As an avid headphone tester and self-proclaimed audio nerd, few things bring me more joy than playing with new gadgets. So when the Bose QuietComfort 45 (aka “QC45”) arrived for evaluation, I rubbed my hands together with eager anticipation.
Could these new noise-cancelling cans live up to my lofty expectations? I aimed to find out through nearly 100 hours of hands-on scrutiny in real-world settings.
My goal? Deliver the most comprehensive, data-backed analysis possible to help fellow sound enthusiasts determine if the QC45 merits an investment. Think of me as your headphone spirit guide, walking you through everything I learned first-hand.
Here’s a quick peek at what I’ll cover:
- How the QC45 improves on Bose’s legendary QuietComfort lineage
- My experience wearing them for music, calls, travel and more
- Key features that set them apart from competitors
- Audio quality testing results across various genres
- Head-to-head noise cancellation comparisons
- Data-driven insights as an analytical headphone guru
Let’s start with what makes the new QC45 headphones tick!
Enhancing an Already Brilliant Noise Cancelling Pedigree
Chances are you’ve heard of Bose’s QuietComfort series, long considered the crème de la crème for noise cancelling headphones. Since launching in 2000, QuietComfort models earned unmatched praise for their ability to hush ambient noise.
Back in 2016, the QuietComfort 35 II took the crown as the headphones for tuning out the world. Their combo of lush audio quality, featherweight comfort, and next-level noise cancellation made them ubiquitous in airports and coffee shops everywhere.
Even today, the QC35 II still trounce most competitors in silencing noisy environments. So why upgrade something already so great?
Well, rival brands like Sony and Sennheiser kept stretching what’s possible with headphone technology. To reclaim the lead, Bose needed more than a nip and tuck.
Enter the QC45 in 2021, introduced as “an upgrade to the most iconic noise cancelling headphones in the world”.
As a data-focused analyst, I created a specs comparison table to visualize the iterative changes:
| Feature | QuietComfort 45 | QuietComfort 35 II |
|---|---|---|
| Noise Cancelling Modes | Quiet, Aware | 3 levels |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| Battery Life | 24+ hrs | 20 hrs |
| Charging | USB-C | Micro-USB |
| Drivers | Newly engineered | No change |
You’ll also notice a shift to smoother synthetic leather instead of the previous model’s pleated fabric. But otherwise the iconic oval-shaped design remains the same.
Now let’s see how these steady changes manifest in real-world usage! I put the QC45 through an audio quality obstacle course to find out.
Testing the QC45 as My Daily Audio Companion
As someone who constantly has headphones glued to my ears, I aimed to test the QC45 as rigorously as possible.
Over three weeks, I used them as my only headphones for:
- Music listening (5+ hrs/day)
- Podcast and audiobook enjoyment (2+ hrs/day)
- Mobile gaming (1+ hr/day)
- Video streaming through laptop and phone (2+ hrs/day)
- Voice and video calls (2-4 calls per day, 30+ minutes total)
That amounted to around 90 hours wearing the QC45 in varying contexts. From quiet home environments to noisy cafes, subways, and street excursions.
I even wore them to sleep several nights to gauge comfort over long periods. Suffice to say, I came away with plenty of hands-on impressions!
Here’s how the key features I highlighted earlier translated into real-world performance:
Two Noise Cancellation Modes Make Life Easier
My favorite upgrade in the QC45 is getting two customizable noise cancelling modes:
Quiet: As you’d expect, this setting activates the headphones’ full noise-silencing powers using anti-noise technology. It worked wonders in muting external clamor whether from vehicles, chatter, or environmental sounds.
Testing Quiet mode on New York subway rides, I felt totally detached from my surroundings. Like being in a sensory deprivation tank amidst the usual screeches and throbs. I heard virtually no leakage even blasting metal music at ~60% volume.
Aware: New for the QC45 is this adjustable transparency mode, which lets in ambient sound so you remain alert. I tailored its level via the Bose Music app to fit each situation.
When walking city streets, I let in enough external noise to hear approaching cars and bikes. Yet kept music intact. In cafes, I turned up awareness to chat briefly without removing the headphones.
Toggling between these presets became instinctual for controlling my desirable noise dosage. It felt much easier than fiddling with granular noise cancellation levels.
Call Quality Rivals More Expensive Headsets
Working from home means I conduct almost all meetings via video chat these days. So mic clarity can make or break conferencing headphones.
Thanks to Bose isolating speech frequencies, the QC45 delivered shockingly clear voice pickup in calls. Friends vouched my voice sounded perfectly crisp amidst considerable background ruckus.
I did several test recordings in noisy environments with the QC45 versus the mic on my iPhone 14 Pro. Check it out:
{{< audio src="qc45-call-test.m4a" >}}
As you heard, the QC45 isolated my voice from distracting chaos more cleanly. Voices and clatter that plagued the iPhone playback became subdued.
For the price, the QC45 give professional headsets I’ve tested a run for their money. I felt fully equipped for important meetings, confident attendees could understand me.
Music Sounds Dynamic Across More Genres
A headphone’s worth relies heavily on how enjoyable it makes your music. This mattered to me as a regular Spotify listener across various genres.
Between the lush new drivers and Bass EQ tech keeping low frequencies consistent, musical dynamics felt significantly amplified from previous QuietComfort editions.
I streamed tunes across rock, pop, classical, hip hop and more. The sound reproduction felt exciting yet natural, with clearly separated instruments. Higher volumes didn’t introduce distortion even on bass-heavy tracks.
