Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones

[Rolmill]

Just looking for advice on whether these are worth buying if I'm in the market for noise-cancelling headphones (mainly for air and train travel)?

They come up frequently when researching decent quality n/c headphones, but my general impression of Bose has always been that their products are overpriced - are these the exception?

I'm mainly looking for decent sound quality (obviously), effective noise cancelling, durability/reliability and comfort for long periods of use. Convenience aspects (e.g. wireless, foldable etc) are desirable but not quite so important to me.

Grateful for any advice.

[pastoralguy]

I couldn't agree more that these headphones are expensive but they are excellent quality. I've had mine for 15 years and they still work beautifully. I have had to change the cables since the connectors do wear as well as the ear pads but both are readily available.

A friend mocked what he saw as my extravance 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!

[Bryn]

Recently, the previous, wired, model, the Quietcomfort 25, has been available for less than half the price I paid a few years ago. I am not sure how much better the 35s are in audio terms but a Bluetooth adaptor is available for the 25s for around £50.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Bose products are massively overpriced, but they do seem to lead the way with noise-cancelling headphones.

[Richard Barrett]

I too have the previous (wired) model and it's served me very well on hundreds of flights and train journeys. It was indeed expensive but I don't think there's a better noise-cancelling system on the market at the moment, and I consider it to have been a good buy.

[richardfinegold]

I think that the Bose were unbeatable for noise cancellation and sound until recently. Sony’s newest noise cancelling are both superior in both areas to the Bose and also excellent Bluetooth phones. I got a set for my wife after she stole mine from me during a recent flight with crying babies both ahead and behind us. I don’t know the relative prices of Sony v. Bose and the U.K. prices may differ from here anyway

[Richard Barrett]

Sony’s newest noise cancelling are both superior in both areas to the Bose

I'm not sure about that. I did have a chance recently to compare them and I still preferred the Bose.

[Bryn]

I think that the Bose were unbeatable for noise cancellation and sound until recently. Sony’s newest noise cancelling are both superior in both areas to the Bose and also excellent Bluetooth phones. I got a set for my wife after she stole mine from me during a recent flight with crying babies both ahead and behind us. I don’t know the relative prices of Sony v. Bose and the U.K. prices may differ from here anyway

Which Sony model? Are they of the on ear or over ear design?

[Bryn]

Just found that forrbes.com offers a comparative review of the Bose 25 and 35ii. With Amazon.co.uk offering the former at under £140. That, I reckon remains the best bet. If you must have Bluetooth, with consequent lower audio quality, at least one site has an adaptor for around £40. The only review I have seen of the Sony claims the Bose has better audio quality "out of the box", with the Sony having more bells and whistles in terms of equalisation.

[richardfinegold]

Which Sony model? Are they of the on ear or over ear design?

mine are the Sony MDR-1000X I think my wife's are an earlier model that was discontinued but I bought a surplus. They sounded pretty similar to me, both over the ear phones

[richardfinegold]

Just found that forrbes.com offers a comparative review of the Bose 25 and 35ii. With Amazon.co.uk offering the former at under £140. That, I reckon remains the best bet. If you must have Bluetooth, with consequent lower audio quality, at least one site has an adaptor for around £40. The only review I have seen of the Sony claims the Bose has better audio quality "out of the box", with the Sony having more bell and whistles on terms of equalisation.

I've had the Bose for years, and they are good, but I find the Sony to be more immersive, and the Bluetooth Quality is really good. They can be used as regular phones with an attached wire

[Pianoman]

The Sonys beat the Bose hands down imo.

[Richard Barrett]

more immersive

... not sure what that means though.

[Richard Barrett]

The Sonys beat the Bose hands down imo.

Interesting divergence of opinions here... I shall have to listen to the Sonys again as soon as possible!

[Bryn]

... not sure what that means though.

Ideally suited to scuba diving? The impression I drew from the comparative review I read was the the Sony offered a range of preset audio modification treatments to suit various listening tastes. I would rather the noise cancelling altered the original sound as little as possible. I do find the Bose QS25s have trouble dealing with the rumble of rough roads and throbbing large diesel engines on coaches and buses.