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.
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
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!
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
In Discussion:
• Posted 1 year ago
Update: The following test groups have been updated following TB 1.6: Wired Connection, and Bluetooth Connection. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
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.
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.
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!
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
Update: The following test groups have been updated following TB 1.6: Wired Connection, and Bluetooth Connection. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.