You’ve been laboring over whether to get the Bose Noise Cancelling 700 Headphones or the Apple AirPods Max. Lots of factors to consider. What spells the difference? Here are my takes to help you decide.
The Bose NC 700 (left) and the Apple AirPods Max (right)
Here are my top factors:
1. Audio quality: Bose seems to have an advantage on overall audio delivery. This comment comes from watching several reviews online, and also from listening to the same music in showrooms for the Bose and Apple headphones, repeated times. You can’t go wrong with Bose speakers, that’s something I’ve proven over and over through the years. Now I have to say that for home speakers, I use Sonos systems and for me they deliver lots of advantages and the sound delivery is amazing. So i’m not a biased Bose fanatic. But I’ve owned 4 generations of Bose Headphones, and they’ve always sounded superior in their generation. The latest is no exception. You get excellent base and high notes, without the annoying thumping that can get tiring after a while. So it’s always a classy sound, it’s an elegant sysem. The sound is richer compared to the previous Bose QC Comfort 35II, has more depth, and better left-right stereo separation. The greater depth of audio allows you to more easily "get lost in your music”, meaning to get absorbed and deep inside your music.
Do you have an earlier generation noise cancelling headphones? Is it time to upgrade? Depends - what are your objectives?
2. Noise cancellation: Based on reviews, the differene between Bose and Apple seems negligible, with Bose having a slight advantage on eliminating high notes, and Apple seeming to focus on the low rumbles, perhaps like you would have on a long flight. Based on my trials in the stores, I can’t really tell the difference, and that what other reiewers said also. If I compare the new Bose NC 700 versus the QC Comfort 35II, I can hear the difference, it is notable. In a coffee shop, the Bose NC 700 excellently blocks out chatter and allows you to focus well and eliminate distractions. My daughter who also got one, says it eliminates noises maybe too much. She totally doesn’t hear what is going on around the house when she’s on them. The 10 levels of noise cancellation on the Bose versus just an “off and on” on the Apple is interesting, though I’m not sure of the practical use so far. I’m sure it will come in handy in specific situations, but not something you’d need on a daily basis.
The Apple AirPods Pro noise cancelling buds, great as they are, and Apple fan as I am, just can’t compete in overall audio quality and depth to full size headphones.
3. Noise cancelling microphone: Here is where Bose got consistently higher marks versus the Apple AirPods Max. if you listen to various online reviews that feature a recorded sound - you’ll hear it. When I’ve talked to my daugher while she’s wearing one - I agree that it makes the calls clear and facilitites discussions. Distracting bacground sounds are eliminated. Now I have to say that I believe Apple can improve on their noise cancellaiton both on the audio and the microphone - by simple software upgrades. The chips in their headphones place them excellently to be able to do this. But for now, I believe these are the objective assessments.
Four generations of Bose headphones, and three generations of noise cancelling. Bose has consistently excelled in their sound delivery and noise cancellation in each generation!
4. Spatial audio: Here is where Apple shines. You will only get this from the Apple AirPods Max. And for this reason alone, I am willing to spend on the high price that Apple has put out there. You can liken this to a Dolby Atmos surround system you get from a high-priced cinema ticket, or using multiple (new) Sonos speakers in a home set-up. Here you can distinctly here sounds coming from various directions, making music or movies more insteresting.
Switching across devices. Surprisingly Bose offers advantages in certain conditions, even in an Apple environment! Read on to understand the difference of “always connected” versus “automatic switching”. Which is right for you?
5. Build quality: This unanimously goes to Apple with the aluminum exterios for the earpieces, though you won’t feel like you’ve been had with a cheap headset with Bose. It’s also a luxury piece, also well built. The buttons and click-wheel on the Apple are my preference, but the buttons and touch pad on the Bose are very functional, they operate smoothly and consistently.
Bose cases over the years. The Bose NC 700 is the biggest so far!
6. Purchase Price: To me this is the final arbiter. What price will you pay for the unit. For Singapore, I was able to access a terrific price via the Bose Lazada Flagship store, so it went down to SGD 455. When the headset first came out, it was a SGD 700. In comparison, the Apple AirPods Max is SGD 849. The price difference is a bit too much for me. I am still looking to get in the future when I can access a better price, but for now this gap spells the deal breaker for me.
The Bose NC 700 Soapstone color was offered at a special price for a limited time. Great item to watch out for! The color matches well with gold and bronze-colored digital gear (and new cars and SUVs!) 😊
7. Connectedness, Interconnectedness: Of course the Apple AirPods Max boasts the advantage of effortless movement from one device to another when you’re in the Apple environment or “Apple ecosystem” as others would call it. And yes, this is true. No difficulty in moving from the iPhone 12 Pro Max to the iPad Air and back and forth. Then to the Mac. And to a second iPhone XS Max. Yes, many people have multiple devices due to different practical reasons. Based on my testing however, the switching is not always seamless. Sometimes it takes a few seconds or attempts for repeated transfer across devices. This is apparent perhaps only when working simultaneously on 2 devices, like editing a video file on iMovie on your Mac while listening to a podcast on your phone. The back and forth specially with the Mac and iPhone or iPad is not as seamless as between the iPad and iPhone. Now what about with the Bose? Surprisingly - Bose offers an advantage when working on 2 devices because of an “always connected” approach. This means working with a Mac and iPhone in the above example is actually more seamless! You can stop the music on one device and instantaneously hear the audio on the other. Surprising? Yes! Perhaps Apple will improve this in the future - but for now, the Bose "always connected” approach gives an advantage versus Apple “automatic switching”. Now if you introduce a 3rd device or a 4th device - here is where the AirPods give an advantage. You don’t need to go to Settings, Bluetooth, Connect. So this is something to consider It’s probabaly not an issue for most situations. For my office Android phone and HP notebook computer, I use a Jabra Bluetooth headset provided by the office that is also "always connected” to these 2 devices. It’s simpler for me to just change headsets when taking calls or going into meetings. Then switch to my personal gear for music while working. So the choice depends on your specific application. Both have advantages depending on what you lean more towards.
Other factors like the case size and design, the headband style, the Bose app versus the functionality of being on the Apple environment - to me are minor factors.
So that’s my take! For now, I’m with the Bose NC 700. I have my Apple AirPods Pro that I use when walking and on the Singapore metro. I’ve also been using the AirPods Pro when my flights would end and I’d store my bigger headset, and I’m getting ready to walk to the immigration counter, and when I’m in line. But when seated at cafe’s, it’s the Bose for now.
The Bose NC 700 headphones extend outward a bit more than the Apple AirPods Max. Does the fit match you? How big a factor is this? The Bose fit is tight and secure while being comfortable.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you feel there are other strong factors to consider in the comments. Thanks!
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