Latest news with #QuietComfortUltra
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Nothing's first over-ears: Design speaks loudly, while sound whispers elegance
This mustn't have been easy. Despite a fair amount of success with true wireless earbuds over the years, for the United Kingdom (UK)-based startup Nothing, beginning its headphone foray by competing with the flagships is a bold move. This is a domain with discerning consumers—cognisant of the money they're spending and the sound signature they prefer. It is also a space overwhelmingly dominated by Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser, with Sonos and Dyson making their bids. Physical controls galore on the Nothing Headphone (1), and while at it, very seamlessly integrated within the design and don't spoil the overall visual appeal (Vishal Mathur / HT Photo) Nothing Headphone (1) tries to line up the cards in its favour, foremost by getting the pricing right. Sony's WH-1000XM5 is priced at ₹34,990, while Sennheiser demands ₹20,990 for a Momentum 4, and Bose wants ₹24,990 to be sent its way if you'd like a QuietComfort Ultra. Suddenly, the Nothing Headphone (1) looks like good value—more so when you realise the sound is tuned by British luxury audio company Kent Engineering and Foundry (KEF). Though you may be interested in the specifics of sound, chances are the rather different design language of the Nothing Headphone (1) will get your attention along the way. It's difficult to ignore. There is a distinct attempt to carry forward the transparency-driven design language from Nothing's smartphones, and while it may take a while to get used to this initially, it has mostly worked. The metal housing looks good, but you'll have to be a bit careful because it shows scratches quite easily. That's inconvenient. But at least it remains smudge-free. A slight design eccentricity that must be noted — the Nothing Headphone (1) folds flat in a way that, when being reseated into the carry case, the right ear cup ends up on the left side. It's a flip every time, and frankly, it shouldn't have been there in the first place. Also Read: Nothing Phone 3 and Nothing Headphone 1 sale goes live in India: Check price and offers I've never been a fan of touch controls on headphones, and Nothing seems to share that opinion. Physical controls abound, and while at it, they're very seamlessly integrated within the design and don't spoil the overall visual appeal. And these aren't just buttons for the sake of physical controls. The thoughtful implementation includes roller controls for managing volume, a paddle-esque control for selecting the next or previous track, and a button that can be configured for quickly accessing favourites if you're using a Nothing Phone (3). These, with on-point tactile feedback, simply work. The experience of sound is built rather nicely on a robust foundation provided by 40mm audio drivers. Very much flagship-grade, if that's what you're wondering about. The audio signature is well recognised if you've used the first-generation Ear true wireless earbuds — of course, hardware differences are perceptible, but in a broader sense, you know what sort of tuning you'll get with the Nothing Headphone (1). It is decidedly lively, without a perceptible 'V' in terms of how the equaliser is tuned out of the box. The Nothing X app gives you all the options to change that, but even without it, most music genres sound good. Also Read: 'Hatke' vibes: Nothing Headphone 1 allegedly leaks ahead of July 1 launch In my book, the sound is more versatile than Bose's decidedly more subdued tuning, and at par with Sennheiser headphones. Once you toggle the bass controls, this easily gets into Sony XM territory (for much less money, mind you). Active noise cancellation (ANC), is really as on point as it gets. Safe to say, this is almost matching the Sony ANC implementation — and that is no mean feat, because Sennheiser and Bose haven't quite got it all spot on, especially with no noticeable change in how the track sounds with ANC off and ANC on. Often, headphones struggle to get the lower frequencies right when ANC is off. Attention has been paid to the little things that matter. The USB-C cable that arrives with the Nothing Headphone (1) can be used for charging and listening, and there's the 3.5mm headphone jack with a supplied cable that can be used too — except the headphones must be powered on for this to work. Bad luck if the battery runs out. Pair that with long battery life of upwards of 32 hours with ANC on, and it gets you through most transcontinental return flights on a single charge. Also Read: How to pick the right headphones? Here are the best tips to ditch the hype and tune into real value You may have assessed whether the Nothing Headphone (1) suits your budget and the sort of headphone you're looking for. Do add some more weight to the personality aspect, because no other headphone looks this good. Not the Apple AirPods Max. Not the Dyson OnTrac. And certainly nothing rolling out from the sea of sameness from the Sony, Sennheiser, and Bose lines. Vishal Mathur is Technology Editor for Hindustan Times. When not making sense of technology, he often searches for an elusive analog space in a digital world.
