Customer Reviews

Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones (Silver)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my second pair of noise-cancelling headphones (my first were Audio Technica ANC-7s, which lasted about five years before failing). The Boses sound great and have excellent noise reduction. There are a few things to watch out for, which may or may not apply to your situation.

1. Once the battery is about 1/2 used up, a jar will result in a very loud BOOM through the headphones. For example riding the bus over a pothole will do this. This means you will either go through a lot more batteries or turn your headphone off over those portions of the rode. Similarly, if you run you will get little, or loud, boom sounds with each footfall, depending on how much battery is remaining.

2. If you're out for a walk or run, a breeze will result in a loud wind noise. If you've ever recorded a video with your camera on a windy day you'll know what I mean.

If neither of these are a big deal to you, these are excellent headphones!

Any sound engineer (and many non professionals) will tell you Bose suk. Having said that, these are the best NC headphones I have auditioned, including the top of the line Sennheiser PXC450's which I returned. High marks go out for comfort, noise reduction, small foot print and wind block. I bought them when they first appeared on the market a few years ago. At that time they were the only units to employ both exterior and interior cancellation microphones. I use these for recording symphonies (live) and for on set film recording.
The sound is pleasing with the typical Bose emphasis on low end but, they are FAR from accurate. Noise cancelling headphones are all somewhat inaccurate in their reproduction. That's the nature of their design. Also note: No NC headphones are suited for outdoor use as the exterior mics are wind sensitive. The Bose QC15's are not too bad in this respect.
If you do not require Noise Cancelling headphones don't buy them. Standard headsets are superior.

I bought these 3 years ago, so I have had them for a long time. I use them almost daily and for long periods of time. I use them in the office: when you share space with too many people, or someone decides to put an entire call center right behind you, or you are seated right next to the kitchen with a full-service cable TV in it, or your co-workers teleconference from their desks so that they can work while they are in meetings (thus preventing YOU from working), you need those. I see people walking around on the streets with them every once in a while, but I don't do that. I tried it once and I hated it: they are impractical for this, they are way too big and can't be stowed away easily! They are comfortable for wearing extended periods of time, though in the summer one's ears get sweaty. The noise cancellation is superb, but is meant for engine noises: an airplane engine, bus engine, car engine. It does not work on laughing project managers, though the circumaural design does seem to do a fair job even against those. Apart from that, if you are mindful of the quality of the music you listen to, you will love those because FLACs sound great. If you are a sound operator at a local church, you will quickly realize these are not reference headphones and are no good for it: they embellish the lows and highs. I am quite satisfied with them, so far I have replaced every part of them that can be replaced at least once, and they still look and work quite decently, but I do have a few complaints:
1) The headband can't be replaced. When it wears out (in 3 years' time), your headphones really show their age.
2) The battery door is in the way of the hinge mechanism of the earcup: since both are made of plastic, this is a competition which one will break first, rendering your headphones useless. One has to be careful changing batteries.
3) The noise cancellation skips when your battery is low and you cough. When one uses rechargeable batteries, which generally have slightly lower voltage, these problems start in about 10-15 hours of use.
4) When the battery runs out, one can no longer use the headphones. Not even a little. Not for anything. Most other similar headphones turn off the active noise cancellation and whatever sound equalization they do, so the sound comes out flat and a tad too quiet, but the headphones can still be used somewhat. These can't be used.
5) Accessories for them are limited to what Bose makes, and those are not very good: I am using the remote control cord with my cellphone, and the microphone is complete garbage. People repeatedly ask me to stop using it: I have had two different models of these cords: one with a microphone alone, one with a microphone and a remote, and both have resulted in complaints. Both die in about a year's use and tangle very easily.
6) These are not meant to be used as hands-free headphones for your cell-phone: the noise cancellation cancels out one's voice too and can't be turned off. One does not hear oneself, though by now I am used to that. On the upside, you can eat while listening to music and you don't hear yourself chewing.
7) These are very expensive. Very very expensive, and I don't think the price is justified. If I find comparable cheaper headphones by other manufacturers, I would prefer them over these.
Hope this helps someone.

These headphones are very confortable to wear. It covers the ears very nicely and it is soft.
In a plane it really does the job of reducing the noise and increases the pleasure of listening to music or to a film. It is a very good experience.
It also captures the sound from videos that I listen on my computer in a much more satisfying way than ordinary earphones.
The case to carry them around is very nice.
One of the nicest gift I got recently.Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones

I am hard of hearing and do appreciate the noise cancelling so I can enjoy television.

I am on my third set of cables (OEM from China). They last about three months of daily use.
No way am I paying Bose retail prices for replacements.

My husband had a pair and I tried them . ..he wouldn't share so decided to buy my own. No regrets love them the are them most comfortable headphones ever. . .and the noise cancelling is the best.

We purchased these head phones for my husband who has to travel out of the country. Blocks out the plane noise. You won't be disappointed. The quality of sound is amazing. Well worth the money.

My Bose is perfect for me. The noise is blocked, no interference from phone noise, toilet noise, people humming etc.
Especially good when flying, you get the private compartment you didn't have to pay for.
If living with someone who wants to talk to you a lot, reserve your Bose time accordingly, you won't be able to hear them (this can have a upside too). Extremely comfortable, the Bose is all about uninterupted listening, worth every dollar!

So far these headphones have been excellent around the house. The big test will be the 19 hr flight to Australia and back. Will let you know soon!

I bought this headset for my husband. He loves it! The noise cancelling works well. I thought I might be disappointed because the price was so much lower, than the other places. However, product arrived in perfect condition and brand new. I will definitely recommend this vendor to others.