Get on a plane going anywhere and you’ll spot frequent flyers donning noise-cancelling headphones to block out that background hiss and hum. A whole lot of the time it’ll be Bose QC35 cans adorning such travellers’ heads – because this company makes what is widely regarded as the best active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones out there. Best ANC headphones: Over-ear, in-ear and beyond But times have changed and competition is tougher than ever. We’ve seen considerable success from Sony, Bowers & Wilkins, B&O BeoPlay, among others, all vying for the ANC crown. Bose isn’t having any of it, though, with the reveal of its Smart Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, a built-from-the-ground-up set of over-ears that are here to regain the ANC crown. And based on our first listening experience, the brand looks to have succeeded… Design & Comfort Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri support Measure: 203 x 165 x 51mm / Weigh: 250g Carry case included (218 x 179 x 62mm) USB-C charging (cable included, no plug) 2.5-3.5mm cable for passive listening Touch controls (vol/skip/pause/play) Black / Silver finishes available Available in black or silver finishes, the first thing you’ll see about the Bose Headphones 700 is that quality has upped its game compared to the QC35 II. Not that the latter was badly built – it used premium materials, like anodised aluminium, but simply just didn’t look as though it did. The 700 helmet changes that. The design is built around a main stainless steel structure, with a double hinged headband designed to sit in the ideal place on any head. It rotates in all directions necessary to adapt to the length and shape of the head, to the setting of the temples, and folds flat so that these cans remain seated comfortably when they sit empty at the neck. We have not worn these headphones for more than 15 minutes to date. So we cannot tell you how long-term wear and tear feels – which we will see in our full report as we approach the launch date of 11 July in the UK – . this short period of wear, we felt very comfortable. There is no unwarranted pinching, but the fit is well glued to the ears. the headband does not sink into the skull, because of the silicone and padding almost similar to the gel used here; while the coating of the earpiece in faux leather is sumptuous against the lobes. But, as you’ll see in our photos, the Bose Headphones 700 doesn’t bend. Which, if you’re a QC35 user looking to take it to the next level, might scare your heart. We thought this might be an obstacle for many buyers, but Bose showed us the difference side by side of the two pairs, including their carrying cases, and the difference is not particularly great, especially as the new 700 series is thinner. flat helmet. In addition, the Noise Cancelling 700 brings many other benefits. There is a smaller and more discreet logo on each headset – we recommend all brands opt for this, none of the massive logo ornaments that JBL seems to love for example – and the finish, made of stainless steel, is harder and more resistant to scratchers. than previous offers of Bose helmets. Touch control is another great advantage. The front area outside the right atrium can be used as follows: slide upwards to increase volume; Pull down to lower the volume; Swipe forward to jump off the track. Swipe your finger to go back/replay the track; and press twice to read/pause. Everything is intuitive, there is no need to press too the volume setting – it does not make one volume at a time, it follows your finger and can go from three, for example. quarter volume to half in a flash – is super smooth. There is no unsightly marking showing that all this can be done, making it a subtle implementation. Noise reduction modes and sound quality 10 Active Noise Removal Levels (ANC) Extra Level 0 for Transparency Mode 8 microphones system for insulation Beam-shaped voice insulation system 20 hours of battery power per charge But the real reason you buy these headphones is due to active noise reduction technology. This has been the subject of a total overhaul of the 700 headset with the introduction of the “transparency mode” and 10 different degrees of noise cancellation power.
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