Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sony ULT Wear: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Sony ULT Wear: 47% of 154 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 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)

36%of 434 owners recommend

36% recommend · 24% neutral · 40% don't

Owners praise

Comfort over long flights and full work days, including for glasses wearers
Ear cups deep enough that ears sit inside them rather than being pressed
Noise canceling that buries steady noise like engines, fans and road hum

Owners complain about

A background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all
Popping and thumping when walking, running, or when a door slams nearby
A firmware update that removed switching devices from the headphones themselves

Full owner report →

Sony ULT Wear

47%of 154 owners recommend

47% recommend · 17% neutral · 36% don't

Owners praise

Big, punchy bass that owners who like heavy low end love
Noise canceling that owners rate highly
Strong value, with some owners saying it comes close to Sony's pricier XM models for much less

Owners complain about

Plastic hinges that crack or snap, often during normal handling, anywhere from a few weeks to over a year after purchase; some owners had a second pair break the same way, while others say a replacement has held up
The sound splits owners: many say it needs EQ tweaks to sound right, some find the bass overblown or muddy, and a few expected more bass than they got

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) if

✓Frequent flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on
✓Glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones
✓All-day desk wear where the headphones go on in the morning and stay on
✓Listeners who like a full bass-forward sound and will spend a minute in the app

Skip it if

Anyone sensitive to background noise during podcasts, quiet passages or silence
Walkers, runners and commuters on rough roads, where the noise canceling pops

Get the Sony ULT Wear if

✓Bass lovers who want heavy, adjustable low end
✓Buyers who want strong noise canceling without paying flagship prices
✓Listeners willing to spend time tuning the EQ in the app
✓People with larger ears who want deep, padded earcups for long sessions

Skip it if

Anyone who needs headphones to survive daily handling for years without hinge worries
Listeners who don't want to adjust any sound settings

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

“I’m loving both Bose models though.”
— Zealousideal_Bid2690 on Reddit

“Its very good. quality is top notch”
— Adorable_Toe79 on Reddit

“I had the Ultra headphones which caused severe skin irritation. I got rid of them as the only solution was buying third party ear pads which would have changed the sound.”
— TheLawPlace on Reddit

What Sony ULT Wear owners say

“I recently purchased the Sony ULT Wear and I love it!”
— @jamesbarlett246 on YouTube

“The bass is honestly pretty fun, sometimes I just wanna press a button and destroy the song I'm listening to.”
— @Pika915 on YouTube

“To be fair, I didn't hear hardly any difference. The ULTs fit my head better, but they looked much chunkier on my ears as the phones stuck out way more. I've decided to keep the XM4s and return the ULTs.”
— @1977ver on YouTube

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sony ULT Wear: frequently asked questions

Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) or the Sony ULT Wear better?

Real owners lean toward the Sony ULT Wear: 47% of 154 owners recommend it, vs 36% of 434 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 flyers who want quiet on a plane and a case that fits a carry-on, and glasses wearers and anyone whose head hurts in tighter-clamping headphones.

Who should get the Sony ULT Wear?

Owners point the Sony ULT Wear at bass lovers who want heavy, adjustable low end, and buyers who want strong noise canceling without paying flagship prices.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) is a background hiss or white noise floor with nothing playing, audible to many owners though not all. For the Sony ULT Wear, it's plastic hinges that crack or snap, often during normal handling, anywhere from a few weeks to over a year after purchase; some owners had a second pair break the same way, while others say a replacement has held up.