QuietComfort 45

"Short answer: 99% sure I'm going to return them due to harsh treble."

While some users find the sound crisp and clear, a significant number complain about harsh treble, a lack of bass compared to competitors, and a sound profile that is not as refined as older models.

"I'm pleased to say the QC45 are just as comfortable, and dare I say it, possibly even more so than the QC35."

The QC45 are widely praised for their exceptional comfort, allowing for extended wear without discomfort, even for users with glasses.

"Battery Life got decreased drastically. Officially they state it has gone down by 4 hours from 24 to 20 hours but really I get about 13-15 with volume never exceeding 50%."

Battery life is mentioned as a point of contention, with some users reporting significantly shorter actual usage times than officially stated, requiring more frequent charging.

"After a year of use, my earpads wore out. At first, it was just an inconvenience, but eventually, it impacted the sound and noise-canceling performance."

Concerns are frequently raised about the build quality, particularly the durability of the earpads which tend to flake after about a year of use, and a perceived cheaper feel compared to older models.

"I think I'm just gonna wait till black Friday and get the 700s again. With working from home and school having the 700s and the USB Link is a godsend. If you change up the EQ I find the sound is fine. The Sony's really do feel muddy to me personally. I'd by happy if the 700s had button instead of touch controls. I WISH the 45s were the one headphone to rule them all. But nope, they seem cheaper than 700s in build and materials used. Along with less app features and customization. And sound that is subpar."

The microphone quality is consistently criticized, with users reporting that their voice is too quiet or muffled, making them unsuitable for important calls or conference meetings.

"Connectivity Issues. Oh boy, there so many of them. If I connect two devices to the headphones I get this weird crackle every few minutes that sounds a bit like skipping."

Connectivity issues, especially when pairing with multiple devices, are a common complaint, alongside a lack of features like adjustable ANC levels and EQ that were present in or expected from competitors.

"The Bose QuietComfort’s presentation is clean, spacious, detailed and sharp but they can also sound clinical and a little brittle in tone."

While described as balanced and clear, the sound quality is frequently criticized for being too clinical, lacking musicality, and struggling with busy tracks, with some reviewers preferring the richer sound of competitors.

"No one can ever say that Bose makes uncomfortable headphones. I wore the QuietComfort 45 for an entire workday with no ill effect."

Users universally agree that the QC45 headphones are exceptionally comfortable, even for extended wear, with plush padding and a lightweight design that doesn't cause fatigue.

"Bose rates the QuietComfort 45 for 24 hours of battery life and I can’t debunk that claim."

The battery life is consistently rated as excellent, meeting or exceeding the advertised 24 hours and outperforming many competitors, with the added benefit of quick charging.

"The headphones’ arms and earcaps are made of matte plastic while the extenders are plastic, reinforced with custom cast metal."

The build quality is described as sturdy and reliable, utilizing a familiar plastic design reinforced with metal and glass-filled nylon, though some note it's not as sleek as other premium options.

"Thanks to the myriad of mics, the QuietComfort 45 offer great call quality. [...] callers said my voice sounded slightly clearer with the Bose headphones."

Call quality is generally praised as good to great, with improved noise reduction thanks to additional microphones, though a few instances of muffled or dropped calls were noted.

"Viewed in the context of recent headphone releases, the QC 45’s feature count is spartan."

The QC45 offers essential features like multipoint Bluetooth and USB-C charging but is criticized for lacking advanced features found in competitors, such as adjustable ANC levels or wear detection, and only supports SBC/AAC codecs.

"Can't really tell the tonal difference between the QC45's and the QC35 ii's."

While many find the sound quality good and clear, a significant portion of users feel it's not as impressive as competitors, especially before EQ updates, with some noting it can be too bright.

"They are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used, and comfort cannot be understated for importance."

Comfort is overwhelmingly cited as a major strength, with users frequently stating they are the most comfortable headphones they have ever worn, even for extended periods.

"They feel really great, battery is really good, noise cancellation is good and i think the sound quality is good as well."

Battery life is generally considered good, with users reporting it lasts around 24 hours, which is sufficient for most daily activities and travel.

"The Bose are light weight but very rugged, I've owned the same QC35II since 2016 and so many times I've rounded a corner and got to close to corner and knocked the headphone straight into the wall while wearing them."

The build quality is perceived as durable and robust, with many users having long-term positive experiences with Bose products, though some mention material deterioration in warm weather.

"I find the mic's to be mediocre on the other end of phone calls. The sound is find on my end, but mediocre from the person I'm speaking with."

User feedback on call quality is largely negative, with multiple comments describing the microphone performance as mediocre or having low sound.

"Don’t understand why Bose didn’t take a giant leap with the sound quality. They still don’t have an EQ settings with the QC series or app."

While praised for physical buttons and multipoint connectivity, the lack of EQ options (initially) and issues with wind noise cancellation were noted drawbacks, though firmware updates have improved some features.