The Bose QC20i earbuds bring
superb noise canceling to cut out the world around you
A good
set of headphones can allow you to get lost in your music, and when it comes to
noise cancellation, lots of people look to Bose to hand over the golden silence
— and with good reason. This year, Bose added its first compact option to an
already well-loved lineup. The QC20i (MSRP $299.95) is a set of active noise
canceling earbuds that can absolutely crush the clamor of your everyday hustle
and bustle.
These
headphones quell even the most powerful of outside noises; passing motorcycles,
roaring city buses, and even jackhammers get reduced to mere whispers. With the
click of a button, my approaching train became little more than a soft whoosh.
Just flip the switch and outside noise falls to as much as 1/16 its original
loudness.
So how
does it work? Bose planted tiny microphones on the inside and outside of each
speaker. When you activate the cancellation, these microphones measure the
frequencies of the noises around you, and a processor compares those noises to
what you're listening to (though the feature also works if you aren't listening
to anything). The processor then sends a signal to your ear that reduces the
outside sounds.
THE SCIENCE: See how
these headphones performed in lab tests
RELATED: Great
headphones for travel
The
QC20i's overall soundscape is almost perfectly on-point. Unlike studio-grade
headphones, these earbuds do place a fair amount of emphasis on the bass range,
meaning the sound isn't as flat and dynamic as many purists require. If you
turn the active noise cancellation (ANC) off, or if your battery dies, a
regrettable drop in volume occurs in the high midrange, affecting upper notes
on beloved instruments like the guitar, certain horns, and percussion, to name
a few. This doesn't completely ruin the listening experience, and many
listeners will never even notice it, but it's a detail that practiced ears are
sure to resent.
For the
most part, the QC20i is a comfortable product. The silicone tips don't lodge
fully into your ear canal, so you can wear them for hours without discomfort.
The only other noteworthy design aspect is the cumbersome battery pack. The
otherwise normal cable got whacked with an ugly stick at its base, so that
you're stuck carrying a sizable, rectangular battery pack everywhere you go.
You'll also notice some slight pressure in your ears, which is a byproduct of
the noise cancellation system. The pressure may take a little getting used to,
but it's supposed to be there, don't worry.
GADGETS: See how
we test headphones in our labs
Bose
claims that the battery on the QC20i will last 16 hours and can be recharged in
two hours with an included USB charger The saving grace would be that when the
bulky battery dies you can still listen to music sans noise canceling, although
at a lower audio quality. But because of the battery pack the QC20i probably
isn't the right choice for athletes.
The
QC20i (MSRP $299.95) earbuds may not have the best audio quality on the block
when the battery dies, but they can silence the entire block — a major perk for
some folks. If a firm foundation in bass doesn't suit you, you don't want to
spend a lot, or you don't want to have to worry about charging your headphones,
then the QC20i may not be your cup of tea.
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