When it comes to noise-cancelling headphones, Bose has long been a dominant player. Their latest offerings, the Bose 70 and the QC45, promise an immersive audio experience with top-notch noise isolation. Bose, a dominant player in the noise-cancelling headphone market, has recently introduced two compelling models: the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and the Bose QuietComfort 45. Both  an exceptional audio experience with top-notch noise isolation. In this head-to-head comparison between Bose qc45 vs 700, we’ll review their design, sound quality, connectivity, and more. But which one deserves a spot on your ears?

Bose 700 vs QC45 Features With Comparison

Sound Quality:

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (BOSE 700):

The BOSE 700 offers a neutral sound signature, making it versatile for various music genres. Its frequency response strikes a balance between bass, mids, and treble. Whether you’re a classical music enthusiast or a bass-heavy hip-hop lover, the BOSE 700 delivers clear and accurate audio. Additionally, the customizable EQ via the Bose Music app allows you to fine-tune the sound to your liking. Adjust bass levels, enhance vocals, or create a personalized profile. The built-in microphone ensures crisp call quality and seamless voice commands.

• Neutral Sound Signature: The BOSE 700 offers a versatile frequency response, appealing to a wide audience. It strikes a balance between bass, mids, and treble.
• Customizable EQ: Using the Bose Music app, you can fine-tune the sound with presets like “Bass Reducer” or “Treble Boost.” The three-band EQ allows personalized adjustments.
• Mic Performance: The built-in microphone ensures clear calls and voice commands.

Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC 45):

The QC 45 takes a slightly different approach. Its sound signature is balanced, with a touch of brightness in the high frequencies. This emphasis on treble ensures clarity and detail, making it great for podcasts, audiobooks, and vocal-heavy tracks. While the QC 45 lacks extensive sound customization options like the BOSE 700, its straightforward sound profile caters to those who appreciate simplicity. Plus, the even weight distribution ensures comfort during extended listening sessions.

• Balanced Sound: The QC 45 delivers a slightly brighter sound signature than the BOSE 700. It emphasizes high frequencies without sacrificing bass.
• No Customization: Unlike the BOSE 700, the QC 45 lacks extensive sound customization options.
• Comfort Priority: The QC 45’s even weight distribution ensures a pleasant listening experience during long sessions.

Battery Life:

No one wants to carry a charger all the time, they carry their headphones, so it is important to feature a long battery life with fast charging support. Let’s start with Bose NC 700.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 offer impressive battery performance, making them reliable companions for your daily activities. In our testing of constant playback at 75dB (SPL), the BOSE 700 lasted 21 hours and 25 minutes with ANC set to maximum, exceeding its official rating of 20 hours. The BOSE 700 supports USB-C charging, allowing faster and more convenient recharging. Additionally, it offers multipoint pairing, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously.

• Longevity: In our testing of constant playback at 75dB (SPL), the BOSE 700 lasted 21 hours and 25 minutes with ANC set to maximum. This exceeded its official rating of 20 hours.
• USB-C Charging: The BOSE 700 supports USB-C charging, allowing for faster and more convenient recharging. 
• Multipoint Pairing: Connect to two devices simultaneously, seamlessly switching between them.

Bose QuietComfort 45

On the other hand, the Bose QuietComfort 45 takes battery life seriously. It boasts an impressive 24 hours and 49 minutes of battery life in the same test setup, surpassing Bose’s official 24-hour battery life rating. With such longevity, the QC 45 is perfect for long flights, road trips, or extended work hours. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a daily commuter, the QC 45 won’t leave you hanging.

• Impressive Endurance: The QC 45 boasts an impressive 24 hours and 49 minutes of battery life in the same test setup. It surpasses Bose’s official 24-hour battery life rating.
• Ideal for Travel: With such longevity, the QC 45 is perfect for long flights, road trips, or extended work hours.
• Reliable Performance: Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a daily commuter, the QC 45 won’t leave you hanging.

Control and Connectivity:

Whether it’s adjusting volume, skipping tracks, or pairing with various devices, control and connectivity stand as the cornerstone of modern audio convenience. Let’s explore how the Bose 700 and QC 45 models facilitate user interaction and maintain seamless connections with devices. From touch-sensitive controls to advanced Bluetooth technology.

