Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Beats 360 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 34% of 112 Beats 360 owners recommend it, vs 37% of 147 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

Beats 360

34%of 112 owners recommend
34% recommend · 13% neutral · 53% don't
Owners praise
  • Light and comfortable to wear for long stretches, and some owners find it easier to wear than AirPods Max
  • Liked for the gym and running, sometimes by owners who would only use it there
  • Several owners like the design and being able to swap the cushion covers
Owners complain about
  • Background hiss is the most common complaint and the top reason for returns: owners hear it in quiet moments and under podcasts, videos and movies, and several got the same hiss on a replacement, though a good number say their pair is silent
  • Battery drains while switched off, leaving owners with a half-empty or dead pair when they pick it up, and turning off Find My did not stop it for everyone
  • Many owners find the sound thin, tinny or short on bass for the price, and owners who also have AirPods Max rate the Max's sound higher
Full owner report →

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

37%of 147 owners recommend
37% recommend · 26% neutral · 37% don't
Owners praise
  • Comfort, the strength owners mention most often
  • Noise canceling that a good share of owners rate highly
  • Sound quality that plenty of owners enjoy
Owners complain about
  • A firmware update that removed switching between devices from the headphones themselves
  • Pairing failures, dropouts and multipoint trouble
  • Noise canceling that some owners find uneven, plus hiss, crackle, popping or creaking from the headphones
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Beats 360 if
  • ✓People who want over-ear headphones for workouts and runs
  • ✓Listeners who put comfort and light weight ahead of sound quality
Skip it if
  • Podcast, audiobook and video listeners, or anyone who listens in quiet rooms
  • Anyone who needs headphones that hold their charge between uses
Get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if
  • ✓Buyers who put comfort first for long listening sessions
  • ✓Buyers who want strong noise canceling alongside the comfort
  • ✓Anyone who tried Sony's XM6 and found the fit less comfortable
Skip it if
  • Anyone who switches between devices often and wants to do it from the headphones
  • Buyers who need a connection that never drops or needs pairing again

What Beats 360 owners say

“they’re actually amazing for the gym. Way better than the Bose, the Sony’s, and the AirPods for the gym. Noise cancelation is a 10 out of 10, and they never get hot in your ears.”
— @DrWoc on YouTube
“I love mine. The update really helped with the mids. They were super uncontrolled before”
— @GabeDaEngineer on YouTube
“I got a pair and ended up returning them because it didn’t have on ear detection”
— @crazzei on YouTube

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

“the Bose QC Ultra Generation 2 is on par with the Sony WH XM5's ANC.....which was the best I had ever experienced when I owned the Sony”
— smithy- on Reddit
“So much more comfy and roomier in the ear cups. My first pair of the Bose were defective / ANC balance was off. Second pair is working amazing, could immediately tell they weren’t broken. Give it a go I think you’ll love em”
— StopPopFox on Reddit
“Yes me too and I only got then for Christmas I sent them to Bose but still haven’t heard back. I am so frustrated I went and bought Sony Wh-1000XM6 that were on sale for $100 off.”
— Single-Detail168 on Reddit

Beats 360 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): frequently asked questions

Is the Beats 360 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 34% of 112 Beats 360 owners recommend it, vs 37% of 147 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

Who should get the Beats 360?

Owners point the Beats 360 at people who want over-ear headphones for workouts and runs, and listeners who put comfort and light weight ahead of sound quality.

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

Owners point the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at buyers who put comfort first for long listening sessions, and buyers who want strong noise canceling alongside the comfort.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Beats 360 is background hiss is the most common complaint and the top reason for returns: owners hear it in quiet moments and under podcasts, videos and movies, and several got the same hiss on a replacement, though a good number say their pair is silent. For the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), it's a firmware update that removed switching between devices from the headphones themselves.