Bose QuietComfort 35 tested: World champion in insulation, but only good enough for second place in sound

Bluetooth and noise cancelling are two great inventions. One frees us from annoying tangled cables and loose contacts, the other from disturbing background noise. So what could be better than the fusion of the two? Bose are no longer the first to venture into this endeavour, but thanks to the success of the popular QuietComfort 25, they are sure to attract a lot of attention.

I've been using Bluetooth headphones for some time now, and for a few years now I've also been using ones with an additional noise-cancelling function. Active noise cancelling reduces external noise emissions by generating a counter-sound. This is why such headphones are particularly popular on aeroplanes or public transport. After the Plantronics BlackBeat Pro, I switched to the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless and am very happy with them. Since the Bose QuietComfort 25 have perhaps the best noise reduction technology and are no wallflower in terms of sound quality, I was very excited to try out the successors.

Boring design, but good operation

Now that the Sennheisers have dropped in price somewhat, they are roughly on a par with the QuietComfort 35. The 420 francs include a USB charging cable, a 3.5 mm headphone cable, an aeroplane adapter and a case in which the folded headphones can be safely transported. Visually, the QC 35 doesn't appeal to me very much. The unspectacular plastic design does not do justice to the high price. On the other hand, the ear pads are extremely supple and the headband is also pleasantly cushioned. However, the QC 35 presses a little uncomfortably on the ears after prolonged wear, which doesn't happen with the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless even after several hours. If you hang it around your neck, it also constricts a little - and that's not because I have a neck like a bull. Let's compare the two devices: The Bose has the edge when it comes to operation. The on/off switch and three buttons for volume/play/pause are located on the right ear cup. After a short time, the fingers find the small buttons relatively easily.

Large range

Once you have connected the device to your smartphone via Bluetooth, it is worth installing the Bose Connect app. This allows you to switch voice commands on and off, change the language or define the time when the device should switch off automatically when not in use. Something I sorely miss with the Sennheiser. The Bose also provides information about the current battery status every time it is switched on - albeit in a horrible robotic voice. This is particularly useful for Android smartphones, which, unlike iPhones, do not have a separate battery indicator. There is nothing to criticise about the connection quality. The Bluetooth range is so good that the first time I tried it out, I switched on my colleague's iPod two rooms and walls away. The music was a little choppy, but still an impressive performance.

Full sound, but it lacks the pepper

But how does the good piece sound? Or as my colleague Aurel Stevens would say: Sounds 😉. As I said, my reference model is the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless, which are among the best Bluetooth headphones. Without resorting to pompous musician vocabulary here, for which I would need a dictionary and which wouldn't help me or you anyway, I give the sound quality a good to very good. The QC 35 sounds relatively balanced across the board. However, it lacks a bit of punch. Whether for hip-hop or rock, the bass should be a little stronger. The QC 35 does not support AptX transmission technology, which ensures better sound quality, but Apple users can look forward to AAC support.

The Bose is only suitable for cycling to a limited extent. I suspect it's because of the shape that the airstream makes a rather annoying noise. Apart from that, it's probably not the smartest thing in terms of road safety to cycle through the city with noise-cancelling headphones anyway - the noise reduction cannot be deactivated. Noise cancelling is only deactivated when used with a cable and the headphones are switched off. The QC 35 also has a microphone for phone calls.

Persevering

The battery performance is excellent. The manufacturer claims 20 hours. Compared to its predecessor, however, Bose uses an integrated rechargeable battery and not AAA batteries, which can be easily replaced.

Conclusion: Top device with minor flaws

The Bose Quiet Comfort 35 combines the good sound quality and excellent noise cancelling of its predecessor and adds wireless freedom with Bluetooth. Together with a long-lasting battery and good wearing comfort, the result is a promising offering. On the other hand, the design is bland, the sound is not quite as powerful and the ear cups do feel a little tight after a long time. However, as these three things are slightly subjective, I recommend trying out the headphones before buying. Otherwise, however, I can warmly recommend the QC 35. Alternatives include the aforementioned Sennheiser Momentum 2 Wireless and the much cheaper Plantronics Blackbeat Pro.

Headphones

Bose QuietComfort 35

ANC, 20 h

155

Headphones

Bose QuietComfort 35

ANC, 20 h

155

Headphones

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 2 Wireless

ANC, 22 h, Wireless

127

Headphones

Poly BackBeat PRO

ANC, 24 h, Wireless

38