These headphones have been amazing. The upgrades with calls on the second gen really separates the QC Ulra from the rest of the market. Call quality is crystal clear virtually everywhere with no background noise at all.
Not a good choice not enough noise canceling I understand that the company has had problems the canceling part in the past I will be returning this headset
Response from bose.comBy Bose, Customer Support, October 27, 2025
Hey Fred, the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) provide our best noise cancelling on a headset. Quiet mode will enable full noise cancellation features, ensuring uninterrupted playback.
To get the most out of your experience with noise cancellation, please check out our handy guide at https://bose.life/4qxhEM8 which will make sure you experience the headset's full potential.
I have several Bose headphones. With each and every updated headphones I have gotten they get better and better. The sound on the QCU2 is superior to most of my previous headphones. I was really amazed at the sound quality on the first call I used them on. It was with family and we didn't have any issues with our call. I usually call with my Bose SoundSport but if you brush the mic it can be disrupting to the conversation. I plan on using these on all my calls. I love to immerse myself in music while doing tasks. The battery life is excellant. I can listen for a few days before needing to recharge.
Much more comfortable than prior versions and noise cancellation is pretty great. Along with updated ios app & firmware the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 is the one to beat.
The sound is strong, punchy bass and clear highs. Great new easy button activation
I’ve had the 2nd gen almost a month now and really enjoy them. I purchased the 1st gen a little over a year ago and that’s what I’ll be comparing the 2nd gen to.
Overall it’s a great product. The sound is rich and with the app it’s able to be customized to the owner’s preference. Excellent noise cancellation and the immersion option seems to make the quality of music even better. Compared to the 1st gen the aware mode has improved noticeably to the point you don’t realize it’s in aware mode until someone starts talking to you. 1st gen had a slight echo sound of the ambient noise in aware mode. The sound and noise cancellation has also slightly improved. In the 1st gen I preferred music in the quiet mode but in the 2nd I prefer it in immersion. I recently wore them on a plane to watch a movie on my iPad and thought the noise cancellation was very good. I would prefer the foam ear cups to be a little thicker and have a bit more “squeeze” to them. I feel this would improve the noise cancellation. Head movements sometimes alter the seal around your ear and require readjusting. While watching the movie I noticed the audio was a bit off from the picture. I’m not sure if this was an iPad issue or app issue, which brings me to my second complaint. You must have the app. I just sat down on the plane and started my movie never previously connecting the 2nd gen to my iPad and when I tried it said I must have the app. Luckily I got the app downloaded just before takeoff. While the app is a nice feature I don’t think it should be mandatory.
Calls sound just fine and people on the other end could not hear any difference between just using phone or using the gen 2’s.
The controls on the headphones are easy to use and convenient when you can’t access your device.
Pictures I’ve posted show the difference between the 1st gen and 2nd (in black). Visually there are none and they feel the same as well. I also show the difference between a full extension and no extension of the ear cups. I consider myself to have larger than “normal” ears, and they fit without issue.
I definitely recommend these headphones and with only a slight price difference, recommend them over the 1st gen. Especially if aware mode is what you prefer.
I received the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd gen headphones about 4 weeks ago.
They are the most advanced headphones in terms of technology I have ever used. Despite being complex technology wise they are super simple to use and provide a really enjoyable user process.
I am going to break this review into two sections. The look and the sound.
Let’s start with the look. I was not a fan at first of the white and silver as I find it to be quite flashy but that didn’t mean I didn’t think they looked awesome. Also the more I wore them the more I realized how cool and subtle they. The silver arms holding the actual headphones are brilliant. They feel rock steady and solid. I worried at first that through constant turning and picking up it would make them a bit loose but that never has and I don’t expect it to be a problem. They are also super comfortable. I wear headphone for a few hours at a time and take them off occasionally. I could wear them nonstop and stay comfortable. They do tend to get hot around the ears and I sometimes would find a little sweat on the headphones.
The sound. Wow! These are the best sounding headphones I have ever used. I love the ability to choose who to use them with the different modes. I mainly use the quiet and aware modes and they are solid. The Spatial Audio feature is cool but I didnt really find it useful. The app is also a great way to customise your listening experience.
I purchased this unit to use on any flight in order to remove the external noise. i do have to say that after my very first flight, i am HOOKED!!! I was able to listen to my movie, music, videos with clarity and did not hear any other, unwanted noise. The comfortability of these were incredible. After researching several units. I am completely satisfied with my purchase.