Overview
What is the Bose NCH 700?
The Bose NCH 700 is a new type of headphones that promises to provide a better listening experience by canceling out noise. The headphones use an advanced noise-canceling algorithm that is more effective than other noise-canceling headphones on the market.
The headphones also feature a new design that is said to be more comfortable to wear for long periods. In addition, the Bose NCH 700 comes with a carrying case and a 3.5mm audio cable.
What is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II?
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a noise-canceling headphone released in September 2017. It is an update to the original Bose QuietComfort 35, released in 2015.
The main difference between the two models is that the QuietComfort 35 II has a built-in Google Assistant. Other than that, the headphones are very similar. They have the same noise-canceling technology and feature a comfortable, over-ear design.
Bose 700 vs Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Price and value
Given the differences between the two, it would be a mistake to overlook the Bose 700 vs. QC35, even though it is more costly. The electronics in these cans alone make the premium price justified. The Bose 700 was initially priced at $379. However, some stores have reduced prices to as low as $299. It is available in four distinct colors: black, luxe silver, soapstone, and triple midnight.
The QC35 II, on the other hand, delivers a lot of performance for $299, making the purchase marginally more appealing. The headphones have been spotted for as little as $189. Black, Silver, Midnight Blue, Rose Gold, and Triple Midnight are the available colors.
Active noise cancellation
The comparison of noise cancellation in the Bose 700 and Bose QC35 II may appear unfair, but this is due to the significant enhancements Bose included in the current flagship model. For the 700, the firm redesigned its adaptive microphone technology, providing the headphones a significant edge over their predecessor.
Underneath the 700’s sleek appearance are eight microphones, six of which are meant to mute your surroundings and work admirably. Many loud, simultaneous disturbances disrupted my Spotify vibrations. The noise from a neighboring construction site with dump trucks rushing over potholes couldn’t be muffled by the 700, but the remainder of the sound remained ignored.
I didn’t hear a sound when I was riding on the train during rush hour or blasting my living room speakers with Avengers: Endgame playing in the background. Notably, the 700 blocked all noise using the ANC adjustment via the mobile app at Level 8 (the highest level is 10).
Design and Fit
The QuietComfort 35 IIs surely live up to their name’s ‘comfort’ portion. They are substantially lighter than other competitors, weighing only 310g, and their grip firmness is well balanced. That’s especially wonderful news for those of us who wear glasses.
Their hinges let them fold down easily, and their build quality indicates that they may be maintained in a knapsack without the carry-case that comes with them. These are tough, durable headphones that are meant to last.
The NC 700s are more elegant and sophisticated than their stablemates. They’re mostly one-piece, with no obvious hinges. The stainless steel headband is seamlessly incorporated into the earcups, with the bottom piece working as a slider to shift the cups up and down.
The chamfered, shimmer-finished cups have the Bose logo, microphone holes, and three function buttons for noise cancellation, power/pairing, and voice control. Make no mistake. They are eye-catching headphones.
They’re also really comfortable. Their firm grip strikes the perfect mix between loose and vice-like. They are also lighter than the QC 35IIs, at only 254g.
However, there is a drawback to these futuristic looks: durability. We’d also keep the included travel case accessible – the Bose’s ear cup sliders got scuffed after sharing a bag with an Apple MacBook Air, so we’d advise taking excellent care of your new investment.
The case is a little thicker than a standard paperback book, and the 700s fit nicely within after the cups are folded flat – unlike their brothers, they don’t collapse inwards due to their hinge-free design.
We wouldn’t throw them in a bag like the E QC 35 II. However, this is a higher-end product that necessitates a more delicate touch.
Controls
After a year of use, I still believe the touch panel of the 700 is one of the most intuitive and responsive on the market. When you’re on the go, the ability to use slide gestures up and down (to control the volume) and left to right (to skip forward or back) for music playback on the panel is useful, as is the ability to perform tap gestures like double-tap (to play/pause/answer) and tap and hold (to play/pause/answer) (to decline calls).
The physical buttons are very tactile and simple to use. To cycle through ANC levels, press the single button on the right ear cup. The top button on the left ear cup controls power and pairing, while the bottom button activates the digital assistant.
With a three-button module on the right ear cup to handle calls and playback, the QC35 II makes the operation simple. Compare Bose noise canceling headphones were also among the first audio companies to provide a dedicated Google Assistant button. When pushed, the power/pairing switch on the front of the right ear cup generates a lovely rebound sensation. The learning curve is simple here, but the 700 are just more exotic.
Both headphones support all three main digital assistants: Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa. You may activate Alexa with a voice command. The 700 performed substantially better at voice recognition than the QC35 II, accounting for every word.
I was amazed at how quickly Google Assistant reacted to my queries. It was also convenient to get notifications (for example, Gmail (opens in a new tab), Facebook, and incoming calls) at the press of a button. The QC35 II is comparable in operation, although voice instructions are not as fluent as they are on the 700.
The QC35 II displayed industry-leading noise canceling when they were first released, and they continue to do so to this day. I’ll always be grateful for these headphones’ capacity to block out airplane engines while also providing privacy for listening to music at home.
Nonetheless, after evaluating both models, I discovered that the QC35 II let some high-frequency noises into the soundstage, such as air horns and police sirens. These sounds may not fully knock you off course, but I liked the 700 for the job.
