Still the best Noise Cancellation Headphones? 10 things never been mentioned, that you need to know!

Bose QuietComfort 35 II wireless headphones had been in the market for almost a year and is still highly regarded with its outstanding noise cancellation capability. It is super comfortable. It sounds decent and balanced but a little soft, not really top of the class. Does it worth the premium price tag? There’re 10 things you need to pay attention to, that all reviews on the Internet never tell you, I’d recommend you to check them out in this article before deciding buying one. It’s not cheap and you gotta know what you’re getting.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Headphone

I bought the headphones with my own money, and this is my honest review! If you find this article helpful and want to check out latest prices, please support this site by clicking below affiliate link:

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Build and Feel

How heavy is Bose QuietComfort 35 II? Its weight is 8.3 oz (236g), lighter than any other flagship wireless headphones and just barely heavier than Sennheiser PXC 550 at 8 oz (227g). This is expected to be one of the most comfortable headphones.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Headphone Ear Pad — It has one of the softest ear pad in memory foam making perfect seal even I’m wearing glasses. This definitely help its bass performance.

There’s no hotspot at all wearing this headphone, while it is not as hot to my ears as comparing with other headphones.

Clamping force is just nice, without being loose and maintaining proper sealing, I would nearly forget the headphone on my head after putting it on a little while.

Design and Aesthetic

Overall it feels plastic-y. However after wearing it for hours, you’d appreciate Bose’s intention making the QuietComfort 35 II one of the lightest in the competition and not so sweaty in the ear-cups.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Headphone — Bose QuietComfort 35 II available in Black and Silver. It’s built with plastic, micro-fibre headband padding, and synthetic protein leather ear cushions.

Buttons

At the surface of the right can, there’s a power button doubling as bluetooth paring button. You can use it to switch around up to 8 paired devices, that we’ll cover about this more below.

At the back of the right can, you can find a big 3-segment button. The up and down small rising controls volume of the device. The middle segment is well recessed, allowing me clicking without confusing between buttons. In one tab it play or pause music/video, or pick up/hang up phone calls. Double tab skipping forward, triple tab skipping back to last track. Long press will summon Siri or Google Assistant depending on your phone. This is quite standard that multiple brands are using the same approach and very easy to adapt.

At the back of left ear cup, there’s a new action button. By default it is for waking Google Assistant. It’s very responsive and Google Assistant kick in immediately without waiting. Bose as well as lots of reviewers mentioned that it can be programmed to instead changing noise cancellation mode. However I’ve been searching around and finally figured out that I can only change it in Android version of the Bose App. It is weird if all you have are iOS devices and being trap with only Google Assistant with this button. Do you need to buy an Android phone then? Not necessarily. Just get a friend’s Android phone, connect and switch that function, then you’re good to go. It’s only need to be programmed once.

The Bose Connect iOS App may not have the option to configure the new Action button. I only know the version on US Apple App Store works fine, and the one on the Hong Kong App Store is missing it. At this moment Bose had not yet answer what is causing this, or what countries may be affected.
If you’re unfortunately affected, you can easily get this done by getting an Android phone. Fortunately you only need to do it once.

Storage Case

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II comes in pretty much the same carrying case like the last version. It’s compact, it’s thin, though I won’t consider it fashionable to show off. It’s has a segment inside for storing the cables, and another carrying segment at the back if you have more to carry, e.g. your passport and wallet to go on board if you checked in with no hand-carry luggage at all.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Headphone in carrying case

Watching Video

Synchronizing with video is the mostly failed arena of most Bluetooth devices.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II is not exempted. However it is considerably one of the good performers, with delay only observed with a quarter second or less. I’m working on its review video and will have this properly measured, so we’ll have an idea how exact the delay is. I find not a big problem watching fast speakers like Peter McKinnon, so it’s probably not a big problem for most videos. However I still won’t watch movies on this headphones.

