Which headphones should I get? Bose QC Ultra (Gen 2), Sony XM6, and AirPods Max

now that’s brand new Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) have officially launched, you might wonder how they compare to industry favorites apple airpods max And Sony WH-1000xM6,

Do they look as good as the competition? Has noise cancellation been enhanced? Where does battery life stop? I’m here to answer these questions, and more.

For the past three weeks, I’ve been testing the second-generation QC Ultra to see where they rank among the three. Time to remove all distractions and jump right into it!

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Bose QC Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) vs Sony XM6 Headphones

This is Bose’s best vs. the best on the market. On the surface, both of these headphones are minor upgrades from their predecessors. Let’s see if QC Ultra can dethrone the XM6 best headphones overall.

battery life: With the XM6 offering up to 40 hours of playtime, Sony has the upper hand. ANC reduces this to 30 hours, and spatial audio reduces another 5 hours. Quick charging also goes to Sony: a 3-minute charge gives you 3 hours of use with a USB-PD compatible AC adapter. This version of QC Ultra has increased battery life (from 24 hours to 30 hours), although spatial audio drops to around 6 to 8 hours. Bose’s quick charging technology pales in comparison; A 15 minute charge for 2.5 hours isn’t exactly “quick”.

noise cancellation: The XM6 reduces ambient noise with ease. Chirping birds, construction sites and emergency vehicle sirens go unnoticed. Sony’s mics do an impeccable job of filtering out these noises as well as loud sounds. But it’s the 20-level transparency mode that steals the show. I was able to hear conversations taking place across the street. All other standard sounds recorded loud and clear.

Still, the QC Ultra has unique ANC. Modifications to the ActiveSense algorithm make ambient noise sound more natural. Bose’s adaptive noise cancellation is on point and removes background noise at ridiculously high levels, no matter the environment. My child would often surprise me while working from home; I couldn’t hear him calling for attention or sneaking up behind me. Almost all external noise was neutralized. Some high-frequency sounds (e.g., sirens, whistles) were heard, but none broke my concentration.

Sound Performance: Sony has some of the best sounding headphones money can buy, thanks to powerful drivers and proprietary technologies that strengthen the sound output. Expect strong bass right out of the box, with crisp mids and engaging highs. am starting D.S.E.E The feature increases fidelity on music tracks. LDAC codec support means higher resolution over Bluetooth when streaming content to Android devices. The 360 ​​Reality Audio format provides solid 3D effects for enjoying select content. Additionally, the EQ setting has many of Sony’s well-engineered presets to complement their specified ranges.

The audio quality on the QC Ultra is satisfactory. Clarity and high-end delivery have been improved. Qualcomm’s aptX adaptive codec creates wireless high-res sound on Android devices. The companion app features a customizable EQ with four presets. USB-C lossless playback produces clear audio (this feature is absent on the XM6). Next comes Bose’s universal spatial audio format: Immersive Mode. It’s a game-changer that works with All Stereo content. You’re not limited to Dolby Atmos like most other headphones. Immersive audio brings true sonic presence to anything you play, whether it’s a Napster-ripped MP3 file, a Spotify track, or an action movie.

Applicability: You’ll have no problems connecting to Android, iOS/macOS, or Windows. Bluetooth 5.4 with dual-device pairing allows each set of cans to connect to two different platforms at the same time. Sony offers more ways to operate the XM6 through motion, physical, touch and sound controls. All work flawlessly. The QC Ultra’s advanced controls (e.g., capacitive volume rail, voice activation) work exceptionally well, but their multifunctional buttons often struggle to register inputs. The biggest differentiator is the special features, which the XM6 crushes. We’re talking everything from 10-band EQ to auto-adjusting volume settings and enhancing audio technologies. QC Ultra has a very small feature set. Standouts include multiple ANC profiles and a sidetone setting to make your voice heard louder on calls.

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Should you buy the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) or the Sony XM6 Headphones?

It’s a tough decision because they have the same MSRP: $449. Overall, the XM6 gives you more functionality for your dollar. If extra features like touch and smart voice controls aren’t essential, the QC Ultra is worth a look based on its clear voice calling, prime spatial audio, and a little more ANC.

Bose QC Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) vs Apple AirPods Max

Both are practically director’s cuts of the original. The upgrades are minimal, but notable. The biggest question you should ask is which headphones are more futureproof?

battery life: Apple left play time unchanged: 20 hours. That means ANC is on and off. This time USB-C charging has been used. Meanwhile, Bose increased the QC Ultra’s battery life from 24 to 30 hours. Where Apple has the Bose Beat is quick charging. The AirPods Max can generate 1.5 hours of playtime on a 5-minute charge, while the QC Ultra needs 15 minutes to achieve 2.5 hours of listening time.

noise cancellation: Bose refined its digital signal processing to improve noise reduction. I couldn’t tell much difference between this version and the previous version. All I know is that the new QC Ultra offers class-leading ANC that is capable of eliminating almost 90 percent of unwanted sounds. Quiet Mode features top-level ambient listening to enhance situational awareness.

The noise cancellation of AirPods Max remains the same. It silences a large number of low- and mid-frequency sounds, but it struggles with high-frequency sounds. Apple’s Transparency Mode is still an excellent option for listening to ambient sounds and conversations. If only Apple added its latest listening mode airpods pro 2 And airpods pro 3: Conversation Boost, Hearing Aid, and Live Translation.

Sound Performance: Both models have attractive sound profiles. They also come with adaptive sound technologies that deliver audio tailored to your hearing, as well as spatial audio and USB-C lossless playback. I like the QC Ultra for their rich sonic presence.

Bose’s CustomTune feature adjusts the sound to the shape of your ears and balances the output while reducing distortion. It handles high frequencies better than Apple’s Adaptive EQ. The lossless audio is equally great. Apple’s Personalized Spatial Audio mode creates deeper sound and precisely effects the soundstage for a theater-like listening experience. However, Bose’s Immersive mode produces a stellar spatial mix and works with all stereo content.

Applicability: QC Ultra is more platform-friendly and easily connects to Apple and Android devices; The latter takes advantage of one-tap Google Fast Pair. Furthermore, they run on the latest Bluetooth version (5.4) and support dual-device pairing. Bose’s multifunctional buttons don’t always register inputs. Luckily, its capacitive volume rail and voice assistance are reliable.

AirPods Max connect to all Apple devices instantly. You can manually pair them with an Android device, but the process isn’t as intuitive as it is with other headphones. For hands-free voice commands, nothing beats Apple’s “Hey Siri” voice activation. Finally, there’s the great-looking Digital Crown (also known as the dial) that offers precise playback and volume controls.

Should you buy the Bose QC Ultra headphones (Gen 2) or Apple AirPods Max?

Buy the Bose QC Ultra because they are cheaper than the AirPods Max and better in many categories (e.g., ANC, battery life, connectivity, sound). Needless to mention that the QC Ultra has been updated with modern specifications that will keep the headphones fresh for the next 2 to 3 years. The AirPods Max are outdated in many areas.

So, are the Bose QC Ultra headphones (Gen 2) really worth buying?

Only if you want the best noise cancellation and spatial audio.

Ideally, you can save up to $350 by looking at Best budget headphones under $100Some of which offer impressive ANC, playtime, and sound quality. Just don’t expect grade-A performance.

Finally, the QC Ultra headphones are suitable for noise cancellation and spatial audio, while Sony’s XM6 headphones are a better value that hits all the marks. Skip the AirPods Max altogether.