翻訳待ち：I tested Bose's new midrange headphones - now the pricey Ultras feel redundant

AI サービスが一時的に利用できないため、復旧後に翻訳を補完します。

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Bose's midrange headphones have consistently been among the best on the market. They have better noise cancellation, comfort, and a sleeker design than competing models from the same caliber: JBL, Sennheiser, and Sony. Though Bose's midrange headphones carry an upper-midrange $359 price tag, they're better suited to mature listeners seeking a reliable, simple pair.Also: I flew 2,700 miles with Apple, Sony, and Sennheiser headphones - this pair had the best audioThe are the most transformed pair of headphones Bose has released since the QuietComfort Ultra succeeded the Bose NC700 in 2023. They debut with new audio technologies, an upgraded design, improved noise-canceling abilities, and upgraded connectivity. Several of these upgrades are borrowed from the $449 QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen).So, with improvements this notable, do you need to spend $90 more on the ? I wore the new QC Headphones 2 for five days; here's my take. What's the same from generation to generationThe QC Headphones 2 retain the first generation's $359 price tag, 24 hours of battery life, and compatibility with Bose's app for audio customization.Also: Sennheiser Momentum 5 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2: I compared the two and found a winnerThe QC Headphones 2 also retain Bose's warm, easygoing audio profile, characterized by a prominent bass response, present lower-mids, forward mids, and slightly recessed upper-mids and highs. If you don't like Bose's sound signature, don't expect the QC Headphones 2 to be any different.A complete digital and physical overhaulThe QC Headphones 2 now feature ActiveSense, Bose's fancy name for adaptive noise cancellation, which previously was reserved for the brand's top-end headphones and earbuds. This feature works swiftly, using Bose's smooth ANC to deploy a layer of noise cancellation when the headphones detect a sudden noise in your environment.I always use this feature at the airport when waiting at the gate to board a flight, or when I'm in public and want to hear my surroundings but be shielded from anything unpleasant. Bose also upgraded the QC Headphones 2's microphone and noise-processing system, as evidenced by its Aware (transparency) mode performance. It's clear and natural; a jump in performance over the first-generation QuietComfort Headphones. Upgraded noise processing also helps the headphones' noise cancellation account for natural barriers, such as hats, hair, and glasses. The QC Headphones 2's noise-canceling abilities aren't stronger than the first generation, but they're smarter and more intuitive, which is equally valuable and does make a difference. Noise reduction algorithms also improve the QC Headphones 2's voice isolation, allowing for clearer calls, though there's still some grain in my testing.Also: I brought a Bose, Sony, and JBL speaker to the beach - this one's my new outdoor essentialThe QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) has 10 microphones compared to the QC Headphones' six, which means the Ultra headphones have more opportunities to capture and cancel external noises. Still, Bose's noise-cancellation tech is top-notch -- smooth and easy on the ears -- and this time the midrange model has smarter deployment.Bose also fitted the QC Headphones 2 with Immersive Audio, its proprietary spatial audio rendering technology. I'm not a fan of Bose's spatial audio upmix, just as I'm not a fan of JBL's or Sony's. Instead of optimizing for a tried-and-true audio format, such as Dolby Atmos, on-device spatial upmixes can sound overly digitized and unnatural. Still, I'll always appreciate a feature previously reserved for premium products moving its way down the product family. The QC Headphones 2 debut with a redesign, with pill-shaped earcups that replace elongated ones, and a headband with sliding adjusters that replace perforated ones.Button controls on the right earcup remain in the same position, as well as the multifunction button on the left earcup. Bose repositioned the power and Bluetooth connection slider from the outside of the right earcup to the underside of the left earcup.Also: Sony vs. Bose: My buying advice after listening to flagship headphones from both brandsI don't mind the power slider's new location; it's easier to find without removing the headphones, and I prefer it to the QC Ultra 2's traditional power button. However, the power slider's new location displaced the 3.5mm jack, which is a huge loss. You now get USB-C audio, but at what cost?Bose's headphones are among the best for travel, thanks to their all-day comfort, smooth ANC, and warm sound profile, which combine to create an easygoing, relaxed listening experience. Without the headphone jack, you can't wire the headphones to an analog source, such as a plane's infotainment system, without a USB-C or Bluetooth dongle. Who needs the QC Ultra?Despite improvements to its midrange headphones' audio performance and design, there are still several features Bose omitted from the QC Headphones 2 to make the QC Ultra 2 worth the extra money. Bose's premium QC Ultra 2 features high-quality AptX codecs over a USB-C connection, an intuitive auto-power/standby mode, wear detection, six more hours of battery life, a 3.5mm jack, and a more premium design with flashier accents. Also: Bose Lifestyle Ultra vs. Sonos Era 100: I compared both smart speakers, and this one winsAside from a longer battery life, the QC Ultra 2's additional features are less vital, everyday necessities, and more nice-to-haves, especially to someone who values all-day comfort and strong noise cancellation with more intelligent elements over features fit for power users. I usually recommend Bose's midrange QuietComfort Headphone lineup to friends and family over the premium QC Ultra 2, as the differences between Bose's midrange and premium headphones are small niceties for casual users who value quality, practicality, and longevity. Also: After wearing Sennheiser's Momentum 5, I'll never doubt the company's competitive edge againIf you're a die-hard Bose fan, you'll want the QuietComfort Ultra 2 because they deliver the best Bose has to offer in smart features, noise cancellation, and audio connectivity. However, if you're more concerned with a pair of comfortable headphones that sound great, cancel noise well, and require minimal intervention in the companion app, go for the QC Headphones 2.ZDNET's buying adviceThe are a considerable jump from their predecessors in nearly every category, including noise cancellation, audio features, and design. If you have the QuietComfort 35 or QuietComfort 45 headphones, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) are a worthy upgrade, thanks to larger, more useful improvements rather than small, incremental features.I'd choose Bose's midrange headphones over similarly specced options from JBL and Sony, solely for their sleeker, more stylish look, sturdier build, and smoother ANC. However, if battery stamina is your main concern, Bose's 24-hour battery life is damningly short. In comparison, competitors like Sennheiser, Sony, and JBL promise 30 to 60 hours for less money.