The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is designed for an older style of person and is not as noisy as the Bose QuietComfort 45. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II also is not as durable as the Bose QuietComfort 45.
So, which one is the best choice for you?
Overview
What is Bose QuietComfort 35 II?
When the Bose QuietComfort 35 II made its debut in 2017, it rapidly demonstrated that opting for noise-canceling headphones didn’t need sacrificing sound quality. Although 2021 QuietComfort 45 may have surpassed them, these headphones are still a good investment, particularly if you can find them at a reasonable rate.
They have a lot of bells and whistles, three different noise cancellation settings (‘low, high, and off), and strong, controlled bass. While you’re on the go, the built-in Google Assistant reads aloud text messages and online notifications. You can also use voice commands to compose a reply or search your music library. The battery lasts for 21 hours.
Pros
- Design that is portable and cozy
- A large, uncluttered soundstage
- Calls that sound crystal clear
- Outstanding noise cancellation
- Google Assistant integration
- Estimated battery life of 21 hours
Cons
- No automatic play/pause
- iOS devices with Google Assistant don’t get along well.
- Battery cannot be changed
What is Bose QuietComfort 45?
The Bose QuietComfort 45 are a capable replacement for the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, the company’s 2019 top model, although they lack the sophistication of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
The QC45’s audio performance isn’t audiophile-level, and several functions, like customizable noise reduction, are absent. However, they are simple enough for anyone to operate and comfortable for prolonged usage.
The Bose QC 45 beats out most of the competitors in terms of quality and portability for wireless over-ear headphones that you can wear while traveling and effectively block out the outside world for up to 24 hours.
Pros
- Simple control system
- Exceptional comfort
- Audio that is sculpted with deep bass and clear highs
- Efficient noise reduction
- Longer battery life (24-hour)
- Pairs simultaneously with two devices.
Cons
- No EQ
- ANC cannot be changed.
- Mediocre clarity
Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Bose QuietComfort 45
Sharing Nearly The Same Design
With their oval ear cups and plastic finish, the Bose Quietcomfort 45 is clearly a descendant of the QC 35 II. Between the two designs, there are minor variations: Bose replaced the QC 35 II’s tiny microphone slots with a matrix of dots on the QC 45.
Additionally, the new model boasts superior technology, such as a USB-C connector in place of the micro USB input found on the previous model. Older QC headset owners should feel at home with the Quietcomfort 45 because Bose preserves the power switch and controls the right ear cup.
The playback and multi-function controls on each headset are well-marked and easy to use. Simply press and hold the multi-function button to access the native assistant on your phone.
The action button on the left ear cup of both QC headsets executes significantly different commands. The action button on the QC 35 II switches between noise-canceling modes.
The QC 45 has the additional capability of an Aware mode toggle, which the QC 35 II completely lacks. The audio passthrough feature known as “aware mode” amplifies outside noises through the headphones so you can stay aware of your surroundings.
The ear cushions on the Quietcomfort 45 have been updated by Bose, and they feature a smoother surface than the cushioning on the earlier headset. Although neither Bose
QuietComfort headset has a water-resistant rating; they are both built of durable plastic and have almost identical headband designs. Either the Bose QC 35 II or Bose QC 45 headphones can be folded toward the band and thrown into the accompanying protective case, or they can be rotated to lay flat against a table.
Any headset you purchase from Bose comes with a zipped carrying case, 3.5mm to 2.5mm cable, micro USB or USB-C charging cable, and wireless noise-canceling headphones themselves.
Music app and Connect app
Both the Bose Connect and Bose Music apps are free to download from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, albeit the Bose Music app is more recent. The Bose Music app (version 5.0.2) only allows you to select between ANC on and Aware mode.
For a regular listening experience, you cannot opt to turn off ANC and Aware mode, as we saw with the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2. Bose updated the firmware of the Bose Quietcomfort 45 in February 2022 to incorporate an in-app EQ.
