Bose Vs. Sony: Which Headphones Are Best?

Forbes

a day ago

A good pair of headphones should accomplish three tasks: They should have stellar audio quality, exceptional active noise cancellation (ANC) and a long battery life to last through an international flight. Two of my favorite pairs of wireless headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras and the Sony WH-1000XM6s, go toe to toe with these must-have features. But if you're stuck trying to decide between Bose versus Sony headphones, there are a few things to consider before you add them to your cart.
I tested both pairs of headphones for at least three weeks to determine which pair is best. The short answer: It's complicated, and it truly comes down to what you're seeking to get out of your next pair of wireless headphones. Here are the standout features, and here's what can help you decide between Bose versus Sony headphones.
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Battery life: 24 hours (with ANC) | Drivers: 35mm | Weight: 9 ounces | Case: Hard case | Wireless connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (up to two connections) | Wired connectivity: 2.5mm
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Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Battery life: 30 hours (with ANC) | Drivers: 30mm | Weight: 8.9 ounces | Case: Hard case | Wireless connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (up to two connections) | Wired connectivity: 3.5mm
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The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are built of mostly plastic, and it's this plastic that's my main knock against the brand. For a flagship pair of headphones, the design feels a little cheap. That shouldn't sway die-hard audiophiles from this pair of headphones, though. The Bose QuietComfort Ultras are sturdy—I've taken them on multiple international flights, dropped them and more. I also don't use the bulky carry case because it's just another thing to haul on a plane. To date, they still look brand-new, so they're pretty darn sturdy.
The design has plush, swappable leatherette ear pads that are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The longest flight I've taken this pair on was a 13-hour flight to Seoul, South Korea; I wore them most of that flight with my glasses on in comfort. I only wish that the design was a little less front and center and mechanical. While Bose prides itself on its audio quality (more on that in a second), it looks very utilitarian.
While the Bose headphones have a design that feels more mechanical, Sony opted for a sleeker build. Bose places its branding front and center on each ear cup; you know that someone is wearing the Bose headphones. Sony keeps its branding more subtle, placing it just above the ear cup. I'm a huge fan, and it's a good design choice—the headphones look luxe. Another feature that Sony added back into the headphones' design from their predecessor, the WH-1000XM5s? A foldable design. The WH-1000XM5s couldn't fold into a more portable package; they could only flip the ear cups in and out. It's a necessary addition, and I'm glad Sony added it back in.
When I initially unboxed them, I worried that the swappable ear cups—less plush than the Bose headphones I tested—might not be enough to wear for long periods of time. The headphones quickly proved me wrong. Glasses wearers may have some minor wear issues, but that's not my biggest design gripe: The midnight blue color I received shows my fingerprints and natural facial oils. It's easy to wipe it down, but I recommend opting for the Platinum Silver finish to reduce the dirt.
If you had asked me even a couple of months ago which pair of headphones had the better sound quality, I would have said without hesitation: It's Bose. Now that the Sony WH-1000XM6s have launched, it's more complicated.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have a rich audio quality, and it's partially why I named them the best wireless headphones you can buy right now. They can easily hit deep bass frequencies with ease on Ashnikko's and Kendrick Lamar's songs, and the audio balance in Remi Wolf's funk-infused 'Cinderella' and 'Photo ID' is simply lovely.
Bose also stands out for its intuitive app. Don't expect dedicated EQ presets, as Bose doesn't offer any, but you can adjust bass, mids and trebles up and down six points to find a sound that suits you. The app also offers two other listening modes, Motion and Still. Motion puts you in the center of the action for a more immersive experience, while Still is built for when you're sitting at your desk. Turn your head to the left and right, and the music stays firmly in front of you for a concert-like sound. These come at the minor cost of audio quality, though.
The Bose headphones also offer a slew of technologies to keep the audio quality consistent. Your headphones are only as good as the data transfer. These headphones include aptX Adaptive codec, which can dynamically transfer higher amounts of data, and thus higher-resolution audio quality; it's specifically for Android. The headphones also offer advanced audio coding (AAC), which essentially does what aptX does, only for Apple devices, so its audio quality is great across both Android and iOS devices.
