"Music is probably the only real magic I have encountered in my life. There's not some trick involved with it. It's pure and it's real. It moves, it heals, it communicates and does all these incredible things," mused Tom Petty. Now Petty knew more than a thing or two about music having been quite a sensation in the 70s and 80s. That's what music does, it transcends boundaries and takes you places. Perhaps that's why one needs a good audio system or a great pair of headphones for listening to music. Bose is a brand that stands for quality and there's always a sense of excitement when a new product is launched. The latest offering from Bose is the QC35 II - successor to the critically acclaimed Bose QC 35.
While other competitors like Sony have decided to infuse gesture based features in their headphones, Bose has decided to take the smarter route. Priced at Rs 29,363, the all-new Bose QC 35 II comes with an integrated Google Assistant button. We spent quite a few hours listening to a variety of genres of music and here's our review of Bose's latest headphones.
Design
In terms of design and looks, the Bose QC35 II looks exactly like its predecessor. The latest addition and arguably its biggest highlight is the built-in Google Assistant which finds a place on the left ear cup. There isn't any other design change from the previous model of headphones. Comfort is what is what we've become used to with Bose and the QC 35 II doesn't disappoint. The ear cups have soft leather coating which is really soft and comfortable on the ears even if you use it for couple of hours straight. The plastic body feels sturdy and durable with the control buttons and the power on/off button located conveniently within reachable distance. The headband has a soft fabric coating on the inside and leather coating on the outside -- this ensures that it's lighter and softer on the head while still managing to look premium and durable on the outside.
These are seriously light headphones and it really makes a difference for most music buffs. You can wear them for hours without feeling a tinge of discomfort and the ear cups fit perfectly. The Bose QC35 II comes in two colours; Black and Silver, while silver looks really good and it pops, we'd still recommend getting the black one as there's less chance of them getting dirty compared to the silver variant.
Performance
Sometimes we just need to block the cacophony that seems to around everywhere. That's why noise cancellation is manna from heaven. The critically acclaimed noise cancellation that was also found on the previous version has made its way the 2017 version and it is as good as it used to be.
The moment you turn it on, the ridiculous noise outside just seems to disappear. Noise cancellation works like this on these headphones: it constantly analyses the noise around and block the extra noise with opposite signals. If you pause the music you'll hear a muffled sound as if someone was talking to you with their mouth covered with a tape. It's not an easy feature to get accustomed to as first-timers might find it weird but as you get used to it, you won't be able to do without it. The Google Assistant button also doubles up as a button for noise cancellation. To set up noise cancellation, you will need to open the Bose Connect app on your smartphone. Once connected to the app, you can set the noise cancellation levels - from high to low to off.
Bose has been synonymous with high-quality headphones and the QC35 II lives up to the legacy. It strikes all the right notes and doesn't miss a single beat - literally and figuratively. The audio clarity is excellent - even though it doesn't support Hi-Res audio - with the highs, lows and mids completely in sync. The bass could have been punchier but still delivers good output.
The Bose Connect app is a bit of a downer as apart from controlling the Google Assistant button it doesn't do anything significant.
We put the Bose QC 35 II to some rigorous testing in terms of music. From Bob Dylan to George Ezra, from George Michael to Sam Smith, from Lauren Hill to Kehlani and from Mick Jagger to Harry Styles, we went all in. What Bose QC 35 II does is that it gives you a delightful experience of listening to music. The vocal come to life when you play soulful and acoustic stuff and you experience how well-balanced the pitches are when electronic music is turned on. The Bose QC 35 II has definitely aced its nNoise cCancellation technology and is a great performer.
It comes with 20 hours of battery like just like the Bose QC 35, which honestly could have been improved. Still, it lasts for 3 days with heavy usage and there's the option of the 3.5mm headphone cord if you run out of battery.
For those who use voice assistants on a regular basis, the integration of Google Assistant is a welcome addition. The commands are understood and delivered clearly and swiftly. Making calls and asking simple questions comes in handy.
