Bose QuietComfort QC25, we've tested them

The Bose QuietComfort QC25 are closed headband headphones (with cable ) from the American company Bose that are available in a variant compatible with iPhone , iPod and iPad and another version compatible with any Android device . We are talking about headphones designed for both indoor use and outdoor use and that, in addition, incorporate a control knob with a microphone integrated inside. The QuietComfort QC25s also come with some interesting noise cancellation technology., and its price in the market is around 250 euros .

In this test of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 we are going to analyze and learn much better each of the characteristics of these headphones, and we are also going to take a look at the accessories that these Bose headphones come with as standard .

Design

Measurements of the headphones (looking at them from the front, in the position in which they are placed on the head) established at 19.1 centimeters high, 15.2 centimeters wide and 2.3 centimeters deep. Headphone weight (without cable) 195.6 grams. Cable length of 1.4 meters.

Measures carrying case: 21 x 14.6 x 5.1 centimeters .

The measurements of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 are set out in 19.1 x 15.2 x 2.3 cm with a cable having a length of 1.4 meters .  The Bose QuietComfort QC25s are surprisingly light ( 195.6 grams , regardless of the cable) and are a standard size for this type of headphones. The headband and the headphone holder are black, while the cover that covers each of the two headphones is gray (although blue details can also be seen). Each of the two headphones also incorporates an inscription - with relief, apparently made of plastic - of the Bose brand .

In general, the design of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 has seemed quite robust , and the quality of the materials transmits a good feeling for everyday use. After mentioning the quality of the materials, the only section that we might like to see improved is the material of the hinges of each of the two headphones; It is apparently made of plastic (although it is attached to a metal part), which we do not know to what extent it guarantees good resistance considering that we are talking about fully foldable headphones (with the wear that this entails).

And how are the sensations conveyed by the Bose QuietComfort QC25 once worn on the head? The Bose QuietComfort QC25s feel really comfortable on the head , and the padded ear cups fit perfectly, covering the ears completely. The inner part of the headband (that is, the part that is in contact with our head) is also padded, which makes the experience of wearing the QuietComfort QC25 on the head for hours even more comfortable .

Of course, in the Bose QuietComfort QC25 the height of the headphones can be adjusted, and in our test we have been able to verify that the minimum height (without the need to extend the headband) is more than enough for most people. The support that keeps the height of the headphones in position also works correctly, and we have not seen any slack in this section.

The Bose QuietComfort QC25 are foldable , and the two headphones - in addition to being able to fold up to the inside of the headband - can be rotated at a maximum angle of up to 90 degrees , which facilitates the transport of this equipment. In fact, we are talking about headphones designed to be easily transported, and this is demonstrated by the fact that they are accompanied by a  carrying case (with hard covers and a robust design).

The only design detail of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 that has not quite convinced us, as far as its design is concerned, is the fact that the upper part of the headband is also covered with fabric. This fabric tends to accumulate dirt more easily than other materials, and being black in color the dirt stands out even more.

And let's not forget to also mention the accessories that accompany the Bose QuietComfort QC25 . These headphones are accompanied by  an alkaline AAA-size battery (in the following sections we will understand its reason for being, although we can anticipate that it is a very curious detail) and an adapter for the aircraft connector (apparently designed to allow the headphones to be connected to multimedia centers integrated in the seats of some aircraft).

Sound and operation

TriPort and Active EQ technology. Noise cancellation activated through a button (it is powered by a AAA battery), with an autonomy of approximately 35 hours per battery .

When it comes to sound, the Bose QuietComfort QC25 are not headphones that seek to compete against other more expensive alternatives on the market. The sound that the headphones of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 are capable of reproducing is clean and crisp, and allows you to enjoy music with a quality that is on a par with what we would expect from headphones in this price range. The work that Bose has done with bass sounds also deserves a mention, as the bass is heard very clearly even with headphones at maximum volume level .

