Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones

[johnb]

Very keen to try these, Bryn, this being the time of year when we suffer from a lot intrusive noise from the likes of the Briggs and Stratton brigade (we had a two hour job starting at 7:30pm the other night)

Thought Richer Sounds might be stockists but they're not. Looks as though John Lewis Audio department might have them, although it’ll only be an academic exercise for the time being. The QC700 has features I’m unlikely to use, like the iPhone interface and voice control, but I’m intrigued about the adjustable noise cancelling feature. Why, in practice, would you want that? Presumably, if you set it at the highest level you’re blocking out everything. So, what’s the virtue in the sliding scale? Is a higher setting a bigger drain on the battery? The manufacturers have obviously done their market research – which must be a fascinating read – so it’s offering users something. But what?

I can't comment on the Bose 700 headphones but another option you might want to consider are the Sony WH1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones. I've found them to be excellent and they can be used wired or wireless.

My only reservation is that they are a "consumer" product and getting spare parts a few years done the road might be tricky, in contrast to my 20 year old Sennheiser 600HDs which is still in production and for which spares are readily available. (I'm probably going to get a set of replacement ear pads now, as backup for when they deteriate)

See my earlier post: http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...220#post741220

[Constantbee]

I can't comment on the Bose 700 headphones but another option you might want to consider are the Sony WH1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones. I've found them to be excellent and they can be used wired or wireless.

Finally got round to asking for a demo of both these at the local John Lewis audio department yesterday. Not much to choose between them – except the price - but I think I preferred the Sony WH1000XM3 on first meeting. They have a handy ‘noise-cancelling-cancelling’ facility, whereby you can interrupt your listening by cupping one hand over the right ‘ear muff’, saving you the bother of fumbling for the button on the Bose. You also get the wired/wireless option. Both use rechargeable battery units. Well, doesn’t everything these days? These are high drain devices and gobble up lots of batteries very fast. As for performance, both sets (the Bose on its highest noise cancelling setting) coped very well with screening out background noise, including speech, on the shop floor: 20 tellies at medium volume, plus shoppers nattering. It was hard to tell whether the Bose was significantly more effective, though. According to the manager I spoke to in the department the Sony is selling better at the moment. I won’t be buying either for the time being as I’m still happy with my old QC2, but it’s nice to know what’s on the market.

hth

[johnb]

Both use rechargeable battery units. Well, doesn’t everything these days? These are high drain devices and gobble up lots of batteries very fast.

The batteries in these devices pose a problem. Is they are regularly used in a powered on mode the batteries will deteriorate over time - ultimately determining their useful (powered) life unless the batteries can be replaced.

[Bryn]

The batteries in these devices pose a problem. Is they are regularly used in a powered on mode the batteries will deteriorate over time - ultimately determining their useful (powered) life unless the batteries can be replaced.

A considerable advantage of the earlier BOSE models such as the QC25 is that they are powered by a single AAA cell. NiMHs work perfectly well.

[johnb]

The Sony battery is Li-ion but to get at it you have to dismantle the back of one of the ear phones. Not something most users would be willing to do, and it would need a spudger pry tool.

[Dave2002]

A friend mocked what he saw as my extravagance until we traveled back from Washington, D.C. With a crying baby in front of us. Oh boy, did they earn their keep that day!

Interesting that they worked for that purpose - very interesting. I always assumed that babies were just that - very small children who could not be held morally responsible, and perhaps experiencing pain or other problems, and therefore to be tolerated. A recent flight was very unpleasant because of one child probably 2 to 3 years old who screamed for over an hour. It looked to me based on observations after disembarcation as though the child had an attitude, and was perhaps used to getting its own way. Presumably the flight crew were unwilling to get very involved, for many social reasons. I would have paid almost anything not to have to put up with that. Fortunately the flight wasn’t a very long one. A transatlantic flight would have been a horror I can barely imagine.

[richardfinegold]

The batteries in these devices pose a problem. Is they are regularly used in a powered on mode the batteries will deteriorate over time - ultimately determining their useful (powered) life unless the batteries can be replaced.

After more than year of ownership, the battery on the Sony seems to be going strong. If I charge it before a vacation m it lasts the entire trip on that one charge.

[johnb]

That's good to know.

[Bryn]

Resurrecting this thread to stress that Bose have a totally disgusting policy regarding parts replacement. Effectively, it is "we do not offer replacement parts and refuse to reveal their specification. This even applies to the little screws which fit the phones to the headband and to the battery. Their recommended solution to the frequently reported loss or breakage of the screw is to buy a new or reconditioned used set of headphones! Beware! Might be best to buy Sony. It seems that Bose use components unique to their brand. Built-in obsolescence is their ethos.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Sennheiser have the reputation for replaceable parts to their heaphones - the larger over ear ones for sure. I'm not sure how far that extends to smaller models of in-ear etc headphones so I would check, another good place to start looking if I was looking to avoid irresponsible 20th Century approaches from manufacturers.

[Dave2002]

Resurrecting this thread to stress that Bose have a totally disgusting policy regarding parts replacement. Effectively, it is "we do not offer replacement parts and refuse to reveal their specification. This even applies to the little screws which fit the phones to the headband and to the battery. Their recommended solution to the frequently reported loss or breakage of the screw is to buy a new or reconditioned used set of headphones! Beware! Might be best to buy Sony. Inter Bose use components unique to their brand. Built-in obsolescence is their ethos.

I don't think that Bose is unique. I have a pair of Beyerdynamic headphones with foam surrounds which need(ed) replacing. I managed to source some replacements, but actually fitting them turned out to be difficult, involving some very small screws, and in the process one wire has come adrift and would now need soldering. I may end up just putting these on the dump - a shame - as I was quite fond of them, though I do have others which are OK. I don't suppose the manufacturers are weeping about this.

[richardfinegold]

I haven’t had a problem with my Sony phones, but based with CS interactions that I have had with Sony on other products, they are not prize winners either

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Resurrecting this thread to stress that Bose have a totally disgusting policy regarding parts replacement. Effectively, it is "we do not offer replacement parts and refuse to reveal their specification. This even applies to the little screws which fit the phones to the headband and to the battery. Their recommended solution to the frequently reported loss or breakage of the screw is to buy a new or reconditioned used set of headphones! Beware! Might be best to buy Sony. Inter Bose use components unique to their brand. Built-in obsolescence is their ethos.

Yes, I discovered this after finally splashing out on these very headphones. Superb in performance, but there’s always the niggling concern that the non-replaceable rechargeable battery could eventually fail to function adequately. However, each charge lasts for a considerable time, so perhaps I’ve worried unnecessarily.

[Dave2002]

Yes, I discovered this after finally splashing out on these very headphones. Superb in performance, but there’s always the niggling concern that the non-replaceable rechargeable battery could eventually fail to function adequately. However, each charge lasts for a considerable time, so perhaps I’ve worried unnecessarily.

Raises a question about how long one should expect headphones to last. Hopefully some will at least come with a few years guarantee, though I've had some headphones a lot longer than that.

What would be your expectations for an expensive set of headphones? 5, 10 years?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

What would be your expectations for an expensive set of headphones? 5, 10 years?

I bought Sennheiser 540 headphones in the mid 1980s, and they are still as good as the day when I bought them, albeit with a new pair of ear pads. But these are wired headphones without noise cancellation, so batteries aren't an issue.