The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds introduce an impressive set of noise-canceling earbuds which is the best workout earbuds , launched just a year after the acclaimed QuietComfort Earbuds 2. The design of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very similar to the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, featuring a new metallic treatment and an improved interlocking fit with enhanced stability bands. They are also IPX4 splash-proof, ensuring durability. Although they lack a wireless charging case, a new cover compatible with both the QC Earbuds 2 and QC Ultra Earbuds can be purchased separately.
Here I am going to share my opinion about such a product, which is the best workout earbuds and addition of Immersive Audio, a virtual soundstage that enhances the listening experience with spatial audio, akin to what is found in the Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Design and Fit:
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are solid, wireless earbuds that look like something from Star Trek. Each earbud weighs just 7.1 grams and features an ear fin and ovoid-shaped nozzle, ensuring a secure fit without putting too much pressure on your ear canals. Each earbud has a metallic control interface that prevents you from applying pressure when skipping tracks. The touch controls and gestures are well-implemented, making it easy to manage playback without any hassle.
If you’re familiar with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, the design of the new Ultra Earbuds will look similar, with a few updates. The outer stems now have a metallic finish for a sleeker look, and the stability bands attach more securely with a small notch on the top edge of each bud. So, I can say that, this is the best workout earbuds for all.
Key Features of Best Workout Earbuds:
Lightweight and Secure Fit
- Each earbud weighs 7.1 grams.
- Features an ear fin and ovoid-shaped nozzle for a secure fit without pressure.
Metallic Control Interface
- Prevents pressure when skipping tracks.
- Well-implemented touch controls and gestures for hassle-free playback management.
Updated Design
- Similar to Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II with a few updates.
- Outer stems have a metallic finish for a sleeker look.
- Stability bands attach more securely with a small notch on the top edge.
Top-Notch Comfort
- Super soft tips create a great seal without digging into your ears.
- More comfortable than many competitors, including the Sony WF-1000XM5.
Consistent and Premium Build
- Glossy, premium plastics that feel solid.
- Stems feature touch-sensitive controls for playback, listening modes, and volume adjustments.
Sleek and Customizable Look
- Maintains the sleek look of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless.
- Available in three colors: Black, White Smoke, and Moonstone Blue.
- Custom options through ColorWare for mixing and matching finishes and colors.
These design and fit features make the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds a comfortable and stylish choice, suitable for extended use , best workout earbuds and various activities.
Sound Quality of Best Workout Earbuds:
When Apple introduced spatial audio for the AirPods, it focused on creating a faux surround sound for movies. Over time, the music side of spatial audio gained attention, especially with tracks in Apple Music that featured Dolby Atmos mixes. In contrast, Bose’s Immersive Audio feature is designed primarily for music listening. It works with any stereo tracks, including movie soundtracks, but doesn’t focus on Dolby Atmos mixes.
Bose claims it as the best workout earbuds for its Immersive Audio “creates a wider, more spacious soundstage so your content becomes multi-dimensional and layered, regardless of the audio platform or device.” In my experience, this feature mostly lives up to its promise, though its effectiveness varies with different tracks. The sound can shift slightly when you move your head, even in “still” mode, which some may find off-putting.
Immersive Audio
- Wider Soundstage: Bose’s Immersive Audio creates a multi-dimensional and layered soundstage.
- Track Performance: Effectiveness varies with different tracks; some sound better than others.
- Head Movement: The sound shifts slightly when moving your head, even in “still” mode.
Sound Quality Improvement
- Overall Enhancement: Noticeable improvement in sound quality with Immersive Audio enabled.
- Track Example: Diddy’s “Another One of Me” sounded more open and expansive with Immersive Audio on.
- Music Source: Sound quality varies depending on the music source; Apple Music sounded bolder than Spotify.
Digital Processing Upgrades
- Clarity and Bass: Slight improvements in clarity and bass definition compared to the QC Earbuds II.
- Comparison: Sony’s WF-1000XM5 may be slightly more revealing, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are excellent and comparable.
Sound Profile
- Strong Bass and Treble: These earbuds cater to listeners who enjoy strong bass and treble.
- Rich and Full Sound: Maintains the same richness and fullness as predecessors but with more punch and clarity.
- Track Examples: Jimmy Eat World’s “Futures” sounded dynamic and energetic, while Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” had depth and weight without losing its bounce.
Bass-Heavy Sound Signature
- Ideal for Certain Genres: Great for electronic music and hip-hop with overemphasized bass response.
- Upper-Mid and Treble Ranges: Slightly tilted to highlight vocals and lead instruments, with bright and present sibilants like cymbals.
- Customization: The companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to customize the sound.
CustomTune Technology
- Personalized Sound: Tailors the sound to your ear shape with a chime that scans your ear canal.
- Various Modes: Choose from different levels of noise cancellation and immersion settings.
- Preferred Mode: Precise, rich, full-spectrum sound with immersion mode off and full noise cancelling via Quiet mode.
Immersive Audio Technology
- Proprietary DSP: Creates a multi-dimensional soundstage using proprietary digital signal processing.
