Bose Headphones 700 tested: Good mood at the touch of a button
15.8.2019
Translation: machine translated
They are expensive. They can't be folded. They don't have too many smart features. But they just sound so good that I couldn't care less. We're talking about Bose's new over-ear headphones.
Every time I put on the Bose Headphones 700 and listen to music, it's the same: after a short time, I have a relaxed smile on my face, even if I was in a bad mood just a moment ago. These headphones don't just sound good. They have something that makes me addicted.
That's the big difference to the predecessor QC35 II and also to the Sony WH-1000XM3. They both sound very good too, but they lack that certain something that I find difficult to describe.
Bass: quality instead of quantity
My enthusiasm has a lot to do with the bass. It's not loud, but still very easy to hear. Extremely well separated from the rest, dry, but by no means without life. When it comes to bass, the Bose Headphones 700 deliver quality instead of quantity, a defined six-pack instead of a flabby belly.
The Bose QC35 II is not at this level in direct comparison. It is louder, but less clear in the low frequencies. I therefore have to turn it up louder to be absorbed by the music than with the new model. However, if I turn it up too high, the bass behaves more like a pressure wave than sound waves on some tracks. I don't like that.
It doesn't matter whether I'm listening to rock, funk, jazz or industrial speed melodic trance death 'n' roll. Good bass is good bass. On this track, however, I heard the difference between the old and the new Bose model particularly clearly.
I also compared them with the Sony WH-1000XM3. Its bass sounds more powerful than the new Bose and still comes across clearly. What's more, unlike Bose, I can customise the sound to my liking in the Sony app. An EQ and ten levels of "Clear Bass" are available for this purpose.
This all speaks in favour of the Sony headphones, as does the fact that they are the only ones of the three that connect to my smartphone via AptX HD. The treble actually seems slightly better with the XM3. However, even with EQ optimisation, I can't get the bass to sound as good as with the Bose Headphones 700. Overall, I simply prefer listening to music with the Bose headphones. I can't say whether this is just due to the bass or whether there is something else that unconsciously resonates.
Noise cancelling: strong performance, misleading name
On the Bose QC35 II, you can switch noise cancelling on and off and set it to reduced. The Bose Headphones 700 also have three levels via a button on the headphones, but their strength can be defined in the app on a scale from 0 to 10. Ex works, the button activates levels 0, 5 and 10.
What irritated me at first: At level 0, the noise cancelling is not simply deactivated, but the ambient noise is significantly louder than when the device is switched off. The microphones pick up the ambient noise and play it through the headphones. I notice this particularly well when I'm talking myself.
This is probably Bose's answer to the ambient sound control that Sony introduced in the WH-1000MX3. Other manufacturers also have a similar function - Jabra, for example, calls it "HearThrough". The idea behind this is that you can still hear what's going on around you even with the headphones on. However, "noise cancelling off" is a misleading name for it; in addition, the ambient noise is too loud at level 0.
But more importantly: at the maximum level, the noise cancelling is excellent. It neutralises noise very efficiently and with practically no side effects. The sound remains unchanged and the "self-noise" of the NC is very low. However, it is audible without music. I have the impression that the noise cancelling is more effective than with the QC35 II and is roughly comparable to that of the MX3. In any case, these are good headphones for public transport.
Very good call quality
I think talking to other people is a waste of time, so I didn't test the telephony function. Seriously, I rarely make calls and when I do, I usually don't have my headphones on. However, two short test calls in the office quickly made it clear that the Bose 700 not only delivers slightly better voice quality than the Sony WH-1000MX3, but above all picks up significantly less ambient noise. This means that the person you are talking to can hear you first and foremost, even in a very noisy environment. This finding is consistent with the call demo in this video from minute 9:00 onwards.
Operation, convenience and features
I like the simple design of the Bose Headphones 700. However, it has the disadvantage that the ear cups cannot be folded into the headband like most other over-ear headphones. This means that the Bose 700 takes up a little more space during transport.
The rubbery material on the headband doesn't feel particularly comfortable, but you don't notice this when wearing them. I find the headphones very comfortable.
The front half of the right ear cup is touch-sensitive: double-tap to play/pause, swipe up or down to change the volume and swipe horizontally to skip to the next or previous track. The controls work without any problems.
What I miss a little is an automatic pause function: the music just keeps playing when I take the headphones off.
The headphones can also be used with an audio cable. A suitable connection cable from 2.5 to 3.5 mm is included. Also a USB-C cable for charging the battery.
Conclusion: It's perfect for me
It's difficult to make an objective judgement when the sound of a pair of headphones simply makes you happy. I'll try anyway
In terms of sound, I think the Bose Headphones 700 are about the same as the Sony WH-1000XM3. Sony is slightly ahead in the higher frequencies, while Bose scores with its super-precise bass. But if you like very powerful bass, Sony is better for you.
The Bose QC35 II lags slightly behind the two. But not so much that you would have to buy new headphones if you own the QC35 II.
Bose's latest model filters out noise better than the competition from Sony. On the other hand, you can adjust a lot more in the Sony app: Equaliser, surround sound or automatic sound optimisation for the wearing position. Which is better therefore depends on your preferences.
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.