Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Grado SR80x: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Grado SR80x: 60% of 55 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

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 →

Grado SR80x

60%of 55 owners recommend
60% recommend · 18% neutral · 22% don't
Owners praise
  • Punchy, dynamic, "fun" sound signature that owners describe as energetic and addictive rather than flat or clinical
  • Excellent entry point into higher-end audio for the price, with many owners keeping their pair for a decade or more
  • Clean, airy sound with surprising clarity and detail retrieval for a budget open-back can
Owners complain about
  • Glued-together build (drivers, gimbals, rodblocks, headband) that owners view as flimsy, breaks over time, and often requires DIY hot-glue or aftermarket-part repairs
  • Bright, treble-forward tuning that a meaningful minority finds fatiguing or outright harsh on longer listening sessions
  • Stiff, thick, unwieldy stock cable that's awkward to manage and a recurring standalone complaint
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

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
Get the Grado SR80x if
  • ✓First-time audiophiles wanting an affordable, exciting-sounding upgrade from stock earbuds
  • ✓Listeners who love an energetic, forward, treble-tilted sound signature
  • ✓Home/desk listeners who don't need isolation or a lightweight on-the-go cable
  • ✓Tinkerers open to swapping pads or modding to fine-tune comfort and bass
Skip it if
  • Anyone sensitive to bright, fatiguing treble on long listening sessions
  • Buyers wanting a durable build, since the glued drivers and stiff cable feel fragile and cheap

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

What Grado SR80x owners say

“SR80x (120€ new) was my first audiophile headphone over two years ago. They were so good that within a week I returned them to upgrade to SR225x”
— Hunter-97-G on Reddit
“Grado SR80s were my first decent pair of headphones too, and I still love them - still have them and listen to them something like 15 years later.”
— srmd22 on Reddit
“Using chinese components. And a lot of glue... You'd think with all that American Engineering, we could not use Glue, and instead use... maybe screws?”
— KaosC57 on Reddit

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Grado SR80x: frequently asked questions

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Grado SR80x better?

Real owners lean toward the Grado SR80x: 60% of 55 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 474 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).

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.

Who should get the Grado SR80x?

Owners point the Grado SR80x at first-time audiophiles wanting an affordable, exciting-sounding upgrade from stock earbuds, and listeners who love an energetic, forward, treble-tilted sound signature.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is a persistent white-noise/hissing sound from the ANC circuit that owners describe as annoying during quiet moments, calls, and pauses in audio. For the Grado SR80x, it's glued-together build (drivers, gimbals, rodblocks, headband) that owners view as flimsy, breaks over time, and often requires DIY hot-glue or aftermarket-part repairs.