Review + why I sold my QC Ultra Gen 2
Skip to the end for the TLDR.
Firstly, this is a good product, that could have been so much better with some minor tweaks. If I were to recommend any of the big 3 headphones to someone (Bose QCU2, Sony XM6, Apple APM), I would still generally recommend the Bose. Why? It nails the fundamentals... Mostly. I can't say that there's a single headphone on the market that doesn't have any major compromises. The Bose are probably the closest, but certainly not perfect. However, as the title suggests, I sold mine and bought a different pair, I'll explain why at the end.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pros:
ANC: Generally very good, especially at cancelling out low frequency noises. Struggles a bit with voices and other mid to high frequencies, as all ANC headphones do. I disliked that it was always adaptive, I wish I was able to set it at the maximum level if I so chose.
Comfort: Also generally good, comfortable and plush padding all the way round, I wore them at the library for many hours with no issue. However, there was noticeable heat buildup when doing a lot of movement, or if it was a warm day.
Sound quality (after EQ): Great sound quality, would like to have seen more EQ bands, but they are at least in the right areas. My EQ was: -5 Bass, +0 Mids, -4 Treble. Having said that, I still felt like the sound was a little too relaxed and veiled for my liking, something I wasn't quite able to address with the in-app EQ. A nitpick, and mostly personal preference, I think most people will be very happy with the sound quality offered here.
Mics: Good, no notes.
Design: Well built and I love some of the colour options, especially the driftwood sand. I wish the cups swivelled 180 degrees though.
Case: Good small form factor for travelling. I wish it had a magnetic clasp instead of a zip, like the XM6.
CustomTune: I could only notice a small difference, but I hope this kind of technology continues to be developed. I think this is the future of Wireless Headphones.
Features: USB C audio is something I don't use regularly, but still appreciate having. I also appreciate having immersive audio modes for watching films. Would have liked to see Auracast added.
The Cons:
Price: it's too expensive, and should be discounted to match the XM6. (Region dependant)
Fit: Personally, I would prefer more clamping force. It slides off my head too easily whenever I tilt it.
App: Minimalism done wrong. There's nothing wrong with a simple interface, but it needs to be fast and convenient to make up for a lack of features. None of which it does. Ultimately, the aim should be for me to never need the app after dialling in my preferred settings, unfortunately I think Bose are aiming for the opposite.
Controls: Give. Me. Buttons. If you insist on touch controls, then follow Sony's example. This middle-of-the-road minimalist approach is rubbish. Having 1 button for essentially everything is inefficient, the volume strip is too small and inaccurate.
The last update: Bose, you know what you did. Give back the lost features as toggle-able options. Especially device cycling, it was a huge reason I bought this product since I sometimes use 3 devices simultaneously. Aptx lossless and mic support over usb c is appreciated though. This was probably the catalyst for me selling them in all honesty.
Quality Control: My unit had a clicking sound every time I turned my head sharply or walked outside. Other posts confirm it as a widespread issue. Audio would also occasionally cut out due to false triggerings of the on-head detection sensor.
Battery life: should be better at this price point. Many budget headphones are reaching 50+ hours these days.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
So what did I buy instead? I bought the Sennheiser Momentum 4 for less than half the price of the QCU2. It is not as good, granted. But the ANC was not as big of a downgrade as I feared, sound quality is just as good, and battery life is phenomenal. For buyers that value having $200 extra in your pocket, it is 85% of the experience the Bose provides with only ANC being the main compromise - though still good enough for most people. Frequent travellers would probably be better served elsewhere however.
TLDR: All in all, it's a very good headphone that was so close to being perfect. If you're looking for the very best premium ANC headphones, then look no further. The sound quality, comfort, and ANC all stood out to me. Something many competitors still can't get right. However, little issues and nitpicks added up until I just didn't feel it was worth the premium price tag it demanded. If value is at all a concern, there are much better deals to be had. I'm greatly looking forward to the next generation of this product, and if Bose can nail them, then I'd happily return to the Bose family.