Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, Black

I was browsing the internet for good headphones (my previous headphones being the boy QC35 II's), so the obvious good headphones that I would have to choose between were: 1. Sony WH-1000XM3 2. Bose QC35 II 3. Bose NC 700 Battery life: I did some research and found that the battery life from the Sony's were 30hrs compared to the 20hrs on the Bose, (to be honest though, that wasn't really a dealbreaker as realistically there won't be a situation were I will be using the headphones for 30hrs straight without having the opportunity to charge it beforehand). comfort: (no question) 1. Bose QC35 II's (just unrivalled, can't even feel it) 2. Bose NC 700 (clamping force uncomfortable in the beginning, however after wearing for 5 hours, maybe even more comfortable or just as comfortable as QC 35II's) 3. Sony WH-1000XM3 (In my opinion, cramped, ears touch the inside of the headphones, Bose really just are the best) Looks: 1. Bose NC 700 (sleek, futuristic, seamless) 2. Sony WH-1000XM3 (pretty good looking) 3. Bose QC35 II (just s a bit of an outdated look) features: (Bose VS Sony) Bose: - can connect up to 2 devices at once (EXTREMELY helpful) - Matches Sony's conversation mode - Matches Sony's touch gestures - App really does work well for me (IDK why people says it doesn't work, it works perfectly for me) - More noise cancelling levels - Tells you actual battery life time left improvement from QC35 II - AI thing that helps noise cancellation - CALL QUALITY! mics (best in any headphone) - Case compartment for wires and cables (huge+ and improvement from QC35 II) Sony: - Better app, configure sound - Conversation mode without buttons - touch gestures Sound: 1. Sony (just can't beat the bass) 2. Bose NC 700's (actually a noticeable sound improvement from QC35 II) 3. Bose QC35 II (still pretty good though) Price: 1. Sony (£267.10) (great value) 2. Bose NC 700 (£349) (kinda expensive and overpriced considering lack of improvement (although not bad)) 3. Bose QC35 II (£259) (OG pretty good) Conclusion: Now, you are probably trying to decide what to get and don't want to make a wrong decision (now don't worry if you don't like it. You can return it within 30 days of purchase because amazon is reliable and great with customer service. I am personally sticking to my Bose NC 700, as comfort is extremely important, but so are the new features from the new Bose. It looks great and the sound quality is great. I will always also be loyal to Bose, as they are my all time favourite headphone company. But if you are on a budget, and still want great headphones then the obvious choice would be the Sony WH-1000XM3. Edit: after using this for a bit, I am deciding to return this item for a number fo reasons. 1. the app doesn't connect well 2. It's a massive pain to retract and extend the headphone length every time you pack it! 3. you have to be really careful with it when putting it in your bag etc. (looks as if it would scratch easily)

I own the Sony XM3 and have tried the XM4 so I can compare to these. Connections: Headphones can connect to 2 device at the same time, I find this great as the Sony WH 1000 XM3 couldn't do this. The Sony is a bit more difficult to connect to things in general. Bose 700 connects to Windows PC, Firestick and Android automatically. I always had to manually connect Sony each time on Firestick. Look and Feel: They are slicker than Sony, feel lighter to wear and your ears do not sweat like they do on the Sony. I find them comfortable and I use them for long periods in all inside conditions. Sound: I like the sound better, less bass as has been mentioned. But it worth saying that the Sony has more bass, this bass is not fine tuned in any way. It is loose and gets too much at times. The Bose have an amazing clarity about them. Touch control and buttons: Very responsive and easy to use, took a bit to get used to it. But overall it works better than Sony which can be hit or miss at times. Buttons are instant when you touch them, on Sony to turn on device you have to hold the 'On' for a few sec to turn them on. I prefer the Bose ANC: Very little between them, I can't say which is ultimately better. In certain circumstances each one works a touch better than the other. I have owned 3 pairs of the Sony and when you don't play music you can hear a bit of white noise. On certain Sony's this could be a big problem as they used faulty electret microphone capsules that typically crackled when moisture got near them from ear sweat. (yes, I know). The Bose 700 is totally silent so far with no music playing. Battery Life: Sony claim better battery life and it probably is. But I don't really notice that. I tend to be charging a couple of times a week which was about the same I did with Sony. App: Its a pile of rubbish, serves no really purpose. If your going to do an app then it should be worth using and have a few bells and whistles. I simply set up the headphones and can't really see myself needing the app again other than to apply an update or something like that. In general, I find them easier to use, less hassle connecting with great clarity for sound and with hiss free noise cancelling. I got them cheap at £167 so for that they are well worth it.