Phone Calls

Call quality is top notch, really surprisingly good. My wife complains about all my headsets/earphones/headphones (including considerably good Apply AirPod and the mighty Plantronic Voyager 5200 Series!) when she picks up my calls, and Bose QuietComfort 35 II is the only one she has no complaint in my voice quality.

If any of the 2 active devices receiving call, the QC35 II will immediately cut it in with top priority. It is reliable and wonderful with the elegant sound.

Wireless Connections

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II can be connected via Bluetooth and wire. However it is disappointing that it only supports Bluetooth 4.1, which is AAC on Apple/iOS devices or SBC on all others. On the other hand, due to its fundamental limitation of sound quality the drives can produce, it seems you’d not be missing anything with these “legacy” Bluetooth spec.

Stability of wireless connection of Bose QuietComfort 35 II on the other hand, is superior among all wireless headphones I’ve tested. I have been using it for months and only experienced stutter around twice. It’s really top notch stable. In fact a lot of latest modern headphones in recent 1 year are very stable in connectivity, and Bose does this slightly better disregard its range is only 30 feet (9 meters). If you have experiences in Bluetooth headphone for years, you’d know that having your phone in the pocket may still have your headphone disrupted, as if they need line of sight. This never happens on QC 35 II.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II supports NFC paring, however I don’t find it easier or useful at all.

How many devices Bose QuietComfort 35 II can pair with? It can pair with 8 devices, and keeping 2 actively connected. Switching between the 2 devices is a breeze, just stop playing from one, and start playing from the other, the QC 35 II will automatically do the trick. You can do these 2 steps the other way round, just that it needs the 1st playing device stopped in order to have the 2nd playing device being heard. Some competitors would simply switch whenever a new audio signal coming in and automatically stop the 1st one, like snatching control when a new one start playing. So Bose QuietComfort 35 II is losing an edge here. On the other hand with phone calls, whenever any of the 2 devices receiving phone calls, it’d be given priority immediately and you won’t miss them.

With 2 active devices connected with Bluetooth, the later playing device won’t snatch the audio channel and stop the earlier playing one. Anyway if you like the convenience and Noise Cancellation of this headphone, you’d get use to it quickly.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II is not the only pair of headphones supporting 8 device pairing, while it excels further in the mobile app. You can view the full list of all paired devices, and switch the 2 you want to make active, just so user-friendly when lots of us holding full pockets of devices. However if you have gone through certain iOS updates having multiple iPhones resetting its device name, you may see multiple “iPhone” and puzzling which is which. Anyway this is the problem of Apple and you can rename each devices again in the phone settings. I’d say it’s probably the easiest in this aspect managing all paired devices.

If you don’t want to take the phone out, keep flicking the power switch will rotate the list into the 2 active slots, with the noise prompt reading the device name really helps a lot. It only read one name which I puzzled at the beginning. In fact, the voice prompt read the name of the primary device when you flick the button. When music is not playing, this feature will control which device to summon if you long press the play/pause for Siri or Google Assistant. However when music is playing, it won’t switch the audio playback between the 2 active devices. You still have to do the above, or flick until the playing device pushed out of the 2 active slots while the other one still won’t automatically play. I’d recommend not to use this feature to control playback. Take your phone out, you’d save lots of time. After all, it’d still be very useful if you have lots of devices to be controlled and always use Siri/Google Assistant.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Heaphone — If you don’t want to take the phone out, keep flicking the power switch will rotate the list into the 2 active slots, with the noise prompt reading the device name really helps a lot.

Flipping the power switch to swap the primary device, still won’t swap the audio playback. You still need to either stop the original playing device, or flip the switch until the playing device kicked out of the 2 active slots.

Wired Connections

Usually I prefer wired connection in most headphones for maximum sound quality. However I find nothing more revealing from the wired Bose QuietComfort 35 II comparing to wireless mode. The foundation of the headphones has limited its sound quality, so you’re losing nothing going wireless. Having said that, the sound quality is still considered decent, while at the same price you would have a lot of choices with better sound quality. You’re paying for the features here, not sound quality. Ultimately, plugging it in on a flight will ensure a decent movie experiences.

