I realize the QC45s have some slight shortcomings in certain areas but their strengths are why I chose them. I have watched so many reviews on the top N/C headphones it irritates my wife, but here is what you can learn from my OCD (hopefully). First the competition and why I didn't select these.
Airpod Max - Cost, weight and the stupid, stupid, stupid case.
Sony XM4/XM5 - Bulky and didn't want gesture controls (just my preference).
Bose NC700 - Didn't like the style and band adjustment, didn't fold up small enough and gesture control.
There are other headphones in the consumer space but these are the big players and my top 3 reasons for picking QC45s were,
1. Space, these fold up into a small case, big, big plus. My main use will be for travel and I wanted the smallest footprint for my carryon.
2. Noise cancelling, I tried and compared these to Sony and the NC700 at an electronic shop in an airport and I thought these were the best. This was before the XM5s, from reviews they might have a slight advantage but not significant.
3. Comfort, all the reviews said the weight, clamping force, cabin pressure, cavity size and breathability were the best of any of the N/C top picks. Smart move by Bose to have another iteration of the QC35s, the comfort is unrivaled.
I will use these mostly for travel, I had QC15s I bought for a wedding anniversary for my wife and I when we were flying for a cruise. They served us well, even bought a Bluetooth adapter for them, still working great and gave them to a family couple. That was 10 years ago, so another anniversary seemed like a reasonable purchase. The other players have features that surpass the QC45s, better sound, more bass, more adjustments but none of these were that important to me. For me comfort was very high on the list and I just like physical buttons and the sound is very good so no complaints there.
Update
Comfort - After almost 1 month I can confirm the comfort of these headphones. My wife's sleep schedule is different than mine so I have been using these connected to our Apple TV while she is sleeping. 2 or more hours with no fatigue, pain or any discomfort at all. As I stated in my original review, comfort was probably my top priority and I am so happy with them.
Noise Cancelling - I give the noise cancelling 5 out of 5, absolutely amazing and no hissing or cabin pressure. Adjustable NC just isn't that important to me, I just want it on or off. In this case it would be ambient, it would be nice to have the option to just turn NC off. Hoping a firmware will be coming to give that option but not a big deal.
Sound - EQ'd the sound in the app and I am very happy with how they sound. I'm not a bass junkie or a audiophile but I like upper scale speakers (2 Sonos 5s in my living room for example) and these headphones do not disappoint.
Battery - I haven't measured the actual time but the claimed 24 hours seems pretty close and that is more than adequate.
2nd Update
My adult daughter flew home for Christmas and she had replaced her Bose QC 25s that had stopped working with the Sony XM4s. So I got to spend some time with the XM4s, played with the app, listened to music, tried the noise cancelling and wore them for a while to test the comfort. I was very impressed, not surprising given the reputation of the XM4s but my personal opinion is the sound was very comparable to my Bose QC45s. I didn’t A/B switch the headphones but I have been listening to the QC45s for a couple of months now so that gave a good reference point. Noise cancelling of the XM4s was excellent, I still think the Bose have the edge but only a very slight advantage, it was cool to have the ability to turn off NC and get better battery life and still wish the Bose had this feature (still holding out hope a firmware will come to give this) but it isn’t a big disappointment for me. The comfort was again excellent, the ear cushions were super supple and gave a great seal. The Sony app had a lot more options than the Bose, if your an app nerd you could geek out on it, if your not it could seem complicated, for me I wouldn’t spend time in it so it’s not a significant advantage but that’s me. As I said in my original review adjustable NC isn’t something I would use so that feature isn’t for me but the Sony’s have it if you would like it.
Summary of the XM4s from my perspective is they are comparable to the Bose in many ways, comfort, sound, noise cancelling, case size and better in some aspects like the app and the ability to turn NC off. It comes down to personal preferences and I like physical buttons but wow if you like the features of the Sony they are a top of the line headphones and you would love them. I still would choose the Bose but it was fun playing with the Sony XM4s.
