Bose QuietComfort 35 II Headphones: Bose QC35 II reviews, price and features

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are an upgrade to the QuietComfort 35 launched in 2016, one of the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market. If, as Sartre said, “hell is other people”, we are lucky to have the Bose QC 35 II headphones to escape from the world and be on our own. The new model is basically the same product. But…

What's new?

An action button that adds the ability to connect with Google Assistant, and better control of noise cancellation.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II will allow you to interact with Google Assistant at the touch of a button. This way, you won't have to shout OK Google from the rooftops and people won't look at you like you're crazy. In addition, these Bose headphones can read you all notifications or messages from your Smartphone, something very convenient when you are in crowded places and do not want to take your device out of your pocket.

Like the original model, they are incredibly comfortable and feature the best noise cancellation on the market. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are designed so you can enjoy your music in the best audio quality anywhere.

The Bose QC35 ii also feature technology that allows you to listen to external noises of your choice, so you won't miss an airplane call, for example. Here are all the details that make this model the best option for travelers.

Design of the Bose QC 35 II

On the outside, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II noise-cancelling headphones are virtually the same as the original model. If something is really beautiful and works, why change it?

They have a simple and pragmatic black or silver design. They convey style and elegance. Perhaps that's why we've seen them attached to the head of more than one executive who is constantly on the road.

The Bose QC 35 ii headphones are made of plastic, although the cups are reinforced with stainless steel. They're not as stylish as headphones that come with aluminum accents, like the B&W PX7, for example, but they're comfortable and pretty cool. They come with a hard case for transportation, so that they don't get scratched from going back and forth to airports all over the world. Still, they are a robust headset that can withstand a lot of knocks.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones have a foldable structure, so they can be easily stored anywhere. The purchase package includes a 3.5mm audio cable and USB charging cable, user manual and carrying case.

The plastic with which these bluetooth headphones are constructed also provides a plus in terms of comfort: they are very light (weighing only 236 g). The Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones are comfortable and perfect for prolonged use. The finishes are top-notch. The upholstery is made of Alcantara, a material used in the upholstery of luxury yachts and aircraft.

They are filled with polyurethane foam, which helps the cups fit gently for any wearer. The padding of the cups is great and isolates sound very well, even when the noise-cancelling technology is turned off. This is quite useful when you want to save battery life.

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Simple and functional controls

These Bose headphones integrate simple and effective controls. On the right cup we find a switch for power on and Bluetooth synchronization, as well as buttons to control volume and playback. The play button, also called the smart button, can be used to activate personal assistants such as Siri.

On the left cup we find the novelty of the new Bose QC 35 ii: the button to use the Google Assistant.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones do not have touch controls to manage reproduction, such as those of the Sony WH-1000XM3. It's a pity, as they add some durability to the headphones and provide other eye-catching features such as the option to mute the sound when placing a hand over the cup, something very useful for travelers or for some spontaneous conversation.

On the other hand, the Bose QC 35 ii's touch controls can be confusing to some users, so Bose opted for simplicity in this model.

On the right cup of these Bose QC 35 Bluetooth headphones, we find LED lights that indicate the battery status and a micro-USB charging port, while on the left is a 3.5 mm audio jack. The purchase package includes the audio cable, a USB charging cable and the hard carrying case.

Bose connect App

Before turning on the QuietComfort 35 II wireless headphones for the first time, we recommend that you download the Bose connect app. It's an application available for Android and iOS devices, that allows you to access several very useful extra features, such as:

• Sound equalization.
• Automatic headphone shutdown.
• Volume control.
• Synchronization of two Bose headphones (to share the same music with a friend or partner).

The application is simple and very intuitive. However, we noticed some issues with connectivity: sometimes our Android device is slow to detect the Bose headphones.

Google Asisstant

The novelty of this model is on the left earpiece, on the “Action” button, which allows you to connect with Google Assistant without the need to touch your smartphone. If you use the Google Assistant app, this button offers many possibilities.

By clicking on the “Action” button, you can ask the time or listen to new messages and notifications. If you hold it down, you can issue commands without having to shout “Ok Google”: call home, what's the latest news? locate a good restaurant nearby, etc.

You can also ask the assistant to play your favorite songs, create shopping lists, manage calendars… In short: it allows you to perform all the actions you would normally do with the application.

The action button is not only used to operate Google Assistant. If you prefer, you can set the button to adjust the noise cancellation levels for example.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II: Excellent noise cancellation

If you are looking for excellent active noise cancellation, you can stop reading and just buy the Bose QuietComfort 35 II now. As of this writing, only the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the new Bose 700 offer better ANC.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones, like any pair of noise-canceling headphones, can produce a bit of pressure with the noise-canceling technology on, but it's a minor detail that takes little getting used to. On the other hand, the padding of the cups is great and can isolate ambient noise decently, even with the cancellation technology turned off.

Another new feature of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is that they allow you to adjust the level of noise cancellation through the Bose Connect app. With the original model you could only turn it on or off, whereas now you can choose between high, low or off.

