Bose QuietComfort QC35 II
OUR FAVOURITE SILENT PARTNER GETS SMART.
NEARLY TWO YEARS after release, Bose has updated its astoundingly-popular QC35 Bluetooth headphones with a new set that appears to be almost identical to what it’s replacing. At first glance, you’d be hard pressed to see any difference at all, and they sound alike when they’re on your head, too. The original QC35’s rate as one of the very best sets of noise-cancelling headphones, and plenty of discerning heads have wrapped these comfortable headphones around their ears and enjoyed some of the best silence you can buy for $500. There’s no change for change’s sake here; Bose knows when it’s onto a good thing.
That means the new set’s materials, construction and button layout are essentially all the same, barring one new addition: a button on the rear of the left cup that offers two subtle new features.
When paired to your smartphone (iOS or Android) via Bluetooth, a single short press of that button cycles through the three different noise cancellation options — high, low and off — while a long press activates Google Assistant. It’s a small addition, but one that’s extremely handy if you don’t want to take your phone out of your pocket to check your notifications, or look at your calendar. Once Assistant’s been activated, however, you’ll need to go into the Bose Connect app to turn it off and turn noise cancellation leveling back on.
You’ll have to download the app and install a firmware update to initially activate Google Assistant, too, though the process is pretty simple and the app guides you through exactly what to do. While Australian English is currently absent from the list of languages on the Bose app, we found US English worked just fine during our testing. However, it’s worth noting that, if you want to use the QC35 II’s in wired mode, as soon as you plug in the included cable noise cancellation is set to maximum, and Google Assistant buggers off to the pub.
Elsewhere, it’s business as usual, and it really is surprising how little has changed between this new set and its predecessor. Sound quality and construction are still best in class. These are a responsive set of ‘phones, comfy to wear and the battery life is excellent, lasting 20 hours in Bluetooth mode and a monstrous 40 (noise-cancellation only) when using the included 3.5mm cable. That’s nearly enough to cross the world and back without needing to recharge — an impressive feat. Like the original model, you can crank these up to full blast and expect them to remain free of distortion (though utterly deafening). Sound will also leak out of the sides when pushed to the limit. What is disappointing, though, is that Bose no longer includes a flight adapter in the hard case.
With the arrival of this new set, we expect plenty of retailers to offer some knockdown prices on the old QC35s — if you see them going for a good price and don’t care about voice-activated Google Assistant, we’d grab a pair. And if you’re a current QC35 owner whose pair’s still in fine working order (as ours are, despite near daily use), then stick with them. But if Google Assistant appeals and you want a pair of handsome (if plain) headphones, you’ve found them.
LIKE THE ORIGINAL MODEL, YOU CAN CRANK THESE UP TO FULL BLAST AND EXPECT THEM TO REMAIN FREE OF DISTORTION (THOUGH UTTERLY DEAFENING).