Customer reviews from bose.com
Bose - x Kendra Scott Ultra Open Earbuds - Mother of Pearl
Average customer rating
4.4
(4,246 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 4,246 reviews
5 Stars
2,753
4 Stars
772
3 Stars
387
2 Stars
177
1 Star
157
Customer Reviews for Bose - x Kendra Scott Ultra Open Earbuds - Mother of Pearl
Customer Rating
5
Best of both worlds!
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: dvill48
Gender:Female
Length of ownership:1 month
I have been using these earbuds for a couple of weeks now and I have been loving them for multiple reasons. They are a perfect fit for my specific needs. First of all, the sound is amazingly rich, crisp, and clear and offers an enjoyable listening experience (especially with the immersive audio technology). Secondly, the open design allows me to be present as a mother while allowing uninterrupted musical enjoyment. Being able to maintain awareness is also important in other situations for me (such as when I am out hiking). The open design is also great for my sensory sensitivities. Other earbuds create a sort of pressurized feeling in my ear and can’t be tolerated for long periods of time. These are comfortable for prolonged use and, for lack of better wording, allow my ear the “breathe”. I like the way in which they securely hug your ear and stay in place (through yoga, dancing, and walking).
There was initially a slight issue with incoming sound on phone calls, but that improved when caller switched from speaker. I have not encountered the same issue again so far.
The lack of noise cancellation might not make these a good fit for some, but I have other noise-canceling headphones/ear buds (which don’t fit my need to be present - and end up not being used).
I say these are the best of both worlds because they provide uninterrupted quality sound for music enjoyment while also allowing the user to maintain presence/awareness of the world around them. As a person with sound sensitivities, these open earbuds are an amazing tool for when the world is a little too full of sounds I’d rather not focus on. I can put these on, turn on my music, and be instantly transported to a pleasant auditory environment away from the cacophony of everyday environment noise (traffic, my rambunctious gaming teens, and other’s conversations).
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com
Customer Rating
5
Best earbuds for what they are designed for!
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: MatthewS
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 month
The short summary: If you are looking for high-quality sound and prioritize awareness of your environment, these earbuds excel. They are comfortable for all-day wear and perfect for outdoor activities like running. However, they do not work well for phone calls or air travel. Highly recommended for their intended use case.
Pros:
Excellent sound quality
Easy toggling between stereo and immersive sound
App allows customization of EQ settings
Easy to use controls for volume adjustment even while running
Amazing awareness of surroundings, ideal for outdoor activities like running
Very comfortable even to wear all day
Excellent sound quality
Easy toggling between stereo and immersive sound
App allows customization of EQ settings
Easy to use controls for volume adjustment even while running
Amazing awareness of surroundings, ideal for outdoor activities like running
Very comfortable even to wear all day
Cons:
The microphones are not great for phone calls
Not for air travel as there is no background noise blocking
Lack of wireless charging in case
Immersive sound may not suit all preferences and contexts
The microphones are not great for phone calls
Not for air travel as there is no background noise blocking
Lack of wireless charging in case
Immersive sound may not suit all preferences and contexts
The Full Review:
Let me start by saying that these earbuds did exactly what I had hoped they would do. I would also say they are the best at what they do, just not perfect for every situation.
Let me start by saying that these earbuds did exactly what I had hoped they would do. I would also say they are the best at what they do, just not perfect for every situation.
I own many earbuds and headphones; some people closest to me may say I have a problem, but I am very particular about having outstanding music and the ability to watch programs in every situation. Some background: I travel frequently, and I am a runner.
So, I have been looking for a high-quality pair of earbuds for running that would allow me to feel safe by not closing off the outside world. There have been too many times with my favorite pair of earbuds (the Bose QC ii) that I have not noticed a car coming up too quickly or a bicyclist on my favorite running path passing me at an unsafe speed, even the aware modes still blocked too much of the traffic or noise from a bicyclist yelling at me to watch out.
Having the opportunity to test the Ultra Open Earbuds, I was super excited, hoping that they would allow me to have great sound and good quality music while still allowing me to hear my surroundings. I've tried cone-conducting headphones and immediately realized that the vibrations bothered me greatly if I turned the volume up.