3rd Update
There were some references to wind noise with the QC45s in comments and reviews because the 45s don't have the ability to turn off NC (if I remember correctly). I was letting the dog out the other day and had my QC45s on and there was a mild wind. Yes you do get wind noise, so if you are going to use headphones outside consider this. I don't see this being an issue for me, guess only when I let the dog out, yeah first world problem. I keep mentioning the firmware update that could fix this (and added battery when not needed) with some hopes that a Bose rep will take notice (might have a better chance of winning the lottery) but for now this is a narrow circumstantial issue. For me it's the comfort that trumps the advantages that the competition has over the QC45s.
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Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, Eclipse Grey - Limited Edition (Renewed) $244.95 + $19.99
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This Item  Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones, Over-Ear Headphones with Microphone, Personalized Noise Cancellation and Sound, Eclipse Grey, Limited Edition |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $349.00 | $329.99 | $329.00 | $429.00 | -9% $299.00 List: $329.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 29 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 2 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 29 | Get it May 3 - 6 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Noise cancellation | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
| Bass quality | ||||||
| Volume control | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Y&R Bundles | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Adorama |
| connectivity tech | Bluetooth | Wireless, Wired | Wireless | Bluetooth | Wireless, Wired | Bluetooth |
| headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
| connector type | plug,wireless | 2.5mm Jack | — | plug,wireless | 2.5mm Jack | plug,wireless |
| noise control | active noise cancellation | — | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation |
| cable feature | Without Cable | Without Cable, Retractable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable |
| control type | Media Control | Media Control | Media Control | Media Control | Noise Control | Noise Control |
From the manufacturer
QuietComfort 45 wireless headphones
Iconic quiet. Comfort. And sound.
Built with lightweight materials for premium comfort and proprietary acoustic technology for deep, clear audio.
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High-fidelity audio
Acoustic architecture adds depth and fullness. Volume-optimized Active EQ keeps it all balanced.
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Really clear calls
The hidden mic system focuses on your voice while filtering out environmental sounds.
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Powerful battery life
Up to 22 hours from one charge. A quick 15-minute charge offers 3 hours when you’re on the go
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Truly wireless
Bluetooth 5.1 provides a strong, reliable connection to your device within 30 feet.
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Simple setup
Find guided setup, get tips, and personalize your settings in the app.
1 Sound 2 Microphones 3 Battery 4 Bluetooth 5 Bose Music app
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Review of Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Cancelling
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Reviews with images
Great value
Bought it when it was $200 and it is the best value headset I’ve gotten. I love the color, it fits really comfortably, I can wear it for hours on end and don’t really feel any discomfort. The noise cancelling is good, I have a laptop with loud fan noise and putting the headset on completely blocks noises like that. Sound quality is decent, there is an app to adjust treble, bass, etc. to your liking too. I can use it for a full day without having to charge. Really happy with the purchase!
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
Color: White SmokeVerified Purchase
Bought it when it was $200 and it is the best value headset I’ve gotten. I love the color, it fits really comfortably, I can wear it for hours on end and don’t really feel any discomfort. The noise cancelling is good, I have a laptop with loud fan noise and putting the headset on completely blocks noises like that. Sound quality is decent, there is an app to adjust treble, bass, etc. to your liking too. I can use it for a full day without having to charge. Really happy with the purchase!
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023
Color: White SmokeVerified Purchase
They work! They reduce about 95% of the ambient noise and most all other noise too while on 'quiet' mode. Next and nearly as important, they are lightweight and don't squeeze my head so much that I have to take them off to get relief. I'm not always in need of super deep bass, and I have headphones for those times. They are heavy and cumbersome to wear. After like an hour, I just need to take them off. These Bose QC45's are a near perfect balance between performance and comfort. When I travel, they are the perfect companion. And I snap them up during a Black Friday sale which saved nearly a hundred dollars. Saving every chance I can is very important. So in short, comfort, performance and price benefits were found in this amazing purchase.
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Top reviews from other countries
lightson
attractive, and worth it for noise cancelling
Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2023Color: Eclipse GreyVerified Purchase
Magnus
Absolute the best sound and battery!
Reviewed in Sweden on March 3, 2024Color: White SmokeVerified Purchase
Anna_G
Bardzo dobre słuchawki
Reviewed in Poland on August 26, 2023Color: White SmokeVerified Purchase
Mcguane
Exceptional Noise Cancelling Experience
Reviewed in Australia on September 21, 2023Color: White SmokeVerified Purchase
