Truth about Bose?

[Omnis]

Bullsh**. Active noise cancelling headphones and regular headphones aren't even in the same leauge.

But they're in the same price range, aren't they? Sorry, skip. I don't care if you work at bose or not, but the fact based on human observation is that Bose headphone products are just not worth it.

They're so grossly overpriced, it's ridiculous...and the fact that you can get Reference-class cans for the same price as a pair of QC2s is enough evidence. Noise-cancelling is just a fancy term for a closed can. Even open cans cancel the majority of outside noise at a comfortable listening level. AKG and the other reputable headphone companies make closed cans that are a better bet than Bose's QC2s...and they won't fall apart on you either.

I respect Bose as a mainstream marketing/solution company. But, their headphones, at least, are just not of the same level of other products in their price range. 👎

You can take your defense to head-fi.org if you'd like. They've already been over this Bose issue, and you can read their opinions.

 

[skip0110]

But they're in the same price range, aren't they? Sorry, skip. I don't care if you work at bose or not, but the fact based on human observation is that Bose headphone products are just not worth it.

I am not really an audiophile, and you are welcome to your opinion. I'd just like to clear up a few factual things.

Noise-cancelling is just a fancy term for a closed can. Even open cans cancel the majority of outside noise at a comfortable listening level.

Closed-can and active noise cancellation are not the same thing. Closed can is passive noise cancellation...essentially sound insulation. Active noise cancellation, as on the QC2s, has a microphone inside the earcup that "listens" to what you are hearing and adjusts the sound from the speakers to actually cancel background noise. It's a very big difference...put on QC2s in a room where many people are talking in the backgorund...and all you hear is silence, rather than muffled background noise.

AKG and the other reputable headphone companies make closed cans that are a better bet than Bose's QC2s...and they won't fall apart on you either.

Bose had a quality control problem with the manufacturing plant in China. As of early August this year, the headband breakage issue should be fixed on all new QC2s. And, on a side note, if you bring a broken pair of QC2s back to any Bose store, you'll get a brand new replacement.

 

[Omnis]

Fair enough... I think we're all making valid points here. There's nothing wrong with that.

The misconception, however, is that - with most people - Bose's headphones are judged by the name on the box rather than their sound. I'm just saying that there are better sounding headphones on the market for the same price, but which also "cancel" enough noise to the point where bose's QC technology becomes non-important.

The noise cancelling technology only has significance in a crowd when listening at low volume. Because they're expensive, It'd be highly unlikely that these will be your everyday out-and-about headphones. You'll more than likely keep these at home for home listening. Now, if you're going to be doing that, I can't see the practicality in shelling out 300 bucks for noise cancelling technology being used in an already silent environment. There's no reason to buy the QC2's over any good, comparably-priced pair of cans if you're looking for sound quality. The price-range competition almost always sounds better during imersed or analytical listening. Keep in mind the "almost", though. It all depends on the listener and what they're driving their cans with.

Therefore, if the QuietComforts are designed with or only have silence as their strongpoint, why buy them as your headphones? The consumer, especially those who are headphone-oriented, would have a better sense of achievement for Bose had they advertised their QC2's as musical earmuffs rather than "High-performance headphones".

 

[skip0110]

Fair enough... I think we're all making valid points here. There's nothing wrong with that.

👍

The noise cancelling technology only has significance in a crowd when listening at low volume. Because they're expensive, It'd be highly unlikely that these will be your everyday out-and-about headphones. You'll more than likely keep these at home for home listening.

Actually, Bose recommends them for travelers. Cutting down on engine noise in a plane can really lower fatigue. The level of noise cancellation is very real, and orders of magnitude better than what passive can do. That's why I think that they aren't in the same ballpark as, say, the Sennheisers.

The consumer, especially those who are headphone-oriented, would have a better sense of achievement for Bose had they advertised their QC2's as musical earmuffs rather than "High-performance headphones".

There seems to be some doubt about the effectiveness of the noise cancelling. It is good enough that the cord is actually removable, so they are in a way "earmuffs". But they very definitely are the best at what they are supposed to do. Bose sells a $999 version with a mouthpeice and fail-safes for pilots (and most pilots use these). And Bose also has a government contract--all tank operators wear Bose QuietComfort technology under their helmets--check out the embossed "Bose" on the black headsets. That's the only noise cancelling technology used by the US, and also many other western countries. In the QC2s, you're getting military-spec technology at a price that's really quite reasonable for what it does.
http://qualitysound.bose.com/pg/professional/military/crewman.jsp

I think what I'm trying to say is that the cost of QC2s goes towards providing noise cancellation at the expense of some sound quality. It all depends what you want. But if you want noise cancellation, the QC2 is the best you can get.