You may configure the action button and select one of three noise-canceling settings (high, low, or off) using the Bose Connect app. You have the option of setting it to your favorite smart assistant or the ANC toggle.
Additionally, you can configure the QC 35 II’s auto-off timer and concurrently share music from the Bose Connect app to two compatible Bose headphones (the Music app also has a standby timer).
Bose does a fantastic job of incorporating useful features into its products through firmware and app upgrades, even though some could argue that those new functions ought to have been provided from the beginning.
Bluetooth Codecs Supported
The Bluetooth codec configuration, which supports SBC and AAC, is the same for the Bose Quietcomfort 35 II and Bose Quietcomfort 45. This provides high-quality, dependable playback for music for iPhone users, but not all Android users will get the same consistent results from AAC.
Sadly, AAC’s performance varies depending on the Android device, but SBC has improved significantly since its beginnings and now sounds far better than it did. For lossless listening, you can also hardwire either set of headphones to your gadget using the provided 2.5-to-3.5mm cables.
The QuietComfort 45 uses Bluetooth 5.1, which uses less energy than Bluetooth 4.2 on the QC 35 II. Both headsets offer Bluetooth multipoint, enabling simultaneous connections to two devices; however, only one will support Bluetooth LE Audio when it becomes generally available.
Battery Life
The Bose Quietcomfort 45 has a longer battery life than the Bose QC 35 II; in our tests, the former’s battery life was 21 hours, 12 minutes, while the latter’s was 24 hours, 49 minutes.
Even if the difference in playback time is significant, some potential purchasers could be more intrigued by the USB-C charging port on the QC 45 rather than the QC 35 II’s micro USB input.
The QC 45 requires 15 minutes to fully charge, but the QC 35 II only needs 150 minutes. Therefore the QC 45 has 180 minutes of playing. Anywhere between two and two and a half hours is needed to fully charge either headset.
Noise Cancelling
The QuietComfort 35 II is inferior to the Bose Quietcomfort 45 in terms of noise cancellation, but this was to be expected given that the QC 35 II was released in 2017, four years before the QC 45. With the QC 45, passive isolation and active noise-cancellation work together to provide exceptional gross attenuation.
They muffle midrange and high-frequency sounds, which are generally not much altered by most headsets. If you manage a decent fit, the more recent Bose headphones successfully muffle the majority of low-frequency sounds.
Although the low range is still muffled by the Bose Quietcomfort 35 II, it does so to a lesser extent, so your ears might pick up on especially loud incidental sounds. Although the Bose QC 35 II’s active noise-canceling isn’t as effective as it is with the QC 45, it consistently reduces low-frequency noise.
Remember that low sounds are typically affected by noise cancellation more than high sounds. Make sure you obtain an appropriate fit with the headphones to deal with those other sounds if you want an active noise-canceling performance that matches our measurements.
Your ears must be completely covered by the ear pads, with no spaces between the synthetic leather padding and your skull.
Sound Quality of the Bluetooth Headphone
The Bose Quietcomfort 35 II’s default frequency response is considerably friendlier than that of the Quietcomfort 45’s, which boosts treble notes to the point where they sound unpleasant. This is where the Quietcomfort 35 II really shines in terms of sound quality.
The QC 45’s enhanced high-end is great for speech intelligibility and makes podcasts sound great, but poorly mixed punk and pop music isn’t fun to listen to. You can now fix or at least lessen these sound issues because Bose added an EQ module to its app in February 2022.
Although the Bose Quietcomfort 35 II lacks an EQ feature in the Bose Connect app, its more flexible frequency response still produces high-treble music that sounds fine.
In fact, the SoundGuys consumer curve V2, which they promote as the perfect sound for the general market, and the Bose Quietcomfort 35 II strongly resemble each other.
Even though the QC 35 II has a substantially superior frequency response, the QC 45 still sounds passable.
