Review: Block out the world with these Bose headphones
Whether you’re trying to concentrate on work or enjoy some peace and quiet on a noisy train, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones can be a lifesaver.
With a host of options to choose from nowadays, it really comes down to your budget and how customisable a sound you’re looking for.
Coming in at about $499 RRP, the Bose QC45 are a little on the pricier side - beating Apple's $899 Max Pods and several Sennheiser models, while being beaten by the ranges from Sony and Beats.
But price isn’t everything, and it’s noise-cancelling technology, sound quality, and comfort factor all make it feel like an investment that will last you a good long while.
After spending a week trialling the headphones, both while working at home and commuting on peak-hour trains, here are my thoughts on how they stack up.
Easy to use, with or without the companion app
The QC45 headphones come in a sleek, lightweight travel case with a charging cable and 3.5mm audio jack, as well as a companion Bose app which is free to download.
The headphones pack away compactly into a hardy travel case. Image: Author
The app makes pairing your devices a simple task (though I found connecting to my laptop worked just as well without it), all while giving you the option to name your headphones and adjust the bass, treble and other audio settings to your liking.
If using an app or fiddling with audio settings doesn’t appeal, connecting via Bluetooth or the audio jack is just as simple and the sound is great with its default settings (which I’ll touch on further).
The headphones also come with controls on the ear cups which are quite handy. The singular button on the left cup allows you to toggle between Active and Quiet mode, while you can adjust the volume, and pause, play and skip music using three standard buttons on the right cup.
The headphones are comfy and sound great - what more could you ask for? Image: Matt O’Rourke
With the ability to connect to multiple devices, swapping between them is incredibly easy - and the app can help with that too. It also helps that every time you switch them on, the headphones tell you which devices they are currently connected to and how much battery life is left.
Battery life is good, but more power-saving options could be better
Speaking of the battery, Bose estimates it will last for 24 hours and that seems to ring true. After using them almost non-stop during my work hours - approximately 7-8 hours a day - as well as on my hour-long commute and relaxing for a few hours after work, I found it needed a recharge every couple of days, and that charging it overnight was sufficient.
However, having the option to turn off the Active and Quiet modes to extend the battery life just that little bit more would be a nice addition.
Though just a nitpick, the charging cord is a tad short, making it hard to continue using the headphones while they’re charging.
How does it sound?
Though some sound aficionados might not be too impressed, I loved it.
Even without adjusting the sound, I found it was crisp and quite balanced.
When I put the headphones through several headphone tests it performed well and I experienced zero buzzing or rattling during the driver quality (bass shaker) test.
The companion app allows you to control the volume, mode, and EQ levels with ease. Image: Author
The crisp sound is maintained when using the wired connection too, with the only difference being the absence of the hum of the noise-cancelling.
The noise-cancelling settings
The Quiet mode is supreme. While working from home, my partner and I sit across from each other, and I often turn to my headphones to not get distracted by the show he has running in the background.
My standard headphones mostly muffle the dialogue, with moderately loud music taking up the rest of the slack in helping me focus.
In comes the Bose headphones to completely change the game. Even without music, the quiet mode makes dialogue - currently from Tony Robertson’s Time Team - sound faint and far away and even muffles my usually clacky keyboard.
But, when the complete noise cancelling is too much, the Active mode provides a nice alternative.
It still blocks out noise to a certain degree but you can still hear some environmental noises, such as typing, while making it easier for someone to get your attention.
However, if you’re prone to tension headaches from noise-cancelling headphones like I am, the Bose may initially do the same.
Reassuringly, using them for extended periods of time (at least 15 minutes) saw this become less of an issue as my brain adjusted.
Image: Supplied
In summary, here are some pros and cons to consider if you’re thinking of buying the headphones for yourself or someone else.
Pros:
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Incredibly comfortable and cushiony ear cups
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Can choose between Quiet and Active mode
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Crisp clear audio
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Bluetooth and wired connection to choose from
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Can switch between devices with ease
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Relatively quick charging time and decent battery life
Cons
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The noise-cancelling may cause headaches if you’re prone to them
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Its price ($499 RRP)
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Being able to turn off the Active and Quiet modes to conserve battery would be a nice option
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Charging cable is a bit short
The Bose QC45 headphones are available from retail outlets and from the Bose website.
Images: Supplied / Matt O'Rourke