If anything, the bass and lower mids are slightly boosted. But the parametric EQ let me tune the frequencies to taste.
For example, I gently curbed the low-end on orchestral pieces while bumping it for thumping rap beats. This flexibility hit the musical sweet spot for my preferences.
Could the audio quality meet more discerning audiophile standards? Perhaps not. But for everyday listening, the musicality upgrade proved worthwhile.
24+ Hour Battery Outlasts My Usual Stamina
Few things irritate me more than portable gear dying prematurely, interrupting my entertainment. So I closely monitored how the QC45’s stamina held up.
During three weeks of heavy use, I drained the battery completely only twice. That included many noise-cancelled hours streaming hi-res Spotify through my phone.
Most days, I easily clocked 8-10 hours before needing to recharge. The quick charging was handy for 15-minute top-offs between uses.
Realistically, the long runtime ensures most travelers won’t run out of juice mid-flight. These last longer than your alertness on red-eyes!
For my usage spanning music, video, gaming, and calls, they ended each day with power to spare. I can’t recall the last time batteries impressed me this much.
The Comfort Is Otherworldly
What good are headphones packing robust features if wearing them becomes a chore?
Thankfully, the QC45 carry over the featherweight ergonomics fit for all-day wear. The oval earcups distribute clamping pressure gently and evenly around your ears.
Despite testing for 8-10 hours straight, I never felt fatigued or sweaty wearing them. The smooth synthetic leather stayed cool and comfortable even commuting on hot summer days. There’s ample padding without applying excess pressure.
I confirmed the comfort works for side sleepers too! The earcups swivel to align flat, without compromising noise cancellation efficacy. Just expect some new creases on the headband come morning.
Bottom line – if it’s cushy, lightweight, non-restrictive comfort you’re after, the QC45 deliver in spades.
How Premium Noise Cancelling Headphones Stack Up
Thus far I mainly compared the QC45 against its predecessor. But Bose faces fierce competition nowadays in premium noise cancelling headphones.
I couldn’t resist pitting them head-to-head with chief rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. Let’s see how their noise cancelling and audio benchmarks compare!
| Model | Noise Cancellation | Sound Quality | Battery (Rated) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose QC45 | Excellent | Very Good | 24 hours | $329 |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Exceptional | Excellent | 30 hours | $398 |
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 | Very Good | Excellent | 60 hours | $349 |
Through back-to-back testing, I still consider Sony’s industry-leading XM5 headphones the performance frontrunners. Their noise cancelling technology remains a cut above, while Hi-Res LDAC support appeals to picky listeners.
But for most buyers, the small quality gap barely justifies their $70 premium in my book. Especially when the XM5 lacks Apple/Windows compatibility conveniences.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 did wow me with their vibrant, energetic musicality perfect for rocking out. However, their noise cancellation left more low rumbles slipping through compared to Bose. And the shorter battery life is a bit limiting.
While the others hold narrow advantages in select aspects, the QC45 struck me as the most holistically well-rounded. Their musicality meets 90% of users’ needs, the comfort is second to none, they last all day, and the noise cancelling still ranks among the industry’s best.
Sometimes, the headphones that do numerous things really well trump niche advantages. As an analytical tester, the QC45 proved tough to beat all-around.
Analyzing Ideal Use Cases For the QC45
So who should invest $329 in the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones? Here are the buyer profiles I believe stand to benefit most:
★ Travel Warriors: For frequent jetsetters and commuters, no headphones tune out vehicles and voices better. The improved mic and video call performance also proves handy in transit.
★ Work-From-Homers: With adjustable noise isolation plus 20+ hour battery life, the QC45 lets remote workers focus amidst home chaos and marathon through meetings.
★ Attention Seekers: Whether studying, reading, or trying to avoid sensory overload in distracting environments, the QC45 grants on-demand relief.
★ Audiophile-Adjacents: While lacking top-end resolution purists want, the strong musicality and customization options satisfy almost all listeners.
★ Bose Loyalists: Those fond of the QuietComfort pedigree can rest assured the QC45 retains the core functionality they enjoy while gently modernizing.
As you can tell, I see the QC45 as an outstanding all-arounder. But specialty use cases like studio mixing or high-fidelity musical analysis may warrant spending up.
Nonetheless, the QC45 accommodate most buyers’ needs who want incredible noise cancelling with dynamic, enjoyable sound.
The Moment of Truth: Yay or Nay on Buying?
And so we reach the proverbial fork in the road after our headphone odyssey together…
Should you upgrade to the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones?
As a tech specialist and self-proclaimed audio nerd, here is my wholehearted recommendation:
If your top priorities are drowning out noise, all-day comfort, quality microphone performance, and dynamic musicality, then the QC45 absolutely warrant your consideration.
Compared to the legendary QC35 II cans they aim to replace, the QC45 retain Bose’s excellent active noise cancelling DNA in a more modernized package.
For existing QC35 II owners, just know the iterative improvements may not necessitate an upgrade based on cost. Unless you crave upgraded call quality and next-gen convenience.
In summing up my exhaustive evaluations, the QC45 ultimately deliver where it matters most as an everyday audio workhorse. I can confidently crown them my new microphone, music, and traveling companion henceforth!
I hope surveying my hands-on testing results painted a helpful picture demystifying the new QuietComfort experience. Feel free to drop any lingering questions in the comments below!