Both pairs of headphones also have an ambient listening mode, which allows you to stay aware of your surroundings while listening to music.
The extra microphones on the 700, particularly the four that work together to boost vocals when you talk, allowed me to interact well with my barista without having to remove my headphones. On occasion, I was able to listen in on my wife’s Zoom work talks. This function in the QC35 II isn’t as polished, resulting in muffled dialogue.
Sound quality
The QuietComfort 35 IIs can handle whatever audio you throw at them. They extract an amazing amount of detail that would normally go unnoticed and excel in the midrange.
Downsides? They may need more bass, greater timing and dynamics, and higher-quality highs compared to recent competitors.
The 700s have the same musical personality as their siblings – strong, clear, and forward – but they provide a bit more all around.
While their clarity and directness are outstanding, they again fall short in the bass department. However, it is only visible when playing against the best at the money.
Apps and special features
Bose already has a free smartphone app for its current portfolio of audio products, including the QC35 II, called Bose Connect. So I was surprised to see the firm announce a new app, Bose QuietComfort 700, designed particularly for the 700. But I’m not complaining because the free Bose Music app has a more slick UI and functions that improve the listening experience.
You can manually adjust the ANC and select your favorite settings, and the most recent software update adds an adjustable EQ to fine-tune the bass, mids, and treble.
Other significant features include a power-saving function, playback/volume controls, a voice assistant option, and Self Voice mode, allowing you to change your voice’s loudness during conversations manually. All of these features functioned perfectly, and I appreciated how easy it was to connect the headphones using the app.
Through a Bose Music update, Bose was able to add an adjustable EQ to the 700. You may modify three fields: Bass, Mid, and Treble, each with a maximum level of 10. The most recent version adds even more audio personalization in the form of presets. There are four options: bass boosting, bass reducing, treble boosting, and treble reducing. Another recently introduced function is instant access to Spotify, which can be set to the Shortcut button.
Bose Connect includes handy features, such as High and Low noise cancellation and a Music Share function (available exclusively on the QC35 series) that allows you to listen to music on two pairs of Bose wireless headphones. There is still a Standby Timer and the possibility to switch out Action Button orders.
I’ve tried a variety of Bluetooth 5.0 headphones, but none have provided the same level of immediate communication as the 700. By clicking the Pair Mode button, I could connect these cans to both my MacBook Pro and the Google Pixel 3XL simultaneously.
The multipoint technology enabled pairing to two devices simultaneously; this is also available and works well on the QC35 II. I was listening to iTunes on my laptop and controlling music through the Bose Music player with no hiccups and at a good range (35 feet). The QC35 II uses an out-of-date Bluetooth 4.1 protocol, but it nevertheless delivers a robust connection between devices and a respectable range of up to 32 feet.
Battery life
Bose gave both the 700 and the QC35 II the same battery life: 20 hours with the ANC turned on. On a full charge, both pairs of headphones gave me roughly 17.5 to 18 hours of use with noise cancellation activated. That was enough for a week’s worth of Spotify streaming and cross-country in-flight entertainment.
During testing, the QC35 II frequently outperformed its promised battery life, providing up to 22 hours of use on a single charge. According to Bose, the headphones can also be used for up to 40 hours of wireless listening with the ANC turned on, but the 700 can only be used for 20 hours regardless of the ANC setting.
Furthermore, we were disappointed that the 700 was only 30% charged out of the box; we recall the QC35 II is around 70% on the first usage.
Furthermore, during my initial testing, the battery-life readings for the 700 were unreliable. Several times, I received warnings indicating that the headphones were at 0% charge, even though the mobile app said there were 6.5 hours of playtime remaining. It’s not something I’ve seen while downloading the current firmware upgrade, but it’s worth noting.
Bose does sell a charging case for the 700 for $80, which adds 40 hours of use. So that you know, the case is not charged.
The charging connectors are a significant distinction between the two variants. The USB-C port on the 700 is used. However, the micro-USB connector on the QC35 II is used. Both models offer fast charging, although the 700 charges faster: 3.5 hours against 2.5 hours on the QC35 II.
- Read more: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 vs Sony WH-1000XM4
FAQs
What headphones are better than the Bose qc35 II?
The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 has a more streamlined design than the Bose QC 35 II. The Noise Canceling Headphones 700 include touch controls rather than buttons and USB-C charging and are still compatible with smart assistants.
Does Bose 700 leak sound?
The leaking performance of the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is adequate. They leak some sound over the spectrum, so the music that escapes sounds full-bodied but not extremely loud.
Which Bose headphones cancel the most noise?
The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is the company’s greatest wireless noise-canceling headphones set. These headphones are pricey, but we believe they are worthwhile for regular travelers who value performance and comfort.
- Read more: Best Bose Headphones
Can I use Bose 700 headphones on a plane?
Headphones 700 and QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones II are well-known for blocking cabin noise while simultaneously generating high-quality sound. You can put your headphones into the plane’s entertainment system because both options have an auxiliary wire.
Conclusion
After testing and reviewing both the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, we can conclude that the latter is the better choice for most people. The 700s offer better noise cancellation, better sound quality, and more features than the QC 35 IIs. However, the QC 35 IIs are still a great option if you’re on a tight budget. Thanks for reading this article!