Of course, what truly characterizes the Bose QuietComfort QC25 is the noise reduction technology , and therefore it does not seem relevant or fair to make special mention of details such as, for example, the maximum power they are capable of offering. these headphones have given us the feeling of being somewhat inferior compared to competing alternatives.

And to talk about the noise cancellation of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 we have to refer to one of the curiosities of these headphones: they come with a AAA battery as standard , and that same battery is inserted into one of the headphones (specifically, in the right earphone). And what use is a battery in headphones? The battery is precisely what gives life to the noise cancellation technology of these headphones .

And it is that it turns out that the noise cancellation of the Quiet Comfort QC25 is activated and deactivated to suit the user through a button located on the outer cover of the right earphone . This button is accompanied by a green LED which, when activated, indicates that we have the external noise cancellation technology active. When this technology is disabled, a small red sticker is simply displayed on the button.

In absolute terms, we found the noise cancellation of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 simply spectacular . The moment we activate this technology using the button, we automatically notice a complete acoustic isolation from the sounds we have around us . In fact, we have tried to carry on a conversation with the headphones on with another person who was less than a meter from us; Without noise cancellation, we could actually hear that person, but the moment we activated noise reduction, we completely stopped hearing the other person (we hardly even heard our own voice).

Given the noise reduction effectiveness of these headphones, we can say with certainty that the Bose QuietComfort QC25 are headphones primarily geared towards outdoor use . It is enough to activate noise cancellation to be completely isolated - acoustically speaking - from practically any noise or sound that we have around us. The QuietComfort QC25 are ideal for travel by public transport or by plane and, for indoor use, they can also be interesting in workplaces where there may be annoying ambient noise .

The only negative detail that Bose's noise cancellation technology entails is that, according to the figures provided by this manufacturer, the battery that is inserted into the headphones can offer an autonomy of close to 35 hours of music playback . Of course, when the battery runs out it is possible to continue listening to music through headphones , although the noise cancellation that characterizes these Bose headphones is lost. and, in addition, a slight loss of quality can be noticed in the sound (especially since our ear gets used to the clarity of the sound reproduced under noise cancellation technology, although it is certainly enough to activate and deactivate the button to appreciate that there is a real decrease in the clarity of the sound).

Compatibility

One version compatible with iPhone / iPad / iPod and another version compatible with Android. Includes control knob with integrated microphone .

The Bose QuietComfort QC25 are wired headphones , which means that they only incorporate physical connectivity that is carried out through a 3.5-millimeter minijack cable, and can be connected to any device that incorporates a conventional audio output. The QuietComfort QC25 are distributed in two versions of the same price: a version compatible with Apple devices (iPhone, iPod and iPad) and another version compatible with Android devices .

An interesting feature of the Bose QuietComfort QC25 is that they also incorporate a control knob . This remote not only incorporates three physical buttons (volume up, stop / resume playback or change songs and volume down), but it also consists of a microphone that allows you to use these headphones as hands-free at the time they are connected to a smartphone.

Price, availability and conclusions

The Bose QuietComfort QC25 can be purchased in Spain for a price of around 250 euros . In terms of headphones with noise cancellation technologies, we are probably talking about one of the products that has the best quality / price ratio today. The QuietComfort QC25 from Bose have seemed to us a really recommended product for use outdoors or in places with ambient noise , since its noise cancellation allows us to practically isolate ourselves from the annoying sounds that we may have around us, all without Give up comfort and sound quality.

If we use a scale to summarize the positive and negative aspects that we have extracted from the Bose QuietComfort QC25 , on the positive side we will place the comfort of the headphones even after full days of use , the ease of transport of the equipment together with its accessories and the spectacular effectiveness of noise cancellation technology , while on the negative side we will mention the absence of a rechargeable battery (perhaps accompanied by a charging system directly integrated into the headphones, for example) .

Bose QuietComfort QC25 datasheet

Design

Sound

Connectivities

+ info

Price: 250 euros