THE SOUND OF SILENCE: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2

Bose's sequel to its QC earbuds bring out of this world noise-cancelling technology to your ears active

SPECIFICATIONS

Drivers 9.3mm full-range dynamic Connectivity USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3 Microphones 4 per bud Weather-proofing IPX4 Battery life 6 hours buds, 18 hours case Dimensions 17.2x30.5x22.4mm buds; 59.4x66.3x26.7mm case Weight 6.24g per bud; 59.8g case

Bose is, of course, the company that invented the first noise-cancelling headphones. With the new QuietComfort Earbuds 2, Bose is promising its best-ever active noise cancellation (ANC), as well as a sleeker, less gawky aesthetic compared to the model it's replacing.

Broadly speaking, the QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are a variation on the 'stem-drip' design pioneered by Apple and since extensively copied by all and sundry. Bose, though, has managed to put its own spin on the basic design by keeping the stem to a minimum and making the in-ear section of the earbud a twist/lock design.

As far as 'usability' is concerned, Bose has outdone itself here. Control is available either via your source player's native voice assistant, the touch-surface of each earbud or the Bose 'Music' control app. The mic array proves just as capable of making your instructions heard as it is facilitating phone-calls. Touchcontrols are reliable too, while a 'touch and hold' action on either earbud either gives access to the voice assistant or allows you to cycle through noise-cancelling modes.