The Good: I'll start with the good; the quality of the music is great, and I like the ability to toggle between stereo and immersive sound. I find that some music sounds better in stereo mode, usually something more melodic. The immersive sound can cause some songs to sound hollow, but that's not a knock on the immersive sound. I think I am just very particular in terms of the way I want a song to sound. I will say that the bass in something like hip-hop songs does leave something to be desired, but I think I have experienced that with every pair of earbuds I've used. You really can't replace deep bass with small speakers in an earbud. I like that the app allows me to play with the EQ settings.
Continuing with the good, while I'm running, the controls are super easy to use because the buttons are large. I love the ability to adjust the volume while I'm running without touching my watch or phone.
While sitting at my desk at work, I like listening to music with ultra-open earbuds because it allows me to not be surprised if someone walks up behind me and starts talking. I have often been startled at work or annoyed by somebody who asks me a question when I use noise canceling. Using ultra-open earbuds is very much like having speakers play on your desk.
The not-so-good: The microphones do not seem to sound good for phone calls. I've tested these with family members and work colleagues willing to put up with me and have been told more than once that I sound far away.
Simply stated, these earbuds do not work well for air travel, in terms of sitting on an airplane. The background noise drowns out your ability to hear whatever you're listening to, no matter how high the volume.
I really wish wireless charging was included in all of the Bose cases. I realized this would increase the price, but I love having the ability to put this on my wireless charging pad without finding a cable.
The immersive sound can be overdone in specific contexts. I don't know if I could characterize what I like hearing in stereo versus what I like hearing immersive. Still, I think that comes down to personal preference. The immersive sound, in general, has always felt like a nice-to-have as opposed to what I must have.
I really wish wireless charging was included in all of the Bose cases. I realized this would increase the price, but I love having the ability to put this on my wireless charging pad without finding a cable.
The immersive sound can be overdone in specific contexts. I don't know if I could characterize what I like hearing in stereo versus what I like hearing immersive. Still, I think that comes down to personal preference. The immersive sound, in general, has always felt like a nice-to-have as opposed to what I must have.
Overall: I think my impression of this product, in general, is that if you are looking for earbuds that are very high-quality sound-wise and you will be using them for what they're best for, I think they're the best product on the market, the sound quality really justifies the price point.
This technology is so much better than bone-conducting that I can't imagine anybody who tries both would ever buy bone-conducting headphones again.
The Ultra Open Earbuds are so comfortable to wear as they don't pinch my ears, something I was concerned with design-wise. I wore them all day while walking around Manhattan. It felt perfectly safe not worrying about getting hit by a car or a bike by not hearing something coming up on me. These were great, and even with the cacophony of midtown sounds, the music and the volume were still at a significant level.
Don't expect to use these as your primary earbuds for work to take calls or for air travel in place of noise-canceling headphones. I, of course, would never buy open-ear earbuds for either of those use cases.
This technology is so much better than bone-conducting that I can't imagine anybody who tries both would ever buy bone-conducting headphones again.
The Ultra Open Earbuds are so comfortable to wear as they don't pinch my ears, something I was concerned with design-wise. I wore them all day while walking around Manhattan. It felt perfectly safe not worrying about getting hit by a car or a bike by not hearing something coming up on me. These were great, and even with the cacophony of midtown sounds, the music and the volume were still at a significant level.
Don't expect to use these as your primary earbuds for work to take calls or for air travel in place of noise-canceling headphones. I, of course, would never buy open-ear earbuds for either of those use cases.
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com
Customer Rating
4
Need comfort? Look no further!
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: Jolene R
Gender:Female
Length of ownership:1 month
I really love these earbuds! I wasn’t sure about the design at first but once I put them on I was very surprised at how comfortable they are. They are very lightweight and it doesn’t feel like I have anything in my ears. They stay secure even when I’m working out or running. TBH I am actually a huge fan of being able to hear what’s going on around me so I love that they are not noise canceling. I feel much safer and am able to hear my kids. I’m not a huge fan of having to wear both in order to be able turn the volume up and down. The battery life is excellent also. I do think they are hard to get used to and are not quite as user friendly as my other earbuds and they do cut in and out during calls so that’s not cool. And it would be awesome if I was able to track them. But overall I like them much better than any other earbuds I own!
