[test] Quietcomfort 35 Ii: What’s the Value of Bose Smart, Noise-canceling Headphones?

We like

• Comfortable helmet
• Reading notifications
• Excellent noise cancellation
• Good sound quality

We don’t like

• Bluetooth connection sometimes random
• High price
• Low-premium design

Verdict:

Like its predecessor, the QuietComfort 35 is an excellent noise-cancelling Bluetooth headset. In addition to many of the qualities of its predecessor, the reading of the notifications is particularly appreciated, as it is very practical. The integrated Google Assistant is more gadget-like. It is a pity, however, that the headset sometimes suffers from loss of connection.

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>>> Find our comparison of the best noise cancelling headphones

Four Reasons to Crack (or Not) for Bose Quietcomfort 35 II

After a highly successful first release of the QuietComfort 35 last year, Bose has decided to launch a second edition of its active noise cancelling Bluetooth headset. However, there is no question of the manufacturer modifying a formula that works. This second version of the QC35 is above all an opportunity for the manufacturer to partner with Google around its voice wizard by offering an additional button to provide more functionality.

>>> Find our Bose Quietcomfort 35test

Yes for good audio quality

It’s not for nothing that the Bose QC35 has been one of our favorite noise-canceling headphones since its release. In addition to offering excellent insulation and comfort, the QC35 offered good audio quality.

The second version of the Bose noise-cancelling headphones is of course based on the same basic design, with no changes. As usual, the headphones deliver Bose sound with low-mid to without drowning out the entire sound spectrum. The sound is of very good quality on hip-hop or electro as well as on jazz or classical music with nevertheless the lowest frequencies of the sound spectrum taking over. The Quietcomfort 35 II has the same features as the first version of the Bose noise cancelling headphones.

However, it should be noted that in passive wired mode, the audio quality of the QuietComfort 35 is far from the level of quality with noise reduction activated when the headphones are cancelled.

Yes for comfort

As for sound quality the QC35 II has all the advantages of the first version in terms of comfort of use, starting with its excellent insulation. In addition to the circum-aural format, which fully encloses the ears for better insulation – and to warm the ears in winter – these headphones also feature active Noise cancellation In practical terms, this means that the headset has several microphones located on each earpiece. These are responsible for analyzing ambient sounds and reproducing an inverse sound frequency to cancel them in the ears.

As was the case with the QuietComfort 35 first of the name, thenoise cancellation results of the QC35 II are among the best on the market. Only a few Bose Headphones such as the QuietComfort 20, can do better.

It should also be noted that in addition to noise cancellation, the QuietComfort 35 is also a wireless headset thanks to the integration of the Bluetooth 4.1. Convenient for not carrying an extra cable, even though the headset has a 2.5 mm audio jack and a compatible cable for wired use when the battery runs out. However, with 20 hours ofbattery life, noise cancellation and active Bluetooth, the Bose headset performs as well as the first, already generous Battery Life It is nevertheless regrettable that the Bluetooth connection of the QC35 II is, to say the least, risky. We have frequently experienced that the headset no longer responds and that the Bluetooth on the smartphone has to be restarted in order for the headset to work again. A particularly frustrating problem.

Finally, it should be noted that the QC35 II is one of the most comfortable earmuffs we have ever tested. This was already one of the criteria that led us to put forward his predecessor in our comparison and we are happy to see that Bose has not changed the formula there either. Although the helmet weighs 235 grams, the same weight as the Sennheiser PXC 550, it does not press more on the top of the head than on the ears and can be worn all day without any discomfort.

Yes for Google Assistant

But if Bose hasn’t made any changes in audio quality or comfort, then how does the new QC35 deserve its “II” status? Well thanks to the integration of Google Assistant directly in the headset with a dedicated button.

>>> Find our test of Google Home

On Android, it was already possible to access Google Assistant on the first version of the QC35, as on Siri if you have an iPhone, by pressing and holding the play/pause button under the right earpiece. However, this maneuver was particularly unintuitive and, more importantly, offered a watered-down version of the Googlewizard. It was mainly a voice search that launched Google Now and provided access to some basic information.

With the QC35 II, however, the Google Wizard is much more accurate. You just have topress and hold down on the button located at the bottom of the left earpiece to launch a voice command such as “send a message to Bruno”, “call Sophie”, “what’s the weather like? “1:09, 12:09,” what’s my next appointment? “or ” who’s President of the Republic? ” In addition, the Google Assistant also works with all services connected in the Google Home application on the smartphone. Thus, if you have bulbs connected, it is possible to switch them on or off remotely. It is also possible to play music via a music streaming service or to access the latest news via several partner radios.

In use, the functionality of voice assistant and control of certain interactions is rather practical, even if the connection is sometimes hazardous and the interest of using Google Assistant outside the headset is more limited than with a GOOGLE HOME speaker at home.

Yes for the reading of notifications

The real interest of the QuietComfort 35 II, in addition to the Google Wizard, lies in the notifications. When your headset is connected to your smartphone, as with any headset, you hear the sound of notifications. However, the interaction does not stop there. In fact, by briefly pressing on the control button under the left earpiece, it is possible to hear the content of thenotification, whether it is a message received by SMS, on Facebook Messenger a push alert from a news application or a notification from a game. In addition, it is possible to respond to some of these notifications if the application in question takes into account the rapid response parameter.

When you quickly press on the Google Assistant button at the bottom of the left earpiece, the user will then have access to a reading of the time, but also of the last unheard notifications. A good way to quickly find out what’s going on without having to take your smartphone out of your pocket, especially on public transport. It will also be appreciated that the feature works equally well for Android smartphones on the iPhone, provided they have Google Assistant installed on their device.

Finally, it is possible to use the QC35 II without Google Assistant. Simply install the Bose Connect application on your smartphone and, after the headset is connected via Bluetooth, change the assignment of the action key. Bose offers the option of using this key to control the noise reduction for those who wish to do so as well.