The simultaneous launch of three new products, each replacing a popular existing product from the brand is certainly major news, and deserved a bigger promotional effort. Particularly when one of those products has not been in the market for more then a year, such as the QuietComfort Earbuds II, or two years, in the case of the QuietComfort 45 ANC. And when the QuiteComfort Ultra replaces directly the flagship Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, which was one of the boldest designs from Bose, it reveals an intention that deserved a better timing. Looking back, Bose might have wanted to keep up with the tradition of a September launch timeframe. It's just a shame that they didn't leverage IFA Berlin where they would have been the stars of the show.
Bose Immersive Audio
One of the core updates in the new QuietComfort Ultra models is the introduction of Bose Immersive Audio - which the company clarifies that it should not be mistaken for Spatial Audio or binaural Dolby Atmos, and should be motivation enough for consumers to convert or upgrade.
"We know that listening to music is a deeply personal experience — what you listen to, when and where you listen, and the emotion it has the power to evoke," says Raza Haider, Chief Product Officer for Bose. “The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Earbuds with Bose Immersive Audio won’t disappoint. The lifelike listening experience, superior noise cancellation performance, and modern design truly make both products the ultimate companion for any music lover."
So, what is Bose Immersive Audio? The company says that it's all about immersive reproduction that goes "beyond special effects." It generates a soundstage that is wider, more spacious, making content multi-dimensional and layered, regardless of the audio platform or device. Bose does state that this makes "spatial audio accessible to all." Although it means a different thing from what is currently perceived as "spatial audio" or "immersive audio" formats.
"It will bring you closer than ever by virtually seating you right in the acoustic sweet spot. Traditionally, when listening to recorded content through headphones, the soundstage is collapsed into your head between your ears. Bose Immersive Audio reveals its true depth, spatializing what you’re hearing by virtually placing it in front of you. This effect is enabled by an onboard IMU and newly developed, proprietary Bose digital signal processing software in the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Earbuds," the company illustrates and details.
Enhancing listening experiences through spatialization, which creates an experience more akin to being in a room listening to speakers, requires the accuracy that is normally referenced to the head position. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) is the basic component to implement head tracking, a key component in that spatialization experience, present in the Bose Immersive Audio implementation.
As Bose details, there are two options for listening to Bose Immersive Audio: "Still" or "Motion." “Still” is best when you’re not moving because the audio stays in place — perfect for when you’re sitting down and want to feel as if the sound is fixed in a specific position. “Motion” allows the audio to move with you, so it’s always out in front of you — great for staying immersed on the go. In a nutshell, Bose Immersive Audio is all about the reproduction experience, independently of the audio source and formats. Bose does not mention any abilities to translate multichannel surround or object-based audio formats to binaural.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Replacing the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 as the brand’s flagship over-ear headphones, the QuietComfort Ultra offer a powerful combination of Bose Immersive Audio, world-class noise cancellation, and CustomTune audio calibration. "Bose Immersive Audio and CustomTune technology work together to deliver enveloping sound that’s fully optimized to your ears," Bose explains.
One of Bose's most daring choices in the QuietComfort Ultra headphones was to abandon the slim, minimalistic, and extremely elegant headband and earcups of the 700 design, and embrace again the same design language familiar of the original QuietComfort, even if with a more modern headband with premium materials. The minimal seams and part splits convey a sleek overall appearance, while still allowing the Ultra Headphones to fold flat into a compact storage case.
Three physical controls in the right earcup activate power/Bluetooth pairing, a capacitive touch strip enables volume control and shortcut access, while a multifunction button allows toggling between listening modes, answering or ending calls, and content playback control. The left earcup includes an LED indicator, 2.5 mm jack, and a USB-C charging port. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones offer up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge while Bose Immersive Audio is turned off, and up to 18 hours when Immersive Audio is turned on.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds replace the recent QC Earbuds II and continue to offer the same superior noise cancellation, CustomTune sound calibration technology, responsive touch controls, and an IPX4 rating — and now they offer improved far-end call quality. With the support of dynamic microphone mixing and adaptive filters, voice pickup is more intelligible in less-than-ideal environments. These technologies work together in real time to determine and prioritize which microphone on each bud is experiencing the least wind noise, and selecting from a variety of noise filters so your voice presents more clearly to those you’re calling.
The Ultra Earbud’s design has also been refreshed to incorporate a new metallic treatment for a sleeker, more luxe look. The earbuds’ stability bands also feature an improved, interlocking fit on the buds to help ensure they are mounted correctly, delivering optimal comfort, stability, and performance.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Rounding out the new headphone portfolio are the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, which will replace the QuietComfort 45 Headphones. Offering the same high-fidelity audio paired with legendary noise cancellation, the QC Headphones now offer the ability to adjust noise cancellation levels and set custom modes. For wireless listening, they offer multipoint Bluetooth 5.1 capability and up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge via USB-C. An audio cable with in-line mic is also included for wired listening or communication. Spotify Tap is also supported.
What Else
Both the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, enabling support for the latest Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codec for audio streaming — including lossless and low latency capabilities. Snapdragon Sound also allows for more robust connectivity with premium Android devices, and the Ultra Headphones and Ultra Earbuds also add Google Fast Pair for added ease-of-use when pairing Android devices. Both models are Bluetooth 5.3.
All three new QuietComfort products are compatible with Bose SimpleSync technology. SimpleSync allows users to pair Bose QuietComfort noise cancelling headphones with select smart soundbars and speakers for a personal listening experience at home. Independent volume controls allow users to lower or mute the soundbar while keeping the Bluetooth headphones as loud as necessary.
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, and QuietComfort Headphones work with a mobile device's built-in voice assistant and use the Bose Music app for additional features like shortcut settings, listening modes, and adjustable EQ. The Bose Music app is also used to release software updates for new features and benefits that may become available in the future.
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds will be available early October 2023 for $429 and $299 respectively. Both are available in Black and White Smoke. The QuietComfort Headphones are available from September 21 for $349, also available in Black and White Smoke, plus a limited-edition Cypress Green.
www.bose.com
