The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are premium over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling (ANC). They have a different, sleeker look than Bose's other high-end headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless and offer a customizable ANC feature, so you can choose from different presets that change its strength. They're also optimized for phone calls, thanks to their four built-in mics to help pick up your voice.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are good for neutral sound. They have a slightly bass-heavy and excited sound profile. They're still fairly well-balanced as they have a neutral mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments are clear and present. Their app also has a graphic EQ, meaning you can customize their sound to your liking.
The Bose Headphones 700 are very good for commute and travel. They're comfortable and have a long battery life, ideal for international flights and long days on the go. They can block out the sound of bus and plane engines and chatter from other passengers. However, their bulky design isn't the most portable.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are satisfactory for sports and fitness. While decently stable, they aren't intended for sports use and may not stay on your head during intense movements. They're comfortable but also a bit bulky and can make you sweat more than usual.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are very good for office use. Their over 20-hour continuous battery life is enough to get you through your workday, and they're comfortable enough to wear for long periods without much fatigue. Their mic makes your voice clear during phone calls and does a great job of isolating it from background noise. These headphones can also block out typical office noises like voices and humming AC units. Unfortunately, they leak some audio.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is high enough to cause your audio and visuals to fall out of sync.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are satisfactory for wired gaming. You can plug them into your Xbox, PlayStation controller, or computer, but you can only receive audio that way, so you can't communicate with your teammates. On the plus side, the analog connection has very low latency. Their bass-heavy sound can also help bring out sound effects in action-packed games.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are very good for phone calls. Their integrated microphone has a good recording quality, and it can separate speech from background noise even in crowded environments. If you take a lot of calls from your PC or Mac, you may notice a drop in sound quality. However, this is a limitation of Bluetooth itself, and there isn't a way around it. On the upside, the headphones can block out background noise well so that you can focus on your call.
Several Sound tests have been updated following Test Bench 1.8. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
The Bose Headphones 700 come in four color variants: 'Black', 'Soapstone', 'Triple Midnight', and 'Luxe Silver'. We tested the 'Black' variant but expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
There's also the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 UC (which stands for United Communications). UC headsets are meant to help with seamless switching between different platforms, like calls on your phone and video meetings on your computer. This variant comes with a USB dongle that provides a wireless connection with computers. However, our results aren't valid for it, as it may perform differently.
If you come across another version, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
The Bose Headphones 700 are noise cancelling headphones for most uses that set themselves apart from other high-end ANC headphones thanks to their impressive integrated microphone performance and very sturdy build. However, as you might expect, 'QuietComfort' headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless and the Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless are even more comfortable for most people.
See our recommendations for the best headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best wireless headphones.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless are both great noise cancelling headphones. The Bose are better built and are more comfortable. However, the Sony block out more background noise. They also have a longer continuous battery life, support LDAC—which is great if you like to listen to hi-res audio—and have 360 Reality Audio, a feature that creates a more immersive sound. However, you need to subscribe to services like Amazon Music Ultimate for virtual soundstage functionality.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better headphones than the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless for some listeners. The Sony have a better noise isolation performance and a longer continuous battery life. They offer more talk-through controls that is ideal for users who want to stay aware of their environment while listening. That said, the Bose's integrated microphone performs better than the Sony's.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless are both premium headphones with slightly different strengths. While both headphones have a fantastic noise isolation performance thanks to Bose's ANC technology, the QC45 are slightly better at blocking out day-to-day sounds like office chatter. They also have better battery performance and are more comfortable. On the other hand, the 700 are better built and have a better overall microphone performance.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and the Apple AirPods Max Wireless are both premium headphones. While both over-ears have a similarly bass-heavy sound profile, powerful ANC systems, and great build quality, the Bose are more comfortable and have a better-performing integrated mic. You can also control their ANC via their companion app and pair them with up to two devices at a time. However, the Apple headphones have a virtual soundstage feature called Spatial Audio to help make your audio seem more dimensional, and their ANC system blocks out a bit more sound.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 and the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are both good wireless noise cancelling headsets but serve slightly different purposes. The Bose NC 700 have a significantly better-integrated microphone which makes them great if you take a lot of calls on-the-go. The QC35 II, on the other hand, are more comfortable and have a more balanced frequency response, which makes them better if you want something ultra-comfortable to enjoy your favorite tracks with. In addition, the QC35 II have NFC pairing, which the Bose 700 are lacking, and have a physical control scheme that’s easier-to-use. That said, the Bose 700 Headphones feel better built and offer mic muting, which makes them handy during conference calls.