Bose Quietcontrol 30 Review: Amazing But Flawed
Bose Quietcontrol 30 Review - Amazing but FlawedThe Bose Quietcontrol 30 in-ear headphones have ANC. They sound great, but I also found many issues.
We like this
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Excellent audio quality
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High-quality active noise cancellation
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Very comfy
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Tinnitus is countered by white noise produced by ANC
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It is impossible to disable active noise cancellation
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Battery life is average
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Unimpressive wireless range
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High-end
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Low call quality
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Persistent white noises from ANC
Bose Quietcontrol 30 in-ear headphones are a great choice because of their outstanding audio quality and effective active noise cancellation. However, there are many and diverse issues to consider when considering their price.
- Design
- Installation
- Comfort
- Sound Quality
- Battery life
- Mobile Range and Capability
- Software
- These are the features
- Prices
- Concurrence
- Final Verdict
- Specifications
The Bose Quietcontrol 30, which we purchased, was sent to our expert reviewer who would thoroughly evaluate it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.
Bose has a reputation for quality in audio. Bose products are a coveted brand that provides near flawless listening experience. Bose Quietcontrol 30 is no less appealing to audiophiles. But, the quality of its audio sound exceeds expectations.
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Design: Functional, but not exquisite
Bose Quietcontrol 30 construction is a dual-edged sword. The earpieces are extremely light and can be used with wireless headphones by placing them in the neckband. You will still need to have a strange necklace.
The Quietcontrol 30, which weighs in at 63g, is considerably heavier and more heavy than wireless earbuds. They are also much smaller than the noise cancelling headphones. These headphones can be viewed as an compromise between audio quality and noise cancellation, while still being portable.
While the neckband can increase the bulk of the headphones, it allows for them to be worn easily around the neck even when they aren't being used. It is especially useful when you need the headphones to be removed quickly and can't put them back in their cases.
They can dangle or bounce about when they're in your ears. It would be a great idea to attach the earbuds to the neckband.
The Quietcontrol 30's durability is good, although the design can feel fragile. The Quietcontrol 30 includes a great hardshell case that provides protection while on the road. You can also store your USB charger cable, and other sets of earpiece tips in the accessory pouch.
You will need to exert considerable force in order to activate the power or pairing buttons located inside the neckband. The button is also difficult to access while wearing headphones. This design prevents the charging port from accidentally being pressed. A soft plastic cover protects the charging port from water and other debris. Similar port covers for my Bose Soundsport headphones have shown similar results. They eventually start to wear.
A small problem with the QuietControl 30 is the use of an old Micro USB port. This makes it more expensive and slows down charge and transfer rates.
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Setup: Easy to connect
The Quietcontrol 30 was easy to set up. It was easy to power it up and then register the device with Bose Connect. If you do not have an account already, it will take some extra time to create one.
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Comfort: It fits like a glove
Quietcontrol 30 secures your ears in an incredibly comfortable way. Even though the earbuds are so lightweight and soft, they won't fall out of your ear by accident. Even though it was too tight on me, the neckband is very comfortable. The reason I feel this way is that my neck measures 19.5 inches. If you don't have an unusually large neck, then the Quietcontrol 30 will fit just fine. These would be great to use on your daily commute.
Sound Quality: Nearly perfect
There's no doubt that the Bose Quietcontrol 30 offers top-notch audio quality, and not just for in-ear headphones—they match high-quality headphones of any variety. As a benchmark for headphones testing, I was struck by the wide soundstage of these earbuds when I listened to Thunderstruckby2Cellos. The earbuds reproduce audio very well, and don't emphasize or decrease the bass, mids or highs. This results in a flexible listening experience that can be used with a wide range of music.
This flexibility was evident when I changed from cellos' sweet sound to the rock-infused Charge Up the Powerby Goodbye June. Quietcontrol 30 was a great choice for the loud vocals and heavy guitars as well as the beating drum beats.
