Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones See Significant Price Drop
Bose’s high-end QuietComfort Ultra noise-canceling headphones are currently available for $329 on both Amazon and Best Buy, a substantial discount from their original price, but shoppers must act quickly as the sale is set to expire within 24 hours.
The QuietComfort Ultra headphones are lauded for their sound quality, featuring clarity, detail, and a wide soundstage, though some users may prefer to adjust the equalizer for optimal bass response. They also perform well during phone calls, making them suitable for work and communication. A key feature is their noise cancellation, rivaling that of Sony’s flagship models – a comparison you can explore here. The headphones also include a transparency mode for situational awareness.
While the headphones offer spatial audio and head-tracking features, reviews suggest these are less impactful than the core sound and noise-canceling capabilities, and may contribute to the 24-hour battery life. Despite being a slightly older model, the recent update from Bose doesn’t drastically alter the experience, making this discount particularly appealing. This price reduction addresses a previous concern regarding the headphones’ cost compared to competitors, potentially opening them up to a wider consumer base.
The availability of this deal is limited, with countdown timers on both Amazon and Best Buy indicating the offer will end soon. Consumers looking for premium noise-canceling headphones should consider this opportunity, as similar models often remain at a higher price point.
Bose is well known for its noise-canceling headphones and earbuds, and the high-end QuietComfort Ultra (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are currently marked down to just $329 on Amazon, with the same discount at Best Buy. You’ll have to move fast, though, as both sites feature countdown timers with less than 24 hours remaining as I write this.
The QuietComfort Ultra sit right near the top of our list of the best noise-canceling headphones, and for good reason. They sound great, with top-tier clarity and detail, and our reviewer Ryan Waniata was particularly impressed by the “fabulous instrumental separation” and the “wide and spacious soundstage.” The bass is a little boomy out of the box, but a quick tweak of the EQ can smooth that right out, and even if you prefer the big bass, it’s still clear and punchy. They sound just as good during phone calls, in case you really need to focus in while working or chatting.
The noise-canceling is the star here, and there are really only two companies that compete for the crown, Bose and Sony. Each company has flagship headsets that do a stellar job of keeping out plane engine noises, crying babies, and your chatty seat neighbor, with performance so close we have a dedicated guide comparing the two. There’s also a great transparency mode for when you need to stay a little more alert, but want to keep the music going.
There are some other features that we’re less enthusiastic about, like a spatial audio mode that tries to “spatialize” existing stereo tracks, which is a neat trick for some songs, but less so for more produced music or watching videos. There’s optional head-tracking as well that tries to keep sound coming from the same places as you turn around. They’re both a little gimmicky and don’t help with the QuietComfort Ultra’s already-middling 24 hours of battery life.
Even though Bose recently updated these extremely popular headphones, the newer version isn’t massively different from these. That means these are still a great deal, and one of our favorite noise-canceling headsets, despite being on the market for a few years. Its price compared to some of its biggest competitors was a downside, so the $100 discount makes a big difference if that was a deciding factor.