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are both good wireless noise cancelling headsets that share a few similarities. Both are comfortable, feel well-built, and have touch-sensitive controls wrapped up in a sleek monochromatic design. The Sony are easier to use since the touch-sensitive surface is larger and can fold up into a more portable format. Both headphones have a more bass-heavy sound profile and offer a graphic EQ for sound customization. That said, the Bose have a vastly superior integrated microphone and even feature a mic mute button, which makes them slightly better for business users.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are similar headphones. The choice will come down to your individual needs. The 700 Headphones are better built and have a better overall mic performance. They use touch controls, while the QuietComfort Headphones use buttons for controls, which comes down to preference. The QuietComfort Headphones are more comfortable and foldable, with better ANC. They also come with an analog cable with an in-line mic.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better headphones for most uses than the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless. The Bose are over-ears that are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have a significantly better noise isolation performance. Their microphone delivers better overall performance too. However, the Sony are in-ears that are more portable and have a stable fit, making them a better choice for sports and fitness.
The Bose 700 Headphones and the Jabra Elite 85h Wireless are both decent noise cancelling headphones that are good for business users thanks to their improved Bluetooth microphone performance. The Bose mic performs even better than that of the Jabra, though, with even better noise handling. However, their touch-sensitive control scheme can be a bit tricky to use at times, so some people may prefer the physical controls of the Jabra. The Jabra also have a more balanced sound profile and better battery life than the Bose, but they don’t isolate noise as well. Both headsets have a unique design, so ultimately the difference lies in personal taste.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and Jabra Evolve2 85 Wireless are evenly matched over-ear office-oriented headphones. The Jabra have more intuitive controls, a longer continuous battery life, and are easier to carry around. However, the Bose are better-built, and have an integrated microphone that's more effective at filtering out ambient noise than the Jabra's boom mic.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better than the Beats Solo Pro Wireless. The Bose over-ear design is noticeably more comfortable and isn't as tight as the Beats. Their ANC feature is also better for blocking out sound in noisy environments and their microphone has a better recording quality and noise handling capability. On the other hand, the Beats have a longer continuous battery life from a single charge, although they don't have a power-saving feature. The Beats take advantage of the H1 chip, which may result in better overall connectivity performance, but we couldn't test this.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better for most uses than the Beats Studio3 Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Bose are better built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can significantly block out more noise around you. Their integrated mic also offers better overall performance, they can be used passively with their 1/8" TRS cable, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ to help adjust their sound to your liking.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and the AKG N700NC M2 Wireless have different strengths. While both headphones have an excellent noise isolation performance, the Bose are more comfortable, and better built. Their mic also offers better overall performance. However, the AKG's companion app has a parametric EQ, which some users may prefer.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better headphones than the JBL Tour One Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, feel better-built, and have a significantly better noise isolation performance. They also have a better overall microphone performance. However, the JBL have a longer continuous battery life.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2020 are better headphones for mixed usage than the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. The physical controls on the Razer are easier to use than the touch-sensitive controls found on the Bose 700. The Razer's battery also lasts significantly longer at over 32 hours and their ANC is a bit better than the Bose 700. On the other hand, the Bose have a significantly better microphone, which can be important if you take a lot of phone calls, and they're more comfortable.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are noticeably better headphones than the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, have a more balanced sound profile, and a better isolation performance thanks to their great ANC feature. They also have a great microphone for calls. On the other hand, the Bowers & Wilkins have a longer battery life. They can also be used while charging thanks to their USB-C cable, but need power to function, meaning you can’t use them wired with an analog audio cable if their battery is dead, which you can do with the Bose.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are slightly better-performing headphones than the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, and have noticeably better noise isolation and microphone performances. On the other hand, the Sennheiser's companion app offers a parametric EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound. The battery performance is better for the Bose 700, but on the other hand, the Sennheiser are also compatible with the lower latency codec, aptX-LL.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better office headphones than the Logitech Zone Wired. The Bose are substantially comfier, block out more ambient noise, and can pair with two devices at once, which is helpful if you tend to listen to content on your phone and computer. That said, the Logitech are smaller and lighter and deliver a more consistent listening experience, not to mention a specialized control scheme that offers a little more native functionality with conferencing software like Microsoft Teams.
