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When I was asked to review these Bose QuietComfort35 headphones, I thought “How can I write more than about 50 words? Headphones are headphones. What can I write about, other than their ability to be plugged in and be heard?” Then I tried them. Mind: blown. These aren’t just headphones, they’re something else altogether and one lucky winner will soon be joining me on the revelatory journey that is experiencing these Bose headphones.
Many people are familiar with the brand of Bose. They are synonymous with the high-end design, development and production of outstanding audio equipment. The noise-cancelling QuietComfort 35 headphones are no exception.
The first difference to my as-supplied-with-my-phone in-ear headphones is that these headphones are Bose’s first active noise-cancelling headphones (alongside the QuietControl 30) that are wireless. Since more and more smartphones are doing away with the 3.5mm headphone jack, this strikes me as a wise move. I hate wires; they’re not terribly aesthetic and, all too often, they can be restrictive, so I’ve not opened the box and I’m already pretty pleased.
Once unboxed and set up it’s apparent that losing the lead makes the QuietComfort 35 more versatile than any headphones I’ve owned. A quick look at the design makes for pleasant viewing, too. The outer case of the ear cups is made of metal, while the frame and headband are of a thick plastic. They’re covered in a beautiful faux-leather that manages to stay quite cool, even in muggy weather. No wonder Bose have put the word “Comfort” in the name of these headphones.
All the controls are placed on the right ear-cup. A simple switch turns the headphones on and sets up Bluetooth connections , allowing you to connect two devices at the same time, (you can also change between devices using the Bose app). Buttons on the side let you adjust volume and control your phone. A multi-function button plays or pauses your music and is also the button you use to accept calls and initiate voice commands.
The QC35s are surprisingly lightweight and even come supplied with a hard case, into which they fold and fit nicely. The case will easily fit in a bag and comes with an aeroplane adapter and 3.5mm cable for use when the units are out of juice.
Bose headphones have always been among the best at active noise cancellation (ANC) and these QuietComfort35s are outstanding at keeping noise out.
Their design in itself blocks out some noise, but once you turn on the ANC all but the loudest sounds disappear, allowing you to fully appreciate and experience the music. QuietComfort 35 provide smooth and accurate sound, even at low volumes where I’d expect some elements to vanish. The bass is solid but controlled beautifully, ensuring it doesn’t drown out the mid-range or treble; nor does it go AWOL when you turn the volume down.
As I said in my intro, the QuietComfort 35 aren’t only headphones, they also work as a headset. This means that you can take a call and talk to your friends (or Siri, if you’re an iPhone user) with the added benefit of noise cancelling. I found this a great way to have phone conversations in the middle of Norwich on a busy Saturday. I could hear the person on the other end of the line perfectly. Better yet, Bose have incorporated their noise cancelling tech to clear up your voice when using the QuietComfort 35 as a headset; outstanding attention to detail, that, and a feature that could’ve been overlooked or omitted.
It’s a widely-held belief that you can’t get long battery life from wireless headphones but I am delighted that Bose’s claim that the QuietComfort 35 can survive for 20 hours on a single charge was spot-on. When it finally ran down, a quick 15-minute charge gave me another 2.5 hours.
More than 750 words on a set of headphones! It’s little wonder, though; with a great design, beautifully clear, balanced sound and really impressive battery life, these are some of the best over-ear noise-cancelling headphones you can buy – or, if you’re lucky, win!
You can buy online today, use our Click & Collect service to collect from your local store in as little as one hour or why not ask your local store about viewing our Bose range.
[This competition has now ended and is no longer open for entries. To find out about our latest competitions, please visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.]