Response from bose.comBy Global Customer Service, February 27, 2024
Thanks for your review of the Ultra Open Earbuds! I'm happy to hear they've become your favorite earbuds, with a secure fit, convincing comfort and a pleasing amount of battery endurance.
Due to their unique design, the earbuds can take a little getting used to. However, if you're experiencing audio or connection cutouts during calls, then I would advise that you get in touch with your local support team, so that we can take a look at these: https://support.bose.com/s/get-help-landing-page?language=en_US
Warm regards
Fiona M. - Customer Support
Due to their unique design, the earbuds can take a little getting used to. However, if you're experiencing audio or connection cutouts during calls, then I would advise that you get in touch with your local support team, so that we can take a look at these: https://support.bose.com/s/get-help-landing-page?language=en_US
Warm regards
Fiona M. - Customer Support
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com
Customer Rating
5
Most comfortable buds I’ve ever used in my life!!
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: Lianna13292024
Gender:Female
Length of ownership:1 month
I am such a fan! These have to be the most comfortable buds I’ve ever felt in my life. These stay without a problem, and are comfy to lay on too!! My kittens have not been able to knock these out of my ears while they’re attacking me.
I’ve lived on a farm all my life, and just now moved to a big city- as a woman in her 20s, safety while listening to music is a huge problem for me. I would never feel safe enough to wear headphones or even any of my earbuds with noise cancelling because I need to be aware of my surroundings at all times. These are the answer! The visual of these hooked onto my ear also feels safer than the visual cue of normal earbuds that make me look distracted, regardless of if they’re on or not.
I’ve lived on a farm all my life, and just now moved to a big city- as a woman in her 20s, safety while listening to music is a huge problem for me. I would never feel safe enough to wear headphones or even any of my earbuds with noise cancelling because I need to be aware of my surroundings at all times. These are the answer! The visual of these hooked onto my ear also feels safer than the visual cue of normal earbuds that make me look distracted, regardless of if they’re on or not.
I can go running without them falling off, which is super weird since this design doesn’t go inside my ear. Which brings me to my next point; these are the earbuds that finally resolve the issue of changing out rubber pieces in the hopes that you have a size that fits your ear. They did take a minute to feel like I was wearing them correctly, but now every time I put them in it’s easy peasy and stays put.
As for audio quality; absolutely 10/10 fantastic Bose quality. The controls are fun and easy to learn, it’s nice to have a “clickable” button on each bud, so no accidental skipping songs or anything.
Battery- I literally haven’t charged these I think they must have some ungodly number of battery hours in them paired with the case that charges them when I finally take them off at the end of the day.
All this to say, I absolutely whole heartedly love these and would absolutely recommend these to any and everyone.
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com
Customer Rating
5
A Game-Changer for Comfort and Sound Quality!
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: mairrai
Gender:Female
Length of ownership:1 month
After two weeks of continuous use, I can confidently say that I can't imagine going without these headphones. They've seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, competing in usage frequency with my trusted QC45. They've unveiled a niche I didn't realize I was missing.
Key Highlights:
• Sound Quality: 5/5
• Ergonomics: 5/5
• Battery Life: 5/5
FYI:
• No noise cancelling: These are OPEN BACK headphones, intentionally designed for ambient sound awareness.
• Potential discomfort for upper lobe piercings.
Pros:
• Unmatched Comfort: Having previously experienced discomfort and pain with AirPods and other in-ear options after just 20-30 minutes of use, the Ultra Open design is a revelation. Unlike traditional in-ear options, these earbuds feel more like comfortable cuffs than intrusive buds. I can wear them for hours without discomfort.
• Superb Sound: Among my collection of headphones, few rival the audio quality of these open-back earbuds.
• Impressive Battery Life: Even with 4-5 hours of daily use over two weeks, I've only had to charge the case once, never interrupting my usage.
• Secure Fit: Whether bouldering or running, these earbuds stay firmly in place, providing peace of mind during physical activities.
Cons:
• Occasional Sound Interruptions: Despite the immersive audio experience, there are sporadic cutouts, although the development team is actively addressing this.
• Confusing Case Design: The case layout can be perplexing when storing the earbuds.
• Initial Confusion with Earbud Orientation: It may take some trial and error to determine the correct way to wear the earbuds initially.
• Challenges in Noisy Environments: In extremely loud environments, hearing music can be difficult, though the auto volume feature helps mitigate this issue.