The over-ear Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better for office use than the on-ear Jabra Evolve2 65 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, better-built, and have a more comprehensive control scheme. Conversely, the Jabra have a boom microphone that outperforms the Bose's impressive integrated mic when it comes to recording quality, and they last roughly three times as long on a single charge.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are more versatile than the Sony WH-H910N/h.ear on 3 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable to wear, feel better-built, block out more ambient noise, and can pair with two devices at once. Their integrated microphone also does a much better job of isolating speech from background noise. Conversely, the Sony have a much longer battery life, leak less audio, and are a little more compact.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better headphones for mixed usage than the Shure AONIC 50 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, have a better-balanced sound profile, a longer battery life, and a much better-integrated microphone. They also do a better job of blocking out ambient noise. However, the Shure provide a more consistent listening experience, easier-to-use controls, and aptX-LL compatibility, so they’re better suited for streaming videos wirelessly with low latency.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are better over-ear headphones for commute and travel than the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. The Bose are more comfortable, feel better built, and have a more balanced default sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have better noise isolation and overall performance. However, the Anker have EQ presets in addition to their graphic EQ.
The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless and the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless are designed to serve different purposes. The Bose are noise cancelling over-ears with excellent microphone performance for taking business calls on the go, while the TOZO are truly wireless in-ears for more casual use. The earbuds don't have the same level of mic quality, nor are they as comfortable, but they're a lot more portable.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are very similar to the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless. The Bose are slightly more comfortable, feel a bit better built, and have better ANC. On the other hand, the Sennheiser feel more stable on the head, breathe better, and have a very similar sound profile.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2017 and the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are designed for different uses, but they're both great at what they do. The Astro are wired gaming headphones that come with an amplifier designed for mixing audio channels while streaming. The Bose are Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones geared towards business professionals who need good mic quality on-the-go.
These headphones have a futuristic look that stands out among Bose's more traditionally designed over-ears. They have a distinctively shaped headband that integrates directly into the ear cups without any visible hinges. They're available in 'Black, 'Luxe Silver', 'Triple Midnight', and 'Soapstone' color variants.
The headphones are very comfortable. They're lightweight and well-padded, so you can wear them for long listening sessions without feeling much fatigue. However, they clamp onto your head more tightly than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. The ear cups are also somewhat shallow, so your ears might touch the drivers, which can be uncomfortable and annoying over time.
They have decent controls. They cover a lot of functions, and it's easy to pair them with multiple devices. However, the touch-sensitive surface is small and can be tricky to use. They also don't provide much feedback besides a few audio prompts. If you're looking for headphones with easier-to-use controls, check out the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 Wireless.
On the right ear cup:
Power button:The touch-sensitive surface:
On the left ear cup:
Noise control button:
They aren't very portable. They aren't extremely bulky for over-ear headphones, but unlike other models like the Jabra Evolve2 85 Wireless, they don't fold onto a more compact format. They'll take up some space in a bag or backpack. However, the ear cups swivel inwards to make them smaller and more comfortable to wear around your neck.
They come with a great hard carrying case. It has a less bulky design and a slightly more premium feel than the one that comes with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. It can protect the headphones from minor drops and water damage and has a magnetic pocket to store the accessories. You can also separately purchase a wireless charging case for these headphones.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have impressive build quality. They have a sturdier build than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 and Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless. They also have a more premium look and are constructed with materials that feel high-quality. The headband is made of stainless steel, and the plastic used for the ear cups feels solid. Since the headband attaches directly to the ear cups, there are fewer moving pieces to break. The point where the ear cups and headband join feels like a potential weak spot, but it won't be an issue unless the ear cups are pulled apart with a lot of force.
