The new CustomTune sound calibration technology intelligently personalizes audio and noise cancellation performance to the unique shape of every ear, achieving what Bose doesn't hesitate to call "an unprecedented listening experience and the world’s best noise cancellation from any headphone — banded or in-ear." That is, Bose says that the new true wireless QuietComfort Earbuds II are even better than its current flagship ANC over-ear headphones (which no doubt will be very soon also refreshed using the same technology).
The new design uses four microphones in each earbud — one on the inside and three on the outside — to sense, measure, and send unwanted noise to the dedicated processor, loaded with Bose's exclusive algorithms. The CustomTune sound calibration is triggered every time the earbuds are removed from their case and placed in the user's ears. A proprietary tone is played, and a microphone inside the earbud measures the ear canal’s acoustic response — a technology that Bose has been perfecting for its OTC hearing aid efforts. That information is then used to precisely tailor both audio and noise cancellation performance especially for the user — all within less than half a second.
The more advanced noise reduction also targets frequencies that were previously difficult to reduce — like voices of nearby coworkers and screaming babies. CustomTune also continuously adapts to changing noises in the surrounding environment. The intelligent personalization provided by CustomTune also enhances Aware Mode with ActiveSense. In Aware Mode, it delivers improved transparency, and ActiveSense responds with just the right level of tuned noise cancellation to reduce noise as it happens, and only for as long as it lasts.
Measuring and fitting the acoustic signature of the ear canal and adjusting the noise cancellation to fit the response at every frequency is not exactly new. One way or another, Apple and other manufacturers are applying the same approach in the latest Adaptive ANC designs. What is new is the level of optimization that is completely focused on just noise cancellation optimization with CustomTune. And Bose explains that obviously, this approach also personalizes the sound of the audio listening experience, to counteract the ear canal's unique resonances, producing what Bose calls "the truest-to-life sound you've ever heard." We'll leave it to the frequency response measurement fanatics, which no doubt will very soon be showing how close or far Bose will be from that claim, which obviously will never pleased everyone.
We don't know why Bose had to delay this announcement to September 7, the day that Apple unveiled the new iPhone and — as also anticipated — the second generation of AirPods Pro. The comparison doesn't help the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and most importantly, Bose would have generated a much bigger momentum if it had made the announcement a week before (or later). But like Apple, who always focuses on the essential selling points for consumers, Bose also doesn't boast about the S5 chip or all the latest specs, and focuses instead on its strongest points.
And probably the strongest point for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is the all-new design. It stands-out in a pleasing way, looks modern, iconic and elegant. Each earbud is about one-third smaller than its predecessor (which where gigantic anyway), weighs less, and because they are much smaller, come in a pocketable charging case. For further personalization, they also include an eartip Fit Kit featuring a new two-piece system with interchangeable stability bands and eartips: the stability band adjusts to the contour, and the silicone eartips create a firm seal at the ear's opening. The Bose Fit Kit included with the QC Earbuds II supplies three sizes of eartips and three sizes of stability bands — allowing for up to nine customization options for each side.
Bose doesn't highlights much more about the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, which it's kind of strange since it obviously must feature an optimized driver for the new smaller design and new more advanced processing for the detailed frequency response "adaptive" adjustments. From the exploded view that's featured in the product page, the driver is not detailed, and we learned from other sources that it's supposed to be a new dynamic driver, smaller than 10mm. So, what about the sound? "We believe in the power of sound — it can transport you to your favorite concert, evoke a meaningful memory, or simply brighten your mood. QC Earbuds II do exactly that. They’re uniquely tuned to you — delivering immersive audio that brings you closer than ever to your content," says Raza Haider, chief product officer for Bose in the only reference about the sound in the product announcement distributed to the press.
From the specifications we only learn that these are Bluetooth 5.3 devices supporting SBC and AAC codecs only. So, although Bose cooperates with Qualcomm directly, there's no aptX Adaptive, and none of the usual technologies normally associated with the company's SnapDragon Sound platforms for TWS earbuds, such as Qualcomm cVc or TrueWireless Mirroring. The promotion just says that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II "feature improved voice pickup enabled by an updated noise removal algorithm." No mention of multipoint connectivity either.
The specifications confirm that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II will offer up to six hours of battery life with three additional charges provided by the case. The case can fully charge the earbuds in one hour, while a quick 20-minute charge provides up to two hours of playback. The case itself fully recharges in three hours via USB-C. We need to assume that Bose — as Apple does — specifies realistic runtimes with ANC and music streaming.
Otherwise, the new more elegant Bose true wireless earbuds have a an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance, and feature capacitive touch controls on both the left and right earbuds. Additionally, the Bose Music app provides shortcut settings, noise cancellation Modes, and adjustable EQ. Bose states that updates will be released over time to add new features and benefits - but no one should expect new codecs or LE Audio support.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II will be available for $299 in black starting on September 15, and in white (Soapstone) later in 2022.
www.bose.com
