Few things breed true innovation like competition, and Bose enjoyed a fantastic run as the heavyweight champion of the premium noise-canceling space with their critically and commercially well-received QC25 cans, swiftly followed by the wireless QC35 headset and its Google-assisted sequel a couple of years ago.
Running unopposed for so long certainly bred a little complacency in the American manufacturer, which made the launch of Sony’s incredible WH-1000MX3 headphones even more of a blindside attack.
Similarly priced, and offering all of the features consumers had clamoured for since Apple cut the cord on headphones with the jack-less iPhone 7 in 2016 – improved audio, USB-C battery charging, a refreshing design – Sony’s effort deservedly put them right at the front of the pack.
Well, Bose have certainly dug deep in retaliation and delivered a visually arresting, aurally engaging return salvo in the Noise Cancelling 700 Headphones – boasting an all-new design, adaptive mics to hear and project your voice more clearly than ever, and continuing to embrace the litany of AI assistance with optimised support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
However, we’re all here for the noise-canceling – an almost religious experience when flicking the switch for the first time and the din of the world falls away.
Bose has really elevated their game, with a whopping 11 levels of noise cancellation, adaptive to your environment and incredibly responsive to changing profiles.
Improving the overall audio experience is important too – Sony came through with both booming base and delicate separation of sources on the treble, whilst Bose claims an immersive musical experience, as well as a suite of connectivity options for smartphones and computer alike.
Last but not least – equal parts marketing bullet and impressive addition – Bose AR is a unique augmented reality effort which enables supported apps to deliver a unique positional audio experience never before offered in a pair of headphones…
Battery life has also been catered to, with USB-C finally on deck as a connection port and the 700 offering 20 hours of playback, as well as 3.5 hours with a brisk 15-minute charge.
Priced at £349.95 at most retailers, the 700s toughest competition has been time…in the year since launch, Sony’s MX3s have steadily tumbled in price and can be picked up for as little as £250.
So whilst Bose has certainly risen to the new challenger in the noise-canceling space, they’ve also re-established themselves as a relatively premium option at a time train carriages up and down the land are beginning to fill with more affordable alternatives, including Sony’s own lauded entry – not to mention an in-ear follow-up with the WF-1000XM3s, which is set to disrupt Airpods and traditional cans alike.
But if you want a beautiful, meticulously designed, audibly improved listening experience, the 700s seem the only way to go.
Don’t call it a comeback.