I enjoyed Afraid Of Heightsalso by Billy Talent. This show was beautifully performed by the Quietcontrol 30, with great high notes.
These headphones can handle hip-hop music as well as classical or rock, thanks to the pulsing British beats of Sheltoes and Broguesby Mrs. B The Gentleman Rhymer. The Cottage In the Woods by Hawkwind was next, and I found it to be just as interesting with its electronic sounds and powerful guitar solos.
Bose Quietcontrol 30 delivers top-quality audio quality.
I followed this with the soft instrumentals of John Denver's Windsong. There was a great balance between ambient sounds and Denver's voice. Another great song was Thank you for being a friend by Andrew Gold. It was also very enjoyable to hear.
The call quality was poor. Although my voice was clear, people who called me with headphones complained about poor quality audio and strange interference. My end noticed white noise whenever I tried to speak.
Quietcontrol 30's active noise cancellation (ANC) is remarkable. It was capable of reducing outside sound to whispers even in noisy environments. Active noise cancellation did not cause me any discomfort.
The ANC is a great noise cancelling feature, but it has a major drawback: It cannot be turned off and produces a subtle white noise. While this isn’t an issue while listening to music it can be quite annoying between tracks and when you listen to audiobooks. The headphones can be set to allow noise outside, however it will not disable ANC.
This white noise may be desirable to some. Quietcontrol 30 completely eliminated the constant ringing in my brother's ears. He has chronic tinnitus. These are not the cure-all for tinnitus. However, they worked in my case.
It was capable of reducing outside sound to just a whisper even in noisy environments.
Battery life: OK, but not outstanding
The 10-hour claimed battery life was accurate but not overwhelming. Given the size of my neckband I expected more battery. Although the battery's poor performance could have been improved with an option to turn off active noise cancellation, it is still sufficient to last me the entire day.
It seems that the three-hour charging time is a bit slow considering the battery's capacity. This could be due to the Micro-USB charging port.
Range and Capability of Wireless: As advertised
The advertised range of 33 feet for the Bose Quietcontrol was accurate, but it felt a little weak considering these headphones are high-end. These headphones fall just five feet below the Bose Soundsport, which is significantly more expensive. The range of the earbuds is adequate for everyday use.
Software: Interactive interface
Bose Connect is intuitive and well-designed. The noise-canceling controls, which alter the volume of noise cancellation are prominently displayed. This doesn't decrease or disable noise cancellation, but only reduces the noise coming in from outside via the microphones.
The battery level can also be displayed. Two buttons allow you to access Bluetooth settings or music sharing. You can also access the menu to view other settings, such as voice prompts and standby timer. It is easy to use, but it works well.
Frustrating music sharing
Bose Quietcontrol 30's music sharing function has many potentials. However, it is frustratingly difficult to use and only works with certain Bose products. While it worked well with my Bose Soundsport headphones, it did not work with my Bose NC 700 headphones. It's much easier to give your headphones to someone than it is to mess with wireless sharing.
Prices: Justifiably high
The Bose Quietcontrol 30 costs $299 and is a significant investment. They are well worth the price, given their outstanding audio quality and remarkable comfort. It is worth recognizing its shortcomings. It's inferior in terms of battery life and range to much more expensive headphones.
Bose Quietcontrol 30 vs Bose Soundsport
The Bose Soundsport is a more affordable alternative to the Quietcontrol 30. It costs only a third as much. The Soundsport has been my daily companion for almost three years. I love their sound quality and comfort. Their audio quality and comfort is not as good as the Quietcontrol 30 and there's no active noise cancellation. The Soundsport is smaller and can be stowed in your shirt pocket, but it has better calling quality.
Bose Quietcontrol 30 is a great earbud option for those who want to enjoy high-quality audio. They are not perfect, however, I find the inability of using them with passive noise cancellation to be particularly irritating. They are impressive and can be ignored if you care about sound quality.