Bose 700 Headphones: The Best Noise Cancellation on The Market

The Bose 700 are the company's latest noise-cancelling headphones. Few products have as good a reputation as Bose headphones, and this model is the best they have to offer. They are designed to compete directly with the Sony WH-1000XM3, and offer the best noise cancellation we have tested.

Bose has dominated the market for several years, but the Bose 700 Noise Cancelling Headphones inaugurate a revolutionary new line. According to the company, they are the most innovative headphones they have launched since the iconic QuietComfort. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are excellent, but the Bose 700 Headphones are better in every way.

Design

First of all, we have to clarify that the Bose 700s are not an upgrade of the QC 35 IIs. The QuietComfort line is very popular on the market, and they are not going to abandon it for the new model. The Bose 700 Noise Cancelling Headphones are the first model in a line that combines the latest noise cancelling technology, touch controls and microphones, all in a very attractive design.

The QuietComfort 35 II have a classic and sober design, ideal for executives. The Bose 700s, on the other hand, have a more modern body. The shape of the cups is very similar, but this is the only thing they have in common. The band is slimmer, thinner, and connects to the outside of the cups in an elegant way.

They are portable, lightweight, and the cups rotate for easy portability in the slim case that comes in the package. Of course, we miss the folding structure of the QC 35. Another negative point is the construction materials. They are quite expensive headphones, but they are made of plastic. We would have liked to see more metal in the body, although they are sturdy and elegant.

Simple and functional controls

The new Bose noise-canceling headphones replace the physical buttons with touch controls, and the result is great. On the right cup is a touch-sensitive area that allows you to adjust the volume, change songs and playback with a swipe of your finger. You can play or pauseby double-tapping it, and if you keep your finger pressed on the area, it tells you how many hours of battery life are left.

They also feature a button for Bluetooth/power connection, and a dedicated button for using Google Assistant, Alexa or Siri. You can activate Alexa with just one voice command, but you need to press the button for the other two. On the left cup, they integrate a physical control that allows you to choose and switch between your three favorite noise cancellation levels.

You can press and hold the noise cancellation button to activate the talk mode when you need to talk. This mode pauses playback and noise cancellation while active. When finished, just press the touchpad or any button to return to playback. The controls on the Bose 700 headsets are well designed and easy to use.

Comfort

The Bose 700 headphones weigh the same as the Sony WH-1000XM3 (255 gr). The build quality is not the best on the market, but they feel light and very comfortable. The band has soft padding on the inside, and the cups have synthetic leather pads that also feel very nice.

They fit snugly over the ears, and the band adjusts easily. You can wear the Bose 700 headphones for extended periods of time without any discomfort.

Bose 700: the best noise cancellation in the world

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones offer the best active noise cancellation on the market. The difference with respect to the Sony WH-1000XM3 is not great, but there are subtle differences. The Bose 700s use a new eight-microphone system (six for noise cancellation and two for vocal pickup) that is truly flawless.

Bose's QuietComfort series was already excellent at noise cancellation, but the new Bose 700s are a notch above. They let you choose 11 ANC levels (from 0 to 10), and isolate you from the outside world better than any other model.

Level 0 doesn't completely turn off noise cancellation, but presents a slight veil that allows you to hear your surroundings. Level 10 represents the highest noise cancellation you can find on the market. Levels 8, 9 and 10 isolate you from any environment, but level 6 is enough to block moderately intense noises.

The factory setting of the Bose 700 allows you to choose levels 0, 5 and 10 on the cup, but you can change them with the Bose Music App. The Bose Music app, available for iOS and Android devices, is intuitive and beautifully designed.

In addition, they integrate very useful functions to turn off the technology in case of a conversation, and allow you to listen to your surroundings. Conversation mode allows you to listen to ambient noise without having to remove your headphones, at the touch of a button. It's very useful when you are in an airport or train station, and need to listen to the announcements.

Phone calls with the Bose 700

The new Bose 700 microphones pick up voices remarkably well. There are four in each cup, and they work together to mute ambient noise and focus on the voice. The results are impeccable. You can use them to make calls in noisy environments or next to a TV, and your voice will sound clear and quiet. In this department, they offer the best performance we have tested.

Sound quality

The sound quality of the Bose 700 is noticeably better than that of the QC 35 II, thanks to its new drivers. Details sound great at different frequencies, and all instruments are clearly separated, even at maximum volume levels.

The bass is punchy, the treble is crisp and the mid-range is very detailed. Depth and sound spatiality stand out. The Bose 700 Headphones perform very well when playing any genre of music, although the treble is a bit cutting at high volumes.

The best feature of the Bose 700 is its noise cancellation, but the sound quality is also one of the best on the market. The details are remarkable, and the mids are strongly perceived. However, they have their cons. The sound profile lacks some dynamism, and you cannot equalize it through the application.

Connectivity

This model works with Bluetooth 5.0 technology, and the wireless range works perfectly up to 10 meters. While testing them, we did not experience any loss of connection. Unfortunately, the Bose 700 wireless headphones do not support the aptX codec.

They can be used wired thanks to an auxiliary audio input, and are charged via the USB-C port. They come with charging and audio cables, as well as a compact and high quality travel case.

Augmented reality with the Bose 700

Another innovation of the Bose 700 is that they offer augmented reality functions. Through third-party applications, you can guide yourself with voices while moving from place to place, or play sound effects while walking.

Bose is the first company to focus on the sound aspect of augmented reality. However, there are still not many applications, and those that do exist can only be used in limited places.

Battery

Bose claims that the built-in battery of these headphones provides up to 20 hours of continuous playback. We tested them with noise cancellation at level 10, and they performed even a little better at medium volumes. This isn't the best autonomy on the market, but it's very decent.

The battery charges fully in approximately two and a half hours. The USB-C port is very fast, and only 15 minutes of charging is enough to use them for three and a half hours. How do you charge the wireless headphones? Check our article.

Conclusion

They are one of the best noise cancelling headphones on the market. With the exception of the Sony WH-1000XM3, no other model comes close to these headphones in terms of noise cancellation technology and sound quality. The Sony are slightly cheaper and offer better sound quality, while the Bose 700 have slightly better noise cancellation.

They are attractive, elegant, comfortable and totally isolate you from any noisy environment. If you're looking for a headset to separate yourself from the world, the Bose 700 is a great choice. Interested? Find the best price on Amazon.

We also recommend you check out the new Bose QuiertComfort Earbuds and the Bowers and Wilkins brand review, as well as the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless.

Technical characteristics Bose 700