Bose QuietComfort vs. Bose QuietComfort 45

Bose QuietComfort

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. They offer two primary listening modes: Quiet Mode for maximum noise reduction and Aware Mode, which lets in ambient sounds. Users can switch between these modes depending on their environment. Battery life lasts up to 24 hours on a full charge, with a quick-charge option providing additional playback after just 15 minutes of charging. Bluetooth connectivity supports multipoint pairing, allowing the headphones to connect to two devices at the same time. The design includes plush ear cushions and a reinforced headband, built for long-term comfort. Sound settings such as bass, midrange, and treble can be adjusted through the Bose app. An optional audio cable with an in-line microphone is included for wired use when Bluetooth is unavailable or undesired. The headphones come with a carrying case, USB-C charging cable, and audio cable. They are priced at $349 and available in multiple...

Bose QuietComfort 45

The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are over-ear headphones designed for comfort and noise cancellation. They have soft, cushioned earcups and a padded headband made from synthetic leather, making them comfortable to wear for long periods. The headphones are built with impact-resistant nylon and metal hinges, so they’re sturdy enough for regular use. They offer two listening modes: Quiet Mode, which blocks out most background noise, and Aware Mode, which lets you hear your surroundings through built-in microphones. The sound is balanced, and you can adjust the bass, mids, and treble using the Bose Music app. The headphones connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, with a range of about 30 feet, and can remember up to seven devices for easy switching. They offer up to 22 hours of battery life on a full charge, and if you’re in a hurry, a quick 15-minute charge gives you about 3 hours of listening time. Their design is simple and lightweight, and they fold flat for easier storage. You c...

Reviews

Reviewed on 2/20/2025

I switched to Bose QuietComfort after my AIrPods Max broke down. I think they're great, I actually enjoy using them more on an everyday basis than I did using my AirPods. They just work - they are light, they pair well, sound quality is good, active noise cancellation works well. Comfort is important to me as I like to listen to audiobooks for extended periods of time, and these are more comfortable than my AirPods Max used to be. The metal connecting bar of the AirPods used to dig into my head, while I have no such feelings of discomfort with my QuietComfort headphones. I am subtracting one star for two problems. The first one is that the microphone doesn't always work well. I've had multiple people complain me they can't hear me very well when I called them using these headphones. I thought it was a hardware issues so I had them replaced but them problem occurs on my new pair too. I started borrowing my wife's Bose QuietComfort 45, which appears to be the exactly same headphone but without the microphone issues. The second problem is occasional sound distortions. This mostly happens during phone calls and I've experienced them on both QuietComfort and QuietComfort 45. The distortions seem to occur on higher frequency sounds and usually last until the end of the call or until I restart the headphones. Luckily the headphones restart and pair quickly so this is less of a nuisance than it could otherwise be. Overall, I recommend these headphones if you tend to wear your headphones for extended periods of time and are looking for high quality of sounds and effective noise cancellation. They may not be the best pair of headphones for phone calls, though.

Reviews

Reviewed on 2/21/2025

My wife bought these Bose QC 45 on unclaimedbaggage.com and I ended up using them more than she does. I own a pair of Bose QuietComfort that I otherwise like but the microphone struggles with picking up my voice, especially when I'm outside. I've had people complain that they couldn't hear me on multiple occasions. Bose QC 45's has all the feature's I've grown to value in my Bose QuietComfort - battery life, sound quality ANC - without the microphone problems.

Pros
ItemVotesUpvote
Long battery life1
Quick to charge1
Very light1
Available in multiple colors1
Comfortable1
Noise cancelling works well1
Cons
ItemVotesUpvote
Microphone could be more sensitive1
Sounds come out distorted sometimes1
Pros
ItemVotesUpvote
Light1
Comfortable1
Noise cancelling works well1
Quick to charge1
Cons
ItemVotesUpvote
Occasional sounds distortions on calls1

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