 

[Robin]

I reacon the Bose sound quality is quite amazing.....I have there wave radio thingy and its great how it can get so much base and punch from such a small unit.....as the the price is abit expensive.........but I got it FREE! so what do I care.......yippee 👍 .....I must admit I think they do better in the car audio dept.....

B&O make some pretty amazing speakers....

 

[Omnis]

I think what I'm trying to say is that the cost of QC2s goes towards providing noise cancellation at the expense of some sound quality. It all depends what you want. But if you want noise cancellation, the QC2 is the best you can get.

Thank you.

and like I said before, Sound Quality > Noise Cancellation. That is the essence of home headphone listening, and that is why Bose is NOT a good choice for a general listening experience within that price range.

Okay, so the now that the QC2's are concluded upon, let us discus the blasphemy that is the Triports.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Bose had a quality control problem with the manufacturing plant in China. As of early August this year, the headband breakage issue should be fixed on all new QC2s. And, on a side note, if you bring a broken pair of QC2s back to any Bose store, you'll get a brand new replacement.

Huh oh, I just bought a pair for my Aunt. As I said before, we were looking for a pair of the noise cancelling headphones for her, after trying my brother's Bose QC2 pair. She didn't like an other kind, so we bought her the Bose QC2 pair at the Bose store in the Ontario Mills Mall. I take it all the bad pairs were pulled off of shelves and recalled? How can I check to see if it's a bad pair of QC2? We bought them on Moday this week. She'll be going back to Holland in a week or so, so now's the time to do anything about a defective pair of headphones.

 

[Omnis]

Bose cans are notorious for construction problems with the headphone community i'm involved with.

Just make sure you have plenty of warranty time. Don't want Auntie getting screwed.

 

[skip0110]

I take it all the bad pairs were pulled off of shelves and recalled? How can I check to see if it's a bad pair of QC2? We bought them on Moday this week. She'll be going back to Holland in a week or so, so now's the time to do anything about a defective pair of headphones.

My understanding of the situation is that Bose never recalled QC2s so the old ones were not pulled from the shelves...but given the turnover of them in the stores, they probably are a new pair. There are several physical differences between the new and old ones. The new ones are silver cups with chrome accents, the older ones have a darker "champagne" color (I've never seen new/old back to back so I havent really noticed the change). If you want to know for sure, call the support line and have your serial number in hand.

 

[2ez2KiLL]

My parents blew a lot of money on a Bose Acoustimass system a few years ago. Yet they are still avid Bose fans. I just don't understand how people can like the Bose sound. Its just plain bad, the point of the speaker is to sound as real as possible, my paren'ts Acoustimass just sounds like an overly eq'ed boom-boom Sony machine and is definitely not worth its money . (I can validate this, I have one in my living room )

As for the QC2, I have heard it on numerous occasions and it is DEFINITELY not worth its $300. For that price tag, it is easily outperformed by numerous headphones that can seal just as well. I feel that this "ANR" thing is way overrated. It doesn't really do much for the sound once the music is on. Soundwise, the QC2 can basically be trampled by a pair of canalphones that seal/sound better for under $100 (Etymotic ER-6/i, Shure E2c, Futuresonics EM3, Westone UM1, etc..)

I think Bose has some kind of Psychoacoustic effect on people.

 

[TsLeng]

Its basically very clever marketing.

marketing can sell anything.

 

[Young_Warrior]

especially in america

 

[Duke]

especially in america

Next time try actually thinking for yourself.

 

[Sage]

especially in america

Because every American is a stupid bumble****, right?

 

[Omnis]

Young Warrior, you're such a damn chauvinist.

I guess I'm done with this topic...or done as far as headphones are concerned.

I'll leave the rest of you guys to bash the loudspeakers.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

especially in america

You, sir, are a buffoon.

My parents blew a lot of money on a Bose Acoustimass system a few years ago. Yet they are still avid Bose fans. I just don't understand how people can like the Bose sound. Its just plain bad, the point of the speaker is to sound as real as possible, my paren'ts Acoustimass just sounds like an overly eq'ed boom-boom Sony machine and is definitely not worth its money . (I can validate this, I have one in my living room )

[snip]

I think Bose has some kind of Psychoacoustic effect on people.

Your parents have problems with subwoofer positioning and/or configuration. They have probably got the sub volume set too high, and the LFE set too high. It's a common problem where people want to be able to hear their sub, rather than just enjoying its benefits.

Try discretely turning both of the controls down on the side of the sub. If the sub is in a corner surrounded by hard surfaces, it is resonating, and should be moved.

It took me about six hours to get mine to the point I was happy with it. But I am now very happy.