These headphones are ideal for long flights. In addition to having overall impressive noise-cancelling (-33dB across all frequencies on some tests), these headphones excel when you need to cancel out low frequencies like jet engine sounds (-45dB).
The headphones stay comfortably in your ear. They don't always offer a complete seal but surprisingly, this doesn't affect noise cancellation or reduce comfort. Also included are 3 sizes of eartips to help better fit your ear. Note that these tips have a unique design so you won't be able to use aftermarket tips.
These QC20 has a lithium-ion battery that promises to work for 500 charge cycles without diminished returns. After that it will still work, but won't last as long.
Note that the battery is non-replaceable so when it finally does stop working, you will need to buy a new pair of headphones.
You can disable active noise canceling at a press of a button. Aware Mode can be quickly accessed from the remote, which will disable active noise-cancelling and open up the microphones to allow you to hear your surroundings better.
LEDs on the control module will let you know when this mode is turned on.
The earpieces won’t easily fall from your ears when using these on the go. You get Bose’s StayHear+ wing tips which securely fit inside the ears. Also, since the noise cancelling electronics are in the collar instead of an inline module, there is not a lot of weight that pulls down on the earpieces.
While the noise cancelling does not eliminate all of the ambient noise, it does a good job of preventing most of it from mixing in with your music. With the audio turned up to a good volume, you aren’t likely to hear your surroundings except for the loudest of sounds.
You can dial in the level of noise-cancelling that you want using the Bose Connect app which is available for Android and iOS. This gives you more flexibility with active noise cancelling compared to other earphones.
The bass of the Quiet Control 30 sounds full, with good punch and power. It doesn’t add any bloat though, preventing the sound from getting too muddy. The mids are quite forward with a slight boost. Vocals and guitars can easily be appreciated, though heavy guitars may sound quite aggressive due to the slight elevation. The highs are clear and offer a good level of detail yet do not get harsh in any way. These earphones are good for general music listening, and should excel in vocal-heavy tracks.
The earpieces will dangle off of the collar and flop around when they are out of your ears. There are no magnets in the ear pieces to keep them together, and there are no fasteners or docks in the collar to secure the earpieces. Other collar style earphones have this feature.
You won’t be able to continue using the QuietControl30 when the battery runs out. You only get Bluetooth connectivity, with no wired option, so you’ll have to charge these earphones in order to use them again.
You aren’t likely to have issues using these on the go. Most active noise cancelling in-ear headphones have large control modules, while the K391NC has a fairly compact and light module. You can easily use these headphones while walking and comfortably enjoy active noise cancelling with your music.
The highs are quite detailed, yet do not get harsh. The mids are slightly forward, so vocals and instruments can easily be heard. The bass is not very powerful but is tight, so you’ll get decent punch from your music.
You can easily replace the 3.5mm cable should it get damaged. You can detach the 3.5mm cable from the control module which is very convenient. Other noise cancelling modules have fixed cables, so you’ll have to replace the headphones should the cable get damaged.
The accessories included are all very useful. You get two 3.5mm headphone cables, a USB charging cable, silicone ear tips, a travel pouch and an airplane adapter.
The CXC700’s sound signature puts emphasis on the treble. It is very airy and detailed, so you’ll be able to hear the nuances of the music. The bass is controlled rather than boomy. The mids are slightly recessed though, so vocals and guitars are not up-front.
You won’t need to take these headphones off when in a conversation. Activating Talk Through mode on the noise cancelling module allows the microphones to pick up ambient sound and output them through the earpieces, so you’ll easily hear what others are saying. When you are done conversing, simply press the button again to enjoy your music.
You’ll be able to fine tune how effective the ANC can be in your environment. There is a mode that focuses on the low frequencies, another that also filters out the mids and the third mode covers the entire frequency spectrum.
The noise cancelling module can be distracting. It is quite large and heavy, and may pull the headphones down. There is a belt-clip integrated into the design, which may help minimize the issue.
If you prefer a rich and powerful sound, then these may not be to your liking. The bass does not have a lot of thump and the mids are recessed, so the sound may seem thin for your tastes.
With the feature switched on, you can really zone in on the music. Noise canceling is very effective at blocking out ambient noise, especially the lower frequencies. On a flight, for example, engine noise is drastically reduced, as well as most of the sound from the conversations in your vicinity.