• Sound Quality: 5/5
• Ergonomics: 5/5
• Battery Life: 5/5
FYI:
• No noise cancelling: These are OPEN BACK headphones, intentionally designed for ambient sound awareness.
• Potential discomfort for upper lobe piercings.
Pros:
• Unmatched Comfort: Having previously experienced discomfort and pain with AirPods and other in-ear options after just 20-30 minutes of use, the Ultra Open design is a revelation. Unlike traditional in-ear options, these earbuds feel more like comfortable cuffs than intrusive buds. I can wear them for hours without discomfort.
• Superb Sound: Among my collection of headphones, few rival the audio quality of these open-back earbuds.
• Impressive Battery Life: Even with 4-5 hours of daily use over two weeks, I've only had to charge the case once, never interrupting my usage.
• Secure Fit: Whether bouldering or running, these earbuds stay firmly in place, providing peace of mind during physical activities.
Cons:
• Occasional Sound Interruptions: Despite the immersive audio experience, there are sporadic cutouts, although the development team is actively addressing this.
• Confusing Case Design: The case layout can be perplexing when storing the earbuds.
• Initial Confusion with Earbud Orientation: It may take some trial and error to determine the correct way to wear the earbuds initially.
• Challenges in Noisy Environments: In extremely loud environments, hearing music can be difficult, though the auto volume feature helps mitigate this issue.
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent concept turned into a excellent product.
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: Rinzler
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 month
Had the product for a few weeks now , So far its a giant leap forward in comfort especially for longer term use in the day , I also find them more secure then a normal earbud while doing physical activity . The sound quality actually surprised me , I was concerned that with ought it being in the ear canal it would be lacking but there was no loss in quality at all. The battery life is excellent and they charge quickly in the case for extra time . I also like that they use a physical button for pause ,play , etc. I have always found the tap feature can become uncomfortable tapping on things in my ear canal . overall these have been fantastic and would recomend them to anyone who uses music on the go frequently .
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com
Customer Rating
5
COMFORT!
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: RYANCYCLIST
Gender:Male
Length of ownership:1 month
So far really please with this product. They are earbuds you didn’t know you needed. Previously I would use QC noise cancelling earbuds at the office and gym. Now these are the go to ones to use. All day comfort and never needing adjusting. Once you find the fitment place on the ear for you forget they are there. No more pausing and or removing an earbud to clearly hear someone, or missing something someone said. The buttons are easy to use and give you positive feel of pressing a button versus just touching an object (earbud). Once weather is warmer I really feel these will be the earbuds to use while cycling as it will allow me to hear my surroundings while enjoying the music at the same time. Sound is typical Bose quality deep rich music - good bass and clear. The big difference the the staying in place and all day comfort they provide.
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com
Customer Rating
5
Love how they feel and sound
on February 16, 2024
Posted by: Nova
Gender:Female
Length of ownership:1 month
I fell in love with the Open Earbuds on day one. They immediately solved two of my complaints with other earbuds:
1) Comfortability for long periods. I don’t find most earbuds comfortable for hours of wear but I forget that I have on. Comfortable but secure. I have done hot yoga and spin classes with absolutely no problems, adjusting, or discomfort.
2) Block out other noise I need/want to hear. I can be listening to music at the office and still hear when someone calls my name or walking my dog yet hear a car approaching from behind. No longer do you have to do the one earbud thing so you can have one ear open.
1) Comfortability for long periods. I don’t find most earbuds comfortable for hours of wear but I forget that I have on. Comfortable but secure. I have done hot yoga and spin classes with absolutely no problems, adjusting, or discomfort.
2) Block out other noise I need/want to hear. I can be listening to music at the office and still hear when someone calls my name or walking my dog yet hear a car approaching from behind. No longer do you have to do the one earbud thing so you can have one ear open.
These two issues are solved without compromising the sound quality.
Now, these are not for everyone or every application. You want to mow your lawn while listening to a podcast – these are not for you. You want to cancel the sound of your annoying coworker slurping their hot coffee – not the best for that either unless you turn up the volume on your music. But if you want to have a comfortable, quality sound while still being able to hear the instructor at your workout class – this is what you have been waiting for!
Written by a customer while visiting bose.com