Bose QuietComfort 35 Review

In 2014 we reviewed Bose’s QuietComfort 25 headphones – a really good pair of headphones with effective Noise Cancellation technology. Fast forward to the present and we now have its successor – the Bose QuietComfort 35. Bose has implemented big improvements on this one including wireless connectivity. Find out what we think about it in our review below.

Design and Construction

The first thing you will notice on the Bose QC35 is its discrete yet serious appeal. It doesn’t sport any flamboyant colors or accents, as it’s simply all black (or silver). This might be boring for the younger audience who prefer a more youthful look but judging at the market Bose is targeting this to, it’s pretty much understandable.

Although monotonous, the QC35 boasts premium materials. The band has a leather top and a soft clothed foam underneath. The adjustable frame is made of plastic with a matte finish. The cups have a metal outer shell, embossed with the Bose logo, which feels cool to the touch. Looking inside, the cups have leather paddings which looks, feels, and smells nice.

Looking at the details, the adjustable band feels secure yet easy to adjust. At the end of it are the swivel where the cups are attached for a better fit on the head as well as for storage.

The right cup has the switch for power, holes for the microphone and noise cancelling, NFC, volume and multi-function key, LED indicator for the Bluetooth and Power, and the microUSB port for charging. The left cup, on the other hand, is less busy with a single hole for aiding noise cancelling and 2.5mm audio jack.

When worn, the QC35 is comfortable on the head and ears. Even for a guy like me who’s more accustomed to earphone types, I liked how it clamps on the head and stays there. There’s a bit of heft on it as well but it’s something you’ll get used to.

Although snug, the QC35 isn’t built as a gym buddy, so don’t expect it to stay put if you’re doing something that requires a lot of sudden head movements. It will wobble and eventually slip. That said, the QC35 is more at home when you’re relaxing in your bedroom, office, coffee shop, or stuck in an airplane during a flight.

Setup and Connectivity

We love how Bose extends the premium build of the QC35 to its packaging. Out of the box, it is stored in its solid leatherette case. Opening it would reveal the QC35, microUSB cable, audio cable, and dual/single audio adapter for inflight entertainment systems.

Setup is fairly easy, Just turn on the switch on the QC35 and pair it with your smartphone. If your device has NFC you can skip the long method and just pair right away with a tap. The QC35 will then notify you of its current battery level and the name of the device it’s connected to. From there, you can listen right away to your tunes or download the Bose Connect app for Android or iPhone. The app is not really a requirement but it can help you manage your connections and keep your headphone firmware up to date.

While its main feature is wireless connectivity, the QC35 also supports wired connection. The Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology still works on wired connections but would require battery. That said, you can still use the QC35 when its drained, sans the ANC.

Sound Quality

As expected of a Bose product, sound quality is top-notch and it’s probably one of the best headphones we’ve tried so far, even better than Bose’s other headphone offerings which can be attributed to the Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology and Volume-optimized EQ.

When you turn on the QC35, it would feel like the air has been sucked out of the cups and suddenly external noises are somewhat eliminated. It feels weird at first and somewhat uncomfortable, but you’ll eventually enjoy it once you start playing tunes.

What we liked about how the QC35 delivered sound (wired or wireless) is that it is well-balanced and doesn’t just throw bass and trebles all around like other headphones. It’s not the kind that you’d classify as the bassy or trebly type as it’s good in delivering both sides of the spectrum.

When playing acoustic or jazz, the mids and highs were clear and crisp without becoming sibilant. Playing rock music is also a treat as it can provide the right amount of edginess desired for such genre.

For bass lovers, the QC35 is also at home with it and can produce that clean booming bass that you can feel without drowning the mids and highs. While playing Drake’s One Dance, we were able to discern the different beats being played, yet at the same time can still feel that oomph that kept our head bobbing to the beat.

Soundstage is also good and doesn’t feel cramped. There were lots of times that we were caught off guard thinking that the beat was live coming somewhere from behind us.

If you’re curious as to what the sound like without the ANC on, well, it’s definitely a downgrade as it sounds messy, weaker and doesn’t feel focused or concentrated. It’s not that bad if you’re in a quiet room, but if you really want a good auditory experience, make sure to take advantage of the ANC as much as you can. This is what the QC35 is made for, anyway.

Battery Life and Call Quality

Bose didn’t mention the battery capacity but claimed that it can last for 20 hours of wireless listening per charge, and 40 hours when wired. With our daily usage of around 3 to 4 hours of wireless listening per day, it was able to last for almost 5 days before we have to charge. That said, battery life on the QC35 is good.

Call quality, on the other hand, is good. During calls, we didn’t find the need to raise our voice from the normal as we can be heard loud and clear, which is impressive considering that the microphone is right by the ear. Bose says that it has a noise-rejecting dual-microphone system which can provide clear calls even in windy and noisy environments. True enough, calls were clear even when a fan was pointed right at our face.

Conclusion

To sum it up, you can’t go wrong with the Bose QuietComfort 35 in terms of quality whether it’s in the aesthetics, features, and sound. It’s good for use at home especially in this rainy weather, at work, or during long commutes. It’s wireless so you don’t have to worry about tangling wires, good battery life, and comes with its own storage case.

For the price: Considering that it’s a Bose product and given the pros mentioned above, as you expected, it doesn’t come cheap at Php22,500. It’s obviously not accessible for everyone, but you won’t be disappointed if you can afford it.

Bose QuietComfort 35 specs:
Headphones :7.1″ H x 6.7″ W x 3.2″ D (10.9 oz)
Audio only cable: 47.2″
USB cable:12″
In the box:
~ QC35 headphones Airline adapter
~ Audio cable for wired connection
~ USB cable
~ Carrying case

What we liked about it:
* Great sound quality
* Effective Acoustic Noise Cancelling tech
* Wireless BT connectivity with NFC
* Good build
* Comes with own carrying case

What we disliked:
* Expensive