Like many other people I agonised over the Sony/Bose choice and read all the reviews at least twice. I already had the Bose QC earbuds for walking and they are just excellent. One reviewer wrote “for the best sound and noise cancelling go for Sony, for other functionality and phone calls go for Bose”. I want the best music sound I can get and am not bothered about the gadgety stuff e.g. changing the noise cancelling when you walk around or speak to chat etc. I just turn it all off. I do need to speak on the phone as well. I read the reviews about the Sony microphone but didn’t really believe that Sony would release a product where part of it doesn’t actually work! So I bought the Sonys. I was really pleased to start with. Superb sound and excellent noise cancelling. People were calling me in the room or knocking at the front door and I couldn’t hear them. The sound is extremely good with noticeable bass that was pleasing at first but when I later did back to back tests with the Bose NC700 the Sony bass seems to add noise in places where the Bose gives superb clarity. The Sony app has an Equaliser to play with and includes some preset options. I think I found a better setting (+0, +7, +10, +7, +0) with no extra Clear Bass. After a couple of weeks people started complaining that my voice was cutting out during phone calls. This became worse and worse until people were saying they couldn’t hear me at all and I had to give up using the headphones for phone calls. I couldn’t help wondering if the Bose would have sounded even better so when the Sony microphone started playing up I ordered the Bose as well. The Bose’s music reproduction is stunning and sometimes, in certain parts of certain songs, makes the hair on the back of the neck stand up. That guitar cord or that piano note. Bass, voice, treble and drums crystal clear all the time. The clarity makes you believe you are in the recording studio with the band / singer or back at Wembley Stadium. Back to back testing of the two showed the sound is either the same or just that bit clearer and nicer through the Bose. As I said before the Sonys have a bit more bass but in my opinion it’s at the expense of less clarity and a bit more mid range noise. I haven’t felt the need to try the Bose equaliser. Noise Cancelling is nearly as good as the Sonys, but lets a bit more external noise through. It blocks out most surrounding noises but it’s not quite as complete as the Sony NC. Microphone - excellent phone call quality, never any issues. Bluetooth - well it’s bluetooth isn’t it. It gets a bit more confused than the Sonys when I’m swapping devices but for the benefit of the best music quality and a microphone that actually works I’m very very happy and working my way through my old music collection enjoying it all over again but hearing things I’ve never noticed in the last 40 years. I contacted Amazon who wouldn’t let me return the Sonys without going through Technical support and advised resetting them by holding down the power button for 7 seconds etc. It didn’t help. When I called back they put me through to Sony customer support who wanted me to send them to their repair centre. I didn’t want to get involved in that so Amazon then let me return them for a refund. UPDATE: 2 months later after working my way through my music library I am even more impressed with these. They are just brilliant. As for connection problems with the phone app, I just close the app and launch it again and it connects.

I bought these after my wife "borrowed" my Sony WH-1000XM3's. I tried the Shure Aonic, however had to return them. POSITIVES: - Noise cancelling. Extremely effective, but just beaten by the Sony particularly when trying to reduce spoken dialogue. For everything else i.e. train hum, car hum air conditioning and traffic they are on par with the Sony. - Call quality. Best in class quality, no other headphone touches this. - Looks. These are a extremely good looking pair of headphones, Much better than the Sony which look industrial. - App. I know lots of people have had problems with the app, however my own experience was very good. Easy to use, never crashed and no problems with updates. Negatives: - Sound quality. So a bit of perspective here, they have good sound quality, however compared to the Sony's (which have a better soundstage and bass) and the Shure (a league ahead - apart for audiobooks) they fall down the pecking order. - Battery. My main reason for returning them. I would fully charge them, use them for 2 hours and I would lose 50% battery. - Comfort. Once again these are relatively comfortable especially when compared to the Bose. However I have a sort of big head and these do give an unpleasant calming force after an hour or so. I never had this complaint with the Sony.

