Bose QuietComfort 45 Over-Ear Wireless Headphones w/ ANC (2021)
Product Gallery
Product Overview
QuietComfort 45 are Bose's premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones that replace the QuietComfort 35 II: they offer further improved noise cancellation, voice isolation, and battery life and bring new features.
The QuietComfort 45 come with a new AWARE mode besides the QUIET mode. In the QUIET mode, the QC45 use microphones inside and outside their earcups in a feedback-feedforward design. In the AWARE mode, the QC45 essentially operates with the ANC off, though sound is transmitted inside to offer full transparency as if the headphones are taken off.
Using a beam-form array, the QuietComfort 45 are able to isolate the voice of the owner, making voice calls quieter than the ambience would normally allow for.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Great active noise cancellation and sound signature
- Great battery life
- Great call quality
- Easy-to-use Bose Music app
Cons
- Nothing in particular
What external reviewers found***
External score 80% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Good call quality
- Excellent sound quality
- Great battery life
Cons
- Lack of customisation options
- Lack of bass
- No voice assistant support
- No wireless charging
- No EQ or shortcut function
- No built-in EQ
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
USB-C, 2.5mm
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.1
Wireless Range
30 ft / 9 m
Construction
Cable
12" USB-C cable + 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable
Colors
Black, White Smoke
Microphone
Microphone array
Dimensions
Size | Depth
3.15"
Size | Height
7.68"
Size | Width
6.18"
Weight
15.7 oz
Function
Fast Charging
15 minutes for 2.5 hours
Performance
Battery Life
24 h
Production
Availability
2021-09-23
Debut
2021-08-31
Related Products
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 Over-Ear Headphones
77% External
Bose wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 feature a new voice interface. The 700s can isolate a user's voice from 360 degrees of unwanted sound for crystal clear calls and communications with virtual personal assistants.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
85% External
Sony WH-1000XM4 is the 4th-generation over-ear wireless noise cancelling headphones in Sony's award-winning 1000X family of premium headphones. They combine features from the popular WH-1000XM3 with additional intelligent features. Delivering Sony&...
JBL CLUB 950NC Over-Ear Wireless Headphones w/ Active Noise Cancellation
65% External
JBL CLUB 950NC is a mid-range over-ear wireless headphone with active noise cancellation inspired by touring musicians with a pair of 40mm dynamic drivers. It boasts up to 55 hours of battery life and can be recharged in under 2 hours. With the ANC on,...
JBL CLUB One Over-Ear Wireless Headphones w/ Active Noise Cancellation
70% External
JBL CLUB ONE is the flagship over-ear wireless headphone from JBL's CLUB series. It sports a pair of 40mm dynamic drivers and boasts up to 45 hours of battery life and can be recharged in under 2 hours. With the ANC on, the CLUB ONE delivers 23 hou...
DALI IO-6 Over-Ear Wireless Headphones w/ Active Noise Cancellation
81% External
DALI IO-6 is a high-end wireless over-ear headphone with active noise cancellation. It features DALI's custom 50mm paper fiber cone drivers that product a natural, transparent, and authentic sound. The DALI IO-6 can be run both actively for a play ...
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX Over-Ear Headphones w/ ANC (2021)
78% External
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX are premium over-ear headphones with an elegant design, long battery life, and strong driver-microphone setup. They can be considered the sister model of the Beoplay Portal unveiled at the same time, trading the latter's g...
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 Over-Ear Wireless Headphones w/ ANC (2021)
84% External
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 are the flagship over-ear wireless headphones of B&O's 2021 lineup. They are powered by 40mm titanium drivers with neodymium magnets and have an exceptionally premium construction. Like the Beoplay HX unveiled at ...
Sennheiser HD 450BT Over-Ear Wireless Headphones w/ Active Noise Cancellation
66% External
Sennheiser HD 450BT is an over-ear wireless headphone with active noise cancellation. It features a clean, closed design and supports a broad range of audio codecs. The HD 450BT delivers a battery life of 30 hours with ANC turned on and can be charged ...
Yamaha YH-E700A Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones
84% External
Yamaha YH-E700A are the company's flagship wireless noise-cancelling headphones with an over-ear design. They offer class-leading 35-hour battery life with Advanced ANC on and are able to optimize the sound in real time, adapting to the listening envir...
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones w/ ANC
83% External
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 are premium wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. They are powered by B&W's 43.6mm dynamic drivers and boast a 30-hour battery life with support for fast charging. The PX7's dynamic drivers are the la...
Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones w/ Active Noise Cancellation
82% External
Apple AirPods Max are premium over-ear dynamic headphones that feature Apple's proprietary H1 chips with advanced audio processing in both ear cups. It also uses eight microphones to Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode. Like other Appl...
JBL LIVE 650BTNC Over-Ear Wireless Headphones w/ Active Noise Cancellation
67% External
JBL LIVE 650BTNC is a sleek set of over-ear wireless headphones with active noise cancellation. It shares the same 40mm drivers with the LIVE 400BT and the same 30h battery life of the LIVE 500BT with ANC off. With the ANC on, the 650BTNC delivers 20 h...
