Looking to take advantage of your music? Can no longer stand those Apple Earbuds? Ready to take your first steps into the world of high performance headphones? Then the Bose QuietComfort 15′s may be right for you. Marketed as “Accoustic Noise Canceling Headphones,” these are Bose’s best. A name brand, these headphones easily exceeded my expectations as to what they could offer. Before you go buy a pair of your own, join me after the break for a detailed review on who these headphones are for and what they can do for you.
The Bose QuietComfort 15 headphones are the successor to Bose’s previous QuietComfort 3′s and were originally introduced in 2009. Bose has since optimized the headphones with a microphone and volume control cable, compatible with your Apple products. The headphones,
priced at $300, come with two audio cords, a traveler’s case, one AAA battery, and an airline adapter. The headphones are noise canceling and require battery power for operation. With so many features included, it’s time to break it all down piece by piece.
Comfort
The QC 15′s are clearly made for the traveler and easy listener. These headphones are very light given their functionality and allowed me to forget I was even wearing them. The plush ear cushions are very soft, meaning I never felt pressure on my head. The headphones are truly “over ear”, and do not touch the ear in any way. Through extended periods of listening I found the headphones to get lost on my head with no heat buildup. What holds the comfort back though, is the pressure caused by their noise canceling. To many people, like myself, you are able to feel a light pressure on your eardrum. I did find, however, that this pressure did get lost in the music, as long as the headphones were at a fairly considerable volume. Other than this minor setback, these are some of the most comfortable headphones in their price range.
Build Quality
The build of the headphones, mainly plastic, does have its value in keeping the headphones light. It also, however, means a lack of structural strength. With a $300 price point, I would have liked to have seen a bit more focus on strength. I have noticed that these headphones, after time had its play, began to show their signs of wear. There is an obvious feel of lost structural integrity in the
build as well, as switches began to lose their click. I suppose it is only natural that the headphones be broken in, but I found that their price made the extent of which to be unacceptable.
Sound Quality
The sound quality on these headphones is, like most, difficult to fully judge. Based on my detailed testing though, it is clear that those who prefer easier listening and lighter music will find the most enjoyment. Typically, in your noise canceling breed of headphones, the mids lose most of their color. In the QC 15′s I found such symptoms unnoticeable: a huge positive for Bose. In acoustic songs, vocals are clear and instrumentals clean. I enjoyed the accurate layering and clean precision. The highs and mids are very well delivered. The lows, however, are not. Bass on these headphones has a very empty feel. In my opinion, unlike headphones like Beats by Dre, music is heard, not felt. This is not necessarily positive or negative, it’s only a matter of preference. My thoughts – If your main genres are mainly acoustic and don’t require much bang, these are a very solid pair of headphones. If you like listening to heavier pop or dance, make sure to look at other options.
Value for Price
At $300, these headphones are no everyday purchase. They require research, like you are doing now. For what you are getting though, these are among the top quality for the price range. The price may seem a little high, as I have to agree, but they easily compete with or beat others at their price.
Accessories
Included with these headphones is a relatively large number of accessories. With two cables to choose from, a sturdy carrying case, and an airplane adapter, Bose doesn’t cut you short anywhere. The cables are little thin and cheap for their counterpart but seem to get the job done just fine. The case is well built and offers plenty of storage and security for your investment. The airplane adapter only adds to the QC 15′s features, allowing you to easily access airline media.
Conclusion
If you can afford to and are looking to make the jump to high performance headphones, I would definitely recommend you first take a look at the Bose QC 15. When it’s all said and done, these headphones will offer most listeners more than they will ever desire from their music.
