

Bought the qc45 and returned it the next day. Noise cancellation doesn’t work and sound quality is lower than my cca c10 pro which is a IEM and cost’s a fraction of the Bose qc45. Ordered Sony XM5. Very disappointed with Bose.

[@NorbReviews]

The XM5 is a great choice!

[@Voltis-5]

Got one at Costco for $217 out the door. Xmas deal!

[@NorbReviews]

That’s awesome!

[@vincentforonda7381]

i almost love these headphones ... but they leak sound so much that they can hear what im playing at just 60% volume.. im used to crank up my volume to 100% .. sound leakage is the only issue for me on these headphone.

[@NorbReviews]

Yikes! Sound leakage isn't something I tend to test for, but I'll try to figure out the best safe way to do that. It's definitely an important issue, and at 60%, that definitely is a lot of leakage.

[@diamondhellspawnscorpion]

What about instrument separation and sound stage

[@NorbReviews]

They’re OK for closed-back headphones: not as good as open-back, but better than a lot of closed-back. The sound stage sounds more open because of their “semi open back” design (or whatever they call those little vents they have). Instrument separation is decent enough-they never sound merged or muddy-but they don’t have any sort of spatial sound, so don’t expect anything to that level. Overall, I like them here versus others in the same category (like the Sony XM4 or XM5). I’d argue higher end models like the AirPods Max will give you better separation. (I’ve heard the Focal Bathys are even better on this front, but haven’t tried them myself.)

[@denislemieux7294]

Is it possible to turn off the transparent/silent modes completely with an update? I really want the option to turn them off. Thanks.

[@NorbReviews]

Unfortunately not. The latest update was released in Feb 15. 2022 and the only change is adjustable EQ (which is an awesome change, but doesn’t address your issue). Maybe in the future?

[@denislemieux7294]

@@NorbReviews Thanks for the reply. Maybe I should think about the Bose Soundlink 2. No ANC at all. Seems like the drivers are very similar to the 25s, 35s, and 45s.

[@NorbReviews]

@@denislemieux7294 - I haven’t tried the SoundLink, but I’d definitely say try it. I’ve learned to trust Bose. As an alternative: Although they’re not as solidly built as Bose, you might also want to consider the Anker SoundCore Life Q35. Its a really solid bang for the buck, thought it lacks things like replaceable earpads.

[@denislemieux7294]

@@NorbReviews Thanks again for replying. Can I trouble you to do a review on the soundlink 2s? I’m not wanting to veer away from Bose. I didn’t purchase the 45s. But you explained to a t what my experience was while testing them in the store. If you don’t have access to them, no worries. I subscribed. Thanks for the review. 👍🏻🍷cheers!

[@NorbReviews]

@@denislemieux7294 - Thanks for subscribing! As for the review, I would love to, but right now I’m going though a few major life changes (all good!), so those have been taking my focus. I’m on a short hiatus while those settle. My apologies for that. If you saw them in store and they have a halfway decent return policy, I’d say just buy them and return them if you don’t like them. But honestly, I know people who swear by them, so that bodes well for them. Best of luck!

[@byshagi]

so many complaints with the and /aware controls -why no firmware update to fix this?

[@NorbReviews]

This is a great question. I know that a firmware update eventually added EQ. I would have loved to see that extra update

[@zirak93-2]

@@NorbReviews Maybe it makes them happy to see their customer's frustration, or they just want to force everybody to their NC700 or back to QC35 ii. :P

[@DroidLocks6971]

