Bose has introduced its latest flagship model, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, which features a newly designed stainless steel headband that gives them a more stylish and thinner look than the QuietComfort line. Bose says that the wireless 700s were designed from the ground up and, compared to the QC35 IIs, they also have all-new drivers, ear cushions and USB-C support.
I have had the QC35 and I’d argue they remain more comfortable for long-haul flights thanks to their weight and how they feel on.
The noise-cancelling tech is better than it’s ever been, too, according to Bose. One of the main attributes the company focused on is the adaptive voice system, which is designed block out noise from your surroundings as you’re using then headphone’s voice features. There are eight microphones total on the 700s, four on each earcup, and they work together to reject ambient noise around you as you move. The goal is to make your voice sound perfectly clear, especially when you’re in a place with a lot of noise.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 specs
Price: $399.95
Battery life: 20 hours
Weight: 0.56 pounds
11 levels of noise cancellation
Can pair with two devices at once
USB-C charging port
Bluetooth range: up to 33 feet
Codecs: AAC and SBC
Available in black or silver
In terms of their appearance, the NCH 700s are a step away from the QC35 design language and much more elegant. The headband runs down through the middle of each ear cup. There are no plainly visible screws or joints on these headphones, and the reason for the latter is that they don’t fold up. As a result, they come with a carrying case larger than the QC35s.
Bose isn’t quantifying exactly how much better the noise isolation is in the 700s compared to the QC35s, only telling us that the improvements are “subtle” and something you’ll notice in certain environments and not others.
Sound quality is another area where Bose is setting modest expectations, saying the NCH 700s deliver improved audio performance compared to the QC35 IIs. The headphones use completely new drivers and “a brand-new acoustic design,” according to Bose.
There are three physical buttons on the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. One adjusts between three levels of noise cancellation. (By default, this toggles between maximum, medium, and full transparency, but you can choose your own preferred three levels in the Bose app.) Another activates your preferred voice assistant (and can also mute your line during calls). And the last is your standard Bluetooth pairing button. Again, these can be paired with two devices simultaneously, so if you’re watching a movie on your laptop and a call comes in, you’re covered. Bose offers hands-free support for Alexa voice commands, but using either Google Assistant or Siri will require a press of the dedicated button.
The front half of the right ear cup can recognize your taps and swipes. Here’s a selection of some:
Play / pause: double tap
Answer call: double tap
Reject call: tap and hold for one second
Volume up: swipe up
Volume down: swipe down
Fast forward: swipe forward
Rewind: swipe backward
