Headphones & audio / Review roundup
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Roundup updated 2026-10-13 · Evidence from 2 review sources
What reviewers found
The headphones weigh 230g and offer ample earcup and headband padding, delivering a comfortable, stable fit during long sessions. Microphone performance is underwhelming for premium headphones, causing the speaker to sound overly quiet and processed during Zoom meetings.
Microphone performance is underwhelming for premium headphones, causing the speaker to sound overly quiet and processed during Zoom meetings.; The headphones surprisingly omit wear detection sensors, meaning audio does not automatically pause when they are removed.
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The headphones weigh 230g and offer ample earcup and headband padding, delivering a comfortable, stable fit during long sessions. WIRED found the lightweight earcups comfortable through an eight-hour workday, without excessive heat or clamping pressure. Buyers who take frequent meetings should weigh those drawbacks against the comfort.
Microphone performance is underwhelming for premium headphones, causing the speaker to sound overly quiet and processed during Zoom meetings. WIRED needed to recharge during the working week and found call audio quiet and processed.
Bose removed the dedicated 3.5mm jack but added USB-C audio, supplying both USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to 3.5mm cables in the box. Wireless connectivity is restricted to SBC and AAC codecs, lacking LDAC, aptX, or launch Auracast support.
The headphones lack an IP rating, meaning users need to keep them protected from rain. Walking outdoors in Aware Mode picks up noticeable wind noise, and the app's wind reduction option requires ANC to be activated. Disabling ANC alters the sound signature, noticeably boosting bass and cutting midrange between roughly 200Hz and 600Hz. WIRED found effective noise reduction in a busy cafeteria and detailed sound, while noting that the three-band equalizer offers limited adjustment.
The headphones surprisingly omit wear detection sensors, meaning audio does not automatically pause when they are removed.
PERFORMANCE
This is the reviewed model’s measured result under the settings below.
SoundGuys · full test results ↗Published 2026-08-22 · checked 2026-10-13
isolation alone · Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen): Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Results apply to this publication’s tested models and settings. Check those details before comparing another review.
| Product | Result | Test scope |
|---|---|---|
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | 71.9 | Reviewed model only |
Bars start at zero. Results apply to the tested configuration and settings. Missing products are never assigned zero.
Microphone performance is underwhelming for premium headphones, causing the speaker to sound overly quiet and processed during Zoom meetings.
WIREDThe headphones surprisingly omit wear detection sensors, meaning audio does not automatically pause when they are removed.
WIREDThe headphones weigh 230g and offer ample earcup and headband padding, delivering a comfortable, stable fit during long sessions.
SoundGuysThe headphones lack an IP rating, meaning users need to keep them protected from rain.
SoundGuysBose removed the dedicated 3.5mm jack but added USB-C audio, supplying both USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to 3.5mm cables in the box.
SoundGuysWireless connectivity is restricted to SBC and AAC codecs, lacking LDAC, aptX, or launch Auracast support.
SoundGuysWalking outdoors in Aware Mode picks up noticeable wind noise, and the app's wind reduction option requires ANC to be activated.
SoundGuysDisabling ANC alters the sound signature, noticeably boosting bass and cutting midrange between roughly 200Hz and 600Hz.
SoundGuysWIRED found the lightweight earcups comfortable through an eight-hour workday, without excessive heat or clamping pressure.
WIREDWIRED found effective noise reduction in a busy cafeteria and detailed sound, while noting that the three-band equalizer offers limited adjustment.
WIREDWIRED needed to recharge during the working week and found call audio quiet and processed. Buyers who take frequent meetings should weigh those drawbacks against the comfort.
WIREDCompare the model and settings listed with each result.
Measurement · isolation alone
71.9 %Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) · isolation alone
SoundGuysCheck fit, supported codecs, device switching and whether the wired port carries audio.
WIRED · Review ·
Used for cited evidence
The reviewed configuration isn’t specified here.
SoundGuys · Review ·
Used for cited evidence
The reviewed configuration isn’t specified here.
WIRED — The reviewed configuration isn’t specified here.
SoundGuys — The reviewed configuration isn’t specified here.