As a dedicated Bose enthusiast for the past eight years, I'm excited to share my experience with the Bose NC700 headphones. Having confidently purchased two sets of replacement cushions over the last 4 years I can confirm that the quality and longevity of these headphones is beyond commendable. If you buy these you can rest assured that they would last you several years and head cushions can be easily replaced to prolong their longevity unlike Beats products. Transitioning from the Bose Quietcomfort 35s, I initially noticed a difference in comfort with the NC700s. However, any initial discomfort quickly faded as I became accustomed to the new design, and I found myself increasingly impressed with their superior call quality and sound precision. In fact, the NC700s have been a constant fixture in my daily routine, whether commuting across the bustling city of London or participating in video conferences from remote work locations. A notable feature that Bose continues to ace is the seamless USB connectivity, which is available for both the NC700s and the latest Ultra model, with the purchase of an additional dongle. It's this kind of thoughtful design that enhances the user experience and keeps me loyal to the brand. Regarding sound quality, while Bose has traditionally been more conservative with bass, the NC700s stand out as a significant step forward. The drivers in these headphones are so advanced, they match those found in Bose's newest Ultra model, ensuring you don't miss out on premium sound. In essence, the Bose NC700s are a testament to the company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. If you're contemplating whether to invest in a pair, rest assured that they offer exceptional value. You'll enjoy premium sound, build quality, and features that are typically reserved for higher-priced models. Bose, has made a great job designing these and they would be just enough for a regular user. Now as they are more often offered in discounted prices they are an amazing deal for a premium pair of noise cancelling headphones.

May I first state I am no audio expert, I have owned the Sony mx3’s and more recently mx5’s and the AirPod max’s. This being my first venturing into the Bose domain (though I do use Bose speakers at home) First I love the look and feel the of the Bose 700’s, and the case it comes with is certainly better than what you get with the Sony’s (though I imagine you don’t buy a pair of headphones purely for the case) it’s a hard one as the Sony mx5’s do have a brilliant sound to them and noise cancellation. But I do love the soundscape of the Bose and the noise cancellation is also brilliant. (Though Sony does have the edge) Battery life is where the Bose lets itself down with it being 20 hours while Sony has 30 hours. (Though to be honest this doesn’t really bother me) this will probably come more down to if you’re a huge Bose fan or Sony. Both the Sony’s MX5’s and Bose 700 are brilliant headphones. Could I recommend one over the other. Probably not (so why are you writing a review you useless reviewer I hear you shouting) Me personally prefer the Bose 700’s (though that could change haven’t used them a lot) but whatever choice you make. You won’t be disappointed. Both headphones crack out great sounds. The Bose offers a nice soundscape, loved the mid’s and high’s on the Bose. And the detail to the music overall. The sound of drums thumping. The slight bass kicking. I’m not into that hippity hop music or trance or pop; so can’t tell you how the Bose fairs on that kind of sound. But would imagine it would handle it well. The Bose are also very comfortable to wear; Doesn’t feel heavy or clingy. And so far my ears haven’t started sweating. Negative point This is a strange one and I do wonder the thinking of bose behind it. In the earcups you have a like a stick slightly poking out from the headband doesn’t affect the wearing experience; but it does look weird. And if you’re running you can hear the sound of plastic jiggling together. This for me is a very strange design decision from Bose. Though it isn’t a deal breaker or ruin the experience in any way. In closing The Bose noice cancelling 700 headphones are a great pair of headphones. It’s pretty much upto you what to choose. But whatever you choose disappoint won’t follow you. Good luck fellow shoppers and hope this review has been at least helpful in some way. If not I humbly apologise. Edit Though I will still recommend the bose 700’s I do feel that maybe Bose should go the same way as the bowers & Wilkins with the build (look) obviously not to copy it exactly. But I feel the plastic feel of the headphones, which does make a jingly noise if you walk fast. Though a small complaint really

