Bose QC35 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones

[Levanter]

There are microphones outside and inside of the ear cups, these are used to help the ANC figure things out.  For example, if a new noise is introduced (like the engines of a plane getting louder), the microphones outside of the ear cups will pick that up and the microphones inside of the ear cups will make sure the noise is being cancelled out.  You're changing the way the audio and ANC are being perceived by the inner microphones when you take the headphones off.  It's completely normal and all headphones (with this much ANC) do the same.


That's of concern given the amount of smart Bluetooth devices out there (watches, fitness bands, etc.).  That's evident enough that Sennheiser is still having issues and hasn't thought things through.  They're worlds better than the Momentum 2.0's (which would stutter just by looking at them) but things are still problematic if other Bluetooth devices interfere.  They still aren't in the same class as Sony, Bose, or even Beats (with Apple's W1 chip) and that's a shame for wireless headphones that are so expensive.  Maybe the switch to Bluetooth 5.0 (and a higher class) will help them.

FYI only 1 review had that problem. Among the 100 reviews on Amazon, only 1 had Bluetooth problem and a couple who had difficulty pairing devices.

 

[PDevil]

FYI only 1 review had that problem. Among the 100 reviews on Amazon, only 1 had Bluetooth problem and a couple who had difficulty pairing devices.

So their opinions shouldn't be taken into account?  Or they should somehow be mathematically included to say that only 1% of people are going to have issues?  Or they should be taken as-is to show that Sennheiser still hasn't figured out how to get Bluetooth right?

 

[lumpycustard]

So their opinions shouldn't be taken into account?  Or they should somehow be mathematically included to say that only 1% of people are going to have issues?  Or they should be taken as-is to show that Sennheiser still hasn't figured out how to get Bluetooth right?

What point are you trying to make? Sorry, not following your thought process here. The people complaining about Bluetooth are the minority. I myself have a Bluetooth smart watch and have yet to suffer any audio drop out in the 2 weeks I've had these headphones -- of which I listen to about 4-6 hours daily (long commutes).

I'd say with a smart watch on my wrist, in a train surrounded by dozens of other Bluetooth signals, my QC35's are running perfectly fine and I've got virtually nothing to complain about.

There are microphones outside and inside of the ear cups, these are used to help the ANC figure things out.  For example, if a new noise is introduced (like the engines of a plane getting louder), the microphones outside of the ear cups will pick that up and the microphones inside of the ear cups will make sure the noise is being cancelled out.  You're changing the way the audio and ANC are being perceived by the inner microphones when you take the headphones off.  It's completely normal and all headphones (with this much ANC) do the same.

Thanks, just wanted to make sure. Do you think the drivers can be damaged from this? It honestly sounds like the drivers are about to pop when you take off these headphones.

Kinda bummed but I would've loved to see auto pause when removing these headphones from your ears, like Sennheiser and Sony.

 

[Levanter]

What point are you trying to make? Sorry, not following your thought process here. The people complaining about Bluetooth are the minority. I myself have a Bluetooth smart watch and have yet to suffer any audio drop out in the 2 weeks I've had these headphones -- of which I listen to about 4-6 hours daily (long commutes).

I'd say with a smart watch on my wrist, in a train surrounded by dozens of other Bluetooth signals, my QC35's are running perfectly fine and I've got virtually nothing to complain about.
Thanks, just wanted to make sure. Do you think the drivers can be damaged from this? It honestly sounds like the drivers are about to pop when you take off these headphones.

Kinda bummed but I would've loved to see auto pause when removing these headphones from your ears, like Sennheiser and Sony.

He sounds more like an unhappy kid trolling around. He clearly doesn't understand numbers lol

 

[PDevil]

He sounds more like an unhappy kid trolling around. He clearly doesn't understand numbers lol

I must be a troll.  Yes, I've dedicated 4 minutes of my time just to troll those specific headphones in a thread discussing another set of headphones.  You figured me out.  I clearly understand numbers, I'm just trying to wrap my head around your comprehension.
 

What point are you trying to make? Sorry, not following your thought process here. The people complaining about Bluetooth are the minority.

We weren't discussing the Bluetooth performance of the QC35's...

 

[Levanter]

  I must be a troll.  Yes, I've dedicated 4 minutes of my time just to troll those specific headphones in a thread discussing another set of headphones.  You figured me out.  I clearly understand numbers, I'm just trying to wrap my head around your comprehension.
 
We weren't discussing the Bluetooth performance of the QC35's...

​Yes, by YOUR numbers, 2/100 = Sennheiser fails their bluetooth
I'm guessing by your logic as long as there are 1 or 2 comments on any headphones with poor Bluetooth out of 100/1000 comments = company fails in Bluetooth implementation.
By your definition I guess almost all Bluetooth headphones fails then with no room for any variable isolated defects. You lack common sense to comprehend anything.

 

[gilver]

Anyone used their qc35 with walkman ? Hows the pairing and listening experience like ?

 

[Divij]

I have the same problem, mine have worked like they should only for a few hours after connecting and removing the cable, but they got faulty again the next day.
100% should be unbearably loud on these, but its just loud at 100%.
I spoke to Bose, went to the service centre (in India), they took it for observation for 4 days and said "this is as loud as these get" but i know thats not true because I've heard them much louder when they were working properly one day.
When i connect the cable, they do get a little louder than the wireless mode.
The usable range of these are about 70% - 100%, below that they just don't have any punch to them.
The Volume control on the QC35 controls my Mac and iPhones volume and it doesn't seem to have a volume control of its own.
My $150 AKG K451 sound much better than these $350 Bose QC35 (Except when they worked properly for a day)
Ive tried multiple restarts and connect/ disconnect but it doesn't fix the issue.
 
