Roger Fingas
Bose on Wednesday revealed a successor to the QuietComfort 35 II, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, shipping on June 30. [Updated with corrections from Bose]
The 700 includes 11 levels of cancellation for better customization of how much ambient sound to let in, Bose said. For quick interruptions however the headphones sport a button-triggered Conversation Mode, which simultaneously kills noise cancellation and pauses music.
Also on the upgrade slate is a better microphone system, with four mics for both improving pickup and eliminating noise. Combined with motion sensors this supports a platform called "Bose AR," in which compatible mobile apps can detect head position and offer custom-tailored audio. Some current titles include Bose Connect, Bose Music, and the on-foot navigation app Walc. Bose AR is already available for owners of Bose Frames or the QC35 II.
Other specifications include touch-sensitive controls, built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, and a 20-hour battery. The last offers up to 3.5 hours of listening with a 15-minute charge.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 can be preordered in black or silver for $399.95 from B&H Photo or Bose directly.
Update: Bose says that the NCH 700 is merely a successor to the QC35 II, not a replacement.
Malcolm Owen
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
16 Comments
I thought 350$ was ridiculous. I almost got the Sony XM3s for 299 shipped a couple weeks ago but that’s a load for headphones.
Beats need to work on the whole comfort thing.
High-quality headphones cost money, dude. $300 gets you a pair of “pretty good” cans (or Beats), $400 can get you some “pretty great” headphones (or better Beats), but the best reference headphones can cost north of $800 if you’re really that serious about it.
It sounds like these are a solid upgrade on the very good QuietComfort 35 line, but I trust the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa spyware can be turned off? If not, I’m certainly not buying those.
Makes my AirPods seem like a bargain.