Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Review: Comfort, Design, Materials, Controls
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After wearing the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for approximately 16 hours, I revisited my day one written notes centered on design, comfort, controls and materials to see if I was too nice or too critical of the headphones. Note, this is not a full review of the Bose QC Ultra Headphones. Also, the shared thoughts and options in this article involve judging this pair of headphones on it’s own merit and will not be compared to other headphones in this article. That will be reserved for future vs articles. Sign up for the newsletter to be alerted for the full review which will include audio performance, battery life, user interface, and customization.
DISCLAIMER: Reviewed by Watts aims to be fair to readers by pointing out fair pros and cons to consider and by not producing biased hype-man content for the brand. Additionally, we aim to be fair to brands by not being overly critical and to create a fair and balanced review.
What’s in the Box?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Carry case
USB Type-A to USB Type-C® cable
3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable
Are the Bose QC Ultra Headphones Comfortable to Wear?
The weight (0.56 lbs) of the Bose QC Ultra headphones matters compared to the market. Along with a good design, lighter headphones are more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
Thoughts: During my 16 hours of wearing the headphones, I noticed how the QC Ultras felt like the “right weight” for a pair of headphones. Additionally, I think it’s important to note I did not experience any neck strain or wearer fatigue. When laying in bed, the QC Ultras are comfortable enough and designed well to not feel like they are too bulky or in the way while in a resting position.
What Material is Bose QuietComfort Ultra made of?
According to Bose, the Bose QC Ultra Headphones are made of Plastic, Aluminum and Protein Leather. The ear cushions and headband on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are made of protein leather. You will frequently find protein leather in car seats in headphones. It’s important to note that protein leather is an artificial leather also known as pleather.
Thoughts: Protein leather is not known for being durable or breathable for headphone usage. I’ve had my run-ins with protein leather letting me down time after time after time. Specifically, protein leather has cracked and peeled on me in the past. So, silly of me to buy a pair of headphones with protein leather, right? Companies don’t use real leather for a number of reasons. Protein leather does not carry a smell like traditional leather, it’s more cost effective to use and it does not involve the use of animals. Ultimately, I would prefer if Bose went away from protein leather on the ear cushion and developed a breathable and extremely durable fabric that does not risk peeling or cracking.
Are the Bose QC Ultra Headphones Easy to Travel With?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones come with a compact carrying case that can be clipped to your backpack strap and carried in front of you. This is possible since the Bose QC Ultra Headphones can fold and rotate above the ear cushion.
Thoughts: Despite what other companies are doing, Bose should continue to make their headphones foldable for ease of storage and carrying. The target consumer for Bose headphones traditionally have been travelers and musicians. Every time I make a trip from Raleigh to Jersey, I see plenty of Bose headphones around the neck of travelers. With the release of the Ultras, I’m comfident Bose has another travel friendly winner on their hands.
What are the Media Controls for the Bose QC Ultra Headphones?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones has 3 media controls: The Multifunction button, Volume Strip and Bluetooth Power On/Off Button. Other features include: 4 microphones, a status light, 2.5mm audio port, and USB-C port.
Thoughts: The volume strip is an interesting choice by Bose. I don’t hate it but at the same time I’m not in love with it. It’s all personal though since I prefer a push button or a dial. I’ve overshot and undershot my targeted volume by inadvertently swiping up or down too much.
I want to clearly state that I love having a physical button for bluetooth control that also works to power on/off the headphones. In a world where other brands are removing the ability to power off headphones, please never change Bose.
The multifunction button can do a lot including:
Play/ Pause
Skip forward
Skip backward
Change Listening Modes
Answer Calls
End calls
In order to not bog you down with too many details, the product guide can be found here.
“When you power on the headphones and hear the tone, the audio is personalized to
your ears for the best audio performance. The headphones must be on your head for the tone and voice prompt to play.”
What to Read Next?
Now that we’ve touched on the comfort, design, materials and controls, stay tuned for the next review which will include thoughts on the battery life, audio performance, and features. If this is the first post you’ve come across on Reviewed by Watts, take a step back and read the following article.
If you can’t wait until the next blog post and you want your own pair of headphones, check the link below.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones - Check Amazon Price
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