The wire provided at first glance may look pathetically thin, however thin wire doesn’t mean poor quality in my experience (yeah, on the other hand, thick wire doesn’t mean good quality). With the headphone’s forgiving sound quality that we’ll cover more later, the cable doesn’t seem affecting much of its maximum audio quality. There’s also a valid reason using thin wire, so you can store it in the carry case without adding noticeable weight and occupying space.

When wired with power switched on, all the buttons are not providing any function, and all wireless signals are cut out (not all headphones stop Bluetooth when wired). Sound quality and signature is exactly as passive (switched off), of course with the impressive noise cancellation blocking nearly the whole world. You might think of changing the noise cancellation to Low level before plugging in. Oops, it’d be forced to High level after plugged in. This makes the QC 35 II identical to the first generation, giving you no choice. Hope Bose will fix the Action Button for wired operation in future, however looks more likely QC 35 III or QC 45?

When I plug the cable in (the 2.5 mm side at the headphone, it’d trigger as if the Action button pressed, either calling Google Assistant or changing noise cancellation level randomly. This issue seems common from the Bose Community site and likely a hardware design flaw. It doesn’t matter as it’d ended up in 1 mode only. No point fiddling it. It’s just a little weird to a headphone at this premium.

Unplugging at the 3.5mm side (the output device side) won’t make the headphone perceive it unplugged, it detects the physical jack inside the 2.5mm socket, so all buttons will stop functioning.

When plugging the wire, it is a common issue as if the Action button is triggered once or twice randomly. Then all buttons stop functioning as per design.

Moreover, after a wired session, if it is then unplugged, most of the time it’d not playback any audio again re-plugging, and the Bluetooth connection won’t resume too.

After plugging in and unplugging, the headphone won’t work anymore no matter in wired or wireless mode, needing a power restart.

The only resolution of all issues above, is switching off and on the headphone again. That means I can only keep it at the default high level, or switching it off and run into passive mode.

The most certain setting using wired connection is Noise Cancellation at High level when switched on, or passive without noise cancellation when switched off. There’s no way setting to Noise Cancellation Low level.

So now you know the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is also capable of running in passive mode switching off and connected with wire. However due to its lightweight build, it’s nearly unusable for pleasant music appreciation in mildly noisy places like cafe or a garden walk with tender wind blow. The light plastic housing resonance with the ambience and amplify the lightest noise. However it’d be life-saver if this is the only headphone around you while you desperately need and quality doesn’t matter.

Noise Cancellation Modes

In Noise cancellation, in addition to the previous version, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II can be set at Low or Off. The sound signature is identical across all modes, so the only difference is the amount of noise reduced.

Noise Cancellation at High Level

At High option, which is always the default mode when you switch on the headphone, is well-known top notch in the market. However, I’d hope Bose make it remembering the last mode I selected, and switch on in that mode. While it may also make sense if you’re always changing environment, the last setting may not always be applicable, and start at high would always give you the most significant result.

This mode blocks pretty much most noise, leaving only little higher frequency activity sounds slipping in, nearly nothing. Anything at the lower frequency spectrum is pretty much cancelled.

However I find it giving me the kind of cabin pressure feeling on my eardrum which often making me nearly painful. However when music start playing, that feeling will be gone, until the next silence. So if you’re simply switching it on to give you a bit of peacefulness, you may find the same annoyance. This of course also is noticeable when you’re watching video of very quiet, serious talking with lots of pause and silence.

Another situation I find this mode weak in is windy environment. It sounds like there’re straws poking through the headphones and the wind just keep blowing through the openings. This may be the reason the Low setting is introduced.

Noise Cancellation in High Level is suffering under windy situation, and that is when Noise Cancellation Low Level shows off its value.

Noise Cancellation at Low Level

The Low setting is described to be used for windy environment in the app, and it does work perfectly blocking all the wind chiming through the microphones.