It can also be very useful on certain occasions when you want to hear some external noise, such as when you are in an airport and want to hear the aircraft call.

Phone calls with the Bose QC 35 II

These Bose headphones feature two noise-canceling microphones that work very well when receiving or making calls. They can cancel ambient noise noticeably, which is an improvement over the previous model. We tested the new Bluetooth headphones on the street, in quite a bit of noise, and we listened and were clearly heard.

Sound quality of QuietComfort 35 II wireless headphones

The QuietComfort 35 II wireless headphones are circumaural and closed, and although the best sound spatiality is produced by open Hi-fi headphones, that of these headphones is quite remarkable. The tonal balance offered by the Bose QuietComfort QC35 II is very neutral, although it enhances the bass tones a little.

The mids and treble, on the other hand, are perceived very clearly and have a good presence. The sound profile, in general, is perceived as pleasant, ideal for listening to any genre of music for a long time without causing fatigue.

These Bose headphones also integrate state-of-the-art technologies that ensure good sound quality. First, they feature an active equalization system, ActiveEQ, which adjusts the different frequencies to optimize sound quality.

For example, ActiveEQ can boost low-frequency signals when listening to music at very low volume. Similarly, it can decrease bass amplitude when we use a very high volume. ActiveEQ works with all frequencies and works very well.

They also integrate a system called DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The DSP is a correction system that reduces to a minimum level the distortions that can come with the compression of digital audio formats.

Bluetooth connectivity

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones can connect via Bluetooth 4.1 with any mobile device on the market. They also feature NFC technology that enables fast synchronization. If your smartphone also has NFC, just bring it close to the right earcup of the Bluetooth headset and it will automatically sync. If you wish to desynchronize them, just bring the mobile device close to the right headphone again.

A negative aspect to highlight is that they are not compatible with the aptX codec. It serves to encode wireless audio in a very efficient way and with very little lag (see more). However, its direct competition, the Sony WH-1000XM2 headphones, do support aptX.

Battery

Long duration. The battery life of the Bose Quietcomfort 35 II headphones is excellent. It reaches 20 hours of continuous playback with noise cancellation active and in Bluetooth mode, so you won't have to worry about charging them in the middle of a flight. In addition, if you use the audio cable and with noise cancellation, the battery can last up to 40 hours.

And if you run out of battery, don't worry, they still work just like a normal wired headset. Another positive point is fast charging: with just 15 minutes of charging, you will have more than two hours of battery life, while the total charging process takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones verdict

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is one of the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market. They are also one of the most comfortable Bluetooth headsets you can find. They have a remarkable battery performance, have a folding structure and sound great. They are excellent for long trips or simply to disconnect on the subway, in the cafeteria or in the office.

If you prefer gesture controls and slightly more faithful sound, we recommend the Sony WH-1000XM3 or the Bose 700, but if you're looking for comfort and great active noise cancellation, these Bose headphones are a great choice. To see the best prices on Amazon follow this link.

We also recommend you check out the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. If you are looking for more information about the best noise cancellingheadphones on the market, or any quality sound equipment, we recommend you check out our Culturasonora page. There you will find in-depth reviews of the best equipment on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Bluetooth connectivity?

Bluetooth technology enables wireless file transmission between two compatible devices. To synchronize them for the first time you must enter the information of each device in the other device. This will not be necessary to connect them a second time.

This technology was born in 1994, and there are currently several versions compatible with each other. Version 5 has been available since the end of 2016, and is the most widely used by the latest headsets on the market. It offers twice the transfer capacity of the 4.1 and 4.2 versions and a wide range of connectivity.

Problems connecting a headset via Bluetooth.

Bluetooth connectivity is very easy to use, although sometimes you may encounter different problems. Here are some tips to avoid any inconvenience:

• Make sure that both devices are prepared. If a device is in power saving mode, connection will not be possible.
• Disconnect your headphones from any other equipment, this may make it impossible to synchronize with the new device.
• Stay within the established range. Bluetooth technology is very stable, but you need to stay within a limited range, especially if there are obstacles such as walls. Standard connectivity reaches up to 10 meters without obstacles.

Interruptions or problems with sound.

Sometimes the connection may suffer for different reasons. The main ones are:

• When the headphones are near routers, computers, microwave ovens, etc. Try to use your headphones away from these devices if you are experiencing outages, as radio waves can affect connectivity.
• Problems when using the device inside a bag or in a pocket. This is because the antenna is blocked, you just have to place the device in a position where the antenna doesn't remain blocked.
• Problems near other Bluetooth devices. Disconnect the Bluetooth function of the devices you do not want to use.
• When you move away from the audio source. The connection suffers when obstacles are encountered or you exceed the recommended connectivity range.
• When playing files online. The state of your internet connection may affect the playback quality. If you have problems with the connection, try to download the files.

Technical characteristics Bose QuietComfort 35 II