Bose 700

Now talking about the next category in Bose QuietComfort 45 vs 700, the Bose noise Cancelling Headphones 700 offer a modern design, making them stand out from the crowd of Bluetooth headphones. With an all-metal headband and minimalist touch controls on the right ear cup, including a touch-sensitive gesture pad, the BOSE 700 strikes a balance between aesthetics and functionality. The ear cups rotate for neck resting, but there are no hinges for folding. However, the included hardshell case ensures safe storage during travel.

In terms of Bluetooth connectivity, both the BOSE 700 and QC 45 support SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, ensuring a solid connection across most devices. The BOSE 700 uses Bluetooth 5.0, while the QC 45 uses Bluetooth 5.1.

• Modern Design: Stands out with an all-metal headband and minimalist touch controls.
• Touch-Sensitive Gesture Pad: Located on the right ear cup for easy control.
• Non-Folding Ear Cups: Rotate for neck resting, but lack folding hinges.
• Hardshell Case: Included for safe storage and travel.
• Bluetooth Connectivity: Supports SBC and AAC codecs; uses Bluetooth 5.0.

Bose QC 45

On the other hand, the Bose QuietComfort 45 prioritizes comfort over modern aesthetics. Its classic design evenly distributes weight, preventing pain or fatigue during long listening sessions. The QC 45 features physical buttons on the ear cup for controls and a folding design for easy portability.

• Comfort-Oriented Design: Classic design that evenly distributes weight for comfort during long sessions.
• Physical Buttons: Located on the ear cup for easy control.
• Folding Design: Allows for easy portability and storage.
• Bluetooth 5.1: Ensures a solid connection across most devices.

Build Quality and Durability:

The Bose 700 offer a modern design with minimalist touch controls on the right ear cup. These controls include a touch-sensitive gesture pad, allowing for easy playback adjustments. While the BOSE 700 lacks a folding mechanism, it comes with a hardshell case for safe storage during travel. In terms of Bluetooth connectivity, both the BOSE 700 and QC 45 support SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, ensuring a solid connection across most devices. The BOSE 700 uses Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (BOSE 700):

• Premium Materials: The BOSE 700 features a stainless steel headband and robust ear cups.
• Sturdy Build: The build quality feels solid and durable.
• No Folding Mechanism: Keep in mind that it lacks a folding mechanism for compact storage.

On the other hand, if we talk about the Bose QuietComfort 45, Bose QC45 vs 700,  prioritizes comfort over modern aesthetics. Its classic design evenly distributes weight, preventing pain or fatigue during long listening sessions. The QC 45 features physical buttons on the ear cup for controls and a folding design for easy portability. It also supports SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, using Bluetooth 5.1 for connectivity.

Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC 45):

• Classic Design: The QC 45 maintains the traditional Bose design, which some users appreciate.
• Lightweight: The QC 45 is lightweight and comfortable for extended wear.
• Folding Design: It folds flat for easy storage in the included carrying case.

Read: Beats Studio 3 vs AirPods pro

Design and Comfort:

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (BOSE 700) boasts a sleek, modern design with an all-metal headband that adjusts to your desired length. Its minimalistic controls feature only three buttons, with playback controls replaced by a touch-sensitive gesture pad on the right ear cup. However, the absence of folding hinges might be a drawback for portability. The rubberized headband, while durable, may pull on hair during extended wear. The ear cushions are stiffer, which can lead to heat buildup and sweaty ears.

In contrast, the Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC 45) sticks to the tried-and-tested design we’ve seen for nearly a decade. While outdated, it excels in comfort. The even weight distribution ensures comfort during long listening sessions. If comfort is your priority, the QC 45 wins due to its timeless design.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (BOSE 700):

• Modern Design: The BOSE 700 features a sleek, contemporary design with an all-metal headband. It exudes a sense of sophistication.
• Minimalistic Controls: The headphone has only three physical buttons, keeping the design clean. Playback controls are replaced by a touch-sensitive gesture pad on the right ear cup.
• No Folding Hinges: While the ear cups rotate 90 degrees for resting around the neck, there are no hinges for folding. This affects portability.
• Rubberized Headband: The rubberized headband, while durable, may pull on hair during extended wear.
• Stiffer Ear Cushions: The ear cushions are stiffer, which can lead to heat buildup and discomfort during prolonged use.

Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC 45):

• Classic Design: The QC 45 sticks to a tried-and-tested design that has been popular for nearly a decade. It’s timeless and familiar.
• Comfort Priority: The even weight distribution ensures comfort during long listening sessions. If comfort is your top priority, the QC 45 wins.
• Folding Hinges: Unlike the BOSE 700, the QC 45 has folding hinges, making it more compact for travel.
• Traditional Controls: The QC 45 retains traditional physical buttons for playback control.