The trade-off is an airy subtle noise slipped in the cans. It’s actually very quiet too, though very noticeable. But when you have any audio playing, you’d probably forget it, as it is definitely quieter than a lot of passive/wired flagship headphones, and is a plus anyway.

I find this mode actually my favourite, as it won’t give me the piercing feeling to my ear drums. With the same sound signature, it is still very pleasant listening in this mode.

Noise Cancellation Off

The Off option sounds the same as switching the headphone off. So it performs as a Bluetooth headphone with Google Assist button.

However due to the lightweight build of the cans, it’s actually noisier than not wearing the headphone, with the headphone casing resonance heavily with ambient noise. In my opinion, this mode is barely unusable even a quiet room’s air-con ambience got amplified, just like putting 2 plastic cups on your ears with that roaring from nowhere.

Noise Cancellation Off or passive mode can sometimes noisier than without putting the headphones on, when in slightly noisier environment.

Sound Quality

The most important part of headphones, the sound quality. It is very easy to describe as all modes sound identical.

Overall Bose QuietComfort 35 II is not a boring headphone. You get little bit of excitement, all ranges in the spectrum sound decent, with little elevation in bass and high. Everything is politely controlled and everything sound a little soft, round, smooth. Harmonics of music sound balanced and pleasant. However you won’t get full tiny detail of sound texture, which you’d need to look for from other audiophile cans.

With its average high frequency performance, you can get the snares, cymbals, claps, triangles, bells clearly audible while they’re conservative and never related to bright. It still gives you little excitement but don’t expect any sparks.

Its mids again is also average, balanced, vocals and lots of background instruments are properly fall into place.

Its low has significant presence, but basshead would still want a lot more. It’s again well controlled, while it’s not tight or clear, I don’t find it muddy too. It’s average after all.

Therefore on top of these, you add on the effect of cancelling outside noise, and these are all you should expect.

You can keep listening while charging, but it’d switch everything off and only play in wired passive mode no matter switched on or off. Nevertheless, it’s specified one charge lasting for 20 hours playing. I didn’t count it but I usually only need to charge it once every 1.5 weeks. Therefore I’m not really concerning.

Can you listen via Bose QuietComfort 35 II when charging? Yes, only in wired passive mode no matter switched on or off. I’m not really concerning anyway.

In terms of volume, Bose QuietComfort 35 II needs me to push higher than other headphones. For example my preferred listening level on Apple AirPod is about 55%, B&W PX is 45-50%, but QC 35 II needs 75-85%. Moreover, at that level, moving a click up or down results in significant volume change and very difficult to fine tune to my preferred sweet spot. I’m undergoing a video comparing all these headphones in identical volume and there’d be more exact measurement.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a little softer in the same volume level. It is still loud enough for me within available volume settings, but it’d jump a big volume step in each click.

Verdict

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is decent in sound though not the best, especially in noisy situation I won’t have much choices.

Its features are basic while intuitive, and especially is still one of the strongest in noise cancellation department.

If you buy it, you pay its Noise Cancellation, and not audiophile sound quality or any Sci-Fi features.

If you want to enjoy good audio, this QC35II does deliver. If you are expecting audiophile quality on the flight, you may not have any options except wired in-ear monitors. If you just want audiophile sound in quiet places like home or office, and accept the fact of limited solutions in noisy situations, you may look for Bowers and Wilkins PX, or even P7 Wireless. Hope I get my hands on Beyerdynamic Amiron soon, if this may be another viable option, however doubling the price.

Producers on the run, if you want to do critical sound edit, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II would not reveal all nuisances you want to clean up. However if you just need to screen through stock musics, like those always in great quality on Epidemic, QC 35 II will make your traveling time productive.

For me, due to its light weight, comfort and compact after folded, it is always in my bag just like Apple AirPod in my pocket, without adding much burden. And I realize why this headphone is so popular. Bose had positioned its features well. I still enjoy other headphones in specific use cases and enjoyment at home. For now, Bose QuietComfort 35 II and Apple AirPod are my no-brainer go out workhorses!

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