The Verge
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Bose is offering an extra 25% off refurbished headphones, earbuds, and portable speakers
Some of Bose's best headphones, earbuds, and speakers were nicely discounted for Prime Day, but just because the event has ended doesn't mean the deals are over. Bose is currently offering discounts on a range of refurbished products, plus an extra 25 percent off on top of that with code SUMMER25. For example, Verge-favorite QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are down to $284.25 ($165 off) at Bose, the lowest price we've seen yet. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are also down to $186.75 ($113 off) at Bose, another all-time low (and another Verge favorite). Bose's latest flagship headphones are a replacement for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, and offer a more travel-friendly design, spatial audio, better call quality, excellent comfort, and some of the best noise cancellation around. Read our review. The QC Ultra Headphones are the perfect noise-canceling headphones for travel, offering excellent audio performance and a design that's comfortable to wear for long stretches. In his review, former Verge senior reviewer Chris Welch said the wider headband on the QC Ultra Headphones didn't cause any discomfort over extended use. While the headphones feature the same drivers found in Bose's older Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, the QC Ultra Headphones include a new Immersive Audio mode, which is the company's take on spatial audio. The QC Ultra Headphones also offer 24-hour battery life and noise cancellation that's among the very best. They can block the annoying drone of a plane's engine and give you peace and quiet in a noisy coffee shop. Additionally, Bose's transparency mode, which the company calls 'Aware,' continues to improve with a more natural sound — nearly reaching the standard set by the AirPods Max. With dynamic, rich sound and the best noise cancellation available in true wireless earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a terrific pick if you want to listen to your music in peace. Read our review. Meanwhile, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer the best noise cancellation of any earbuds we've tested. They deliver excellent audio quality and a satisfying bass, surpassing the sound quality offered by Apple's AirPods Pro. Like the QC Ultra Headphones, the QC Ultra Earbuds have an immersive audio mode, providing the illusion that you're not wearing earbuds at all. Plus, the earbuds offer around six hours of battery life, IPX4 water resistance, and a comfortable fit thanks to stabilizer wings, ensuring they stay secure in your ear. Bose's refurbished store is also offering great deals on the Ultra Open Earbuds, which with the code are down to $186.75 ($113 off), and the Smart Ultra Soundbar, which is down to $524.25 ($475 off), both of which are all-time low prices. If you're looking for a portable speaker, the SoundLink Flex is $74.25 ($75 off), another all-time low. Bose says its refurbished products undergo thorough testing and cleaning before they're resold, and they're backed by the same one-year warranty as new products. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly.
Engadget
11-07-2025
- Business
- Engadget
The Bose QuietComfort headphones are still on sale for $199 on the last day of Prime Day
Noise-cancelling headphones are a must if you're traveling or hoping to get some work done without distractions wherever you may be. Prime Day deals include a bunch of the most popular headphones and earbuds for less, like the Bose QuietComfort headphones. These cans are down to $199 right now, or 42 percent off their usual price, and they're still in stock during the last day of the sale. These QuietComfort headphones include active noise cancellation (ANC) and multipoint connectivity for switching between various audio sources. There's a fully customizable EQ that can be adjusted via the affiliated app. The battery life is fantastic here, offering 24 hours of use per charge. Also, there's a quick-charge feature that provides 2.5 hours of use from a 15 minute trip to the outlet. As to the name, these cans include plush, padded earcups and an adjustable padded band. They should be comfortable for all-day use. We haven't gotten a chance to review this particular model, but we loved the QuietComfort Ultra headphones. They even found a spot on our list of the best wireless headphones. Bose typically makes great stuff. The headphones do come with a microphone, but some reviews suggest the quality is a bit off when compared to rival units. However, it still gets the job done for a quick phone call or whatever. The major downside here is the price, as $350 is a whole lot of cheddar. Luckily, today's deal calms some of that sticker shock.
Engadget
08-07-2025
- Business
- Engadget
The Bose QuietComfort headphones drop to $199 for Prime Day
The well-regarded Bose QuietComfort headphones are on sale for just $199 as part of the Prime Day festivities. That's a significant discount of 42 percent, as the regular price is $350. The deal applies to multiple colorways. These QuietComfort headphones include active noise cancellation (ANC) and multipoint connectivity for switching between various audio sources. There's a fully customizable EQ that can be adjusted via the affiliated app. The battery life is fantastic here, offering 24 hours of use per charge. Also, there's a quick-charge feature that provides 2.5 hours of use from a 15 minute trip to the outlet. As to the name, these cans include plush, padded earcups and an adjustable padded band. They should be comfortable for all-day use. We haven't gotten a chance to review this particular model, but we loved the QuietComfort Ultra headphones. They even found a spot on our list of the best wireless headphones. Bose typically makes great stuff. The headphones do come with a microphone, but some reviews suggest the quality is a bit off when compared to rival units. However, it still gets the job done for a quick phone call or whatever. The major downside here is the price, as $350 is a whole lot of cheddar. Luckily, today's deal calms some of that sticker shock.
Tom's Guide
03-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Quick! Don't miss $155 off Sennheiser's excellent sounding Momentum 4 headphones
Sennheiser's one of those brands that everyone's heard of, but might not have sampled. That's a massive shame, because the likes of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are some of the best noise canceling headphones you can buy today, with great sound and epic noise-canceling. Even better, you can currently pick up a pair with a massive $155 discount, bringing them down to $295 if you head over to Amazon right now. That's one huge saving — and it looks like stock might run out soon! Sennheiser's answer to the WH-1000XM5 and the QuietComfort Ultra are sometimes forgotten, but they deserve all the accolades. They're a comfortable pair of headphones that sound excellent and block out loads of noise. It's the battery life that truly wows, however — there's 60 hours worth with ANC turned on. They more than earned their 4.5-star review. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless are a steal at this price. They lead the way in battery life when you compare them to the established competition, double the staying power of the Sony WH-1000XM5, and nearly triple that of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Turn the ANC off and that battery life boosts even further, making sure that they last that weekend trip when you forgot to pack your USB charger. You muppet. There's more to them than just game-changing battery, of course. They sound better than their rivals, with Sennheiser's famous audio architecture providing a clear, balanced sound that outperforms almost everything that costs the same. They're comfortable, handsome, and feature some solid touch controls to make them easy to use when you're on the go. What more could you want? How about excellent call quality to make sure that you can hear every word when you're catching up with your mom in your weekly catch up. You're welcome. They fall down slightly in the clamping force and size — they are a little tight on some heads, and they're a relatively small pair of headphones (larger-headed people might want to look elsewhere. Might I suggest the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 for the discerning gentleman/gentlelady?) All in all, though, this is a great pair of headphones at an excellent price. And to think Prime Day hasn't even begun yet!
