Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

K712 Pro vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the K712 Pro: 50% of 80 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 474 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

K712 Pro

50%of 80 owners recommend
50% recommend · 28% neutral · 22% don't
Owners praise
  • Excellent for gaming, especially competitive FPS titles, thanks to a huge soundstage that makes footsteps and directional cues easy to place
  • Massive, precise soundstage and strong instrument separation/imaging that owners rate above rivals like the K701/Q701 and HD600
  • Very comfortable for long sessions, praised as light on the head and a good fit even for larger heads
Owners complain about
  • Bright, fatiguing treble with a dip in the mids that some owners find harsh or off-putting on longer listening sessions
  • Some owners find the imaging and soundstage less precise than expected, calling it unnaturally large or 'meh' compared to rivals like the DT880/990
  • Durability complaints, including drivers blowing out or headphones wearing out within one to two years
Full owner report →

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

35%of 474 owners recommend
35% recommend · 23% neutral · 42% don't
Owners praise
  • Exceptional comfort for long sessions, owners repeatedly say they "disappear" on your head and can be worn for hours or all day, often rated more comfortable than the Sony XM6, Bose QC45, and even AirPods Max
  • Best-in-class active noise cancelling, especially for steady low-frequency noise like airplane engines, HVAC, and trains
  • Rich, detailed sound with punchy bass that many say sounds great right out of the box without needing EQ
Owners complain about
  • A persistent white-noise/hissing sound from the ANC circuit that owners describe as annoying during quiet moments, calls, and pauses in audio
  • A firmware update stripped out features many relied on, including cycling between paired Bluetooth devices via the headphone button, multipoint switching, and battery-percentage announcements on power-up
  • Creaking, popping, or clicking noises from the hinges and headband, plus a jarring "thump" when the adaptive ANC reacts to sudden noises like a door slamming
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the K712 Pro if
  • ✓Gamers wanting pinpoint footstep imaging and a huge soundstage for FPS titles
  • ✓Classical and orchestral listeners who want spacious, airy presentation over bass slam
  • ✓Low-volume, casual listeners who just want to enjoy music rather than critical monitoring
  • ✓Big-headed or comfort-focused owners who wear these for hours without fatigue
Skip it if
  • Bass-heavy genre fans (hip-hop, metal) put off by boosted, muddled low end
  • Treble-sensitive listeners bothered by the fatiguing highs and mid-range dip
Get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if
  • ✓Frequent travelers who want top-tier ANC and all-day comfort on long flights
  • ✓Glasses wearers and long-session listeners who prioritize a soft, low-clamp fit
  • ✓Upgraders from Bose QC35/QC45 who value premium build over Sony's plastic feel
  • ✓Listeners who want strong out-of-the-box sound without needing an EQ
Skip it if
  • People who make lots of calls, since mic and call quality draw frequent complaints
  • Anyone needing to fully disable ANC, since wind noise and hiss bother some owners

What K712 Pro owners say

“I keep coming back to them frequently as I love their weight, fit and sound, especially for mixing music.”
— _crackerjack73_ on Reddit
“Recommendation for the AKG 712 Pro, and perhaps tryout the k702 earcups for more detailed sound and wider soundstage.”
— Bastelkorb on Reddit
“the 712 fell way short with boosted bass that created a muddled midrange and a tepid soundstage not as pinpoint accurate and open as the other 7 series.”
— rajmahid on Reddit

What Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) owners say

“My ultra used daily for over a year is still working great. Had some firmware issue at the start but currently it is Ok. Good anc, great sound and sturdy.”
— GrumpyBitFlipper on Reddit
“I come from the xm5 earbuds and just bought the QC Ultra 2nd gen’s because even though I loved the Sony’s, I don’t like wearing them knowing there’s too much toxic chemicals in them.”
— therealpurpledolpin on Reddit
“but not the Ultras (not worth the price increase imo)”
— xolavenderwitch on Reddit

K712 Pro vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): frequently asked questions

Is the K712 Pro or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) better?

Real owners lean toward the K712 Pro: 50% of 80 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 474 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Who should get the K712 Pro?

Owners point the K712 Pro at gamers wanting pinpoint footstep imaging and a huge soundstage for FPS titles, and classical and orchestral listeners who want spacious, airy presentation over bass slam.

Who should get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)?

Owners point the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at frequent travelers who want top-tier ANC and all-day comfort on long flights, and glasses wearers and long-session listeners who prioritize a soft, low-clamp fit.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the K712 Pro is bright, fatiguing treble with a dip in the mids that some owners find harsh or off-putting on longer listening sessions. For the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), it's a persistent white-noise/hissing sound from the ANC circuit that owners describe as annoying during quiet moments, calls, and pauses in audio.