The Bose 700 Headphones have decent stability. They're stable enough for casual listening sessions, but the swiveling ear cups feel a bit loose, and they may fall off your ears if you move your head around a lot, like during a workout. If you like over-ears for workouts like runs, the Beats Studio3 Wireless are less likely to slip around on your head.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have a slightly excited sound profile. They have a bit of extra boom, which can please fans of bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and EDM. Their mid-range is slightly scooped though, which can allow other frequency bands to dominate the mix, pushing vocals to the back. The bright treble range yields harsh and piercing sibilant sounds though. Fortunately, their app has a graphic EQ with presets to help you customize their sound. As with other Bluetooth headphones, there's also a change in the frequency response when use these headphones wired vs with Bluetooth.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have okay frequency response consistency. There's hardly any variation in the bass range across users, possibly due to their noise cancelling feature checking for bass consistency. However, their treble delivery may vary depending on their fit, seal, or positioning on your head, so it's important to ensure you get a good fit each time you use them to hear a consistent sound.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have excellent compliance with our target. The rumble of low bass is reproduced mostly accurately. There's some overemphasis in the mid to high-bass, so in songs like Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, the well-known bassline at the beginning of the track has a bit of extra punch and body.
Their mid-range compiance is great. The range is balanced and even for the most part. There's a dip in the high-mids though that can rob vocals and lead instruments of some character, as their upper harmonics are thinned out slightly.
Their treble compliance with our target curve is very good. The low-treble is very well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments are present and detailed. However, the inconsistency in the mid-treble makes sibilants alternate between sounding harsh and dull, depending on their pitch. The dip in the high-treble results in a lack of air and brilliance in whispery vocals too. It's worth noting that there are some inconsistencies in the response between the left and right drivers in mid-treble range too, which contributes further to these inconsistencies.
These headphones have impressive peaks and dips performance. There aren't many peaks and dips in the response until the high-mid range, where a dip hurts the upper harmonics of vocals. The inconsistencies across the mid and treble range can cause sibilants, like cymbals, to alternate between sounding harsh and dull.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have an impressive imaging performance. Bose typically has good quality control, and their headphones tend to have well-matched drivers. Weighted group delay for our unit falls mostly below the audibility threshold, resulting in a tight bass and transparent treble. The L/R drivers of our unit are well-matched in amplitude and phase response; however, there's a slight frequency mismatch. As a result, some objects, like voices or footsteps, may not be accurately placed within the stereo image. However, imaging varies from unit to unit depending on the manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics.
They have a poor passive soundstage performance. Their soundstage is a bit unnatural or odd, and audio seems to be coming from inside your head instead of from speakers around you. Because of their closed-back design, it doesn't seem as open or spacious as that created by most open-back headphones.
The Bose 700 Headphones have a good weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's a bit of distortion in the treble range at normal listening volumes, but the rest of the range falls within good limits, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when the headphones are used in this configuration.
The Bose 700 Headphones have superb full-range noise isolation. The ANC feature is adjustable with the companion app, and, when it's set to its highest level, these headphones can comfortably block out most background noises. The very lowest rumble of bus and plane engines still makes its way into your audio, but most audio is focused in the mid and treble ranges, where these headphones do a very good job blocking out noise. Mid-range sounds, such as voices and high-pitched A/C hum. are blocked out well.
There's no way to switch off the ANC feature completely, and the headphones block out more noise when they're completely off than when ANC is set to the lowest level, '0.' The lowest ANC setting feeds some mic input to the headphones, providing a bit of talk-through. This also seems intentional because Bose says ANC level '0' allows you to hear your surroundings. You can see a comparison between their noise isolation performance when the headphones are off and when ANC is set to '0' here.
These headphones do a slightly less good but still impressive job of blocking out more common everyday sounds. All but the very lowest rumble of bus and airplane engine noise is removed, and higher-pitched sounds like ambient office noises and the chatter of pedestrians are almost entirely removed.
The Bose 700 Headphones don't have a wind mode that specifically mitigates against sounds produced by wind blowing against ANC mics. That said, the ANC doesn't struggle to deal with wind noise. The lower rumbles of a squall will make their way into your audio, and very loud gusts will be briefly audible, but, on the whole, wind doesn't cause the ANC any undue problems.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have a decent leakage performance. They leak some sound across the range, so the audio that escapes sounds relatively full-bodied but not very loud. Even if you're listening to your music at high volumes, it won't bother people around you in a moderately quiet environment like an office.