These are great headphones with a couple of problems. I've compared these side-by-side with the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Bose QC35 II so when I list something as a positive or negative, this is subjective and compared to the others. Positive - * Good sound (see note 1) * Good active noise cancelling * Very comfortable (see note 2) * Fantastic performance on calls * Good battery life and fast charging * Useful alerts such as alerts letting you know how many hours left on the battery * Can connect to multiple devices and switch between them from the app Negative: * App makes you register to use it * Can't use all the features or update unless you register with the app * Issues when connected to multiple devices AT THE SAME TIME (see note 3) Notes 1 - Sound. If you have spent this much money on wired headphones, know what flac is and use a dedicated source or DAC then these are not going to blow you away on sound, but compared to the competition they are great. I know so many reviews say the XM3s sound better but they really don't, the XM3 has a very heavy bass which ruins the mids, not just that, it's not even nice bass. The Bose 700 bass isn't missing, there is still plenty of it but it's tighter and clean and doesn't destroy the vocals. The sound isn't going to blow you away, it's comfortable without being boring, doesn't really suffer from feeding it poorly mastered recordings over Spotify either. They are the best sound from an ANC headphone I have heard so far. They sound similar but better than the QC35s, like there is better separation and imaging. The Sony's really shined when I used them with the Walkman connected via LDAC, but my main use case is connected to my iPhone or iPad and the Bose won there. 2 - Comfort. This is subjective, people complain that they clamp, I have a big head and don't agree but you do need to extend them down more than you expect to get a comfortable fit. I can wear them for hours with no problems other than getting warm like all closed backed headphones do. The band at the top doesn't press down and I have my hair shaved short. As for getting hot, they aren't as bad as the Sony's but they feel warmer than the QC35s. 3 - The App. This is the biggest disappointment but also another winning point for Bose, you can connect these headphones to everything then just turn them off in the app, disable in the app to disconnect and enable the other devices on to connect to them. But... if you connect to two devices at once, for example, iPad and iPhone, you can listen to music on the iPad and if your phone rings it will switch on it's own. The problem is that you get a skip in your music often, this isn't a one off, you can read about it everywhere, I hope Bose fix this because it's annoying, but only having it connect to a single device at once fixes it. I was especially impressed with the Bose 700 letting me know how long I had left on the battery in hours, an actually useful alert, they also tell you what devices you are connected to, the Sony's don't do that.

I purchased these headphones in Dec 2021 so have had these headphones for about 10 months or so at this stage so I think that’s enough time to give a fair review. Sound: My unscientific subjective opinion is that they are reasonably flat sounding out of the box. This headphone sound profile can be tweaked however through the BOSE music app to suit individual preferences. I tend to boost the bass very slightly for rock / pop listening. Once you make a change to the sound profile/EQ, the headphones ‘remember’ it, which is great. The clarity of the sound and separation is pretty good on these headphones too. But like all headphones in this category they will add some ‘colour’ . I have previously used recording studio standard headphones such as Beyerdynamics DT100, DT150 and personally have owned a few pairs of reference class AKG over ear headphones too. In comparison to the professional style headphones the Bose 700s do not have as clear, flat or separated soundstage. I don’t personally see this as a negative point however because mixing music or sound for film is not the intended use case for the Bose 700s. Reference class headphones are also sometimes accused of being responsible for ear fatigue over extended listening periods. Style: This is probably a personal thing, but I love the style of these headphones. From afar and close up they look sleek and stylish. The headphones cups are quite slim too so you don’t end up looking as much like a cyberman from doctor who as some other pairs will make you. Durability: I have occasionally worn the headphones outside walking about but I predominantly use these in an inside setting, but so far the headphones have lasted really well. The finish on both the headband and cups has remained as good as new. The synthetic cups still look as good as new. The slide mechanism for the cups still feels smooth and firm too. Comfort: I tend to wear the headphones for several hours at a time and they remain really comfortable. They feel secure on the head but are not too tight. The material on the cups and headband feels very smooth and soft and remains comfortable after extended periods. Noise Cancellation: I think some people expect active noise cancellation to work like earplugs or ear defenders and get disappointed when they try out active noise cancelling products. If you are expecting these headphones to completely block out or cancel out surrounding sounds you will be disappointed. If you understand the limitations of noise cancellation (at least in its current form) then you will not be disappointed with these headphones. They do a good job reducing wind, engine, plane noise etc. In an office environment they attenuate sound to a level that I find easier to concentrate with, especially if you have music / audio playing at the same time. Mic: I use these headphones every day at work on Teams calls. The microphone on these headphones is clear and the noise cancellation works well to block out environmental sounds in your vicinity. Connectivity: These headphones connect via Bluetooth and can have two devices connected simultaneously. I usually have these connected to my computer and my phone. If I am listening to music on my laptop and receive a call on my phone, the headphones will automatically switch to the phone as impute when I accept the call. Overall these are a pretty great pair of headphones. They are well worth the money especially if you can get them for an offer. I have seen them on hear for sub £170!