Launch Comparison
Clear List
External Reviews
digitaltrends[1]
Reviewer score 78%Bose's QC 45 noise-canceling headphones have a nice balance of frequencies. You can flip between full ANC and full transparency almost instantly using the action button on the left earcup. The QC 45 are meant to have superior voice calling when compared to the QC35 II, thanks to the inclusion of a fourth microphone.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent noise-cancelling
- Excellent battery life
- Good call quality
Cons
- No water-resistance rating
- No voice assistant support
laptopmag[2]
Reviewer score 86%As advertised, the QuietComfort 45 deliver balanced, clear audio. The Sony WH-1000XM4 volume is much greater than the QC45, with the former's 40% matching the latter's 60%. The QC45 are working off of Bluetooth 5.1, which has a range of 30 feet. But if you want simplicity, go with the $379 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Solid battery life
- Solid noise cancelling
- Easy to use app
Cons
- Noise cancelling isn’t for everyone
pcmag[3]
Reviewer score 81%Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones deliver powerful low-frequency response. At top, unwise listening levels, the bass depth is strong and doesn't distort. Callers will have no problem understanding you on a clear cell or wireless signal. Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones are the best bet for audiophiles.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Powerful bass depth and high-frequency sculpting
- Excellent connectivity with Apple devices
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Somewhat stiff sound signature
t3[4]
Reviewer score 79%The Bose QuietComfort 45 sound fantastic, you get plenty of detail from these cans. They aren't overwhelming in any one area, they're not overly bass-heavy nor are they too focused on the high-end. To keep your focus on the music, there are two noise-cancelling modes: Quiet and Aware. Charging them up again takes about 2.5 hours, although if you get caught short, a quick 15-minute charge will give you about 3 hours of playback.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Superb noise-cancelling
- Comfortable fit
- Excellent call quality
Cons
- No EQ settings
- No manual EQ settings
techhive[5]
Reviewer score 91%The QC 45 blocks extraneous noises at least a tad better than the QC 35 II. On the comfort side of the equation, the new headset grips my noggin with just the right amount of tension. The charging port has been redesigned to accept a near-ubiquitous USB-C cable.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Comfortable ear cups and headband
- Excellent noise-cancelling performance
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Noise cancelling can’t be improved with heavier music competition
techradar[6]
Reviewer score 66%At just 8.5 ounces (238g), they really feel light on the ear and are comfortable to wear for hours on end. Bose uses some plastic on the arms of the headphones but uses metal for all the joints and the bridge - basically all the parts that are most likely to snap in use. To control playback, Bose has equipped the QC45 with a number of intuitive buttons.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Comfortable to wear
- Good noise cancellation
Cons
- No built-in EQ
- Lack of bass
theverge[7]
Reviewer score 79%Bose's QuietComfort 45 headphones can be used by pairing over Bluetooth without agreeing to any software terms. But the Bose Music app, available on Android and iOS, is required for accessing some settings and updating firmware. The QC45s now have Bluetooth 5.1 for expanded range and more robust performance.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Comfortable fit
- Adjustable noise cancellation
- Long battery life
Cons
- No wireless charging
- No noise cancellation
tomsguide[8]
Reviewer score 84%The QuietComfort 45 comes with Bluetooth 5.1 for expanded range and stronger connectivity. The noise-rejecting mic system struggles with wind and whisking effects. An extra 4 hours of ANC playtime is appreciated, granted there's no way to turn off the feature.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Comfortable fit
- Excellent call quality
- Great battery life
Cons
- No EQ or shortcut function
- ANC is never truly off
whathifi[9]
Reviewer score 75%There's no scope to tweak the levels of noise cancellation or the new ‘Aware' mode, which filters in ambient sounds such as traffic or passers-by. You cannot currently optimise the treble, bass or midrange of the QC45 either, although EQ customisation could be added following a firmware update. If you simply want extraneous noise nixed in the office, we give the new Bose QC45 the edge over the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Class-leading noise-cancelling
- Impressive battery life
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Lack of customisation options
User Reviews
Comments
Please login before adding comments.
References
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 review: More (and less) of a very good thing. [digitaltrends]. https://www.digitaltrends.com/headphone-reviews/bose-quietcomfort-45-review/. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones review. [laptopmag]. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-45-headphones. 2021-10-09. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-45. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 review: the king of wireless headphones is back. [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-45-review. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 review: Silence is golden with this noise-cancelling headphone . [techhive]. https://www.techhive.com/article/3635103/bose-quietcomfort-45-review.html. 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- ^ Hands on: Bose QuietComfort 45 review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-45. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 review: comfortably familiar. [theverge]. https://www.theverge.com/22698629/bose-quietcomfort-qc-45-headphones-review. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 review. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-45. 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- ^ Bose QuietComfort 45 review. [whathifi]. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/bose-quietcomfort-45. 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
This page contains affiliate links to third-party merchants such as Amazon, eBay, and Rakuten. When you make a purchase using the supplied links, we will receive a commission.
These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
<
>
x