There are reports online that some users have issues muting the mic when using a PC. On their website, Bose suggests turning on voice prompts in the Bose Music app so you can hear confirmation that the mic is muted. They also note that you can't see that the mic is muted on your PC.
The mic has a good recording quality. It makes your voice sound natural and understandable but also a bit thin.
The headphones rely on Bluetooth profiles, which define the specifications for how data is communicated between devices. When you connect these headphones to your PC, they use Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), a Bluetooth profile for audio playback. A2DP is a one-way profile, which means that if you're using this profile, the mic won't work on any device or OS. The headphones can enable Headset Profile (HSP) or Hands-Free Profile (HFP) if you want mic and audio compatibility. However, both profiles can lower sound and mic quality. We noticed a drop in audio and mic quality when using these headphones during a conference call. Users have also reported this issue when using their Macbooks and ThinkPad devices. Unfortunately, there's no real way around this, as this is how Bluetooth profiles work.
The Bose 700 Headphones have a great noise handling performance. The mic can separate your voice from background noises, even if you call from a noisy environment like a train station. Even with loud sounds, your voice isn't cut out or lost in the noise, unlike that of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless.
These headphones have an impressive battery performance. They provide nearly 21 hours of continuous playback from a single charge, and they charge in about two hours. You can use them passively with the provided audio cable when the battery is dead, but you can't use them while charging. They have two auto-off timers: one that can't be disabled and turns the headset off after 10 minutes of undetected motion, and one that you can adjust in the app that powers off the headphones after a set time while you're still wearing them.
The fixed auto-off timer made testing battery life challenging; therefore we suspended the headphones from a fixed surface with a bungee cord and pointed a fan in their direction to make them move continuously during our discharging test.
You can also buy a wireless charging case separately, which the manufacturer advertises to store up to two additional charges. Also, please note that battery performance can vary with real-life use.
These headphones are compatible with the Bose Music app, which differs from the Bose Connect app that many of this manufacturer's other models use. This app has a sleek interface that's fairly easy to use. You can set three different ANC presets, activate talk-through, adjust the auto-off timer, change voice assistant settings, and access a list of Bose AR-enabled apps. There's also a 3-band graphic EQ for sound customization. However, you need to create an account to use the app, which can be frustrating for some.
They use a 1/8" TRS to 1/16" TRS audio cable, which is somewhat common but can be a bit trickier to find than a regular 1/8" to 1/8" cable. This connection has a small amount of latency present when used with the headphones turned on, but it's still very low, so your audio and visuals will be in sync. If you turn off the headphones, you'll achieve more negligible latency, though. They come with a USB-C to USB-A charging cable, which you can't use for audio.
These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0. They can pair simultaneously with two devices but don't support NFC for quicker pairing. Their PC latency via SBC codec is high, so you'll notice some delay between your audio and visuals. Some devices and apps offer some latency compensation, though.
These headphones can connect wirelessly with Bluetooth-enabled PCs or connect via analog connection with the included 1/8" to 1/16" TRS cable, although you can only receive audio this way. If you're looking for Bose headphones that have audio and mic support via analog, check out the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless.
These headphones are compatible with PlayStation consoles if you plug the included audio cable into a controller. However, you can't use the microphone in that case.
Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.
Update: Several Sound tests have been updated following Test Bench 1.8. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
I would reconsider the build quality. While the body is solid, the plastic pads wear out pretty quickly and they look bad.
