logo
I convinced my dad to buy Bose QuietComfort headphones — now they're $100 off for Father's Day

I convinced my dad to buy Bose QuietComfort headphones — now they're $100 off for Father's Day

Tom's Guide2 days ago

A few months ago, when my dad asked me to recommend him a pair of the best headphones, I didn't hesitate. "Bose QuietComforts," I said. "They're pricey, but they're worth it."
He placed an order that day, and now I look forward to visiting my parents not just to see them (although, that's the primary reason, of course), but also to use my dad's Bose QuietComfort headphones.
As outlined in our Bose QuietComfort headphones review, the cans are extremely impressive. On top of ANC so good that no other brand even comes close, the headphones sound excellent in every single genre. And now? You can save a massive $100 on Bose QuietComfort headphones.
The QuietComfort headphones are on sale in the following colors: black (pictured), dark blue, lilac, light blue, beige, and white. Green is the only color not on sale, which is a shame because it's actually gorgeous.
Price check: $249 @ Best Buy | $249 @ Walmart
I've personally used the Bose QuietComfort headphones, and I can admit that $349 is expensive for what you get. However, with $100 off, these headphones are competitively priced.
Considering that most excellent Bluetooth headphones hover around $400 these days (what has the world come to?), $249 is about as low as you're going to get for Bose.
What makes Bose gear so good is its ANC. My colleague Nikita described Bose's ANC better than anyone else: it's so good you feel lonely.
Thankfully, when music sounds this good you can overlook the fact you're the only one listening. The QuietComfort headphones are bass-driven, with loud, groovy thumps across most genres. I'd recommend these headphones for serious bass lovers, or if you listen to genres like rock, hip-hop, or house. While I've never thought the QuietComfort headphones sound anything but fantastic, they genuinely excel with bassy tracks.
However, you can also adjust and create custom EQs with the Bose Music app, should you want a little less bass in your listening.
The Bose QuietComfort headphones come recommended for a reason, and at just $249, they're an absolute steal. I convinced my dad to buy these and he loves them, but now I wish I'd bought them for Father's Day instead!

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Save $75 on This Like-New Bluetooth Sony Speaker
Save $75 on This Like-New Bluetooth Sony Speaker

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Save $75 on This Like-New Bluetooth Sony Speaker

The following content is brought to you by PCMag partners. If you buy a product featured here, we may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation. If you're looking for a compact Bluetooth speaker that doesn't skimp on audio power, the grade-A refurbished Sony ULT Field 1 is worth a serious look. Available now for $54.99 (reg. $129.99), this portable speaker delivers full-spectrum sound with deep, resonant bass, courtesy of ULT mode. The Sony ULT Field 1 is IP67-rated, meaning it's fully waterproof and dustproof and built to withstand bumps, drops, and adverse weather conditions. At about 1.4 pounds, it's lightweight and includes a carry strap, so it's ready for parks, trails, and tailgates. It features dual speaker units (a 16mm tweeter and 83-by-42mm woofer) and a side passive radiator, delivering crisp highs and deep lows. Activate the ULT button to enhance bass on demand. Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, up to 12 hours of battery life, and app control via the Sony Music Center, which offers customizable EQ settings and stereo pairing support, are also available. Plus, a built-in echo-canceling mic for hands-free calls. This unit is grade-A refurbished, meaning it arrives in near-mint condition and has an aftermarket 1-year parts and labor warranty. Get this refurbished Sony ULT Field 1 portable speaker while it's just $54.99 (reg. $129.99). Prices subject to change. PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through StackSocial affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Bose Vs. Sony: Which Headphones Are Best?
Bose Vs. Sony: Which Headphones Are Best?

Forbes

time2 hours ago

  • Forbes

Bose Vs. Sony: Which Headphones Are Best?

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. Forbes Vetted Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence. 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 Best for: Skip if: Forbes Vetted 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 Best for: Skip if: 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. The Forbes Vetted team has published hundreds of tech and electronics guides that leverage our hands-on testing and research, including audio stories for all of your listening needs, like wireless headphones, wireless earbuds, outdoor speakers and more.

The Switch 2 is available online from Best Buy (update: sold out)
The Switch 2 is available online from Best Buy (update: sold out)

The Verge

time2 hours ago

  • The Verge

The Switch 2 is available online from Best Buy (update: sold out)

Update, June 11th: Best Buy has sold out of its initial online inventory of both the standalone console and the Mario Kart World bundle. Gamers who missed out on a chance to get a Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day, or in the rare opportunities since, can buy one through Best Buy's website or mobile app right now following a short queue. Although the retailer had plenty of in-store stock on launch day, this particular restock is available exclusively online. You can currently buy either the base $449.99 console or the one bundled with Mario Kart World that costs $499.99 (saving you $30 off the game's usual cost). While all of the shopping will be done online, these orders won't be delivered. They're for in-store pickup only, so make sure you can arrange a pickup before completing the order. As of writing Nintendo had a relatively smooth Switch 2 launch from a server standpoint. No issues for players who are buying a lot of games, or transferring their Switch 1 data to the Switch 2. It was also a hugely successful launch, with Nintendo announcing that it sold 3.5 million Switch 2 consoles in four days, setting a new record for the company as the fastest-selling hardware yet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store