Bose QC45 Review – Bluetooth Wireless ANC Headphones

The Bose QC45 headphones are the big successor to the 2019 flagship variant, the Bose QC35 II, and yet do not quite have the refinement of last year’s Bose ANC Headphones 700. During my Bose QC45 review, I notice these are a missing couple of features, but they are extremely comfortable for long time use, though, and are simple enough for anybody to use, which is enough to get them a tepid recommendation.

Bose QC45 Review – Design

The Quiet Comfort (QC) design has been iconic in the headphone industry for decades so it is understandable that Company wanted to keep that instantaneously recognizable for the Bose QC45. Slightly has changed here which I think will please Bose lovers, but perhaps onlookers when technology is about improving and refreshing.

At the last of the day, just decide if you love the style versus rivals or not. I love the Bose QC45 in this part even if the design does look a tad dated now. There’re slight improvements through an impact-resistant material filled with nylon headband combined with reliable custom cast metal. All in all, they seem neater and more refined as compared to the Bose QC35 II.

Importantly, they live up to QC name and are simply one of the most pleasurable pairs of headsets I have ever reviewed. The cushions made with synthetic leather are somehow softer with just enough pressure to keep on but without any sense of fastening.

Bose QC45 – Lightweight Design and Build Quality

If you are looking for top-quality materials and a flash finish then look somewhere else, but sticking with plastic materials keeps the Bose QC45 very light just at 240g. If you want a headset for long listening then it does not get cushier than this.

As per old models, the Bose QC45 folds up cleanly and Bose supplies an oblong carrying cover to keep headphones in which also has a small compartment for wires.

A very small thing that I dislike in this model is that when wearing them around the neck while not in use, the ear cup folds away from my body which is not as comfortable as compared to the opposite.

How comfortable is the Bose QC45?

Comfort is very crucial with over-ear headphones, and the Bose QC45 is certainly a pair of headphones you can wear for a long listening session.

That is partly because of the very smooth synthetic leather material on the ear cups and the headband, and the fact that the ear cups of the headphones sit around ears giving them very much room to breathe so they do not get pressed up against your head.

At 240 grams, they’re slightly heavy than Bose QC32 II which means they would not be as comfortable as for as long but even so, I was capable to keep QC45 on for long times on end without any issue. Inside every ear cup, big L and R indicators allow you to know which side around to wear them.

Bose QuietComfort 45 Review –  Sound Quality

If you are coming from the Bose QC35, the sound is the final reason you might need to upgrade because Bose has not changed the drivers.

The sound profile in Bose QC45 does not excite me – the bass does not punch strongly, and the sound is not very well detailed.

There is an emphasis on the high-end, which can get annoying if the song you listen to has a lot of high-pitched sounds and instruments – it can empower other features.

This sound nature does make the headphones quite good to listen to vocal-heavy tracks or podcasts. But for anyone who listens to a lot of hip-hop. I love WH-1000XM4’s better, with their tighter bass, vibrant sound profile, and wide soundstage.

One more drawback, the Bose QC45 only supports SBC and AAC codecs. It would have been good to see support for a few higher-quality codecs or APTX and energy-friendly LE audio.

Bose QC45  – Best Bluetooth Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones?

ANC on the Bose QC45 is wonderful to make it the best Bluetooth wireless noise-canceling headphone – higher frequency and conversions sounds can still seep through. The performance is highly comparable to the XM4s; with the right exception that you cannot control the intensity of noise canceling.

This is not something I find very much use in, but it is worth nothing. Bose has included an awareness feature that helps you to be aware of the surrounding without taking much away from the listening experience.

Unlike, noise-canceling, I would highly prefer if the intensity could be fixed here. The issue setting does not work for me. To ensure, I hear an announcement clearly, I still have to stop my music.

Compare Bose QC45 to Other Great Noise-Canceling Headphones

How about Bose QC45’s Battery Performance?

The company promises up to 24hrs on a charge with the Bose QC45, for more than Bose QC35 II. That is long enough to take any sort of commercial flight or to get you through some full workdays effortlessly.

During the test using a mix of noise-canceling and ambient sound for both calls and music, I managed 23hrs before having to the plugin. That is a little below the stated figure but remains quite a long time.

If you find you’re in pinch, the company has included a fast charging option that provides you 3hrs of playtime in fifteen minutes. It is more than enough to get you through your commute house, a zoom call, or a workout.

Bose QuietComfort 45 – Smart Features

If you are bothered about some interesting features, then the Bose QC45 comes up short and does not even offer ear detection to mechanically resume or pause your track when you take them on/off. Once again, this is something the Bose QC buds do offer.

If I compare to the WH1000XM4 model by Sony, these provide plus a whole host of clever tech including the capability switch among modes depending on where you’re or what you are doing – at home your favorite coffee, gong for a run, or more.

One technique they do have up their sleeves is simple Sync. This means if you’ve a compatible Bose soundbar or music speaker you can easily connect the Bose QC45 for private listening.

Very handy if you want, for instance, to watch something late at night without disturbing anybody. At a basic level, you can link to 2 devices separately and the sound will switch automatically depending on what you are doing.

To prevent any confusion, the Bose QC45 gives an audio prompt when you 1^st switch them on allowing you to know which device you are linked to – even if the voice is slightly strange-sounding at times.

Battery performance is one more piece of info you get through this technique, though if you prefer all prompts can be switched off in the application.

The company has added a 6^th microphone to the Bose QC45 and touts crystal clear quality for phone calls. Using the range of microphones and an ANC, the headphones can get rid of surrounding noise while you are talking and it works extremely well them a better option if you take a lot of phone calls while out and about.

Bose QC45 Review – Pros & Cons

Bose QuietComfort 45 – Final Verdicts

To conclude my Bose QC45 review, keeping things comfortable and simple, the Bose QC45 are wonderful ANC headphones that’ll keep you entirely impressed with your favorite tracks. There are not loads of additional features to speak about and sound would not blow your mind but these headsets are crowd-pleasers, it’d be very difficult not to recommend them.

Where to buy Bose QC45

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