Update: The following test groups have been updated following Test Bench 1.7: Noise Isolation - Full Range, Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios, and ANC Wind Handling. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usag
So you think that the mic quality or ability to pick up my voice is related to limitations in bluetooth? I’ve had these Bose headphones connected to phones, desktop computers, and ipads and the sound is never good for when I speak to other people. They all say I sound like I am in a tunnel or a hole. On the other hand, my cheap(~$20) Tozo bluetooth headphones that I bought based on your rating never have that problem on the same device connections. Seems to me it is just that Bose does a horrible job with the mic on these headphones rather than it being related to bluetooth, but maybe I am not understanding the testing methodology for microphone pickup capability. Is this something that is an automated test framework or is this something where humans are actually listening to what is picked up on the mic. Don’t get me wrong, you guys have been spot on on almost everything I buy here based on your testing, so don’t feel like this is a universal failure by rtings, but I do think in this one specific case, that Bose does not deserve this high mic rating or maybe, phone calls isn’t related to the mic experience and more related to the connection? For me, the mic capabilities are a really important criteria. I spend a good chunk of every day on calls with folks, giving presentations, etc. and really need to have high quality mic pickup, but would like to find ones that don’t require me to have a mic that extends off the headphones and still give me exceptional sound the rest of the time I am not on calls or video. Any thoughts on what may fit the bill? It makes me leary about the other reviews when I filter on phone call quality, cause I am not sure what it means.
Hi bnickel
It is mainly a limitation of the Bluetooth profile itself. When you connect the headset to your PC, it will use A2DP for audio playback, which is a one-way profile. This means the mic will not work with A2DP on any devices or OS. When you want to have audio and a mic, you will enable HSP/HFP, which lowers the quality of your sound. However, not all headphones will have the same degradation of audio quality when they switch to HSP/HFP. For our microphone testing, we play an audio track at low volumes to force the BT headphones into this profile.
That said, we plan to improve the “Phone calls” score breakdown by adding a Frequency Response Measurement taken while using the HSP/HFP mode. This improvement will be added to one of our upcoming test benches. At the moment, we do not have this data, which is why headphones like the Bose 700 are scoring higher than they should.
I want to take the time to thank you for all the feedback that you and other users constantly provide. It allows us to improve our tests and better represent their performances in our reviews. On that note, if you have any suggestions, we would be happy to hear them.
For your presentation, it would be difficult to suggest a Bluetooth headphone that will provide all of your needs. Using a headphone that connects wirelessly through a dongle (USB) and has a boom mic will provide the best performance for your microphone and audio quality.
Cheers, Dagobiet
Hey there, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. We definitely understand where you’re coming from. Unfortunately, this is a current limitation in test coverage to highlight that doesn’t account for this Bluetooth limitation. In cases where our existing methodology doesn’t cover everything, we try to use our text to account for this. In the “phone call” section. We mention that if you take a lot of calls from your PC or Mac, you may notice a drop in sound quality. However, this is a limitation of Bluetooth itself, and there isn’t a way around it. There’s also some information in our recording quality as well. In either case, this is definitely something we want to better account for with our methodology, so we’ll do our best to address this in a future test bench update!
So you think that the mic quality or ability to pick up my voice is related to limitations in bluetooth? I’ve had these Bose headphones connected to phones, desktop computers, and ipads and the sound is never good for when I speak to other people. They all say I sound like I am in a tunnel or a hole. On the other hand, my cheap(~$20) Tozo bluetooth headphones that I bought based on your rating never have that problem on the same device connections. Seems to me it is just that Bose does a horrible job with the mic on these headphones rather than it being related to bluetooth, but maybe I am not understanding the testing methodology for microphone pickup capability. Is this something that is an automated test framework or is this something where humans are actually listening to what is picked up on the mic. Don’t get me wrong, you guys have been spot on on almost everything I buy here based on your testing, so don’t feel like this is a universal failure by rtings, but I do think in this one specific case, that Bose does not deserve this high mic rating or maybe, phone calls isn’t related to the mic experience and more related to the connection?
For me, the mic capabilities are a really important criteria. I spend a good chunk of every day on calls with folks, giving presentations, etc. and really need to have high quality mic pickup, but would like to find ones that don’t require me to have a mic that extends off the headphones and still give me exceptional sound the rest of the time I am not on calls or video. Any thoughts on what may fit the bill? It makes me leary about the other reviews when I filter on phone call quality, cause I am not sure what it means.
I really have a hard time understanding how these are so highly. rated for phone calls. Mine are complete garbage. Universally, people tell me that I sound horrible. Everything else about these is fantastic, but I paid $400 for them and so disappointed in Bose
Absolutely agree. Having same experience. 20 year old Bluetooth profile for calls is garbage nowadays. Wired Sennheiser SC75 were much better for me as well as built-in MacBook Pro mics.