Hits of adrenaline

Great for those who keep it moving — holidays or not.

There are tons of options when it comes to speakers and headphones, but no matter what you’re looking for, you can count on Bose.

Bose appears in nearly every one of our headphone guides, including the best wireless headphones and the best noise-canceling headphones.

Not only are they the best Bose headphones, but all Bose headphones are comfortable, high-quality, and durable. Until a few years ago, “Bose headphones” and “noise-canceling headphones” were synonymous, and they still are. In fact, Bose has set a standard for headphones, and the brand hasn’t even let us down once. Even in the field of aviation headsets, Bose tops the list with the best Bose aviation headsets used by pilots around the world. That said, the best thing about Bose headphones is that they are available in different budgets and styles to suit different types of audiences. It’s no wonder Bose ranks among the top headset brands.

Bose QuietComfort 45

Bose QuietComfort 45 is a rock-solid pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They’re easy to use and feel very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. These are the qualities that Bose has always known, and they continue to live on.

Of course, the QC45 aren’t without a few new tricks. These include an ambient-aware mode that lets you hear your surroundings at the push of a button, and upgraded noise-canceling technology that’s more sensitive than ever before.

Most importantly, you have 25 hours of good but not great battery life and a beamforming microphone array that’s, well, not as good as we’d hoped. These aren’t deal breakers, but they do make the Bose QuietComfort 45 slightly less attractive than some of its competitors.

In fact, the biggest problem with the Bose QuietComfort 45 isn’t that they do anything wrong — there are some minor issues, but nothing absolutely terrible — rather, they have to do with two other amazing headphones: the Sony WH -1000XM4 and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. both offer more customization options, better sound, and better value for a little more cash.

Pros

Fantastic noise cancellation

Intuitive control scheme

Lightweight and comfortable

New ambient aware mode

Cons

Missing a few features

Lackluster clarity

Call quality isn’t great

Bose SoundLink Flex

For a small, relatively affordable product, there are a lot of options to check off before a portable Bluetooth speaker can be considered “competitive”. Happily, the Bose SoundLink Flex can mark many of them – some with a big, fat permanent mark.

Battery life? Twelve hours or so, just fine. Portability? The Flex is small and light. Sound? Bose has an unlikely scale, an equally unlikely bass and a very successful approach to rhythm and cadence. Control? The choice is yours – voice, app or onboard controls are all available.

So the Bose SoundLink Flex has many uses, and that’s without taking into account the prestige and credibility of its brand logo. If its low-end reproduction were more expressive, or if its overall sound were more self-regulating when you listened at high volumes, it would approach “effortless” status.

Pros

Light and robust

Full-range and periodically expressive sound

Plenty of pairing and control options

Cons

Can get edgy at high volumes

Bass doesn’t integrate perfectly

Fixed EQs

Bose SoundLink Color II

It seems like just about every speaker company has a wireless speaker for outdoor use, and Bose, a company known for its great brand of noise-canceling headphones, is no exception.

If you’re looking for something from Bose to take along on your next hike, the $130 (about £100, AU$170) SoundLink Color II is the company’s only splash-proof speaker that can withstand the elements with an IPX4 rating .

Making a speaker for outdoor use always requires a compromise between size, weatherproofing, battery life and form factor. Thankfully, however, the Bose SoundLink Color II makes few compromises on sound quality, and while it’s not perfect, it’s still a great choice for those looking for a wireless speaker to use at the beach or on a hike. 

Pros

Good sound quality for its size

Multipoint Bluetooth

Works with voice assistants

Cons

Average battery life

Only splash-proof

No mounting solution

Bose SoundLink Micro

Rugged, portable Bluetooth speakers are all the rage in the audio space right now, with every man and his dog trying to get into the market.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Bose decided to do the same thing with its SoundLink Micro. The Bose SoundLink Micro is the smallest and most affordable model in the iconic audio company’s line of Bluetooth speakers, starting at £99.

With its near indestructible and absolutely compact design, the Micro is one of the best portable speakers on the market. Ultimately, however, a series of small problems mean it’s a long way from the market-leading UE Wonderboom.

