Bose QuietComfort Ultra 890101-0100

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) over-ear headphones deliver best-in-class noise cancellation and genuinely fun spatial audio that makes movies and music feel larger than life. Sound quality is just okay, and comfort falls off sharply after a few hours due to heat buildup. If ANC and immersive tricks matter most, they're a solid pick; otherwise, the competition does more for less.

If you're on the hunt for premium over-ear noise cancelling headphones that don't just hush the world but also wrap your tunes in a 3D bubble, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) is probably on your radar. Prices bounce all over the place—we've seen them from $347 to $499 depending on the retailer—so they sit squarely in the premium ANC bracket alongside heavyweights from Sony, Sennheiser, and Bowers & Wilkins. Out of the box you get Bose's latest hybrid noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, and a new Immersive Audio mode that spatializes any content, not just special tracks. It's a feature set aimed at people who want a little movie theater magic in their everyday listening, whether that's on a plane, at a desk, or gaming on a PC.

Bose has been the comfort king for years, but here's where things get interesting. Our database pegs these cans at a shockingly low 6th percentile for comfort—dead last among over-ear headphones we've tested. That sounds dire, but a lot of owners swear they're plush and wearable for hours, at least initially. So what's going on? Heat buildup and lack of breathability seem to be the culprit. After a while, those soft ear cups can turn into little saunas, and combined with a chunky 481-gram weight, long-term comfort takes a hit. It's a weird mismatch between first impressions and real endurance, and we'll dig into it.

The good news is connectivity is absurdly good (100th percentile, no contest), build quality is top-notch, and ANC lands at a strong 83rd percentile. Sound quality, though, sits at a middling 44th percentile, meaning it's pleasant but won't win over critical listeners. Add to that some divisive control choices and ear pad durability gripes, and you've got a headphone that's brilliant in some areas and frustrating in others. Let's break it down.

Noise cancellation is where these headphones flex. In our testing they chew through low-frequency rumble like jet engines and traffic hum better than most, earning that 83rd percentile ranking. Voices and higher-pitched clatter still sneak in a touch more than Sony's latest WH-1000XM6, but for the average commute or open-plan office, the QuietComfort Ultra creates a near-silent bubble that's hard to beat. The transparency mode is crisp and natural too, so you won't have to yank them off to order a coffee.

Sound quality? It's a mixed bag. The 44th percentile placement means you're getting audio that's clear and inoffensive, with decent bass presence and the spatialized "Immersive Audio" mode making everything feel wider and placed in front of you like a mini soundstage. It's genuinely fun for movies and games. But compared to the Sennheiser Momentum 4's richer detail or the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2's flat-out gorgeous tuning, the Bose comes off as safe and a little underwhelming for the price. You get a 3-band EQ in the app, and that's it—no parametric tweaks or deep customization. On the plus side, battery life is a solid 30 hours (73rd percentile), and that quick-charge juice is real: 15 minutes gives you 2.5 hours of playback, perfect for a last-minute airport dash. And the wired USB-C lossless audio mode is a nice bonus for desktop listening, something a lot of wireless cans skip.

Value here is a bit of a rollercoaster. Street prices jump from $347 to nearly $500, so if you land a pair at the low end they're a compelling buy for the ANC and spatial audio alone. At the $499 ceiling, though, you're staring directly at the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, which sounds dramatically better, or the Sony WH-1000XM6, which matches the noise cancellation and pulls ahead on sound and comfort. The Bose holds a unique card with Immersive Audio, but you really need to love that feature to justify the premium over competition that often costs less. Shop around, and don't be afraid to wait for a sale—there's a great pair of headphones in here, but only at the right price.

Stacked next to the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Bose trades blows in noise cancellation but stumbles on sound refinement and long-haul comfort. The Sony's ear cups breathe better, its app offers a full parametric EQ, and its sound signature has more energy and depth. The QuietComfort Ultra's spatial audio gives it an edge for movie watching, but for music you'll notice the difference immediately.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is the dark horse here. It packs vastly superior sound quality with a rich, detailed presentation, plus an insane 60-hour battery life that doubles the Bose. Its ANC is a step behind, though, so if silence is your number one, Bose still wins out. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is the luxury pick—gorgeous design, buttery comfort, and some of the best wireless sound you can buy. It's pricier and lacks the spatial party trick, but for sheer audio goodness it smokes the Bose. If you're on a budget, the JBL Live 770NC delivers decent ANC and a more balanced sound for a fraction of the cost, though you lose all the premium niceties.

Skip these if you need reference-grade audio for studio work or critical listening—the 44th percentile sound just isn't there. If you tend to wear headphones all day, the heat build-up and 6th-percentile comfort score will drive you nuts. Budget-minded shoppers should look at the JBL Live 770NC, which trades some ANC smarts for a much friendlier price. Audiophiles will be happier with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 or the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, both of which sound significantly better.

So, should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)? If noise cancellation is your absolute top priority and you get a kick out of spatialized audio that makes everything sound like it's floating in front of you, absolutely—they're best-in-class for that combo and a joy for movie buffs and frequent flyers. But if you're a critical listener who wants the best possible sound for your money, or you plan to wear headphones for eight hours straight, you'll run headfirst into their mediocre audio and that heat-trapping comfort trap.

Our comfort percentile data backs up what many owners are feeling after a while between the ears: these cans get swampy, and that 6th percentile stink isn't an exaggeration. The Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser Momentum 4 are smarter buys for all-day wear and better music performance. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is the splurge that actually sounds like a splurge. But for ANC addicts who want a taste of cinema sound on the go, the Bose delivers a unique experience that's hard to find elsewhere.