Bose QuietComfort 20 QC20
MPN: QC2097 reviews
Amazing noise cancelling! – I have tinnitus and loud noises make it worse. So when we decided to live on board a power catamaran with very noisy engines I was a bit concerned! I had bought noise cancelling head phones before that go over the ears. They work very well, but after a few hours become uncomfortable. I was a little dubious that ear buds would stay in, but they… Read more
do, the seal is good and the sound fantastic as you would expect fro Bose.But when I switched to noise cancelling the sound range is still wide, but amazingly, the roar of our two engines become a quiet murmur! This means I can turn the volume way down and still hear my music. I took a star off because the price is very high, I bought them for $221, went to buy another pair for my husband and they had gone up $100 only a few days later, the wire is very thin and I suspect it will soon break, but there is only a years warranty. But over all a great product.
The only earphone that I use now – My first noise-cancelling earphones and it is amazing. I'm using it on a daily basis and the battery life is really good. The noise-cancelling is good especially during flight. The sound quality is alright but I've been using it with an amplifier which helps a lot. No doubt it is very expensive to purchase but I'm glad I got them using my Qantas points. Show details
Durable and great sounding – I have had these since I bought them in 2015 for $399 and they still hold up well. I was wanting to block out engine noises for a worksite, and these work really well. Sound quality is crisp, but not too heavy on Bass. The pair I've had has been pulled, dropped and left in the car glovebox. The rubberised battery unit cover has peeled off, but… Read more
this still works and still cancels out noise. Higher pitched noise still goes through, but for a truly blocked sound experience wear earmuffs on top of them. Yes they are pricey but I'm glad they still work. Thumbs up to the Bose engineers
In-depth reviews
I have never reviewed a product on the internet, until now - hot ding dong dang diggity these earpho – These fancy earphones have served me extremely well for five years. Five years of heavy use; flying 4+ hours every week, drowning out background dribble in the office, tuning into fully sick thug beats/classical/pop/every music genre you can think of (my iphone on shuffle is like a game of Russian roulette...). I chucked out the little carry… Read more
pouch they came with in the first week, since then, these earphones have been jumbled around in my backpack, covered in sand in my beach bag, stuffed into pockets, stepped on, left in the sun on many hot summer Australian days (i.e. I made zero effort to be careful with them).
Built like a tardigrade (very tough and resilient) + sound quality is bangin' + noise cancelling is top notch + super comfy + easy to sleep and travel with (coz they're little) = well and truly worth the price.
The only issues I've had is the glue started to come apart on the right earphone a couple of weeks ago (they still work) and I replaced the soft silicone detachable thingos a few months ago (only cost $5) - otherwise no issues at all.
I am gladly going to buy these again. Thank you bose for making a quality product.
The battery stopped charging in 3 month and basically no product support from BOSE!! – Bought it in July 18 and by Oct 18 the battery stopped charging fully. Logged support to BOSE online and received an email advise to upgrade the firmware. Replied back and advised that the firmware is already updated to the latest version. After that it's been more than a month that I haven't received any reply. Sent 3 emails requesting status… Read more
update and next steps of troubleshooting. Moreover I really doubt support quality when I was advised to update firmware to resolve battery charging issue. I am really shocked that there is literally no support though we pay premium price for Bose product. Moreover, with online support calls there is no case/ref/support call number that you can refer. I am thinking to report to Dept. of Fair Trading. I have all the emails for ref.
I think we don't realize how bad is BOSE support until we require support. I think I deserve a replacement since the battery is faulty and doesn't charge. I hardly used it and really doubt about product quality and quality control. Lesson learnt.
Great headphones if you can get them for a good price! – I love these headphones so much after I stupidly left my first pair on a plane I had to immediately go out and purchase a new set which was a hard pill to swallow given the price. Don't pay full retail even Bose admitted they can drop to around $330 but they can be had a little cheaper at the right time with ebay discounts etc. In that respect… Read more
I can't bring myself to pay full price for them but at the price you can get them for they are amazing.