Pros

Strong audio performance, with rich lows and well-defined highs.

Waterproof.

Good speakerphone mic.

Cons

A little overpriced.

No aux input.

Bose Sport Earbuds

Bose debuted a fairly successful true wireless headset with the SoundSport Free, and now the legacy audio brand has set its sights on creating one of the best fitness headphones with the Sport Earbuds.

The Bose Sport Earbuds are truly wireless headphones with a focus on fitness, carrying over some of the features of the company’s premium QuietComfort Earbuds.

They replace the SoundSport Free, and as the name implies, the Sport Earbuds are designed to meet the needs of runners, athletes and fitness fanatics. Need a partner for your workout? Then the Sport Earbuds will fill that void.

The Bose Sport Earbuds are the most comfortable workout earbuds around and are a big improvement over the original Bose SoundSport Free. The IPX4 rating protects the headphones from light water exposure. These buds aren’t just tough: they sound great, too. Despite the ergonomic design and sound quality, the earbuds aren’t perfect.

Pros

Well-rounded sound

Good call quality

Excellent fit and design

Cons

Not the longest battery life compared to rivals

Somewhat limited in terms of operation

Bit pricey for what they do

Buying Guide

Bose speakers are speakers from the popular brand Bose. Adam Bose founded the company in 1964. Their sole goal was to create better speakers through research. Even five years later, it still holds true to its motives, which is one of the reasons it has become a household name.

Whether it’s speakers or headphones, Bose has managed to make a positive impact in the market with its clear, compelling and powerful sound quality.

Are Bose speakers worth the money?

Yes, some Bose speakers are definitely worth their weight in gold. Among these speakers, the Bose Bluetooth portable speaker is at the top of the list. If you think Bose speakers are too expensive, why not choose a variant within your budget.

Bose has a wide range of options in each of its segments, allowing users to get exactly what they want. Smart speakers, for example, which come in more than three options. Portable speakers come in seven options, as do surround sound speakers and docking stations.

Why should I select Bose speakers?

There are many legitimate reasons why you should choose Bose speakers. Some compelling reasons include:

Affordability

Bose speakers are known for their affordability. The most affordable Bose speakers are priced at just $119. The new Soundlink Micro Bluetooth speaker is wireless and IP67 rated for dust and water resistance.

Among smart speakers, the most affordable Bose speaker is priced at just $349 and is compatible with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as Apple Airplay 2.

Sound quality

Wall-to-wall stereo sound in Bose Smart speakers is its signature feature and reason enough to buy Bose speakers. Like the Bose Smart Speaker 500, it comes with two custom driver points to fill the room with amazing sound.

Like the Bose Portable Smart speaker, its portable speaker features 360-degree sound and powerful bass with three passive radiators, making it the most versatile smart speaker available.

High IP ratings

Bose speakers are both dustproof and waterproof, with a high IP rating. Bose’s new Micro Bluetooth portable speaker has an IP67 rating, which means it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.

Other Bose speakers can also withstand light splashes and showers. That’s one of the many reasons to choose a Bose speaker.

Remotes and apps

All of Bose’s smart speakers can be easily controlled through the Bose Music App. The app is easy to use and less cluttered. It makes it easy to upgrade any Bose product. Some Bose speakers also come with compact remotes that make controlling the speaker even smoother.

For example, you can control your Bose Wave system and control your bar speakers with the remote.

Blogs

0

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a 3.0 bar speaker that features a unique premium design. It performs significantly better than the similar Bose Soundbar 500 ...

1

Bose typically produces speakers, headphones and other audio equipment in the high-end price range. Those who can afford Bose speakers know what they want and ...

1

The Bose SoundLink Flex is a small portable Bluetooth speaker with a small, thick band built into the side. It's carefully built to be IP67 dust and water ...

0

The Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are the next generation of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. They look and feel very similar to their ...

1

The Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a great all-around choice for anyone who can afford them. It's a great alternative to Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. ...