Whereas the Sony WH-1000XM5s couldn't match the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, the Sony WH-1000XM6s now rival the competition. Bose sounds more professionally balanced, or 'cinematic,' if you will, and can immerse you in the action with those modes; Sony focuses on putting you in the center of the action. 'Ma Meilleure Ennemie' and 'Sucker' from the Arcane soundtrack sound more like they're being performed live in my living room, and it's a boon to the listening experience. The headphones support LDAC, which is a sound codec that allows for more data transfer, and thus allows for a richer audio experience. They also support AAC, but not aptX Adaptive.
That said, the Sony Sound Connect app is lackluster: It's not nearly as intuitive as the Bose app. Open it, and you can see Ambient Sound Control, which controls your ANC. You can also see what's called Listening Mode; this mode gives you two different sub-modes to turn your music into a background 'coffee shop' sound or cinema mode for movies. To be blunt, these modes are mediocre. You can choose from a handful of EQ presets, or you can create custom EQ if you prefer. You can do this by listening through a couple of different options to find your preferred balance. There are a slew of other features, like spatial audio, scene analyzers (which can analyze your environment and make audio adjustments on the fly) and listening habits, the latter of which can help you maintain safe listening levels, but they're sprinkled in hard-to-find spots.
If you prefer a more lifelike experience to your listening, the Sony WH-1000XM6s should be your go-to. Just keep in mind that the app may be difficult for you to navigate at times. However, if you prefer more cinematic listening sessions, the Bose headphones are best for you. You really can't go wrong with either in terms of audio quality; both are rich and detailed.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultras can last up to 24 hours on a single charge, but there are a few caveats to hit that number. For one, the Motion and Still immersive modes need to be off; using them drains more battery, to around 18 hours. If they get low on battery, a 15-minute charge gets 2.5 hours of music playback, which is significantly more time for less playback than Sony offers.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones can last up to 30 hours—with ANC on. That's a massive difference that, if you tend to take long-haul flights or forget to charge your headphones, can make or break your listening experience. In the event you do forget to charge them, three minutes of charging can get three hours of music playback in a pinch. If you frequently forget to charge your headphones, pick up the Sony headphones.
Both pairs of headphones offer stellar noise-cancellation technology, and both dive deeper so you can get the level of ANC that you prefer. Bose offers three different modes: Aware, which is a transparency mode so you can hear outside noises; Immersion, which turns on Still or Motion, depending on your preferences; and Quiet, which is the ANC mode. It's worth noting that while Quiet mode offers noise control, it's locked, so you can't change it. But you also shouldn't have to change it—the ANC is powerful enough that airplane engines sound whisper quiet, which is exactly what you want in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. In fact, these are currently my best noise-canceling headphones pick.
Sony's WH-1000XM6s offers three modes, too: Off, which turns off the transparency and the noise-canceling modes; Ambient Sound, which is the transparency mode; and Noise Canceling, which activates the ANC. It's good enough for most needs, but I live next to not one but two elementary schools, and I look out onto a lovely park. When the children get out and play at the park, I can still hear some sounds slip past the ANC. It also couldn't compete against the New York City subway noise as trains whizzed by me. It's on par with Bose, but Bose slightly edges out the Sony WH-1000XM6s. If you value ANC above all else, Bose is the answer here, and you should opt for them.
If you're considering the Bose versus Sony headphones, it boils down to a few features. Both have incredible audio quality that showcase a rich audio quality. Both are very comfortable, and both have a sturdy, durable build that should last for some time.
If you tend to forget to charge your gear, the Sony headphones may be the better option: It's hard to put a price on that 30-hour battery life. And if you prefer a sleeker design, the Sony headphones are the best choice for you.
However, if you want unparalleled ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones should be your pick. There's also something to be said about using an intuitive app. I've found Bose's app easy to use in my two years of experience testing them as my main pair of travel headphones, and that's important when you're on the move.
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