Noise Cancellation:

Noise cancellation in headphones is like having an invisible shield that blocks out unwanted noise from the outside world. Imagine you’re in a busy cafe filled with chatter and the clinking of cups. With noise cancellation activated, it’s like turning down the volume of the cafe noise, so you can enjoy your music or silence without the distraction. The Bose 700 and QC 45 headphones have special technology that listens to the noise around you and creates opposite sound waves to cancel it out. It’s like having a quiet bubble around your ears, so you can focus on what you’re listening to, whether it’s your favorite tunes or an important phone call.

Bose 700

The Bose 700 headphones offer 11 adjustable levels of active noise cancellation (ANC). This means you can fine-tune the level of noise reduction based on your surroundings. Whether you’re in a bustling airport or a noisy coffee shop, the ANC technology effectively blocks out external sounds. Conversations, traffic noise, and ambient disturbances are significantly reduced, enhancing your overall listening experience. The adaptive ANC adapts seamlessly to changes in your environment, ensuring consistent performance. Additionally, the Bose 700 boasts an expansive and detailed soundstage, making it ideal for music enthusiasts who appreciate balanced sound reproduction.

• Adjustable ANC: Offers 11 levels of active noise cancellation for a personalised experience.
• Effective Noise Blockage: ANC technology blocks out external sounds in various environments.
• Adaptive Performance: ANC adapts to changes in the environment for consistent noise reduction.
• Expansive Soundstage: Provides a detailed and balanced sound, ideal for music

QuietComfort 45

Talking about QC 45, this headphones excel in noise cancellation as well. They provide lightning-fast noise reduction, instantly muting unwanted sounds. Whether you’re on a flight or a train, the ANC is particularly effective for low-frequency disturbances like engine rumble. The QC45 maintains a serene listening environment, allowing you to focus on your music, podcasts, or calls without distractions. While the design may be more traditional, the comfort and robust bass performance make it a solid choice.

• Rapid Noise Reduction: Provides instant muting of unwanted sounds for immediate quiet.
• Effective ANC: Particularly efficient at reducing low-frequency noises like engine rumble.
• Serene Listening Environment: Maintains a distraction-free zone for music, podcasts, or calls.
• Traditional Design with Comfort: Classic design ensures comfort, complemented by robust bass performance.

Side by Side Key Difference 

Feature	Bose 700	QC45
Weight	8.8 ounces	8.5 ounces
Battery Life (ANC on)	20 hours	24 hours
ANC Levels	11 levels, adjustable in app	Not adjustable
Design	Sleek, modern, all-metal headband	Classic Bose design
Comfort	May cause heat buildup and sweaty ears	More comfortable for long sessions
Bluetooth	5.0	5.1
Special Features	Intuitive touch controls, customizable sound	USB-C support, new sound signature

Conclusion

In the battle of Bose 700 vs QuietComfort 45, both headphones offer exceptional noise cancellation and premium sound quality. The Bose 700 shines with its sleek design, touch controls, and impressive voice assistant integration. Its adaptive noise cancellation adapts to your environment seamlessly. On the other hand, the QC45 retains the classic Bose comfort and reliability, with a focus on audio performance. So, which one should you choose? If you crave cutting-edge features and futuristic design, the 700 is your go-to. But if you’re a purist who values comfort and audio performance, the QC45 won’t disappoint. Ultimately, your decision hinges on personal preferences and priorities.

Frequent Asked Questions

Q. Are the Bose 700 and QC45 suitable for travel?
Ans. Both headphones are excellent choices for travel, thanks to their noise-canceling capabilities and comfortable design.

Q. Can I use the Bose 700 and QC45 for gaming?
Ans. While primarily designed for music and calls, they can be used for gaming, but dedicated gaming headphones might offer better performance in that regard.

Q. Do the Bose 700 and QC45 support voice assistants?
Ans. Yes, both headphones support voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free control.

Q. Are the Bose 700 and QC45 water-resistant?
Ans. Bose 700 has an IPX4 rating for water resistance, while the QC45’s rating is yet to be confirmed.

Q. Do the Bose 700 and QC45 come with a warranty?
Ans. Yes, Bose offers a warranty on both headphones, covering manufacturing defects and issues.