Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones Review: Solid

The Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones were purchased by us to allow our expert reviewer to thoroughly evaluate and test them. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

There are few brands that have the same market share and reputation as Bose in headphone sales right now. It seemed that everywhere you looked, someone had Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones. Although the price tag is a bit high and the battery life could have been better, the Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones are a great pair of headphones.

The SoundSport Wireless was tested in NYC. We used them on the subway and out-and-about to assess build quality, comfort and battery life.

Related Reading: Bose Quietcontrol 30 Review: Amazing But Flawed

Design: We are determinedly boss, and we don't break any new ground

These headphones look bulky and heavy at first, particularly when compared to Apple's truly wireless Airpods. The headphones are bulky and heavy, which has some implications for comfort. But, the design is so good that we were surprised at how well they look. With the exception of the cable, the buds measure 1.2x1x1.2 inches. They have a subtle, all-black appearance. You can also choose from a nice teal or lime green option, and one with red accents. However, that Pulse model measures your heartbeat. This feature was not available on our set.

Although the remote can be found in an easily accessible place, its sleek, curvy design matches the SoundSports' overall aesthetics. However, it was a bit difficult to use the buttons. The cable is 22 inches in length and is meant to be wrapped around your neck or under it. Flat cables are preferred to prevent tangling. Fortunately, it didn't turn out to be an issue.

It is a soft, round pouch that has a metal carabiner and is also plush. Although it wasn't quite as heavy as some hardshell cases for Bluetooth headsets that are much more expensive, we loved the fact that you could easily slip the case into a backpack.

Related Reading: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i Review: Pure Luxury

Quality & Durability: High quality, durable and waterproof

These earbuds, like many others in the class, are designed for exercising. The StayHear+ Sport Eartips are made of durable, soft rubber and didn't wear down after heavy usage for a week. It feels heavy and has a great build quality.

These have some water resistance, however Bose does not specify what their IP rating is. They are water- and sweat-resistant. These acoustic ports are designed to resist sweat, some precipitation and have a hydrophobic cloth added as protection. These would not be able to withstand being fully submerged in water. However, they performed well in rain or during our sweatiest workouts.

Related Reading: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Review: Great All-Around Studio Headphones

Comfort: Elegant ear tips for a perfect fit

Bose's StayHear+ sport earpieces are truly unique. They are not round or made of foam, but rather oval, and look almost like someone crimped or crushed a regular set. You'll have size options including a ¾-inch tip, a ½-inch and one somewhere in between, but be sure to note that the curved rubber wing that holds it into your ear is attached to these tips. Those wings range from ½ inch to an inch. It's easy to change out wings and tips, but you run the risk of getting stuck with an eartip that isn't right for your wing, and vice versa.

We like the oval shape of the earpieces. The oblong shape doesn't provide the same seal as a round tip. This can have an impact on listening, but also reduces the pressure that some exercise headphones give you. These earbuds were comfortable to wear for extended periods without feeling fatigued. They are larger than expected due to the presence of more components and drivers. We didn't feel any discomfort during use.

Installation: Simple and fool-proof

Pair these headphones by simply long pressing the power button at the right bud. It will then enter pairing mode. The best thing about these headphones? They have a very clear, easy-to-understand voice when switching between modes. You will be able to see the battery percentage and what device is paired with it. If you enter pairing mode it will also tell you if it's available to pair another device. Although the voice sounds a little robotic, it is still very precise, which is something that is quite rare for earbuds.

Connectivity & Sound Quality: Good but not great

Bose is known for not providing detailed specifications. This makes it a contentious brand, especially from an audiophile perspective. Because it's not clear how their product's impedance levels and frequency response are or other details, it makes it difficult to accurately describe their sound quality.

However, we can affirm that these headphones have a great sound quality. The headphones seem to have great coverage across all frequencies. The low-end will have plenty of power, while the middle section is more muddy and cluttered with headphones. You can also expect a lot of sparkle in the highs. We found a noticeable lack in volume, which is the only problem we had with sound quality. The aforementioned shape of the earbuds may be to blame as they don't provide a tight seal or block out as much noise. It would have helped the headphones' sound quality if the volume was increased.

SoundSports work flawlessly in terms of sound transmission when properly connected. Bluetooth 4.1 is not as reliable as Bluetooth 5.0. You'll experience some latency when playing video games. However, for most common uses (podcasts and music), it was very stable. Although the connection was most problematic when used with Bluetooth and wireless devices, it never lost its connection completely. However, there were some issues with using the headset for phone calls. The calls went well, it was clear, crisp and the microphone worked as best as we could. These headphones, however, were most susceptible to Bluetooth skipping and distortion.

Battery life: Not exceptional

These headphones' rechargeable batteries were okay, but nothing extraordinary. Bose claims that the headphones will provide 6 hours of music per charge. We found this to be accurate for most cases. We sometimes heard less because we had to crank the volume up than with other headphones.

Bose claims that the charging time for the micro-USB cable takes approximately two hours. However, we were able to find that the charge took less than 90 minutes. There is always a compromise between battery life and headphones, but these headphones are pretty decent. We expected them to last longer, but they are so large that we were slightly disappointed.

Complementing Software: There's not much to be excited about with

Bluetooth headphones have a distinct advantage in that they can be customized with a specific app. Although the Bose Connect app does not offer the same EQ controls and sonic shaping options as other apps like Jaybird, there are still some great features.

The app allows you to connect or disconnect your devices easily. This is much more convenient than having to refresh the Bluetooth list. Bose Connect also allows you to seamlessly stream music from multiple Bose devices. This is especially useful for friends who have Bose products.

Last note: Bose claims a "Find My Earbuds" feature. However, it seems that this only works with wireless SoundSport Free headphones and not SoundSport Props.

Prices: High-end but affordable

The headphones are usually priced at 149.95. Bose doesn't often have sales. However, on Black Friday or other major deal weekends we found these headphones for just $99.99. That price difference is a big point — $150 puts you firmly in the premium price range while $100 undercuts some of the competition's price. These are worth it for their sound quality and build quality, if they're affordable.

The app and Bose pairing tools make the experience seamless for average users. We were a little concerned about the volume issue and the connection problems we encountered. The price tag is reasonable and the quality of the product is excellent. Bose will not disappoint if you are a fan.

Playing with big dogs

Although there are some headphones available that can be used in this area, none have the same features as SoundSports. Jaybird X4s, Jaybird Tarah Pros offer more features. However, we preferred the Bose for its fit and sound quality.

Shure SE-215s in-ear monitors have a classic look. They are more expensive on sound quality, but they don't have the same build quality as the Bose. You can also get a pair Bang & Olufsen BEoplay earbuds for almost twice the cost. These earbuds will provide you with all you need in terms of sound quality, but they are extremely expensive. The SoundSports cost a lot, but they are worth it for the quality you get.

You might also be interested in other products. You can check out our list of top wireless headphones and Bose headphones.

Specifications

• SoundSport Wireless Headphones
• Bose Product Brand
• Prices from $149.95
• Release date June 2016,
• Weight 0.8 oz.
• Dimensions of the product 22x1x1.2in
• Color Black, Aqua, Citron
• Model number 761529-0010
• UPC 017817731355
• Battery life Six hours of playtime
• Wired and wireless wireless
• Wireless range 30 feet
• 1-year warranty
• Audio codecs SBC
• Bluetooth Tech 4.1

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