In addition to the EQ Bose included with its most recent firmware update, most smartphones have some kind of onboard EQ adjustment built into the settings app, so you should be able to alter the sound of either pair of Bose Quietcomfort headphones from your smartphone or from the streaming service’s settings.
Call Quality
No matter the headphones, you can count on receiving some of the greatest call quality in the market. Surprisingly, the QC35 II is the better calling headset if we must choose one. Wind resistance is the cause.
It operates more effectively in windy settings and does a better job of removing the whisking effects brought on by the wind or fast-moving vehicles. A few callers remarked on how crystal clear we came across on the phone and during video conferences.
The QC45 is similarly applicable in many ways. These headphones don’t just struggle with wind; they also provide strong, clear vocals for lively discussions. It’s also helpful to have the Self-Mode tool accessible to control how loud you hear yourself.
Price
Bose announced the QuietComfort 45 with a surprise lower MSRP than prior QC releases: $329. You’re getting a lot for your money, and the inclusion of Bose Music signals that additional features will be added in further firmware releases.
Originally priced at $350, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II has been marked down numerous times during the previous 12 months. Although we’ve seen it for as little as $189, major internet shops are presently selling it for $299. (in Rose Gold). We think the current sales price is justified given the level of performance.
Most likely, one of these models will be offered during this year’s finest Black Friday headphone sales. We’re betting on the QC35 II. It seems unlikely that the QC45 would have a sale tag on it so soon after its release.
Read more: Apple Airpods Pro Vs Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds
FAQs
Which Should You Get?
For all intents and purposes, the Bose Quietcomfort 35 II headset still outperforms the Quietcomfort 45 in terms of sound quality, ANC performance, and price. The Bose QC 35 II is a strong competitor in the wireless headphones market unless you detest lugging about a micro USB cord and actively prefer increased treble.
The QuietComfort 45 is still a great choice for a number of reasons, not the least of which is its unrivaled passive isolation and active noise-cancellation. Anyone who frequently flies or goes by train and bus will value the QC 45’s excellent noise-canceling capabilities. With the Bose QC 45, you can choose to relax in a peaceful area wherever you are. The fact that the faulty audio output can now finally be changed makes things much better.
What are the Alternatives?
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 ($399) offer a bespoke EQ, excellent noise-cancellation, and a fantastic sound profile, so if you don’t want either headset, you might want to take them into consideration.
Despite having a less comfortable shape, the Bose NCH 700 performs admirably versus the more recent QC 45. The NCH 700 has an IPX4 rating and USB-C charging, making them an alternative (although not a fantastic one) for working out.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 ($348) is another option; it is totally stuffed with capabilities that you can use to tailor the sound and streaming quality. Additionally, they enable Sony 360 reality audio and automatically pause when the headset is taken off.
When compared to the QC 45, the Sony headset produces much stronger bass tones, but you can modify that. In comparison to the Bose NCH, 700 and even the $479 Apple AirPods Max, Sony’s headphones perform admirably.
Budget-conscious listeners should look into the Sennheiser PCX 550-II ($295). These headphones sound great with all types of music and have excellent noise-canceling for the price.
The microphone also works well for phone calls. It’s not as comfy as the QC 45 and QC 35 II, but you can still wear it without glasses or with them for extended periods of time. The PCX 550-II charge through micro-USB, just as the QC 35 II, but that’s a small price to pay for such an excellent pair of headphones.
Can you use the Connect app for both QC 35 II and QC 45?
No, you cannot, regrettably. You’ll need to utilize third-party software, such as your preferred streaming service, to EQ your QC 35 II.
Conclusion
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II and 45 are two different types, ofBose QuietComfort models. While both have similar features and feel, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is more affordable and has a smaller size. So, if you’re looking for the above QuietComfort model and don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Bose QuietComfort 45 is a better option.
The last choice is yours. We hope that you can find it helpful in this article. Thanks for reading!