I Went With The SoundCore Life Q35 & Space Q45 Loving Both And Still Didnt Spend As Much As 1 Bose QC45 . Get The SoundCore Space Q45 I Really Enjoy It And Think You Will Too . I Listened To My Space Q45 Wired Passively Powered Off With No Issue At All As Soon As I Got Them And The Sound Is Amazing Wired Powered Off . . . . . SoundCore Space Q45 My Take For Wired Passive Listening I'm Using ZFold3 To Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE To Space Q45 And WOW AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied . The Q45 ANC is really good SoundCores best yet Right Up There With My XM3s . The Space Q45 sound while punchy is not as punchy as the Soundcore Life Q35 In The Bass Department . The Bass Up Feature can't currently be used with Custom EQs So it's Pointless for my Uses Because I Use My Own In App Custom EQs . We Can Listen To These Wired Passively (Powered Off) And The Q45s Sound Absolutely Amazing This Way . The LDAC Sounds Really Good And Gives Wired Listening A Run For It's Money . We Lose Some Features Of The Life Q35 With The Space Q45 . Hopefully A Firmware Update(s) Will Give These Lost Functions To The Q45 . The Q45s Are Heavier With Much Less Cushioning On The Top Where As The Q35 Are Lighter With More Cushioning On Top So Comfort Goes To Q35 . I've Never Had Any Pain To To Top Of My Head Though Despite The Q45 Having Less Cushioning So No Complaints There . Both Q35 And Q45 Have Excellent Sound With The Q45 Punching Hard And The Q35 Punching Harder . I Enjoy Them Both . Amazon Had Q35 111 Dollars With Discounts And Q45 129 dollars With Discounts . Not Sure If Discounts Still Active Now But $149.00 For Q45 Is Still A Bargain For Such An AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied Headphone . You Can Turn Up The Q45s Bass Using Custom EQs But Nothing I've Done Has Made The Q45s As Punchy As The Q35s . For Most I Think You'll Be More Than Happy With The Q45s Bass . I Know I Am . A Blue Variant And A White Variant Are Said To Be Forthcoming So I'll Most Def Be Snagging Them In White .

[@NorbReviews]

“We lose some features of the QC35 with the Space Q45” - having not yet tried the Q45, I wasn’t aware of this! Great write up, thanks! And now I’m excited to pick up a pair of each. Look at how much money you’re getting me to willingly and happily shell out, DroidLocks! *readies the credit card* I pay for these out of pocket you know… :-D

[@DroidLocks6971]

@@NorbReviews the Q45 is an awesome set

[@DroidLocks6971]

@@NorbReviews yes the q35 and Q45 are both excellent with the q30 being skipable I think even though I have the q30

[@DroidLocks6971]

@@NorbReviews gimme q35 q45 over xm3 xm4 xm5 any day fir sound quality. . . I now use my xm3 for sleeping in only

[@sandwaves5642]

Is it plastic instead of aluminum - the side panels/covers ?

[@NorbReviews]

All plastic. The only metal is in the hinges and inside the headband (I believe).

[@stevied2710]

Hey can you review the Technics EAH-A800 headphones that would be great thank you

[@NorbReviews]

I'll look into those. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@keithgilliard9191]

Now they have an e q

[@NorbReviews]

Yep! That was added after this was released. I’m going to try to edit that out (YT doesn’t let me add anything to the video, but I can make cuts). Great call out, and thanks for watching!

[@TomerBenDavid]

Can you compare these to quiet comfort 2 and airpods pro 2?

[@NorbReviews]

Interesting you should ask! Short answer, I want to. Long answer: So, I bought the QuietComfort Earbuds 1 about 2 months ago with the intention of reviewing them and comparing them to the AirPods Pro (first gen). Life happened. Then Techtember. And now I’m a whole generation behind :-/ That said, I really, really want to. I just got the AirPods Pro 2 today, but I’ll have to wait for a bit to get the QuietComfort 2 before I can compare. (I buy these myself, which can get expensive if I don’t abuse return policies.) For what it’s worth, my biggest beef with the QuietComfort Earbuds was the size of the case: it was so large that taking them with me became a chore, versus the AirPods Pro, which I just slipped in my pocket. Otherwise, the two went head to head well. (Unless you wore them to bed, then the AirPods won if you are a side sleeper. But battery was a lot better with the Bose.) So yes, I plan to do the review. Unfortunately, I don’t know when. Probably not for a few months, unfortunately. If I can do it faster, I’ll reply to this again and let you know. Thanks for watching and for you interest.