Verdict
With the QC35 II, Bose seems to have another winner on its hands. It has everything an audiophile looks for in a pair of headphones - excellent sound output, comfortable to use and increible noise cancellation ability. At Rs 29, 363, it might seem pricey to some but for quality you have to pay a premium. Bose QC 35 II commands that premium for all the right reasons. Still, if you want to look at other options in the same price bracket, Sony's WH-1000X M2 is a good alternative.
While other competitors like Sony have decided to infuse gesture based features in their headphones, Bose has decided to take the smarter route. Priced at Rs 29,363, the all-new Bose QC 35 II comes with an integrated Google Assistant button. We spent quite a few hours listening to a variety of genres of music and here's our review of Bose's latest headphones.
Design
In terms of design and looks, the Bose QC35 II looks exactly like its predecessor. The latest addition and arguably its biggest highlight is the built-in Google Assistant which finds a place on the left ear cup. There isn't any other design change from the previous model of headphones. Comfort is what is what we've become used to with Bose and the QC 35 II doesn't disappoint. The ear cups have soft leather coating which is really soft and comfortable on the ears even if you use it for couple of hours straight. The plastic body feels sturdy and durable with the control buttons and the power on/off button located conveniently within reachable distance. The headband has a soft fabric coating on the inside and leather coating on the outside -- this ensures that it's lighter and softer on the head while still managing to look premium and durable on the outside.
These are seriously light headphones and it really makes a difference for most music buffs. You can wear them for hours without feeling a tinge of discomfort and the ear cups fit perfectly. The Bose QC35 II comes in two colours; Black and Silver, while silver looks really good and it pops, we'd still recommend getting the black one as there's less chance of them getting dirty compared to the silver variant.
Performance
Sometimes we just need to block the cacophony that seems to around everywhere. That's why noise cancellation is manna from heaven. The critically acclaimed noise cancellation that was also found on the previous version has made its way the 2017 version and it is as good as it used to be.
The moment you turn it on, the ridiculous noise outside just seems to disappear. Noise cancellation works like this on these headphones: it constantly analyses the noise around and block the extra noise with opposite signals. If you pause the music you'll hear a muffled sound as if someone was talking to you with their mouth covered with a tape. It's not an easy feature to get accustomed to as first-timers might find it weird but as you get used to it, you won't be able to do without it. The Google Assistant button also doubles up as a button for noise cancellation. To set up noise cancellation, you will need to open the Bose Connect app on your smartphone. Once connected to the app, you can set the noise cancellation levels - from high to low to off.
Bose has been synonymous with high-quality headphones and the QC35 II lives up to the legacy. It strikes all the right notes and doesn't miss a single beat - literally and figuratively. The audio clarity is excellent - even though it doesn't support Hi-Res audio - with the highs, lows and mids completely in sync. The bass could have been punchier but still delivers good output.
The Bose Connect app is a bit of a downer as apart from controlling the Google Assistant button it doesn't do anything significant.
We put the Bose QC 35 II to some rigorous testing in terms of music. From Bob Dylan to George Ezra, from George Michael to Sam Smith, from Lauren Hill to Kehlani and from Mick Jagger to Harry Styles, we went all in. What Bose QC 35 II does is that it gives you a delightful experience of listening to music. The vocal come to life when you play soulful and acoustic stuff and you experience how well-balanced the pitches are when electronic music is turned on. The Bose QC 35 II has definitely aced its nNoise cCancellation technology and is a great performer.
It comes with 20 hours of battery like just like the Bose QC 35, which honestly could have been improved. Still, it lasts for 3 days with heavy usage and there's the option of the 3.5mm headphone cord if you run out of battery.
For those who use voice assistants on a regular basis, the integration of Google Assistant is a welcome addition. The commands are understood and delivered clearly and swiftly. Making calls and asking simple questions comes in handy.
Verdict
With the QC35 II, Bose seems to have another winner on its hands. It has everything an audiophile looks for in a pair of headphones - excellent sound output, comfortable to use and increible noise cancellation ability. At Rs 29, 363, it might seem pricey to some but for quality you have to pay a premium. Bose QC 35 II commands that premium for all the right reasons. Still, if you want to look at other options in the same price bracket, Sony's WH-1000X M2 is a good alternative.
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