- Spatialized Listening: Provides a spatialized listening experience across any music source or streaming platform.
- Testing Experience: “Still” mode offered an incredibly enveloping audio experience, making me feel like I was in the studio with the band. “Motion” mode maintained spatialized audio while walking around the city.
Additional Features
- Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive: Supports higher quality Bluetooth playback, dynamically scaling the data rate from 279 to 420kbps.
- Lossless Streaming: Improvement over previous Bluetooth capabilities, noticeable with lossless streaming services like Apple Music or Tidal.
Overall, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds deliver exceptional sound quality, enhanced by their Immersive Audio feature and CustomTune technology, making them a top choice for music enthusiasts.
Battery Life:
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer six hours of listening time, the same as the previous version, with an additional 18 hours provided by the charging case, totaling 24 hours. They also have a quick-charge feature, giving up to two hours of playback in just 20 minutes.
The case charges with a USB-C to USB-A cable, and a small light on the front glows orange when charging. While they don’t offer wireless charging, this wasn’t an issue for me, though it might be for some users. I rarely remember to charge them, yet I’m usually greeted with a cool voice saying ‘battery full’ whenever I put them in. The case is light and compact, easily fitting into a pocket or hydration vest without being cumbersome.
Features:
-
- 6 hours of listening time on a single charge.
- Additional 18 hours provided by the charging case, totaling 24 hours.
- Quick-charge feature: 20 minutes of charging gives up to 2 hours of playback.
- Charges via a USB-C to USB-A cable.
- Small light on the front of the case glows orange when charging.
- No wireless charging feature, which might be an issue for some users, but didn’t bother me.
Practicality
-
- The case is light and compact, easily fitting into a pocket or hydration vest.
- Rarely needed to charge frequently, often greeted with a ‘battery full’ notification.
Performance with Immersive Audio
-
- With immersive audio on, the earbuds lasted about 4 hours.
- The charging case still provided 24 hours of total time, or 16 hours with immersive audio.
- It’s a bit disappointing that immersive audio reduces battery life significantly.
Wireless Charging
-
- For $299, I expected wireless charging like my AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM5.
- Although Bose offers a $49 wireless charging case, I probably won’t buy it, but it’s an option if you need it.
Case Design
-
- The charging case includes a multifunction button, USB-C port, and recesses for charging the earbuds.
- LED indicators on the front and inside show the charging status.
Overall, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have impressive battery life and charging features, despite the lack of wireless charging. Their compact and efficient design makes them a great choice for on-the-go listening.
ANC ( Active Noise Cancellation )
The noise cancelling on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is exceptional. They effectively reduce screeching trains, chatty colleagues, and thundering jet engines to blissful silence. This feature has become indispensable for me, cutting out background distractions so well that I feel almost lost without them. They have become my comfort blanket against an increasingly hectic world.
Key Features of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds’ Active Noise Cancellation
Outstanding Noise Cancelling
-
- Reduces loud noises from trains, colleagues, and jet engines to near silence.
- Offers peace in a busy environment, making them essential for daily use.
Excellent ‘Aware’ Mode
-
- Transparency mode that highlights birdsong and conversations while reducing sirens and car doors.
- Ideal for listening to audiobooks or podcasts in quieter areas.
Customization Options
-
- Offers 10 different levels of isolation to customize your sound profiles.
- “Quiet” mode for maximum silence on airplanes.
- “Commute” profile for moderate noise reduction while walking around the city.
Natural Passthrough Sounds
-
- With “aware” mode, it feels like there’s nothing in your ears.
- ActiveSense feature lowers ambient sounds when loud noises are detected, similar to AirPods Pro’s Adaptive Transparency.
Top-Notch Noise Cancelling Performance
-
- Matches QC Earbuds II in reducing unwanted hums, roars, and high tones.
- Automatic loud-noise reduction system in “awareness” mode for natural sound.
Customizable Modes
-
- Allows creating different combinations of noise-cancelling and sound modes for quick switching.
Excellent Call Quality
-
- Isolates your voice from background noise, providing a natural sound on both ends of the call.
Immersive Audio Mode
-
- Sounds appear to come from speakers in a virtual space, enhancing the realism of movies and TV shows.
- Works with any brand of phone, computer, or tablet.
Enhanced Bluetooth and Audio Formats
-
- Supports Google’s instant Bluetooth pairing and Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio format.
- Standard Bluetooth 5.3 earbuds, easy to pair, and can be used individually.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have the best noise cancelling you can find in any headphones, especially ones this small. The sound quality is excellent, retaining Bose’s clear and controlled audio processing. They are bass-heavy but come with an equalizer in the Bose Music app to adjust the sound.
With the new immersive audio mode, the sound feels like it’s coming from speakers around you rather than directly into your ears. The “still” mode keeps the audio fixed ahead of you, adding to the realism, making movies and TV shows more immersive.
These earbuds are also among the first Bose products to support Google’s instant Bluetooth pairing and Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio format, making them great for Android or Windows users. They are easy to pair and can be used individually, though they can only connect to one device at a time.