[@TomerBenDavid]

@@NorbReviews so the earbuds are not quiet comfort but the case is not that quiet comfort :)

[@GetMeCFaith]

Am I the only one who likes the cabin-pressure feel? 😅

[@NorbReviews]

OK, curiosity piqued. Why? While I’m no fan of it (it makes me feel… weird), I would reeeeeally love for someone else to answer “yes”.

[@BadmashKing8]

I think some people find it pleasing because it feels like you’ve turned the switch off from the world and just zone out. 🤔

[@fluke2307]

I am sure it was different when you made this video but if you use the student discount on their website they at $199

[@NorbReviews]

Good call out! Thanks!

[@TomerBenDavid]

Can you compare them to qc15?

[@NorbReviews]

Unfortunately that's not something I'll have time for. My apologies.

[@vibesahead]

Just bought the QC35ii for € 169 read many reviews about te 45 & the 700 and they are not that good to many people. and the price is high.

[@NorbReviews]

Hi Willy, The QC35ii is great, so it’s awesome you were able to find it at a good price. It’s basically the same thing as the QC45 except for a few updates.

[@DroidLocks6971]

Bose needs to modernize with LDAC . Even My Sony WH 1000X M3 Has LDAC

[@NorbReviews]

I’m not sure that Bose *needs* LDAC, but it sure would be nice. The comparison to the XM3 isn’t entirely fair, though, as Sony makes the XM3 *AND* LDAC is their proprietary codec. Still, even just access to aptX adaptive would be an improvement. Bluetooth codecs are definitely a weak area for the QC45.

[@latp9567]

I would love know how big these are. Not for regular women.

[@NorbReviews]

What do you mean? Not sure what you mean by “not for regular women”. My wife is pretty “regular” - 5’4, pretty much average build throughout. She’s also super finicky about headphones. There are only 2 headphones she’s ever really liked: the Sennheiser PXC 550-II and the Bose QuietComfort series. (She also liked the Bose NC700.) Mostly because they were light, not large, and comfortable. She prefers the Sennheiser, though, because she likes the sound better.

[@lmf3629]

Recently saw them at $249.00 at Amazon.

[@NorbReviews]

Yeah, they’re been on sale this holiday season. Good price, I think.

[@lmf3629]

Btw. Your review was excellent! Exactly what I needed. I purchased Sony XM5 and returned them. Too bulky, & I HATED the touch pad. After watching your review I purchased the the QC45’s. Thank You.

[@NorbReviews]

@@lmf3629 Awesome! Glad to be of help! Funny you mention the XM5: I’m planning to do an XM5 vs QC45 review soon. They’re actually two of my favorites, but I think each hits at a different audience.

[@guillermodvl]

All the synthetic leather earcups wear out. This is the Achilles tendon of all companies. Fix it.

[@NorbReviews]

I agree. This is where real leather wins out (so long as one takes care of it.) This is where replaceable ear pads become so important, too. If you want to protect yours, also consider getting earpad covers. (Check out Amazon or a few options.) They've been a saving grace for me.

[@nsrvtqc]

It’s easy don’t buy them, absolute terrible product! I’ve been a Bose fanboy for 20+ years. Bought these and have had nothing but problems with them and there customer is horrendous. Will not stay paired, dropped calls, can’t connect my phone and tablet at the same time. Once a week they need to be hard reset.

[@NorbReviews]

Wow! Sorry to hear you’ve had such a bad experience! But it sounds like you may have gotten a bad unit or something. I’ve never run into any of those issues. I also bought pairs for my parents and have recommended them to other family members, and none has complained about that. But this hardly means you’re in the wrong (it could be common issues I just haven’t run into). And very sorry to hear you’ve had bad experiences with their customer service: I haven’t dealt with them so can’t speak to that.

[@chubbyfun77]

I wish Bose would just put back the level of ANC options as it is simply a software update, however I am sure if that happens it might hurt someone’s ego🤣🤣

[@NorbReviews]

100% this. I feel they went a minimalist step too far here. I’ve seen other companies start to do it, too, and I’m never a fan.