I bought these over the QC35's for a number of reasons:
- I want to sleep in them on a plane or anywhere really. Hard to do with over the ears headphones
- They still have a cord with inline remote which is essential for me as I use them for exercising. Sure bluetooth headphones have the skip tracks and volume buttons but they are harder to locate in the ear
- They seem to be ok to use during exercise with the sweat coming out of the ears.
Noise cancelling makes such a difference even in low noise areas because it allows you to only hear the music and immerses yourself into it which is good for me to keep going when I am exercising
Sound quality is good, the Stay Hear earbuds work well and they seem to work well for general headset use for example for phone calls.
I can't live without mine
Positive reviews
Perfect for noise canceling and music – This is one of the best-wired noise-canceling earphones I have owned so far. It has a long battery life, useful for long hours flight and I love this wired jack because I can use it for in-flight entertainment! Show details
Expensive but ok – I like it very much .tbe sound very nice and stable .quality build just ok .sound conciliation is the best I come cross compared to other available in the market. .looks very nice . Show details
The best in-ear headphones I have ever owned! – I have only had my QC20 in-ear noise cancelling headphones for about 10 months now and I love them! I love the way they fit my ears with the included StayPut grommets - I use them on my iPhone 7 and the sound quality is first class, I listen to country music via Spotify on my iPhone 7 and the music is so smooth and crisp - it feels like you are in… Read more
a concert when you actually are not! Sound volume is the best - I can actually hear the music! Compared to the factory headphones that came with my iPhone, they are 1000% better quality and worth every cent!
Negative reviews
Bose QuietComfort 20 QC20 – I have brought this item twice and both times i have had a buzzing noise coming through the ear pieces, especially when it is charging and also the inner protection inside the headphones has worn away. Don't get me wrong the sound quality is excellent, I just wish they fix this problem, as it is well known to them, if you read the reviews on other websites Show details
$369 for 18-months of use! – Be mindful of reviews written within a few months of purchase. I too had been very impressed by the headphones and took great care of them. Unfortunately, once the measly 12-month warranty is over they'll likely break and you'll be expected to pay $269 to replace them. Outrageous. I could have purchased 5 pairs of the AudioTechnica equivalent for the same price - and cNet believe them to be on par. Don't waste your money on BOSE. Show details
Bose QuietComfort 20 Replacement ? – I purchased Bose QuietComfort 20 QC20 earbuds in October 2016 and needed to request a replacement in November 2016 due to crackling noise in earpieces using noise cancelling mode. Bose replaced the headset immediately and without question as they could hear the defect for themselves. The earbuds have performed satisfactorily until very recently… Read more
when the same crackling noise developed in the left earpiece. My use of this product has been very routine and the headset has not been mishandled or subjected to abuse.
I took the headset to Bose who advised that the product was out of warranty (12 months). They advised that in such circumstances they usually offer a replacement at the discount price of $300. Retail is in the vicinity of $370. However as they could see that I had experienced unsatisfactory performance of this product (one replacement under warranty), they would offer a replacement at $240. Bose does not offer a repair option of this product in Australia.
A take-away message for me is that two years of use before failure is judged by Bose as an acceptable life of the product when used routinely.
At this stage I am not inclined to invest in another Bose headset of the same model (currently available in the market). Other Bose products (home audio) I have purchased have performed well over a long period. So this experience with this product is puzzling and unsatisfactory.
I need to review what other consumer remedies are available to me.
Recent reviews
Fantastic (even for hearing impaired people) – I own the QC25 and QC35 but the QC20 earphones are the only earphones I now travel with. I suffer severe hearing loss (mostly due to tinnitus) and the QC20 earphones completely block the engine noise and still allow me to (almost perfectly) hear my wife and the airline staff. The audio quality is fine when they are turned off but great when they… Read more
are turned on. Battery life is great - I bought my pair second hand and recharging them is easy and does not take too long. A minor annoyance is the cable hangs due to the weight of the phone control but I inserted a clip that solves that problem (not worth subtracting a star). I highly recommend the Bose QC20 to any traveller - I would not suggest upgrading to the QC30 as they are wireless so you would have to buy a bluetooth dongle and audio cable to attach them to the airline seat audio.
