Bose Around-ear Headphones - Bose Around-ear Headphones Review
Bose Around Ear Headphones - Good Sound But Costly With Sub-Par Build Quality - Review Other Options
The Bose around-ear headphone set is the base model in their line-up, but is in the middle price range of such sets from most other brands. Some would say you are paying a premium for the brand name here, and they would be right. The sound is good, though not great. This unit is cheaply constructed and has some qualities of low end headsets. Because of the questionable durability, these will definitely be good enough for personal use but may not be durable enough for true portable listening over time.
PRICING, QUALITY, PERFORMANCE
Only Bose could produce an entry level set of headphones in the $140 price range. The average sound quality means that demanding and experienced users will most likely find the sound to be mediocre. Those who are not audiophiles will find little to complain about in the sound quality without points of comparison given the brand name. And these will certainly sound better than your average entry level set. Then again, your average entry level set will cost one fifth of the price of these. So it's still not a fair comparison.
Still, the main knock on this set is the durability and build quality which leave much to be desired. Good thing Bose has a great warrantee and reputation because there is a pretty good chance you are going to have to make use of it.
This unit is not terrible by any means. Some people may rail against this unit more than it deserves because of the high price and Bose name. That's understandable.
But to be fair this set will meet the needs of some. Those who are super brand conscious, or are purchasing these as a gift for such a person, are highly attracted to the Bose brand. That's how these came into my life originally. Somebody I knew just could not live with any set other than Bose.
It should be noted that I've performed testing over a 7 month period before posting my thoughts here. The first set I tested is still functional, but the wear and tear is obvious even after that short a time. I've tested 2 other sets since then and they all have similar qualities. The sound improves slightly over time, but the body of the unit suffers wear and tear easily. These are good enough for a home set but for travel or portable use I would not even consider them.
Once again, if you must have Bose paying the premium for these won't be the worst you've ever done. You just have to know what you plan on using these for.
THE ALTERNATIVES
The list of sets you should consider instead of these is long and varied. Several of the sets that have to be considered are also made by Bose. That is more than a little ironic. Specifically, the "Quiet Comfort" series, such as the Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones or Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones have active noise cancelling features. They are about twice the cost of these but at least offer more performance for your money. After all, if you're going to pay a premium it may be better to pay it for better quality as opposed to brand alone.
The Audio Technicas, particularly the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones, also deserve to be considered. The performance with noise cancelling enabled is very good. For less than these over-the-ear passive headphones, you get an active noise cancelling set that is more durable and with better sound. Similarly, the Sennheiser PXC 250 Active Noise Canceling Headphones, Sennheiser PXC 450 NoiseGard Active Noise-Canceling Headphones, Sony MDR-NC50 Noise Canceling Headphones and Sony MDR-NC60 Noise Canceling Headphone all offer more features and quality in a very wide price range depending on your budget and needs. Any of these certainly stack up well against the QC2 and QC3 and would far surpass the Bose around the ear headphones. So they definitely should be considered here.
But for those who don't want the additional noise cancelling and think the quality of these is good enough, there are countless models by Sony, Panasonic and others that should be considered. Even the very low end Sennheiser HD201 Headphones deserve to be considered for less demanding users, especially since you could buy and replace 7 sets of them for the same price as these.
PROS
+ Good gift for basic headset for those that must have Bose brand name
+ Earphone is decent quality for a basic headset
+ Comfort of design is good; pinches less than others
+ Extra long cord is convenient for home computer use
+ Sound quality is still generally *good* if not great
+ Sound leakage is bearable, allowing you to not disturb those around you as much
+ Some internal components (drivers, magnets, etc) are better quality, unlike the casing
+ Each ear canister easily swivels for comfort and versatility
+ The Bose warrantee is very good, but you will likely need it
+ The company track record of honoring the warrantee is great
CONS
- The pricing is high, mostly due to the Bose brand name rather than quality
- The headphones are made from low grade plastic and not very durable
- The hard wired cable doesn't provide the option for some devices that require an integrated microphone (3 channel audio) such as the iPhone
- These sometimes sell for less than the list price of $140 in local stores
- The sound sensitivity and range are only average and wont satisfy audiophiles
- Durability is questionable; the wires and connectors are your basic cheap grade and won't last heavy abuse
- The plastic head strap and can hinges are cheap and
- Fabric over the ear cushions is cheaper *pleather* type material that will wear away with time
- Many other design flaws add up to make these sub-par overall
CONCLUSION
If you or your loved ones do not have audiophile needs and simply must own the Bose name, you may be satisfied with these. If don't mind the wired connection, this set is worth a look.
If you are willing to expand your search, you may find much higher quality alternatives at better prices. An inexpensive set for infrequent use or a noise cancelling set for more heavy travel use can easily be had for less. If you plan on using your headphones often and don't mind spending a little more, look into the Audio Technica set or other alternatives.
For my money, the build quality is simply too low to justify this price. I will update this shortly with more detailed testing information and alternatives.
Enjoy!
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by: David Parker