My question to fellow QC35 users : What percentage volume is comfortably loud ? and do they get uncomfortably loud at 100% ?
 
Thanks ! 

 

[faw88]

  I have the same problem, mine have worked like they should only for a few hours after connecting and removing the cable, but they got faulty again the next day.
100% should be unbearably loud on these, but its just loud at 100%.
I spoke to Bose, went to the service centre (in India), they took it for observation for 4 days and said "this is as loud as these get" but i know thats not true because I've heard them much louder when they were working properly one day.
When i connect the cable, they do get a little louder than the wireless mode.
The usable range of these are about 70% - 100%, below that they just don't have any punch to them.
The Volume control on the QC35 controls my Mac and iPhones volume and it doesn't seem to have a volume control of its own.
My $150 AKG K451 sound much better than these $350 Bose QC35 (Except when they worked properly for a day)
Ive tried multiple restarts and connect/ disconnect but it doesn't fix the issue.
 
My question to fellow QC35 users : What percentage volume is comfortably loud ? and do they get uncomfortably loud at 100% ?
 
Thanks ! 

 
Hmm. Well Mine have been 'just loud enough' since day 1 never gotten uncomfortably loud. I haven't given it much thought, but come to think of it, I do end up listening at 100% all the time and I sometimes feel that some more volume/punch could have helped these. but then again I like the EQ, its flat (ish) and very clear for a bluetooth NC, it has some low end oomph, I dont think any over ear NC can compete with the pure SQ that these offer. I've tried the Sennheisers pxc 550, They do not come close to these. Also have parrot ziq 3 on the way, but I doubt they'dl be any good.
overall I'm very happy with the bose. 

 

[faw88]

 
​Yes, by YOUR numbers, 2/100 = Sennheiser fails their bluetooth
I'm guessing by your logic as long as there are 1 or 2 comments on any headphones with poor Bluetooth out of 100/1000 comments = company fails in Bluetooth implementation.
By your definition I guess almost all Bluetooth headphones fails then with no room for any variable isolated defects. You lack common sense to comprehend anything.

I've had various bluetooth headphones over the time. including samsung, plantronics backbeat go2, beats (powerbeats 2 and solo), sennheisers, even chinese offerings such as bluedios. These bose IMO have THE BEST bluetooth implementation out of all of them, its lightning fast to connect, amazing range, never had a disconnection problem. very very well implemented.

 

[Divij]

The sound at 70% + is amazing, but the problem for me is that even a youtube video at 40-50% sounds bad, i need to increase the volume. I would be amazed if Bose designed them to have a usable volume range between about 70-100% and anything below 70% being useless.
I cant explain how they sound at low volume, it just sounds you're in a room and a speaker is playing in the bathroom at high volume. Check with the cable and let me know if you feel there is a difference.
Also, does QC35 volume change the device volume? or it changes its internal volume?

 

[Levanter]

 
I've had various bluetooth headphones over the time. including samsung, plantronics backbeat go2, beats (powerbeats 2 and solo), sennheisers, even chinese offerings such as bluedios. These bose IMO have THE BEST bluetooth implementation out of all of them, its lightning fast to connect, amazing range, never had a disconnection problem. very very well implemented.

​Oh i'm sure Bose's Bluetooth is good. Only 2 negative comments out of 1000 users. But by that standard PDevil would still label Bose as failing their implementation lol

 

[MICHAELSD]

I was honestly surprised how impressed I came away with the sound paired to an iPhone in a retail demo. Very full treble, with a punchier-than-expected bass. Nice comfort that would assuredly be fine for long periods, and noise cancelling that works very well though I was expecting to not be able to hear background noise at all. Personally I'd want to be aware of the background so that's fine for me. Only problem with the QC35 is the build quality for the price; the exterior feels too cheap and plasticy for $350. It's a shame because the earpads and headband seem premium.

The sound under 90% (14/16 on an iPhone) volume seemed lacking, but it was full and satisfying at 90%.

 

[Divij]

Don't you all think that the sound should have good punch at lower volumes (40%-70%) ?
Even when watching a youtube video, i feel that when the volume is under 70, its not clear and when i increase the volume its louder than required for a video but its clear.
I'm not sure if i've been able to explain myself well !

 

[MICHAELSD]

Don't you all think that the sound should have good punch at lower volumes (40%-70%) ?
Even when watching a youtube video, i feel that when the volume is under 70, its not clear and when i increase the volume its louder than required for a video but its clear.
I'm not sure if i've been able to explain myself well !

Yes, it's an odd phenomenon I've been noticing with the way modern headphones are tuned. There will be one very specific volume setting where the sound will be full, punchy, and great overall and the rest are either too low or too loud. Not just a quieter version of that sound, but a sound signature that seems very different. Just recently I've seen that complaint in other reviews and it's odd that these need to be played loudly to sound the way they're intended. They do sound very good and definitely don't distort at 90% though if I owned a pair which is very unlikely unless they dropped to $200 or less, I'd want to make sure 90% on these isn't an excessive decibel level.