Find out how Bose QuietComfort 20 QC20 compares to other Wired Headphones
Know better, choose better.
The secret upgrade for long haul flights – A friend lent me his pair of these before I had an international flight. He travelled for business, and kept going on and on about how good they were. He gave them to me while we were having coffee at a busy shopping centre, and insisted I try them then and there. As soon as I turn them on, it was like muting the world. The din of society vanished… Read more
to barely perceptible background noise. Fast forward to my next trip, and I bought two pairs for myself & family. An expensive buy, but a solid investment. When used for airplane travel, the engine drone is greatly reduced. They work in tandem with entertainment consoles on the flight, so you can charge them & watch movies/listen to music etc in your own little noise cancelled world. I would have made them 5 star if they didn't protrude (slightly, but enough) from the ear, making it hard to sleep on them. I may be asking too much, but they are a great recommended product.
Great sound – The noise cancelling is wow the bass omg, the battery last more than a day and overall is great in places where is crowded or noisy I personally think is the best noise cancelling with low profile in the market a beat expensive but I guess is the hype of the brand Show details
Great sound, best I have had – I have had these for a few weeks and they are the best sounding earphones I have had (although I have not had similarly priced high end earphones before). They are a cut above the Sony and Panasonic noise cancelling earphones I own and the standard Apple earphones. Taking note of the comments of others I have added a 4 pole phone jack extension… Read more
lead to keep the battery away from the sound source (less stress on the wires) and a retractable USB charging lead to keep the unit running on long flights. Strangely the 4 pole phone jack works for external control with an iPhone but not with a Mac. The Bose battery can be kept charged from the aeroplane seat back USB port, or from a portable lithium battery pack, via the USB lead.
great – To tell you the truth, I compared a lot before I bought this headset, but it really didn't disappoint me. Even though the headset has been in use for a while, I still like it. Wireless headphones are really convenient compared to traditional headphones. It works well in both sports and on the car, it has great sound quality and I use it almost every day. Show details
So Good! – The noise cancelling capabilities of the earphones are amazing! They fit in the ears very well and produces a very good sound. Not bad for a pair of earphones despite the price tag. I am able to commute to and from work peacefully now! Cannot fault these earphones at all! Show details
I cant live without these when I travel for work – I have had these for a bit over a year and have used these for most mobile phone conversations I have and every week on domestic flights for work (noise cancelling is a definite god-sent around school holiday time). While the cover has peeled off everything else is still perfect. Given the use I've had out of these I say i have gotten my moneys… Read more
worth and then some.
These are the first thing i pack when I travel for work and I would purchase these again with no hesitation
Australian consumer law - poor build quality – 1 year 11 months old and the case covering falls apart. Westfield Sydney City Bose shop assistants said would only replace if I pay $300!!! Will have to take them to NCAT to claim full refund. As this is a generally great product, performance wise, I would buy another pair. Very disappointed with lack of support and service, and being fobbed off,… Read more
as most customers are when there is a problem. The Australian Consumer Law has guarantees as to fitness etc.
Only 3 1/2 months after writing the above review, one of the earphones fell into two pieces. Seems… Read more (+1 reply)
Great sound at a high price – Good ear fit. Cable could be thicker and feels a bit fragile. The sound is wonderful though and Dheres to the sound you would expect from this brand. I would have preferred if there was an option for an iPhone lightning connector plug. Using an adaptor is very very frustrating Show details
Good noise canceling – Let's face it these are just simply a solid pair of cans. I would have really appreciated wireless bluetooth functionality but they're a decent pair of first noise cancelling headphones. They're especially a good deal now as they have had a significant price cut due to these been considered "outdated" Definitely a solid 6/10 Show details
Find out how Bose QuietComfort 20 QC20 compares to other Wired Headphones
Know better, choose better.
Stand by your product!! – I’m already familiar with the aviation products offered by Bose, and I thought I’d give the civilian products a go, everything was going swimmingly until just after the warranty period when one of the pods started crackling horribly. JB HIFI was no help, only suggesting that I should have gone to them directly... Bose also just sympathised but… Read more
offered no solution, oh well... Seeing as it was only a matter of weeks, I thought they may stand by their brand, guess not.
Best headphones ever – I love these headphones, they're the best I've ever owned. They're so soft and comfortable, they cause no discomfort. I've slept with them on for long flights to reduce noise and because they're so comfortable for that purpose. Fast and responsive. Superior sound quality. Love them. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Show details
Perform Great So Comfortable – These are the best investment in my morning commute I have made. They allow my to completely be in my own space despite the ridiculous crowding on the trains. Sound isolation is remarkable considering their tiny size and they have the most excellent open and airy full musical response I have heard. They sounded like 'broken in' earphones from day… Read more
one. They are not cheap but they are totally worth it. Would instantly replace them with the same if lost. Love them
Absolutely miraculous - Amazing sound, super quite and the ONLY IN-EAR HEADPHONES THAT ACTUALLY STAY – Sound - amazing. Great balance between base and treble Comfort - amazing. After about 5 minutes you forget you have them on. Noise cancelling - Great, especially when flying. I usually sleep with them on, even if not connected to my phone Sports - awesome, the only in-ear headphones that actually stay in my ear and don't fall out Reliability - Awesome - never had an issue. And even if you do, the support is great from BOSE. Show details
Performance perfect!!! Design 9/10 – First of all, when I try it it was not comfortable at all as I prefer ear phone stuck in my ear. However, as I use it, feel more comfortable and doesn't hurt even though I use it for a long time. The performance is just perfect and I love the noise cancelling. Show details
love it – noise cancelling is the best thing ever happened to me!! I will buy the QC30 if i have the money as wireless is even better in gym. recon anyone going to gym buy 30 instead of 20, give you more flexibility and to latest iphone as well over all good!!!!! Show details
Would be perfect but for the hiss – I have had this unit for 3 weeks now - simply cannot get used to the hissing without the noise cancellation on and not listening to anything. Would return it tomorrow if there was something better by the way of noise cancelling earbuds. Having said that the noise cancellation is great - turned my TV up to 20 (normally listen at about 12 or… Read more
13) and could not hear the sound with the earphones on. Could not hear anything that I did not want to on the train either.
Lives up to the name – I've found these headphones to be very comfortable, as the name would suggest. It's not bulky which is perfect and offers fantastic audio. I use them on the train as I commute to and from work. The noise cancelling feature is excellent... I'm able to enjoy my ride in peace! Show details
Bose QC20 Review – Bose Quiet Comfort QC20 Noise Cancelling Headphones are reasonably lightweight, comfortable and offer great audio. I use them at work in an open office environment and can cancel out noise from peoples telephone calls at the touch of a switch. So, I can concentrate when I need to. Would be nice if they had an SD card and mp3 player built in. Show details
Perfect quality with perfect price – these are perfect for taking on an aeroplane flight as they are so small you can sleep in them and still block out the noise. If you are looking for something that comfort you during flights or trains, those are the best prices with great values. 10/10 would buy it again Show details
Finally~~ peace~~ – I got this for my husband as Christmas present last year. He used it on the plane and said it was amazing. He had a very good sleep and it works well on the plane entertainment unit with an adaptor. He said he could hear the flight attendant when they are serving and had to take the earphone off for that. Show details
Much quieter flights – Being a glasses wearer with slight hearing loss I find these earbuds far better than the over ear earphones. They block out most of the noise when noise cancelling option is on and make watching movies enjoyable. I find there are still one or two particular voices that seem to come through the noise cancelling peace but this is generally not a… Read more
problem even for long flights. For me, the downside is trying to sleep wearing these - I find them comfortable for a few hours but turning my head to sleep on the side annoys me somewhat. The battery has lasted well on long flights but I do tend to plug them in when I can anyway. The carry case is padded and fits all the goodies included (and I bought a plane adapter also). Overall a really good product and I now wouldn't fly without them.
I hate these – The bose quiet comfort noise cancelation does not work what so ever they suck fat donkey balls Show details
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There was an interesting further interaction with Bose regarding this headset. I consulted Choice… Read more